Christmas stars!

Hi everyone, 

On Saturday my family and over some food friends for a dinner party :) Each time they come over- especially at Christmas I like to make some little table favours :)

This year I decided to implement some of my new found knowledge from the different skill weeks at college- I used printing!

I cut out my own little design of a star stencil and then printed 8 of them onto calico using some gold Dylan fabric paint though the stencil with a brush- a different method to college as I didn't quite have all the proper equipment :p

I then ironed them once dry to affix the paint fully, before backing with Christmassy fabric, placing ribbon between the two layers then sewing around.

Lastly I pinking sheared around them to stop fraying and give a simple decorative looking edge. And voila,  my little decorations were then complete; 

I think they looked nice on the table and they got some compliments so I was very happy :) they were also fairly quick to make due to some simple stencil printing being there main feature. I will definitely be experimenting further with this technique :-)

The Christmassy crafting really got me into the festive spirit too! It is soo close to Christmas now- I can't wait!  I hope you are all doing well and are happy,

see you soon,

Bye xoxoxo

My amazing day at Queenie and Teds!

Hi,

 

As I mentioned in my last post, today was the day I got to go and do some work experience with the cool clothing up-cyclers; Queenie and Ted. I had such an amazing time and learnt so much! :) They said I could bring something along and that they would teach me how to put some designs chosen by me onto my item.

 

I had a rummage in my wardrobe prior to today and found this velvet blazer I got a while ago, I did like it and had worn it before but I did think it could do with a bit of a jazz up: 

 

 

After today with the lovely ladies of Queenie and Ted (Kally and Linda :) my jacket has been totally transformed, look!:

 

The design I did on the back is inspired by the recent trips with my dad to the garden centres to buy flowers for our garden :)

 

The bunny fabric was so amazingly sweet- I knew I had to use it. Kally and Linda said they picked it up when they were in Japan showing their work over there :-)

 

Hehe, I don't think I need to explain why I put the scissors on there! :P

 

I am sooo happy with it, it looks so much better now, and as I said I learnt so much, so thank you Linda and Kally. Probably the best thing is that they said I can come and do another day (helping them with some of their stuff then, now that I have had some practice :).

 

Also.... they have a cabinet in their shop where they put accessories that other makers/artisans have made and they said that I could showcase some of my knitted brooches in there. I was extremely excited, having my work in a street shop, next to other makers work :D

 

Here are all the brooches that are now in their cabinet:

 

Fingers crossed some of them sell as that means; 1. someone liked my brooch enough to buy it and will wear it around, Yay! and 2. Some money for me and Kally and Linda :)

 

Can you tell I have had a good day...? Lol, I think you probably can :P

 

I hope all you people have had a good day as well- you are all so lovely so you definitely deserve it!

 

I better be off to bed now, so I am all ready to get up and do lots of making tomorrow now I have all new ideas after my day today. I also have lots more ideas for items I want to make for my shop too, including some more bracelets in the style of the 'Love' one I recently put up:

 

Keep an eye out here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchedbyJordan

 

See you soon,

 

Bye XxXxXxX

 

My Jolly Jar

Hi everyone,

The time just seems to be flying by at the moment, probably because I am coming to the end of my first year at college- only 2 and a half weeks left! It doesn't seem that long ago that I was posting to you all about how excited I was to go off to uni and now soon I am going to be a 2nd year.

 

But anyway... before I start to get all emotional I will move on. Last week my family went on holiday to the IOW as it was half term. I was at college but my family were lovely to me and picked me up some special gifts, including some garlic fudge (I will  let you all know my verdict on that, lol!?)  and this cool jar filled with fabric and sewing bits and bobs:

 



 



 

 

My  mum said the Lady in the shop made them up her self- she definitely had good taste as all the fabrics were so cool and the buttons and ribbons are all really cute and quirky too. I have set myself  a challenge to take the jar on holiday with me during the summer and make something really cool using the bits inside :) So I look forward to what inspiration takes me....

