tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37075795532441483582024-03-13T04:18:14.987+00:00kinkatinkkinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-13476964149347422892014-06-12T17:16:00.001+01:002014-06-12T17:16:31.046+01:00Me Made May: er JuneWell, I got off to a cracking start on MMM but then I hit a bit of a rut. Not because I ran out of clothes, but more I ran out of photography. My husband went away for a few days, we don't have a full length mirror and my arms aren't long enough for more than a face selfie. Also I wore the same thing a few days in a row and it was too embarrassing to record that for posterity. In the end, I did wear something home made every day. I just didn't record it.<br />
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I also made some new things. Dresses. The <a href="http://selfishseamstress.wordpress.com/downloads/" target="_blank">Coffee date dress</a> to be precise, although I made mine without the ruffle at the front. I actually made three, and inevitably haven't photographed them, although I wear them all the time.<br />
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Just for a change, this is made with Marimekko upholstery (well, quilting weight) fabric. I added pockets to the side seams which makes it awesome and I love it. It's a bit see through at the top though, not so much that it's indecent, but that I can see where the facing finishes. If I did another one in white, I might do a fully lined bodice. Or I might just not do another one in white. Or I might just live with it. The options are endless.<br />
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The fit on this dress is great. That's why I made 3. And once I'd got it all traced it was a pretty quick sew. So this goes nicely with the 'make a dress that isn't a sack and wear it' resolution I set myself. Pleased with that!<br />
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The other big thing for me this month has been sewing running stuff. Not much, more hacking it, but still a change of direction. Really the only days I don't wear homemade it's because I'm in sports wear all day. These days are rare it must be said. There's a blog I read sometimes called <a href="http://gingermakes.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ginger Makes.</a> Goodness Ginger makes a lot of stuff. Anyway, she made some terrific <a href="http://gingermakes.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/ginger-made-papercut-patterns-pneuma-tank/" target="_blank">sports wear</a> just as I was making mine, which makes me look completely amateur. <br />
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My running group had ordered club tees, which are fun to wear for races and things, because inevitably there'll be people there from other groups so you recognise each other. Anyway, the one I ordered was a funny shape and I wasn't sure whether I would actually wear it. Realising that meant that if I cut it up and it went wrong, I still wouldn't wear it so I wouldn't really lose out. Now it's a slightly lumping tank, which is fine. And I did wear it. I also made a completely ridiculous running tutu out of the worst fabric ever. But it too has a pocket. There will be more running tutus with pockets. Just not out of tulle with paint splodges on.<br />
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kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-28998349746091912062014-05-06T21:19:00.001+01:002014-05-06T21:19:43.476+01:00Me Made May the first few days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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May 1st: Refashioned denim skirt. Refashioned tshirt. Nominally refashioned cardigan (it came with awful gold buttons which I replaced with plain ones)</div>
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May 2nd: Refashioned (er, taken in an inch) tshirt. Zinnia skirt. Baby. I made him and all.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWKLVOAsMS8IqIrW1OzHF-KrpZnTm58Y489UhaIMZTqG_qHjsLh9qtrOKErVu7A6Z4e9swcVlsrX1rGdLeu5eWPRKjjQtrU9XGBfVPjBXV_ni8qKiDf_GvRjGAjpAWw2FvrYJaFmi2JE/s1600/20140503_154053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">May 3rd: Long Wiksten tank with hacked pockets. I made this last year and it's too big for me now, but I'm not sure how best to take it in. Back darts? Elastic? I can't just sew down the side seams because of the pockets and the binding at the arm holes.</a><br />
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May 4th. I seem to be wearing the same outfit as May 2nd. I'm nothing if not consistent.<br />
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May 5th: Pencil skirt from ikea upholstery fabric and Loft tshirt.<br />
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Things I have learned so far this month: I have an embarrassing dependence on upholstery fabric. One Ikea skirt, two Marimekko (from Crate and Barrel) garments: the long Wiksten and the Zinnia skirt. Secondly, my family are not gifted photographers. The bottom two are selfies as my husband is away. The top ones are his work. Fortunately we have other talents.<br />
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But this post really is just to say I've signed up to <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Me Made May</a> and as such will endeavour to where something home made every day this month. I might even get my head around other social media and post to Instagram or Twitter or something similarly new fangled.<br />
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Going back to my to do list for the blog for the year, this is the bloggy thing to get involved with. <br />
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It's Day 2. I did quite well yesterday with a refashioned skirt and adjusted tshirt (I'm counting those) and today I'm wearing another adjusted tshirt and a homemade skirt (a <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/sewing/zinnia" target="_blank">Zinnia</a> which I haven't blogged about yet). <br />
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In other news...<br />
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This is not about to become a running blog, but just in case you're interested, April was a month of firsts for me: I ran further than a half marathon distance (14.5miles) for the first time. I did squats with over 40lbs on my bar and I almost, so so close, ran over 100 miles in the month. If I counted all the .2s it would have been. And if I had totted up the month's mileage on Wednesday evening (April 30th) rather than Thursday morning I would have gone out and run another mile there and then just to make sure. What's particularly annoying is that I certainly won't do 100 in May, and probably not June. And then we'll be travelling in July and August so I probably won't then either.<br />
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I will learn the lesson of patience instead. Ha.kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-2911612460167947102014-03-27T23:16:00.000+00:002014-03-27T23:16:06.431+00:00MarchDespite being a proselytising atheist by nature, I decided to do two things for Lent. Firstly I gave up wheat, realising I had a rather dependent relationship with my bread bin and that my diet needed shaking up a bit. The first few days were pretty tough, but then I made a batch of flapjacks which got me through a few long afternoons (although they possibly didn't do a lot for addressing my afternoon carb cravings). It's getting easier, but I'm still looking forward to a raisin bagel for breakfast on Easter Day.<br />
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Secondly, I decided to try to challenge myself to sew for an hour each day. I must say I haven't always managed, but some days I've done more so I think it about evens out. I've enjoyed the practice of trying to carve out time for things, but generally it's easier to carve out time for things I can do out of the house (like running or going to the gym) because there are a lot of distractions at home. That said, I have got loads done, and it makes me realise how much you can achieve with just one hour a day. Next year I might do a whole year of one hour a day, but with different things. It would make for a fun experiment!<br />
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So I made my Geranium dresses for my friends daughters. They are currently in transit from the US to the UK so I hope they get there and she likes them. I mean they like them. In a rare moment of snowlessness I managed to photograph them in the yard.<br />
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The top one is an age 4 with gathered skirt, patch pockets and frilly cap sleeves. <br />
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The other one is age 6, with a notched neckline, pleated skirt and inseam pockets. I like how they are clearly from the same family, but not identical!<br />
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Snowlessness does not equate to windlessness so they're blowing about a fair bit. Also the neighbour's kid was out shooting hoops at the end of the road and giving me funny looks. I didn't want him thinking I was sewing dresses for my boys (although it was tempting to try them on them).<br />
