Secret Sewing 2018

Buenos Dias people.

It's that time of year again when all goes a bit quiet on the blog and 'secret sewing' occurs in the background!

That's right, me and a million other crafters who have left it well too late, are beavering away at Christmas presents, all made with love of course.

I'm fairly chuffed with myself this year as I've managed to come up with some quite unusual presents, that will also be useful (and not all sewn I might add!). I also don't make presents for people who don't really like that sort of thing, they aren't 'inflicted' upon anyone. No-one's getting pasta and glue pictures to put on their fridge and politely smile at. Us crafters can see that fear in your eyes. 

The pressies will of course be wrapped with this ribbon which is absolutely amazing - I picked this up in Tiger while I was looking for a turtle tree decoration (obviously). Perfect for all those handmade goodies this year! 

What a boring post this is then I can't show much really can I!?

Maybe this... for the dog lover who also enjoys a good nap.

In other news I also discovered the joys of Moon Thread - super cheap and really good quality thread for jazzy over-locking. There shall be many a multicolour finished edge in my future...

 In other news - I aim to make the full donation to Mind Charity at the end of the month for my mental health Sewing Saves Lives pin project, if you would like to grab a pin in time for crimbo just click here!

Lovely photo taken by SewPositivity - much better light than mine hehe!

So the next few weeks bring several Sundays of secret sewing, with some sparkles and glitter thrown in for good measure - you gotta have a festive bit of clothing somewhere right?!

Let me know what you've been making :) Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too xx

Time to Paws with Terri the Ted

If you're not into puns this might not be for you - however I may have been drinking when I wrote this tutorial so feel free to have a read and see how Terri the Ted came to be! At least I entertained myself...

 Product testing the Minicraft Kits today with Minerva Crafts!

 

Warning - cutest picture in the world alert.

 Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too :-) xx

Hacci Blackwood and the #cosycardichallenge

I thought I'd join in with this years' #cosycardichallenge set by The Stitch Sisters
and Amanda of I Sew Alot which has been going on Instagram this autumn.

What other pattern was there than the good ol' Blackwood Cardigan by Helen's Closet. A solid favourite amongst many a sewcialist, this sews up like an absolute dream in a matter of hours.

I previously made a coral version and so had the pattern already cut to size and ready to go! Mine is a size Large to Extra-Large at the hips and fits wonderfully.

This one is made from some pretty funky 'Hacci sweater knit' from Girl Charlee UK which I bought in the sale and stashed for such a cardy making opportunity as this.

Hacci is apparently another name for a sweater knit, that has a more loopy weave and much lighter weight than what you may imagine a 'sweater' to be.

This Hacci went through the over-locker like magic and best of all, it doesn't crease or crinkle.

I'd say this cardi (cardy?) was 'fairly' cosy. So I'm not sure if it still counts as a cosy cardi for the challenge?! It's cosy if you're indoors and there's a bit of heating on. It is not cosy if you're walking about the moors in it.

Hiding those handover eyes...

 Girl Charlee has this fabric in a few different prints but I just love how this 'Indian blanket' inspired print forms its own hem borders and cuff lines. I'm quite tempted to pick up the same in the black and white colourway aswell!

If you haven't tried the Blackwood pattern, give it a go, no regrets!

Thanks for reading - feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too :-) xx

P.S Sewing Saves Lives pins available here

Roarsome Shirt Dress

Back this week, on a lighter note, a leopard print dress!

Trying not to look pissed off as it was FREEZING when pic was taken

This is part success, part disaster, but so is life.

Once again I used my self-drafted shirt dress pattern to create this feisty little number. Now, as it's autumn and cold - this was intended to have long sleeves an be a midi version.

On cutting out my pieces, I discovered I had nowhere near enough fabric for what I envisioned. Short sleeve and shorter skirt it would have to be.

Upon inserting the short sleeves, some weird bit of distorted physics occurred again and they were tiny. I couldn't even get my arms in the sleeves so sleeveless it is! Red satin bias was the only thing in the stash so on it went.

I had reservations about making this dress again after the last one, where the bust darts went a bit astray however I spent so much time drafting it I figured it needed to get some use. I checked the darts religiously, I got The Fabric Wrangler to check the darts I sewed the darts and checked them again. WHAT THE $%^ IS WRONG WITH THESE DARTS?!

AGAIN the bust point ended up somewhere around my ears. Not to worry, when the collar is open it distorts the fabric anyway and you can't really see. It's definitely back to the drawing board with the self-drafted block though - god knows why it only worked that once!

I actually quite like this dress though - it's comfy and on trend for the autumn. My other half is not a fan though - says I look like an extra from Eastenders or like every 3rd person he saw in town that day. He's got a point, leopard print is everywhere and on everyone.