 

Back to college news Now, pictures from my last project of the year (I will try to hold back the tears! :P). We are each collaborating with a theatre design student and creating one of the pieces from one of their costume designs for a character from the play Duchess of Malfi. My designer set the play in modern/contemporary style and so I am making the fitted tailored peplum jacket she designed for the Duchess' court dress.

 

Here is my little half scale tester- that I made to show my designer to check I was along the right lines with interpreting her design:

 

 

And now here is my work in progress toile, which hopefully I will be able to fit  on my model tomorrow :):

 

 

This project is really independent which is good as it is really pushing me. I am trying to draft the patterns with as little aid from pattern drafting books as I can in order to develop my understanding of the shape of the body and measurements and how they relate to the shape of pattern pieces as best as I can :-)

 

I better get off to bed now, speak to you all again soon and I hope you are all well!

 

Thank you for reading my blog my lovely friends,

 

Byeee XxXxXx

A patchwork charm bag for me :)

Hellooo,

 

I hope you are all well :) 

 

This weekend apart form some costume history work (I am planning to do a post soon on some of the stuff I am learning in that lesson as it is very fun and interesting- I may even make some mini garments for my doll from the times so they can model and show you all 'the look' :-P) I didn't have tons to do which was good as it means I got to start another craft project!

 

I was inspired by the pouch I saw on Steph's blog which she made to put some Halloween treats in. I decided to start making a similar patchwork style purse/bag out of different bits of scrap fabric and all the findings, charms and beads I have been collecting for so long and haven't got round to using yet!

 

I want to make each square/patch say something about me or what I like, I have only got the main sides done so far, still the flap and then all the sewing together and lining left to do but here are some work in progress pics;

 

 

Hehe, I love sponge bob so he had to be featured :P

I also love apples!

I think leopard print is really cool, and different cool/cute dolls which is what I put the Russian doll fabric in for :)

The little scrap of African fabric in the corner under Spongebob was given to me By Stefany the dressmaker where I work sometimes so that is special to me too :3

 

My sweet tooth is also huge!

 

Christmas is probably my favourite holiday of all time!!!

 

With Halloween coming close because cute creepy stuff is amazing too!

 

I don't have too much stuff going on Tuesday so I will probably get down to work and try to finish it then. I reckon I will manage it as now I am back at my uni house I can use my machine which I brought with me, at home I have been hand sewing everything (which I don't mind actually) :P It is so much fun just being so creative with it and sewing on all the ribbons and buttons and charms making it all personal to me!

 

See you all again soon,

 

Byeeeee xxx

 

 

Sunday Style

Hello,

 

As you will probably know I have been back of holiday for a few days now. My parents have been offering for ages now to do my room up but with all my studying for A levels and stuff I hadn't got round to it- but now it's the summer holidays and I am free! :D so me and my parents have been painting and decorating since we got back and it is almost done. I am sooo excited, I have new craft storage boxes and a sewing area and a funky fire place me and my dad decorated. I will post pictures when it is fully completed, which should be by the end of the week :-)

 

But in other news today I bring you another Sunday style, which I actually wore to family barbecue before I went on holiday:

 

 

I made the pattern myself by draping on the stand :) It was a little tight, but that will teach me to drape a bit more loosely next time :-P

 

I did diagonal underarm darts and straight back waist darts- the darts being the main design features as I thought the fabric was so pretty that I didn't want to take away from it by adding too much to the dress. I think it is a print of forests and lakes and old fashioned ladies:

 

To me it reminded me slightly of Japanese traditional gardens :)

 

I'm off now to get in bed so I am ready in the morning to finish off the tidying of my room :P And in the afternoon me and my family are going to see Charlie And the Chocolate Factory in the theatre in the west end so I mustn't be too tired for that either!

 

See you soon,

 

Byeee xxx

 

P.S. Thank you to Steph for sending me the lovely parcel of incense after reading on my blog that I have been using some it :) They all smell so nice!