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The sunshine was deceptive, it's still hovering around freezing, but I caught sight of a brave crocus which made me yearn for the sun and summer. So optimistically I decided to make a little denim skirt out of some thrift store jeans and yellow bias tape. For some reason I have yard upon yard of yellow bias tape. Clearly I made if for some project or other, but seriously, there's yards.<br />
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There's more snow forecast for tonight so I'm not anticipating wearing this any time soon.</div>
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Looking back at my list, I think I'm doing quite well:</div>
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More pjs for the boys: DONE</div>
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Another couple of <a href="http://www.shopwiksten.com/product/tank-top-sewing-pattern-downloadable-pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Wiksten tanks</span></a> for me: one DONE</div>
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A <a href="http://www.shopwiksten.com/product/tova-sewing-pattern-downloadable-pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Wiksten Tova</span></a>: fabric allocated.</div>
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A pleated skirt for the summer. Maybe this <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/zinnia" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Zinnia</span></a>. And a <a href="http://shop.grainlinestudio.com/product/moss-mini-skirt" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Moss</span></a>. Not done, but I'm hoping for the patterns for my birthday.</div>
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A <a href="http://www.victorypatterns.com/products/lola/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Lola</span></a> dress (I actually have fabric for 3. Whoops). DONE</div>
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<a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2012/12/geranium-dress-sewing-pattern-is-here/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Geranium</span></a> dresses for a friend's daughters. DONE</div>
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Finishing the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/impromptualong/pool" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Impromptu</span></a> quilt I started last year. DONE</div>
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Making the <a href="http://cloud9fabrics.com/Pigeon_Bus.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #5588aa;">Pigeon</span></a> quilt I bought fabric for a year ago. DONE</div>
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But now in other news, I have something else to finish. A Marathon. Yep. A Marathon. 26.2 miles. I did a half, really only with 6 weeks notice, figuring it was about time I pulled my finger out and did something with my time. Other than sewing, obviously. Whilst I was training, applications opened for the <a href="http://www.marinemarathon.com/" target="_blank">Marine Corps Marathon.</a> There's a possibility I got a bit carried away in the moment, but I entered the lottery and, oh dear, got a place. The website tells me it's in 215 days. Best get training.</div>
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kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-80598705584804940322014-02-19T01:00:00.000+00:002014-02-19T01:46:31.958+00:00Finishing FebruarySometimes I just don't feel like sewing. I don't know what to sew, or there's too much to do and it's all over whelming, or I forget how much I like hiding in the basement, surrounded by lego and Skylanders (no, I don't know what they are either) with my sewing machine and a podcast. But sometimes me and my sewing mojo are just in sync. And I tell you, now is one of those times. The last few weeks have been super productive, which is weird, because on a daily basis I feel like throttling everyone at the thwartedness of all my plans. DC has had a lot of winter snow, to the extent that of the seven weeks since the Christmas holidays, my boys haven't had a full week of school. One week they should have done, in that there weren't any weather related closures, but there were 2 teacher work days. 2. It was like teacher planner people laughing in the faces of despairing parents across Fairfax County. I hope they put them to good use. But I still seem to have got things done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUipcY4pQy1RMpFvRsn5KXYO5DGDSs9gaXi9KChVJSTyV80dRy7LhDJGzUEB-wguhp7bWDy9Q5pxAUNcY-pA9COhP31-uvaVK9GW2eugVoWVvx4a5Qj3dz7F92MA-E1ryoSw5exEEj1-U/s1600/20140213_094540-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUipcY4pQy1RMpFvRsn5KXYO5DGDSs9gaXi9KChVJSTyV80dRy7LhDJGzUEB-wguhp7bWDy9Q5pxAUNcY-pA9COhP31-uvaVK9GW2eugVoWVvx4a5Qj3dz7F92MA-E1ryoSw5exEEj1-U/s1600/20140213_094540-1.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEY7OH7SzppXrsY4xlbtIfNsZ3-sS4_6FBhtjtvFEOueZwnAdO9Cb0f1vaqx5_-UtnuCLBG3nZ0EtNQyk43CFIHJaxP9TXarCHFMCClxAinJzQET8u_5h9Mqqz-rrh7sBuw5xabJNXIwA/s1600/20140213_094734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEY7OH7SzppXrsY4xlbtIfNsZ3-sS4_6FBhtjtvFEOueZwnAdO9Cb0f1vaqx5_-UtnuCLBG3nZ0EtNQyk43CFIHJaxP9TXarCHFMCClxAinJzQET8u_5h9Mqqz-rrh7sBuw5xabJNXIwA/s1600/20140213_094734.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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My husband is really supportive, and I love him for it. But today, when I wanted to go to a gym class, and there was (another) two hour school delay and I couldn't he tried to say he understood. But he doesn't. He doesn't have his plans thwarted day after day by children, illness, snow. He just has to go to work and have nice lunches. But then apparently that thwarts his inclination to stay at home and do lego and find out what Skylanders are. You can't win, can you?<br />
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And it's interesting, because I have more going on at the moment than I have for a while, but I still have time, it would seem, to make for sewing. More time even. I'm running lots, going to the gym and sewing. But not all at the same time. That would be complicated. A time comes, doesn't it, a while after having a baby, when you remember who you are, and what you love and you remember to carve out time to do it. And somehow you rediscover the energy to do it. And then it snows and it's back to chocolate biscuits and gin.<br />
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And snowgheritas. They're like frozen margheritas. But with real snow.<br />
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So, finishing. I have Done Well.<br />
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Less well at taking pictures and all that though. Still, baby steps. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5Rsc5UUNiAXZ50cmTcfIMjnI3uTgwWdEt1aOCbYBWA5lNev9D03DnIqpTynJqe48-hdDO_Gq9JANacZru8JqsnUgokADf4qfBRuiDo16Ky8oPT0mjqDxRr4wlSJeNIrQwcBCDq1J6G0/s1600/20140208_111438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5Rsc5UUNiAXZ50cmTcfIMjnI3uTgwWdEt1aOCbYBWA5lNev9D03DnIqpTynJqe48-hdDO_Gq9JANacZru8JqsnUgokADf4qfBRuiDo16Ky8oPT0mjqDxRr4wlSJeNIrQwcBCDq1J6G0/s1600/20140208_111438.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqNw_eACX3RRHiN5WYZCzvynyCZMBT2UCe8nwpcYCLECEkMKK4FxDY_07j7H3ncKm3pEQD7ChHBRwcV0nshxJETUIyOrcFyLXLwy2n_ouwGSWNooNw9SaOP_YDSLduEyaCx-8ias3qrQ/s1600/20140208_111349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqNw_eACX3RRHiN5WYZCzvynyCZMBT2UCe8nwpcYCLECEkMKK4FxDY_07j7H3ncKm3pEQD7ChHBRwcV0nshxJETUIyOrcFyLXLwy2n_ouwGSWNooNw9SaOP_YDSLduEyaCx-8ias3qrQ/s1600/20140208_111349.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Firstly, pyjamas for the boys. My big boys are getting to that age where they want to wear sweats and branded tshirts. We compromise at cords and character tshirts, but I'm fairly sure hell would freeze over before they wore something homemade. Unless it's fancy dress of course, where different rules apply. But they do like a homemade jammie. Particularly when they get to make the tops. This is a fairly failsafe formula I've developed over the years: make the bottoms, hack the top. So each of these is a store bought (or in the little one's case, hand me down) tshirt with the sleeves cut off and replaced with the trouser fabric. Then I use the sleeve fabric to make the trouser cuff, which kind of ties things together. Each set reflects the boys' interests, from left, bugs, dragons and fishies (does not bode well for hand me downs. Should have thought that through). The big boys got to draw on their tshirts with fabric markers. Months ago. Seriously, before Christmas.</div>
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Eventually I did get round to starting the trousers, but made a complete cock up of the dragon ones by using an old pattern I'd made from their old trousers, and then deciding to convert it into a one piece pattern which just didn't work. Then I had to wait for my friend to come home from holiday to buy new fabric and blah blah blah they took ages.</div>
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Lessons learned: use a proper pattern (in the end I used the free one that you get when you sign up for emails from <a href="http://www.sewcanshe.com/" target="_blank">Sew Can She).</a> Don't promise children things until you're sure you can deliver. Don't try and take photos of 3 children in one go. Measure twice cut once. Don't look at 'pjs for 3 kids' as one item. Seriously, that's 6 items of clothing. Don't forget you have a fourth child. He was holding my legs whilst I was trying to take photos.</div>