My favourite bits are these buttons! I found the perfect accompaniment to leopard print in the form of these big cat paws on eBay. Oh I do love a whimsical button/garment theme.

I do have a question for you stylish types out there - what do you wear over dresses like this?! I tried this cardigan and its ok, but I seem to automatically reduce a good dress to a slightly grandma-esque frock with one swish of a cardy. What kind of cosy top goes with shirt dresses without making it frumpy? Any tips gratefully received!

Just a little reminder (hey, its my blog, I'm allowed) that if you want to support my chosen charity Mind and get yourself one of these funky pins grab one over at my Etsy shop :)

Thanks for reading - feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too :-) xx Etsy shop now open!

Sewing Saves Lives

Strap in people – this is going to be a weird one.

::Dramatic pause of about 2 months whilst debating writing the next bit::



Fuck it, here we go.

About 18 months ago I was told I had psychotic depression. I hadn’t spoken about it with my close family or friends and only a small handful of people knew. (Until today I guess.) I think I was worried people would treat me differently. Like I was labelled with ‘approach with caution’. ‘Psychotic’ means dangerous crazy right? No.

Thank you to my friends that knew – you saved me. (Sis that's you too). Thank you to friends that did not – you saved me too. You just didn’t know that when you were talking, I was probably seeing insects on the table or fire behind you. And they were just the bearable bits.Weird huh. I'll not frighten you with the rest, no-one ever needs to see that. (Tarantino has nothing on me baby).

This is nothing new, we’ve all seen it - people’s online persona, and even what you see in reality, is not necessarily the whole picture. If you look at my blog for the last 3 years I look ‘fine’. I was not fine. Trust me. But sewing played a HUGE part in getting to be more ‘fine’ than I’ve ever been before. Sewing is indeed therapy. (Yay to the Norwich Sewcials crew and all you sewcialists out there).



I KNOW I’m not the only one, this is just my story out of a million others. I know crafts and sewing play a massively similar role for many of you out there. I’ve seen your inspiring stories. (Many thanks to Elle of Sew Positivity who after a chat also inspired me to ‘come out’ and go for this project 😊)

To raise a bit of a glass to sewing (and also kick off my new Etsy shop!) I wanted to bring out these lovely pin badges (who doesn’t want to up their pin game?!) in order to have some fun and also raise some funds for the folks who also save lives. 20% of all the sales will go directly to Mind – a charity assisting those with mental health difficulties.




You can grab one from my Etsy shop (which as if by magic, has appeared in the top right menu bar of my blog) or just send me an email/DM for a quick Paypal deal- it would be wonderful if you’d support my mini-campaign!

Please do share with all enamel pin lovers and sewists alike!! x



This is not a moan, cry for attention or whatever other bullshit like that. It's just an important message that if anyone is going through some dark times of their own, just know that you CAN come back. It ain't easy but you can, so hang in there my loves we have your hand.

So people, onward and upwards - enough with feeling bad about ourselves, enough with those who judge us and do not understand, enough trying to be perfect and enough with trying to please everyone around…..

I’m Emma. I’m a bit crazy (I have been tested) – and I am enough. And so are you.

Thanks for reading x - feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too :-) xx

Union St. Tee really is the Bees Knees

Another reincarnation of the Union St. Tee by Hey June Handmade today. Nothing groundbreaking or new but a wonderful pattern that fits so well. If you're after basics this is an absolute win in my books.

This time I tried out a crew neck, long sleeve version - and found the fit once again to be just perfect for this basic (but not so basic, it has bees) tee.

The style is semi-fitted and I just love how flattering that is across the bust and stomach with a little drape but not baggy or hiding in a sack.

It's been a bee heavy year for me this year - we got LOADS of bees in the garden (yay) and bumble bees kept flying into our bedroom in summer from the neighbour's lavender tree. I got a couple of bumble bees added to my tattoos and for some reason bees just kept 'featuring' in life quite noticeably.

What better way to celebrate the bee than making my fave basic top with this BEEautiful fabric from Jelly Fabrics.  I may be repeating myself but Jelly Fabrics is another jersey supplier that I just can't get enough of right now. This is the softest cotton jersey, perfect t-shirt weight, with foil embossed bees. The quality is unBEElievable.

BEE happy people - enjoy the week xxx

Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too :-) xx

Of Decovil and Dinosaurs...

The working title that Jane Austin didn't use. 

I'm at it again with the product testing over on Minerva Crafts.  Click here to hop on over for a read if you fancy knowing more about Decovil and how it can turn fabric into 'leather' as well as a little tutorial on how to make your own purse!

Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too :-) xx