 

Bye OXXXOXXXOO

Sunday style

Hi guys,

Today I bring you two Sunday styles (hehehee, because I wore one of them on Saturday- not Sunday but sshhh :P)

 

First is a slightly more sophisticated Sunday style, well no crazy coloured wig this time!

It is this bird dress with long straps that tie at the back of the neck :o):

 

 

It is made out of a spare curtain from a pack my mum bought for the porch. She asked me did I want it and I was like if it's fabric I'll have it! And I think I managed to put it to good use. I wore the dress to dog racing with my family and it was pretty hot so I'm glad what I made was cool and flowy :)

 

Hehehe, a slightly more usual Sunday style now (but still no wig sadly- it is too hot!)..... a pair of doughnut print culottes:

 

With little kawaii blue star buttons I got from japan- this is the first piece of clothing I have flat pattern drafted from measurements to block to adding pockets and a fly so I was pleased they came out with a relatively good fit- a little bit of adjustment needed but nothing major :) The were verrryyy comfy as being culottes and not shorts they were a bit more roomy, I wore them round to lunch at some family friends. They were fun to make and to wear! :P

 

I hope you are all having a lovely week,

 

See you soon,

 

Bye xxx

 

Fathers day bunting

 Hello,

As I am sure many of you will know this Sunday is Fathers Day :D As my dads handmade gift I wanted to make him something fun and happy. I picked up some cool ice cream/lolly fabric in Rainbows in the Isle Of Wight but I wasn't quite sure of my plan when I bought it but it made me smile. About a week ago I decided on bunting! My dad had to throw away his other bunting as it had faded because it was outside in the sun (and rain) for the last two summers. I found some more fabric and ribbon from my stash and..... here it is all finished:

 

 

I have wrapped it up ready, I hope it likes it :0) I went with Chelsea football club blue (my dads favourite colour because he loves Chelsea! :)

 

On Sunday we are all having yummy banana splits to celebrate Fathers Day too :P mmmmm.... I can't wait.

 

Hehehe, I hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever your plans are!

 

See you all soon,

 

Bye XxXxX

Hello again!

Hello!,

 

It has been longer between posts that normal because for the last few days I have been the Isle Of Wight and we didn't really have Internet access there so I couldn't come chat to you :P I had a great time, I got some great fabric bargains and I also bought and ate alot of yummy handmade fudge- honeycomb and millionaire shortcake flavour, mmmmmmmmm! Hehehe I still have some left but I am sure not for long :0)

 

In the evenings I also managed to get a lot further on the Twinkie Chan Pizza scarf I started making ages ago, I just have the sauce, crust and toppings left to do now:

 

 

It is very long, I'm sure it will keep m very warm, even though it is coming up to summer that is still good as I am always cold!

 

Before I went away I also finished this Dolphin cross stitch kit:

 

I think it is soo sweet. I have got a little collection of mini cross stitch kits that I have finished building up. I will have to start thinking of something to do with them :P

 

I hope you have all been having a nice time and now I am back I am thinking of doing another giveaway soon so keep your eyes peeled! :)

 

See you soon,

 

Byeeeeee XxXxXxX

Vintage sewing patterns and fabric

Hi

 

I forgot to mention in my holiday posts that when I was in an antique style shop I found a whole box of vintage sewing patterns :) I got sew excited (lol :P) because they were all only about 90p each and some of the garments looked so pretty! I picked up my 3 favourite ones and then later in a vintage themed craft shop I found a neatly tied up bundle with a vinatge bedspread and pillow cases in it- for only £10! It had a pretty flower pattern on it and I thought it would be great for making up some of the patterns in:

 

I think I am going to get started on the trouser and top set tommorrow, Yay! Then I will have a cool vintage outfit to wear :-)

 



I hope you all had a lovely weekend :o)

See you soon,

Byeeeee XXXX

Recycled jar lid pincushion - Tutorial

Hello everyone!