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Secondly. The Impromptu Quilt. I started this months ago. I have a love hate relationship with it. Mostly hate related to the foul polyester fabric I chose for the surround, not entirely realising just how much of it there would be. And how polyestery it was. Still, it has been completely redeemed by binding. And now I quite love it. I just haven't photographed it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWaR0FugqBSEXJPSbXeAFMY1d9MB1-1Pz8lxTV8ASUZPzBheYy-k8ZLC1LpedOeEubF0DLQlvXluv1UTSQmbrXZ_PcAeyO6lFsKd0nu8JO4SGw-xXLGmZLHK8O9TX3UBj1Hm3V_yF38w/s1600/20140208_214940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWaR0FugqBSEXJPSbXeAFMY1d9MB1-1Pz8lxTV8ASUZPzBheYy-k8ZLC1LpedOeEubF0DLQlvXluv1UTSQmbrXZ_PcAeyO6lFsKd0nu8JO4SGw-xXLGmZLHK8O9TX3UBj1Hm3V_yF38w/s1600/20140208_214940.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBp7sazMLIKGfEFjTedz-xYXtUICY2vCwbS8pTPVEtl4EPnUfZVjO4-F_p3-0_hQIJRHgWspQVg0No-FLCe7ziInlLImkaN5xdU-nufgBthhu83pcE0D0pTqe_-ks88DO8LippYc9FtU/s1600/20140208_215010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBp7sazMLIKGfEFjTedz-xYXtUICY2vCwbS8pTPVEtl4EPnUfZVjO4-F_p3-0_hQIJRHgWspQVg0No-FLCe7ziInlLImkaN5xdU-nufgBthhu83pcE0D0pTqe_-ks88DO8LippYc9FtU/s1600/20140208_215010.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUipcY4pQy1RMpFvRsn5KXYO5DGDSs9gaXi9KChVJSTyV80dRy7LhDJGzUEB-wguhp7bWDy9Q5pxAUNcY-pA9COhP31-uvaVK9GW2eugVoWVvx4a5Qj3dz7F92MA-E1ryoSw5exEEj1-U/s1600/20140213_094540-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> I have a lovely friend in the UK who is very keen on giving me hugs. I am not very keen on receiving hugs, and apparently it's quite off putting to hug someone who is flinching (although I am told I have got better over the years, and now only flinch internally. She still knows though). I am hoping that the quilt will serve as a proxy hugger whilst we are overseas, and that she will know I am thinking of her. Like me, she is a mother of boys and so, perhaps, is in need of a bit of pink and floral in her life / house. There certainly isn't much of that here.</div>
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Lessons learned: Those deceptively simple quilts you see online are actually fiendishly complicated a lot of the time. Buy the best fabric you can afford not the cheapest you can find. Don't leave a project out on the spare bed for 6 months - the children will rearrange it. Don't give up on something (but do step away for a bit). Read the instructions. Make the backing bigger than the front. Yes, really. </div>
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So those two projects were both things I had already started and needed to finish. The third thing I had bought the pattern for, and fabric for, but not got any further than that. So this counts really as in 'finishing (using up) stuff I already own' rather than finishing a project. It's a <a href="http://www.victorypatterns.com/products/lola/" target="_blank">Lola dress</a> from Victory patterns. It has pockets. Big ones. I tell you I'm never sewing anything without pockets again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEY7OH7SzppXrsY4xlbtIfNsZ3-sS4_6FBhtjtvFEOueZwnAdO9Cb0f1vaqx5_-UtnuCLBG3nZ0EtNQyk43CFIHJaxP9TXarCHFMCClxAinJzQET8u_5h9Mqqz-rrh7sBuw5xabJNXIwA/s1600/20140213_094734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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It came together really quickly after the inevitable faff of printing, cutting, sticking, tracing, cutting and pinning that you get with download pattern. And my sewing machine did a good job with its zigzag stitch, rather than the recommended serger.</div>
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Lessons learned: don't get your (well, mine) husband to take photos of you. Don't wear thick welly socks to have your photo taken. Don't stand by your kitchen bin to have your photo taken. Really the learning points here are photography related. Also, trust the measurement size and don't say 'surely the pattern must lie, and really I am 2 sizes bigger than that', because probably the pattern doesn't lie. I'd very much like more of these in my life, but one size smaller. And (see points from above) in a better fabric. $3 a yard is a bargain for sure, but it's kind of thin and see through. And I give the children electric shocks.</div>
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Fourth project: a <a href="http://www.shopwiksten.com/product/tova-shirt-sewing-pattern" target="_blank">Wiksten</a> tank. This was an upcycle from a <a href="http://blog.lexielovestorun.com/index.php/blog/" target="_blank">friend's</a> cast offs - actually a shirt of her husband's. She's a bit smaller than I am, so the top's a bit tight on me, but I was really pleased with how it turned out. I made a tank dress last year, (with hacked pockets, clearly) which is now too big, and love the pattern. This time and particularly because I was sewing for someone else, I really paid attention to the finishing, sewing French seams inside and being really careful with the bias tape. I even ironed it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDhqyCyAKcDXX1Fl42EX7e6Y9gHs7Wk35vk8cLN8NZtyhyphenhyphensdLpR3AW0st2_Nb19ohd0JhNgkX2k3-2qWEn_NcnnjzuaxGiy0TqjDBbEPno3Po95D8GuJ5SufTFECMdVTs8-n06PzD-VY/s1600/20140217_161512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDhqyCyAKcDXX1Fl42EX7e6Y9gHs7Wk35vk8cLN8NZtyhyphenhyphensdLpR3AW0st2_Nb19ohd0JhNgkX2k3-2qWEn_NcnnjzuaxGiy0TqjDBbEPno3Po95D8GuJ5SufTFECMdVTs8-n06PzD-VY/s1600/20140217_161512.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4DD-2QXCGHpxnJqgUCznI63oT0hEeyV3UHWAz0fBVUHRgZjH0uyjf2VuL5-MV0pmQBQIq5EBjAnMT95EN6bAkUc2w9X5nFopMwVA8wDID9MMr9vk0N8AFTqXf-QrbLCf84ALPlWSWu0/s1600/20140217_161526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4DD-2QXCGHpxnJqgUCznI63oT0hEeyV3UHWAz0fBVUHRgZjH0uyjf2VuL5-MV0pmQBQIq5EBjAnMT95EN6bAkUc2w9X5nFopMwVA8wDID9MMr9vk0N8AFTqXf-QrbLCf84ALPlWSWu0/s1600/20140217_161526.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lessons learned: Don't take pictures in your hallway either. Or of a too small top that you're wearing over leggings. Good finishing really pays off in a lovely finished garment. Don't throw anything away ever because it might come in handy to turn into a lovely tank. Don't write epic posts about everything you've done in a month because it's exhausting.<br />
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Still, I think that nails February!<br />
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kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-63327304773449690572014-02-02T00:24:00.000+00:002014-02-02T00:24:27.841+00:00New year's resolutions... bustedSo, Christmas, new year, came and went. I never did write that post about buying sustainably made clothes. Or about Christmas crafting. Although I did actually do some. And I resolved that this year I would get my act together, and I would sew and craft and create and I would photograph it and write about it and I would do at least one post a month. Well. That hasn't worked, has it. In my defence, I've written this post a dozen times in my head. Does that count?<br />
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I thought for my January post I would write about what I want to do with this blog for the year. Whether I want to keep it going or not, and if I do, then how I'm going to actually manage it, and what I want to achieve with it.<br />
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And so my theme for the year is going to be 'Finishing'. Finishing in various senses of the word, firstly as in completing projects which I have either started or at least envisaged, and secondly, in the technical finishing of a piece, so making sure the threads are knotted, and tied. Hems are pressed. Grafting is done. And also that details are included. Pockets. Buttons. Finishing touches. That's kind of point 2.b. But also thirdly, in the spirit of being more environmentally conscious, finishing things I already have, so no more fabric for a while. Unless it's gorgeous. Or a bargain. Or necessary.<br />
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So what am I going to make this year? No doubt other stuff will creep in, but broadly I would like to make / finish the following:<br />
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<ul>
<li>More pjs for the boys</li>
<li>Another couple of <a href="http://www.shopwiksten.com/product/tank-top-sewing-pattern-downloadable-pdf" target="_blank">Wiksten tanks</a> for me</li>
<li>A <a href="http://www.shopwiksten.com/product/tova-sewing-pattern-downloadable-pdf" target="_blank">Wiksten Tova</a></li>
<li>A pleated skirt for the summer. Maybe this <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/zinnia" target="_blank">Zinnia</a>. And a <a href="http://shop.grainlinestudio.com/product/moss-mini-skirt" target="_blank">Moss</a>. Which I know isn't pleated, but I have just the fabric for.</li>
<li>A <a href="http://www.victorypatterns.com/products/lola/" target="_blank">Lola</a> dress (I actually have fabric for 3. Whoops)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2012/12/geranium-dress-sewing-pattern-is-here/" target="_blank">Geranium</a> dresses for a friend's daughters</li>
<li>Finishing the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/impromptualong/pool" target="_blank">Improptu</a> quilt I started last year. Oh dear. I just looked at the Flickr pool. Everyone else finished ages ago. </li>
