Buttons and Bobs

Session 1: For a long time  I have admired the photos of the Vintage Flower Bag on the kits and patterns displayed in craft shops. On Thursday I bought the kit that included the fabric for £24.95 at a craft show at the NEC. . Session 2: I decided to use the pattern to make a practice bag before I cut into the material in the kit. Well I've had fun finding materials and scraps from my stash . It took some time but I have realised that I definitely buy an excess of blue. The fun ended when I tried to make sense of the pattern. The instructions are not clear and there are not enough pictures/diagrams. There seems to be some instructions missing, for instance  regarding the side pockets. I turned to a sewing group on Facebook for advice. Someone kindly answered and agreed that the instructions are poor but she has managed to create a semblance of the bag. She says if she makes it again she will make the strap longer and she will create a way of fastening the top so that her...

The Facebook group "Sewing in the UK" is one of several groups used by people who love sewing to share their ideas, advice and sewing experiences. It is a great example of the positive use of social media. In a recent thread several people shared what they use to trace patterns so that the originals can be kept safe. I use baking paper. Do you trace your patterns? 

I have made view C of McCall's M6983 before. I had forgotten that I'd had problems with the sleeve frills last time. It may be that fully lining the dress causes me problems around the armholes or just clumsiness on my part. Thank goodness everything else came together easily. 

Nurses regularly had trouble putting in the cannula in my husband's hand as they couldn't find a vein. Several attempts would leave his hand bruised plus it wasted a lot of the nurses' time.    I bought two lavender/wheat bags. I sewed one of the bags in to two halves then attached elastic to each piece so they would fit round his hand. Before we set off to each appointment I heat up all the bags in the microwave and he travels with one of the bags on his hand. (Sometimes he wears a fleece glove underneath the bag if I have made the bag too hot!)  I keep the other  small bag wrapped in the bigger lavender/wheat bag and carry them in an insulated food bag.  When we get to the hospital I swap the bag on his hand for the one in the food bag and wrap the big bag around the used one to reheat it to use if waiting times are longer than usual.  It has worked well so far -  the constant warmth raises his veins so it is much easier to put the cannula...

A drawstring bag . A hanging loop on the back so that it can be hung on a cloakroom peg. Pocket on the front for notes. A dress for a Baby Annabell doll A sunhat - just need the weather. Reversible - other side is deep red. "What the Ladybird Heard" - costume for World Book Day (I will raise the wings!)  Three adult male relatives thought my first attempt was not anatomically correct as it was all red with spots even on the front. The first thing the wearer did was full her bright wings round to show at the front.   A Little Miss bib for World Book Day Lined with white fleece.

World Book day 2018 is on March 1st. What to make for little girls who are one and nearly three years old. I think it is important that they have costumes similar to characters they know well. So how about a one year old Pingu? There are lots of penguin costume ideas on Pinterest but I am hoping to make something that is comfortable enough for B to be happy to wear all day.  I decided on a basic peasant style dress and I consulted the notes of Amy on her Little Bean blog  . I made dress from black sheeting. I  added a layer of white fleece to the front and made yellow bias binding to bind part way around it.  Yellow feet are padded and  attached to the bottom of the dress.  I  made a comfy beanie for B's head. The added features of eyes and beak were made from scraps.