I haven't put up a tutorial or pattern in a while so I thought it was about time I did! The recycled jar lid pincushion is an idea I came up with a while ago but hadn't got round to getting a tutorial together until now :)

They are super easy and quick to make and you can try them in loads of different styles depending on what fabric you have and what you decorate them with/embroider onto them :D

Here are some samples I made:

And here is how to make your own!:

You will need:

• Any old jar lid
• A piece of scrap fabric (a few times larger than your jar lid)
• A couple of handfuls of stuffing
• Some scissors
• A ruler
• A pen
• A needle
• Some thread
• A piece of felt (optional)
• Whatever decorations you wish!

How to:

1. Take your jar and remove the lid, any type of lid will do :-)

 

2. Clean your lid thoroughly!!! You don't want your finished pincushion to smell like pasta sauce or pickled onions!

3. Measure the radius of your lid- the distance from the centre to the outer edge (mine is about 3.5cm).

 

4. Then take your piece of fabric and measure and draw out a circle of radius 2 and a 1/2 times bigger than that of your lid onto it. Add about 1/2 a cm to the radius of your jar lid before you calculate the radius needed of your fabric circle (Add about 1cm instead if your lid is quite thick, like the lid of the chocolate spread jar in the photo).

(e.g the radius of my fabric circle was 10cm as my lid had a radius of  about 3.5cm > so > 4cm once add 1/2 cm and 2.5 x this is 10cm)

You don't have to be super accurate here, if your lid has a radius 3.1cm just round it 3.5cm and then do the calculations above. Make it easy for yourself :0)

 

5. Cut out the circle

6. Next thread your needle doubled up style (cut a long length of thread then pull it through your needle so the middle lies in the eye of the needle, like you are sewing with two strands of thread). I do it this way so that it is stronger for when you pull on it to gather up the material later, so it doesn't break.

 7. Sew running stitch all the way around your fabric circle about 1/2 a cm in from the edge. Once you have done this pull on the thread slightly to gather the material loosely like so:

 

8. Stuff quite a bit of stuffing inside your gathered pocket.

 

9. Then slide your lid under the gathered edge and above the stuffing (with flat side facing down, like in the picture). This will form the base of your pincushion and stop the pins sliding through and jabbing you, like they often do to me when I pick up my pincushions!

You can add more stuffing under the edges of the lid if you think your pincushion will not be puffy enough.

 

10. When you have reached a suitable level of stuffedness/puffyness :) gather up the bottom of your pincushion tightly and secure. You can stick a circle of felt on the bottom if you want to make the base look neat.

It should now look something like this:

11. Finally decorate however you wish and your pincushion is finished! Viola!:

:)

----------

I hope you all liked the tutorial!

Make lots of them and give them as gifts to your fave crafty friends! :D

Hehehe, See you all soon <3

Bye XxXxX

(P.S. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial without asking permission first, thanks xxx :)

X-Stitching

Hi guys :)

As many of you will know last month I was sent a cross stitch kit by my partner Laura in the cute and quirky swap. I was really pleased as I had wanted to learn how to cross stitch properly but didn't really know where to start :/ It was great as it really helped me to learn the basics, for example I thought for cross stitch you used the whole thread but you actually only use a couple of strands at a time. (No wonder I found it difficult and it didn't look right when I tried once before, the thread was too thick!)
To my surprise I managed to follow the chart well and kept all my little cross stitches facing the same way!

The kit made a sweet little seagull picture which I turned into this pincushion once I'd finished :D

I don't think it's bad for a first try :)

I backed it with some pretty blue fabric I had and added a couple of buttons for decoration :0)

I have got to perfect my cross stitching though so I get into a rhythm and don't have to check each stitch!

In the future I want to cross cross stitching and knitting/crochet to see what I can create :-) But I have got to do some more practice first. I might try to pick up some more little kits when I'm on holiday seeing as this one was soo fun and helpful! (I have already bought a copy of Cross stitcher magazine which is great too and has loads of cute mini motifs to stitch, so I might try some projects out of there too)

See you soon,

Au revoir :)