<li>Making the <a href="http://cloud9fabrics.com/Pigeon_Bus.html" target="_blank">Pigeon</a> quilt I bought fabric for a year ago</li>
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And challenging myself a bit, with new projects and blog stuff<br />
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<li>Making more things from the books I already have</li>
<li>Making a dress for me. Like a proper fitted dress, not a sack, and then wearing it! Maybe a <a href="http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/coffee-date-dress-multisize-sample" target="_blank">Coffee Date Dress</a></li>
<li>Participating in something bloggy. <a href="http://blog.kidsclothesweek.com/" target="_blank">Kids clothes week</a> is now, so it ain't going to be that! Perhaps if I can get my head round it I might do <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/me-made-may13-sign-up-here.html" target="_blank">Me Made May</a></li>
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I also seem to have remembered how to knit again, so would like to do a couple of things. I already made an <a href="http://katedaviesdesigns.com/designs/o-w-l-s/" target="_blank">O W L sweater</a>, which I've wanted to do for years. Now I have my eyes on a Quince studios <a href="http://quinceandco.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_12&products_id=28" target="_blank">Camilla</a>.<br />
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So, 2014. A year of blogging and finishing. 1 post down. 11 to go. Phew.kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-85961657134699491672013-09-23T00:43:00.000+01:002013-09-23T00:43:25.959+01:00Not going shoppingFor a while now I've been thinking about buying new clothes, but something seems to stop me. I think in Bristol, I combined shopping at independent shops with the odd bit of high street shopping and quite a lot of clothes swaps, so there was always something new (to me at least) going around without having to endure a big trip to the mall. Here, however, it's pretty much mall or nothing. And blimey, what a mall. It's huge! However, huge isn't the same as great, and I find myself panic buying cheap and cheerful / shoddy clothes in big stores like Old Navy and H&M.<br />
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I don't think I'm the only person who has been questioning using these shops, especially since the terrible accident in Bangladesh earlier in the year. It's prompted me to consider my relationship with clothing and fashion and shopping and making, which leads to some quite uncomfortable thinking. For example, do I really <em>need</em> a new this or that, when I already have one / some? Should I wear things until they are literally falling apart? Can I justify buying new things if I give old things away?<br />
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Part of this thinking is environmental: there's an impact to each purchase on natural resources, on energy usage, on transportation. There's waste generated in making the garment, packaging it, replacing previous items which aren't always recycled responsibly.<br />
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Another part is social. Most clothing, especially cheap high street fashion, is made by people in appalling conditions with very low pay in the developing world. Whilst the accident in Bangladesh highlighted it, it's hardly new news and is something many of us have been aware of for a long time.<br />
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Related to this is a growing distaste at the big business nature of shopping. Even shops which purport to be smaller, or to emulate local independent retailers are likely to be owned by huge multi nationals. Profit does not go to shop staff, clothing manufacturers, even clothing designers, who are likely as not to be employed to copy high end design rather than to come up with original designs of their own.<br />
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There's also a gendered dimension to it. Buying new clothes could be seen as conforming to a patriarchal stereotype of what women should look like, and that I should concern myself with my appearance rather than world affairs (heaven forbid I can do both). Furthermore, the majority of garment workers are women in the developing world, whereas the profit goes to men in the developed world, perpetuating both a gender and geographical divide. <br />
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So, in short, I haven't shopped in a while. There are other options: firstly, obviously, make your own; secondly, buy from small businesses, eco lines and the internet; and, thirdly shop vintage, whether, again from the internet, from thrift or from consignment sales. But even these options don't come without consideration. For example, if I make my own clothes, I have to buy the fabric from somewhere, but the fabric stores near me are themselves big businesses. So is it better to buy fabric from Walmart or a dress from Anthro (which might present an independent aesthetic, but is clearly a big business)? Are conditions in fabric factories better than those in garment factories? By buying fabric and making my own clothes, am I taking job opportunities away from the developing world? Are clothing manufacturers more efficient (undoubted) at making clothes, and therefore am I making more of an environmental nuisance of myself by stopping them? If I contribute to a secondhand market for mass manufactured clothes, am I also stimulating the primary market for them? If I opt out and make all my own clothes, will anyone ever invite me to anything smart again? If I buy clothes from thrift stores or yard sales, am I reducing the pool of clothing available to people on lower budgets?<br />
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Obviously I could just not buy anything, although eventually I might need to, that wouldn't happen for a year or two. I could go to the logical extreme and grow cotton or keep sheep to make my own fabric to make my own clothes. But I'm not prepared to (and the landlord might have something to say about it). Or I could just be a bit more mindful. Try to shop vintage, or from environmentally friendly companies, or clothes made in guaranteed conditions. Make more of my own things. Borrow from friends. Swap. So there it is. I'm not pledging anything. I'm not giving up shopping. But for now, I will try not to buy 'fast' fashion.<br />
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I'll let you know how I get on. kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-44945355300007678672013-08-06T17:32:00.000+01:002013-08-06T17:32:00.210+01:00GeraniumsI know I'm a bit late on this old band wagon, but what with have boys, it's a bit hard to keep up with girl fashions. Still, you'd have to live in a hole not to know about the Geranium. I've also been a bit of stinge with not buying patterns I only thought I would use a couple of times, but then I remembered these ladies write their lovely blogs for free, and that if I bought their patterns, I'd be supporting them as well as getting something nice. So I paid up, got the fabric and set off.<br />
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See what I made:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESHkGX6U6x4Ck9pkP5m53jsD98b0hIBnrLtOs3aJyIponyzI1qp3W4xYcvvDlLzo8nyV8-H6JUxUcon37BN-mXoMizfiCdE3LBL-hZI6Ki-CLvCgLiVQFyqn3PKGmGyLDLWfuNnJme0I/s1600/DSCF2500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESHkGX6U6x4Ck9pkP5m53jsD98b0hIBnrLtOs3aJyIponyzI1qp3W4xYcvvDlLzo8nyV8-H6JUxUcon37BN-mXoMizfiCdE3LBL-hZI6Ki-CLvCgLiVQFyqn3PKGmGyLDLWfuNnJme0I/s1600/DSCF2500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESHkGX6U6x4Ck9pkP5m53jsD98b0hIBnrLtOs3aJyIponyzI1qp3W4xYcvvDlLzo8nyV8-H6JUxUcon37BN-mXoMizfiCdE3LBL-hZI6Ki-CLvCgLiVQFyqn3PKGmGyLDLWfuNnJme0I/s320/DSCF2500.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Two little dresses and a shirt (not a geranium - it's actually from the Sewing for Boys book, which I've had for a while and largely ignored)</div>
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So, little shirt, meant for an 18m old, modelled on my 3 year old. I think there's going to be room for growth. I really liked this pattern, which came together quickly and looked very professional when I'd done. In my imagination, I'll be making more of these. In reality we'll see.<br />
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Oh look, there it is again. I particularly like that it looks like a proper shirt with a granddad collar, but doesn't have buttons or anything. Makes it super speedy!</div>
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So then I made two dresses with the same range of fabric, which was fun. Although I would say, it's worth consulting the pattern to see how much you need before you blithely say to your fabric toting pal, 'oh, I'll just have a yard of each'. Cos 7 year old girls are tall, and take a lot of fabric. Anyhow, I think it looks nice with the contrasting bits. Just as well!</div>
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I lined the bodices with the same fabric as the trim, and put a bit of piping in to tie them together. </div>
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I also made the gathered skirt for the younger girl, and the pleated one for the older one. I like how they coordinate but aren't too matchy. And they all have pockets. I swear, I'm never sewing anything without pockets again.</div>
