A new, delightful, Sew-in-Company experience this week – joining a friend in the kitchen of a primary school near Luton to tackle the cotumes for a Bedford Youth Opera production of the Pirates of Penzance. The stage design and principal costumes made by the Art Director are fantastic – if you would like to see them, buy a ticket. From listening to the young performers rehearse, I can promise a wonderful evening’s entertainment!
Sapphire blue was the party theme for this centennial!
New (found in cupboard and specially chosen John Lewis) fabric was used for the pennants – but off-cuts from shortening curtains and worn-out sheeting was used for the tape.
Unsurprisingly, the birthday girl’s outfit matched perfectly.
The last of the length of vintage fabric combined with some offcuts of white to make a unique dress (see 12 March, Recovering Boards and 9 May, Book Club Blouse posts) .
Although it has a recycled linig, the cotton skirt is not the best of quality so the garment may not be a pleasure to wear (in which case the top section will be converted into a bouse!).
Happily, a sunny summer means that outdoor pursuits have provided a distraction from textiles!
One rainy afternoon, however, time was found to create a simple bag to protect and transport an electronic keyboard which is available to borrow from FRRL.
May and June have been fallow months for creating – too much gallivanting and way too hot in the sewing room!
Despite the heat, the DofE student has made progress with her project, wedding suits have been altered, darts added to a linen dress, curtains made and shortened (my least favourite tasks) and a stunning wedding gown adjusted – providing three different fabrics to create a plaited headband.
The fabric cut from the curtains will be used for a quilt – the hunt is on for complementary scraps!
Made to order for Pat to wear to her monthly bookclub meeting. Inserting complementary coloured piping on sleeves, pockets and hem was fun.
The final fit is a little snug but there was limited fabric available – it also features on the Friends of Rock Road Library Noticeboard, 12 March Post, and will make another appearance soon as a summer frock!
This week’s sewing challenge was to create a tennis ‘skort’ dress – to wear at a new club which requires players to wear white.
Sid approves the ‘toile’ (a version made in cheap fabric to trial fit and style).
These bold print ‘slacks’ were such a favourite of mine that, when they began to fade, I made a second pair!
(Fabric John Lewis furnishing, cotton Passion-flower print)
Of course, there were Hot Cross Buns at the Easter workshop – and delicious, home-made lemon biscuits.
Participants were learning to knit (thank you ‘Associate Expert Tutor’ Pat), cutting-out a blouse (Duke of Edinburgh project), making progress on the Marta quilt and creating a pom-pom Easter chick.
(Not surprisingly, Sid decided to find somewhere quiet to snooze and did not carry out his usual pattern layout inspection.)
Today, it was my turn to attend a workshop!
Organised by SPAB the location was the headquarters of the William Morris Society in the coach-house of Kelmscott House, his former Hammersmith home.
We enjoyed excellent talks, inspected original prints and designs, then dived in at the deep-end to create a work inspired William Morris’s approach to craft.
My companion and I began a joint project – a cushion for her daughter – using a border designed by Anne and Morris-designed script.
We selected the shortest of the suggested Morris quotes:
‘Give me love and work – these two only’
As I had not previously encountered the double-sided interfacing used for applique and have very little embroidery experience, I was on a steep learning curve. Happily, workshop leader Susan Vickery was extremely helpful and we thoroughly enjoyed our day.
The work is still in progress!