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Another learning point: don't try to size up patterns. I enlarged the bodice slightly, but then forgot about the skirt, so the pleats didn't line up too well. And then the next week, <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/" target="_blank">Rae</a> released a bigger size anyway. So I've bought that too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8pRnuun_5fSgTTOPpcXPV83UiKBA9rSTZ3Zn7kt0eoMaahZFgkbGUQNlUmucu2UrKC_cfdJbFKLpKDLII0sshEG0jwVt2pWJ0bv_4SJSpaaXmSTBXHTr83eu7e4weqLarrVtBt72ulk/s1600/DSCF2504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8pRnuun_5fSgTTOPpcXPV83UiKBA9rSTZ3Zn7kt0eoMaahZFgkbGUQNlUmucu2UrKC_cfdJbFKLpKDLII0sshEG0jwVt2pWJ0bv_4SJSpaaXmSTBXHTr83eu7e4weqLarrVtBt72ulk/s320/DSCF2504.JPG" width="240" /></a>It was a lovely pattern to follow, and I'm happy with the dresses and shirt. The instructions were way better than the ones you get in the paper patterns, so it was easy to follow. I just need to be more attentive!</div>
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kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-60214138082054192132013-06-17T02:09:00.002+01:002013-06-17T02:09:46.000+01:00Stuff I've been making...<span id="goog_1085154626"></span><span id="goog_1085154627">... and just not got around to blogging about. Life, you know, gets in the way.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqYiEDjBEtA7ah0XgonVDQVi6d00KG4lWWyJfbc-6PFfCzjsTk_5I978Z2ybsBWJJOopg3N7p66XmYAt_rjfZhHhWRBovted3TwU_JuKNC3xO0fsEh9DS6cKqYE6hSm6vzyhakxMgtd4/s1600/DSCF2439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqYiEDjBEtA7ah0XgonVDQVi6d00KG4lWWyJfbc-6PFfCzjsTk_5I978Z2ybsBWJJOopg3N7p66XmYAt_rjfZhHhWRBovted3TwU_JuKNC3xO0fsEh9DS6cKqYE6hSm6vzyhakxMgtd4/s320/DSCF2439.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dress for a friend's daughter (upcycled from a maternity tent)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbGYiiVQ-sw24xRD_DN_K8qZ0fLIMMzOoA3qvn7i0GTievnzP51wE627rxWAQ8vjP2lofK7u8fom29iPZOmCRl2xALMKoUP5SwmaA7lwm83RES3mrePIq6IRh9nL71ldKjwO4TBzp6vw/s1600/DSCF2440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbGYiiVQ-sw24xRD_DN_K8qZ0fLIMMzOoA3qvn7i0GTievnzP51wE627rxWAQ8vjP2lofK7u8fom29iPZOmCRl2xALMKoUP5SwmaA7lwm83RES3mrePIq6IRh9nL71ldKjwO4TBzp6vw/s320/DSCF2440.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dress for my friend's other daughter. Twins. Phew, tired just thinking about it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUc2OM5vPnMzUiNIRXd0faTB2ZNxCMHHhbjWeGXNoj9eQuCYPoUpfkWbxuhibOOiZdsEefOUOHB0KsPD3Kvuqby2hNkrivo4fTQopzzDBjoO2yRsH0RWHbzU4eEbeYIRYwF8omWs1rjo/s1600/DSCF2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUc2OM5vPnMzUiNIRXd0faTB2ZNxCMHHhbjWeGXNoj9eQuCYPoUpfkWbxuhibOOiZdsEefOUOHB0KsPD3Kvuqby2hNkrivo4fTQopzzDBjoO2yRsH0RWHbzU4eEbeYIRYwF8omWs1rjo/s320/DSCF2452.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Wilbur Wright costume for my first born</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLZfx0pMTrLUUiBD75ZBs4ejZ67_O8aKMQKAjzA7zxwRXGjTLYaORM4CcsU0DP0cr0zuZCEwmKtbjyRIuQmAZ5PPGsu-Tt_KTRd7yCzj9toOg_MvDw8jHExBmtZ7Wy9VUtEtHDNMUFI8/s1600/DSCF2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLZfx0pMTrLUUiBD75ZBs4ejZ67_O8aKMQKAjzA7zxwRXGjTLYaORM4CcsU0DP0cr0zuZCEwmKtbjyRIuQmAZ5PPGsu-Tt_KTRd7yCzj9toOg_MvDw8jHExBmtZ7Wy9VUtEtHDNMUFI8/s320/DSCF2453.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a repurposed men's shirt and some old corduroy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLelpjP2Hw1m7YmDPa6NyvEydqiXtj1dLNwVT0jWZ-NCS2zf1_iAr1IYtbMBC1VzKGWSU5xCFflVgmN9qbB2QMJIUchb-j5MWG5e2v8upCJA2BxOzc-JbT_R1hmA-8gEcd0WurvYyhjw/s1600/DSCF2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLelpjP2Hw1m7YmDPa6NyvEydqiXtj1dLNwVT0jWZ-NCS2zf1_iAr1IYtbMBC1VzKGWSU5xCFflVgmN9qbB2QMJIUchb-j5MWG5e2v8upCJA2BxOzc-JbT_R1hmA-8gEcd0WurvYyhjw/s320/DSCF2454.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadly the hat's a bit small, but the cravat has been incorporated into everyday wear.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3gghPXvipG5rK6rW6dMzgWSE5WFiwm3prGhkGpQ_aMo8xkvpsArwZehJB5TLU7qbkzXNdjhU98_HVL5e5llIi9q2RHrnGVgKN0bNqyn9-NrNdakMkuFN2wnn4c_eIWrSIdKNQe_3I2A/s1600/DSCF2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3gghPXvipG5rK6rW6dMzgWSE5WFiwm3prGhkGpQ_aMo8xkvpsArwZehJB5TLU7qbkzXNdjhU98_HVL5e5llIi9q2RHrnGVgKN0bNqyn9-NrNdakMkuFN2wnn4c_eIWrSIdKNQe_3I2A/s320/DSCF2478.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 little dresses from the same fabric as the little trousers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVfpOgJcXorojKUsiFnV8JGd0kasysI3vhjzKA-OMcvrS75hw1K3FOAdBm5_Y3zyYnztXsV5xVxRLKq9mvXFhxNYqIu9MXiJdpUmlFd6mubmzeggY1w9mpJeVWLRU0oMKF7O621QTFxY/s1600/IMAG0832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVfpOgJcXorojKUsiFnV8JGd0kasysI3vhjzKA-OMcvrS75hw1K3FOAdBm5_Y3zyYnztXsV5xVxRLKq9mvXFhxNYqIu9MXiJdpUmlFd6mubmzeggY1w9mpJeVWLRU0oMKF7O621QTFxY/s320/IMAG0832.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a Black Forest Gateau. All that sewing made me hungry.</td></tr>
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kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-91962275247774639432013-05-20T02:49:00.002+01:002013-05-20T02:49:35.825+01:00Work in progress...I'm making a heap of <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2013/01/adding-trim-to-the-geranium-dress/">Geranium dresses</a> for a friend with girls, but don't have any girls to model for me. So I had to make do with a boy. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfd8H1gEJn4BNvlW2wY3coLJfettOw6oTEPKMHVPxMpNvHla2OXywy7C4RZEIdVLcEIciqiGdA1lR349UgHkqEtZgy3jA6MmUgsKSezVssU-Qc6NcD4DLl1IZ5OFfX76H4updkgjYYTM/s1600/981225_10151501274790674_245273710_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfd8H1gEJn4BNvlW2wY3coLJfettOw6oTEPKMHVPxMpNvHla2OXywy7C4RZEIdVLcEIciqiGdA1lR349UgHkqEtZgy3jA6MmUgsKSezVssU-Qc6NcD4DLl1IZ5OFfX76H4updkgjYYTM/s400/981225_10151501274790674_245273710_o.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfd8H1gEJn4BNvlW2wY3coLJfettOw6oTEPKMHVPxMpNvHla2OXywy7C4RZEIdVLcEIciqiGdA1lR349UgHkqEtZgy3jA6MmUgsKSezVssU-Qc6NcD4DLl1IZ5OFfX76H4updkgjYYTM/s1600/981225_10151501274790674_245273710_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfd8H1gEJn4BNvlW2wY3coLJfettOw6oTEPKMHVPxMpNvHla2OXywy7C4RZEIdVLcEIciqiGdA1lR349UgHkqEtZgy3jA6MmUgsKSezVssU-Qc6NcD4DLl1IZ5OFfX76H4updkgjYYTM/s1600/981225_10151501274790674_245273710_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfd8H1gEJn4BNvlW2wY3coLJfettOw6oTEPKMHVPxMpNvHla2OXywy7C4RZEIdVLcEIciqiGdA1lR349UgHkqEtZgy3jA6MmUgsKSezVssU-Qc6NcD4DLl1IZ5OFfX76H4updkgjYYTM/s1600/981225_10151501274790674_245273710_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">Something of an action shot, admittedly, but he refused to take it off after, and had to be mollified with the rather aged Dragon Suit. </span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfd8H1gEJn4BNvlW2wY3coLJfettOw6oTEPKMHVPxMpNvHla2OXywy7C4RZEIdVLcEIciqiGdA1lR349UgHkqEtZgy3jA6MmUgsKSezVssU-Qc6NcD4DLl1IZ5OFfX76H4updkgjYYTM/s1600/981225_10151501274790674_245273710_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"></span> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfd8H1gEJn4BNvlW2wY3coLJfettOw6oTEPKMHVPxMpNvHla2OXywy7C4RZEIdVLcEIciqiGdA1lR349UgHkqEtZgy3jA6MmUgsKSezVssU-Qc6NcD4DLl1IZ5OFfX76H4updkgjYYTM/s1600/981225_10151501274790674_245273710_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">Maybe I should make one for him?</span></a></div>
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kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-26875681481023810672013-05-16T15:21:00.000+01:002013-05-16T15:21:14.705+01:00Little trousersWith so many little boys in the house, you'd think there would be lots of little trousers wouldn't you. Well, you'd think wrong. Somewhere along the way, we've lost all the 6-12 month clothes, which is a shame, but not the end of the world (in so many ways). The other boys are 6 months out on the new one, so that they were new born in the summer, and then snug in dungarees come the winter. The new fellow, however, needs to dress for a steaming hot, as yet to materialise, Virginia summer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Yvih_ofhaMksUWlCpd9gKcHN47LL6YsjcvKDuZDyTGwE0vTPA7eAVf9rJCVgvNEEfjLccoYFEFm42VwqAq7FanHwYh9p8qb4TD2treaB1q1MMreaI2KoIn9JSHXx6-ZI1B5Y_Z3osjo/s1600/DSCF2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Yvih_ofhaMksUWlCpd9gKcHN47LL6YsjcvKDuZDyTGwE0vTPA7eAVf9rJCVgvNEEfjLccoYFEFm42VwqAq7FanHwYh9p8qb4TD2treaB1q1MMreaI2KoIn9JSHXx6-ZI1B5Y_Z3osjo/s320/DSCF2470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can run these little trousers up in minutes - almost less time than it would take to go upstairs and find a clean pair. They're just simple, two pieces (left and right, more on that below), drawn round another pair that fit, with soft elastic at the waist. We use washable nappies, so a lot of commercial trousers are too narrow (I'm looking at you especially, Gap), so I make them with extra big bottoms and lots of give.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJkqeLQ6gLIRA5PbbGUGkQSSbY0-N-yqkFdJxkd-m7qUFAjeORDsbupVFXSyso4UEKD6qv_mXyGarODtNOabU78y-qPiFH6KC0j_Ip8uaNe7g9IULGKtc8VMcug7nnagkHc2FQsnYdxc/s1600/DSCF2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJkqeLQ6gLIRA5PbbGUGkQSSbY0-N-yqkFdJxkd-m7qUFAjeORDsbupVFXSyso4UEKD6qv_mXyGarODtNOabU78y-qPiFH6KC0j_Ip8uaNe7g9IULGKtc8VMcug7nnagkHc2FQsnYdxc/s320/DSCF2471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had asked my husband for a bundle of prints with bugs on for my birthday, thinking of making underwear for me, and lining a handbag. Instead I got elephants. I'm hoping he didn't know I intended to make underwear with them. Still, it's a lovely fabric and they make cute boy pants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIztK97dcmoMWbEuPjd2kFa-_lF_Iw9Qv28HAwIN_o5ujiz43CBblv3ouW28T6LgSxTfKc2dWUqAaj71BBP_iOMPckOB3-okEjsnjQ7795nVZ0CqNf9LTStsXyzDApNHah8OBjPZNHmA/s1600/DSCF2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIztK97dcmoMWbEuPjd2kFa-_lF_Iw9Qv28HAwIN_o5ujiz43CBblv3ouW28T6LgSxTfKc2dWUqAaj71BBP_iOMPckOB3-okEjsnjQ7795nVZ0CqNf9LTStsXyzDApNHah8OBjPZNHmA/s320/DSCF2472.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This pair is from a sheet from Goodwill. $1. I think it will make 4 pairs - one for us, one has already gone in the post, and there's a bunch left too. It was a fitted sheet, so I saved the elastic for that smug thrifty feeling.</div>
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So the little man can coordinate with his lady friends, I edged this fun Edwardian bicycle print (just from JoAnns) in orange bias tape. </div>
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But then I got other ideas and ran into a whole load of trouble.</div>
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I have a lovely new friend who has a boy 6m older than my baby. She very kindly passes his nice, only worn by one child, washed and ironed (!) clothes onto us, so I thought I would make some clothes for her kids. </div>
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Rather than winging it by drawing round clothes and cobbling things together, I thought I would actually follow a pattern, and used one from the Lotta Jansdotter book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lotta-Jansdotters-Simple-Sewing-Baby/dp/B0073WTEG4/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368713540&sr=1-10&keywords=lotta+jansdotter">Simple Sewing for Baby.</a> I've sewn lots from this book, especially the little dresses, and really like it, but my goodness, the trouser pattern. Never again. When I read other people's blogs and they talk about 'badly drafted patterns', I've always wondered what they're talking about, and think 'how can they tell?'. Well, now I know. </div>
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Making pants in 2 pieces is easy. But, as I said above, they should be left and right, not front and back. You can't really tell from the photo, but my word are they a weird shape.</div>
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So I tried to redeem things by making a little shirt to go with them. But that turned out pretty badly too. Craft Fail. Still, she was very gracious about them. </div>
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Fortunately I also made her older daughter a little apron for baking. That, at least, was a success. </div>
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kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-10961663473699928962013-05-15T18:16:00.003+01:002013-05-15T18:16:15.293+01:00A quilt for Luther<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I made this quilt for a baby in the UK. I imagine it's a fairly basic quilt pattern, from Stitch Savvy (again), although I made broadly read and broadly blue blocks and then interspersed them, which I think gave it a bit more consistency. </div>
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His mum did her PhD on cycling, so when I saw the fabric from <a href="http://www.fabricworm.com/">Fabric Worm</a>, it was the obvious choice.</div>
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I also used up some bits and bobs from the cupboard. </div>
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It's backed with orange flannel because orange is his mum's favourite colour. And because the pattern made up one foot squares, I decided to quilt random ish one foot squares, which look good ish, but were a pain to do. Live and learn. As I can clearly neither cut, sew or quilt in straight lines, I wonder if quilting is the craft for me. That said, Luther is only 6 weeks old, so isn't a very discerning critic yet. Perhaps he'll grow up thinking that's what they're meant to look like. </div>
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Quilting's a funny old craft isn't it. I'm constantly torn between the kind of random, thrifty, Gee's Bend kind of quilts, and the more modern, beautiful interpretations of American traditional quilts. You can certainly spend a whole lot of money on what used to be a real make do and mend activity.</div>
<br />kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-64334493171368584282013-05-10T01:21:00.001+01:002013-05-10T01:21:54.935+01:00Spring top sew-alongNormally these things come and go - <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2013/03/lets-have-a-spring-top-sewalong-shall-we/" target="_blank">spring top sewalongs</a>, <a href="http://www.kidsclothesweek.com/" target="_blank">kids' clothing week</a>, <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/" target="_blank">Celebrate the boy</a> - and I have all the intentions and then don't do anything about it. But hey, it's the thought that counts. Right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCwrzvDWiJcv5sowe3_kly2PsIsKbwf4OrjJ07-yeJDPlx7HE_0sWfre-Dtue3_NjOle0vFVc-uM3W49qEApS1mGKdPq0cgbBzL8Xp_iTFkytgYCYj3b5M8VenzF3tmLTkpaX-dPxly8/s1600/STS-2013-sidebar-button-FINAL-@-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCwrzvDWiJcv5sowe3_kly2PsIsKbwf4OrjJ07-yeJDPlx7HE_0sWfre-Dtue3_NjOle0vFVc-uM3W49qEApS1mGKdPq0cgbBzL8Xp_iTFkytgYCYj3b5M8VenzF3tmLTkpaX-dPxly8/s1600/STS-2013-sidebar-button-FINAL-@-200.jpg" /></a></div>
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But, this year, I have actually managed to do a couple of spring tops for the sewalong. Well, I managed to make some tops, and there's a sewalong going on. But I think I was trawling the flickr feed and saw <a href="http://www.colettepatterns.com/" target="_blank">Colette</a> patterns that looked pretty, had a look on their site and came up with the Sorbetto. Free. Lovely. Can totally be made with men's shirts ($1 a piece at a yard sale near you).<br />
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One of these days I will get round to paying actual money for a pattern, but for now, getting around to doing some sewing feels like an accomplishment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ7Kdo0ldbOF3MCZnzEK1Iusz9Esel-_-99z6vUeGQuTvTYRgMhjkQscchPk3vEBOqnuWvjDcva0EOA5aNe1dzXCONKpw72attlXOteY1G_HK-peNw9R79NdOy8SX9dzR_MpvVrv80Is/s1600/DSCF2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ7Kdo0ldbOF3MCZnzEK1Iusz9Esel-_-99z6vUeGQuTvTYRgMhjkQscchPk3vEBOqnuWvjDcva0EOA5aNe1dzXCONKpw72attlXOteY1G_HK-peNw9R79NdOy8SX9dzR_MpvVrv80Is/s320/DSCF2476.JPG" width="240" /></a> The first one is a lovely white shirt that I actually bought to make trousers for the baby, with a blue linen shirt I'd already made into a sun hat. But the cotton had a pattern in the weave which looked funny with the linen, so I kept it for me. It has wooden buttons, which were on the front, but now are on the back, and I kept the scoopy bit at the bottom hem, partly because I liked the shape, partly because I'm lazy. You know, so lazy I sew my own clothes.<br />
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I made the US14, as I'm still pretty chunky, but it's actually too big, so I need to stick some darts in the back. Other lessons learned: When the pattern says 'stay stitch', stay stitch. Because I didn't the neck line gapes a bit. I really must get the darts in before the weather warms up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7lK7oJXGX59ooIm0bJShRMFTRlE0Rpt8SfW7r86NzQwwahyphenhyphenuFlPvBxJbQYReLvNYQQdHMr7I5TLZmhuaF9evKGFFcYOi3Al4eC67ienhCKjHnjpxkk2c0ZpIXIJWrvpVs9X1Od3UMl0/s1600/DSCF2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7lK7oJXGX59ooIm0bJShRMFTRlE0Rpt8SfW7r86NzQwwahyphenhyphenuFlPvBxJbQYReLvNYQQdHMr7I5TLZmhuaF9evKGFFcYOi3Al4eC67ienhCKjHnjpxkk2c0ZpIXIJWrvpVs9X1Od3UMl0/s320/DSCF2477.JPG" width="240" /></a>The second one is the same pattern, but with the facings on the outside (which is actually what the pattern suggests) and I sewed a line of bias tape on either side of the pleat so it looks like piping. This is a US12, which fits a lot better, but the bust darts are a bit high, so I might have a third go, although I'm out of shirts for now. Lessons learned with the Mark 2: Don't sew (or photograph) teeny tiny gingham. My eyes felt like I'd been staring at magic eye pictures (remember them?) all day by the time I'd finished. <br />
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I'm in the fortunate position of not really being on a tight budget, but even so, it feels pretty good to have made two tops for a couple of bucks, as well as to have repurposed two old shirts. The fabric is lovely, and I don't think I would have thought to make them without the design constraints imposed by repurposing as opposed to designing from scratch, something that just feels intimidating really.<br />
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<br />kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-72517230545058962152013-03-29T18:45:00.001+00:002013-03-29T18:45:11.684+00:00Red skirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is another project from Stitch Savvy. I had hoped to be doing lots of sewing at the moment, as I feel very enthused by it, but curiously I don't seem to have a lot of time with 4 boys at home. </div>
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I liked the construction of this project, but managed to get a couple of the pieces back to front which then made things rather complicated. One of the pocket pieces also seemed to have been printed back to front, which didn't help, and there was no sizing guide in the book, so I just kind of winged it. Now the weather just needs to perk up so I can wear it.</div>
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The main fabric is a heavy cotton which I think was trimmed from the bottom of a friend's curtains. There's just about enough left to make some little boy trousers from too. The floral fabric inside the pleat was a gift from a friend. I feel like I ought to make something lovely and special from it, so inevitably it's just languishing in a cupboard. Once I'm back to a less extravagant size, I have notions of turning it into a shift dress. </div>
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One of the things I really like about recycling fabrics is the way in which your clothes are imbued with meaning even before you wear them, so that when I eventually come to wear this skirt, I'll remember the clothes swap I got the fabric from, and going out for lunch on my birthday 3 years ago and being given a lovely gift of flowery material and carrot juice. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjZnc8CMJPynOKqzqNr17XqkNrZesgJu8Tu5Q8TJmP5QdUcqxlLoiMPmF-T1NsrDhqRC7AIgfvlruLoqq_ttS8xELbQ-pbOOILZskTS0y5JpcLXfW8rlURDeLyrQOmT55RWw8riajrrk/s1600/DSCF2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjZnc8CMJPynOKqzqNr17XqkNrZesgJu8Tu5Q8TJmP5QdUcqxlLoiMPmF-T1NsrDhqRC7AIgfvlruLoqq_ttS8xELbQ-pbOOILZskTS0y5JpcLXfW8rlURDeLyrQOmT55RWw8riajrrk/s320/DSCF2393.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek a boo pleat skirt peeking</td></tr>
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<br />kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-87992391256235723562013-03-17T18:47:00.003+00:002013-03-17T18:48:18.093+00:00What to do with the legsSo you've made a nice skirt. You still have 2 legs left. What to do with them? There's only so many patches you can make for your kids' trousers, and sewing new trousers out of old denim is just too tricky.
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There's a very nice bean bag / foot rest type thing on the Guardian <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/house-and-homes-blog/2011/oct/25/how-to-make-jumper-pouffe"></a> that you could make out of them, if you were so inclined. I think it would look good in a kids' bedroom. However, my boys sit on the floor. Or, more likely, run around.
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However, what I made was a little clutch bag, from the lovely <a href="http://www.clevergirl.org/2012/01/216-happy-new-year-norma-envelope.html" target="_blank">Clever Girl</a>. Perhaps it was her that inspired me to blog more: it's her new year's resolution too. I see she's just made a travel tote bag too <a href="http://www.clevergirl.org/2012/01/217-simplicity-2350-almost-perfect.html#more"></a>. I need one of those!
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My clutch bag is made of legs (obviously) and some lovely silk, origin unremembered, that's been sitting around for years. I'm trying, for various reasons (related to the need for a travel tote) to use things up. Legs and 2 square foot of silk is a great start.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbu5ou2mcBTtVlUdbo1VvYqj6_BCq46Bj4xTn6LARx2pBJSOQQvC3DoVOpvod-LrVP9ro2NklHhF85GO52q4TvWrTNA6ZdxlLTa5TB-NLxItKDUJJf_ttzrcEJ6Y5mJMmr161ZzqBNrw/s1600/DSCF2334.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700091257705282194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbu5ou2mcBTtVlUdbo1VvYqj6_BCq46Bj4xTn6LARx2pBJSOQQvC3DoVOpvod-LrVP9ro2NklHhF85GO52q4TvWrTNA6ZdxlLTa5TB-NLxItKDUJJf_ttzrcEJ6Y5mJMmr161ZzqBNrw/s320/DSCF2334.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLeVb2qjCC1xv_p2mutbtI9ycD7jzXN0IwP6r5P_yXFtXgaxXnoq6JSFouSnHUfFM7AhzSOR8L9ubPq6u-8PDm0KFjOIVUtng8HlSiOH2L6gtsCVLgcrJKFrJ22kUbvmenSBitdV0uLg/s1600/DSCF2335.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700091845487367186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLeVb2qjCC1xv_p2mutbtI9ycD7jzXN0IwP6r5P_yXFtXgaxXnoq6JSFouSnHUfFM7AhzSOR8L9ubPq6u-8PDm0KFjOIVUtng8HlSiOH2L6gtsCVLgcrJKFrJ22kUbvmenSBitdV0uLg/s320/DSCF2335.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>
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For my next trick, I'm going to work out straps and internal pockets. But for now, I have a pretty pouch, too small for an ipad (not that I own one) and too big for anything else.<br />
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*edited to add that I now use this to store our passports...kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-66088917340478632342013-03-17T18:40:00.002+00:002013-03-17T18:40:54.051+00:00Nook coversSo, Celebrate the Boy came and went and I didn't do a whole lot of celebrating, other than, you know, keeping mine fed and clothed. I did, however, have a craft inspiration for a friend's boys' birthdays. <br />
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They are about to turn 9 and 7, are mad keen readers and both have nooks (like kindles I believe). Plus, their mum is a chemistry teacher.<br />
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In an idle moment, my older boys were squabbling over our periodic table mug, as you do. Seeing He (Helium) at the top made me think of one of their sons - Henry - and I wondered if there was an appropriate element for their other son, Howard. Turns out there is: Ho (Holmium). Atomic number 67. <br />
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The other source of inspiration came from a load of spare legs: having turned all the boys school trousers and jeans with worn knees into shorts for the summer, I had a lot left over. Some I saved for patches, but really, there's only so much patching to do...<br />
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So, denim, periodic table nook covers. I must say, I'm pretty pleased with the result. <br />
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I used the tutorial at <a href="http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-sew-nook-or-kindle-case-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Little Birdie Secrets</a> and copied her lining, exchanging sophisticated black for more kid friendly green and blue. I deliberately kept the jeans stitching on the pieces I used for the back covers because I think it's a nice detail, and used printer transfer paper to print onto white cotton, which I sewed onto the fronts. The details of the elements are just done in Word (remembering to reverse the image to print out).<br />
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I really like the idea of using periodic table initials for personalising gifts, and imagine I'll be doing it again. I also just noticed that I can use US state abbreviations for all my family, so might move onto that next. <br />
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Something I really like about crafting is learning a new skill. So in this case, I put in zips in a different way to how I'd done them before, and learned how to line a pouch - hopefully both things I can use again. kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-12238774023658685032013-02-26T01:39:00.001+00:002013-02-26T01:39:05.236+00:00Celebrate the boy is back...... And what good timing it is!<br />
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I would say that I'd attempt to make something every day or post something every day as some sort of <em>challenge</em>. The internet seems to be full of challenges. But this week it's enough of a challenge to feed and dress my boys, let alone celebrate them. <br />
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But I was excited to see it back, and I hope it's a super fortnight for two of my favourite blogs: <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/">MADE</a> and <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/">Made by Rae</a><br />
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And look, I can put their boys in and have a post with pictures without having to find the widget for the camera.kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-26776416204901088002013-02-19T19:33:00.000+00:002013-02-20T22:40:33.815+00:00One pair of jeans: Two projectsI know I've posted refashioned jeans into denim skirts before, so I won't bang on about this one, other than to say its substantially, er, wider, than ones I might have mentioned before. Inevitably I put on rather a lot of weight while pregnant, and whilst I'm not beating myself up about it, I do need something to wear in the interim whilst losing weight period. I don't know where the jeans came from in the first place, but they were in a bag of post-preggo clothing that hadn't seen light of day for a while. As jeans they didn't work too well (too long, too baggy, too high waisted) but the colour was good so they got the skirt treatment.<br />
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The bag is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-Savvy-Skill-Building-Projects-Technique/dp/1440229473">Stitch Savvy </a> , my new favourite book (other online book retailers are available).<br />
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It's the first thing I've made from it. There's more to come for sure, although for a small and allegedly 'beginner' item, it was curiously time consuming. I'm hoping that was as much to do with me not being used to the format as opposed to being broadly delusional about my own abilities.<br />
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And finally, a group shot of bag, skirt and photographer's assistant. 9 months in the making, and still a work in progress. Cute though! kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-53207385745939238892013-01-27T19:56:00.000+00:002013-01-27T19:56:42.429+00:00Well I think I managed one post last year...This year I'm going to do more. Really. <br />
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Things have changed somewhat round here. We now live in DC. Well, near DC. In the 'burbs. I'm a total soccer mom. Except the boys don't play soccer. But I drive everywhere. And I listen to country music radio in the car. It started off as an affectation, a bit of a joke, an alternative view on the election. It's turned into a way of life.<br />
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Oh, and I had another baby. More specifically, another boy. 2 weeks ago. <br />
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So this is my motivation: there are no independent shops near here, and we seemed to have put a whole load of boys clothes into storage. Also, I have no independent income. In short, there's going to be more making, more refashioning, more recycling. Partly so I can wear individual clothes and not have to go to the mall all the time. Partly so I can make lovely things for 2 little boys, knowing that one can wear and then hand down to the other (the big 2 are general handmade refuseniks). Partly because if I don't do <i>something</i> I'm likely to forget how to write.<br />
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And it's not like I haven't made anything in the last year or so, but I'm not going to go through trying to catch up, because that way madness lies. And I'm not going to get all het up on linking to this, that and the next thing, and having photos for everything. And endlessly commenting on other people's blogs - other than to say that I've been totally inspired by Mason Dixon Knitting's 15 minute lightening posts. I just don't have 4 hours to sit uploading a gazillion photos and doing tutorials and linking to every other sodding craft blog. I do have 15 minutes here and there though, so that's what you're getting.kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-27961929924452080672012-03-21T13:32:00.001+00:002012-03-21T13:32:32.392+00:00Breaking newsWhen something exciting happens, it’s natural to want to tell people. But it’s also natural to want to manage the flow of information in some way, thinking about the order in which people are told, whether you drip feed information, perhaps with a hint a month or two in advance of the announcement, or whether it all comes out in one go. Not everyone likes surprises.<br /><br />Pregnancy is a bit like that. You have an amount of time when just you and your partner know, when you get to hug your delicious secret close to yourself and daydream away about how things are going to be. My first pregnancy was a bit like that, but as it happened so soon after we were married, there was an amount of speculations around how long it would take. A (male) friend of my mum’s even asked her if I was pregnant yet, only weeks after the wedding and, I think, before they knew. The cheek!<br /><br />My third pregnancy, announced when Mr Kinkatink was at death’s door in hospital came as a bit more of a surprise announcement, and accordingly was met with a variety of (slightly curious) responses, not all of them positive. That’s what comes from surprising people: they surprise you right back. <br /><br />This is all a bit off the point though. I’m not pregnant. I’m emigrating. Surprise! If you didn’t already know, we’re going to DC, in the summer, for 3 years. It’s a work thing. His work, not mine.<br /><br />We have managed our information flow a bit this time: mentioning it as a possibility over Christmas to see how people felt, and then telling people in a specific order, so that we got to break the news in person, rather than have people hear second hand. This hasn’t worked in every case (apologies), but has spared a few blushes.<br /><br />But really the people who cause the most concern are the boys. 3 years for us is a blip. Long enough to make the investment, to get to know a place. Too long that you can just tough it out. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s a sabbatical, not a holiday, but not a permanent move either. If you’re 7 or 5, it doesn’t seem like that though. Child C is too young to know anyway, but A and B have some quite fixed ideas, and why not – 3 years is the best part of half their life times. Child A will feel the brunt of it: although he’s leaving the lower end of primary school, he’ll come back to being at secondary school. Child B will just come back to the same school, and Child C will come back to start school. But as I say, he doesn’t have an opinion. <br /><br />Telling them though has been the hardest bit so far. You can make a list to deal with the other things, but little boys’ emotions just aren’t compatible with lists. And you only get one chance to do it right. <br /><br />But this is what we did: We asked questions of them, to see how they felt about abstract concepts like ‘moving’, ‘new schools’ and ‘America’. Then we started planting ideas in their heads about ‘bigger gardens’, ‘the Empire State Building’ and ‘skiing at weekends’. These ideas were all quite popular, but there was an underlying current around disliking change. But then we struck gold: they didn’t like me painting over their old bedroom’s terrible paint job, but the did like moving up to their new bedroom in the attic. So we concentrated a lot on good change, the excitement of a new school, new friends, outdoor swimming pools, camping, hiking, the American dream. The real sticking point has been the length of time we’re going for, so we just stopped talking about that. <br /><br />For now, they’re taking it very well. I hope you are too.kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-90096878533046685202012-01-21T11:53:00.004+00:002012-01-21T12:03:49.140+00:00An upcycled denim skirtI remember a few years ago there was a trend for turning old jeans into denim skirts. But they always had raw edges, and looked just a bit like skirt versions of cut off jean shorts.<br /><br />Inevitably, though, we have old jeans. I have stack of them: ones I've gone through the knees of (or the bottom of), ones that have faded too much, or been trodden down at the heel, ones that people have given me to make stuff out of. So what to do with them all? Well, denim skirts, obviously.<br /><br />You cut the legs off to the length you roughly want, unpick the inside leg seam, patch them over and sew the front pieces together, and the back pieces. I put in a little triangle from the back of the thigh so it's not too short or tight. <br /><br />Then, to stop it having a raw edge, sew bias tape around the bottom. I did one in navy for a colour averse friend, and ones in orange and dark red for me. All in all, less than an hours work for a new skirt. Result.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjvV_6yK1fNNh8Iq4istJDsiC2_Of9gPGTydcsvqbp-tSzW_rNIXGOJ_KVX9a9LqEAsQWdrdZrZ2D4Miup8ZnCopxAGG5z1-0u7vrEF6xYAx1UJN7FLO8bsXsyMhpTOhLplbBRPK2Oy0/s1600/DSCF2324.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjvV_6yK1fNNh8Iq4istJDsiC2_Of9gPGTydcsvqbp-tSzW_rNIXGOJ_KVX9a9LqEAsQWdrdZrZ2D4Miup8ZnCopxAGG5z1-0u7vrEF6xYAx1UJN7FLO8bsXsyMhpTOhLplbBRPK2Oy0/s400/DSCF2324.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700054385599249042" /></a>kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-43907919442915975062012-01-03T10:22:00.004+00:002012-01-03T10:43:27.381+00:00Resolutions<div>Oh dear, another year has been and gone. To be fair, it's been busy: finished PhD; had loft converted; recarpetted house; went camping with all 3 children lots of times; had PhD viva; Christmas...</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I wasn't going to make New Years Resolutions. I never find January a very inspiring time for new starts. Too cold. Too dark. Too miserable. But, chatting with friends at a birthday party yesterday, it seemed that lots of them had made resolutions, resolutions that I could join in on: to craft more. So that's number one. Number two is to blog about it more. And whilst I'm at it, there's a number three. Number three is a topical one. This year is the bicentenary of Dickens' birth. I've read a couple of his books, but thought I would try and read a few more this year. And then one a year from now on. Hopefully that's manageable.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>So, in the interest of reporting what I've done, I made a chicken. I actually made it before Christmas, for Mr Kinkatink's present. Pattern in the Guardian. One of these days I'll remember how to write links nicely. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/07/chicken-doorstop-easter-present-how-to-make">http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/07/chicken-doorstop-easter-present-how-to-make</a></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Here she is:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp9nnaoly4jbRcsDDcAvN7KDcurynhhpkldIGL0WgkCCzom4qMvumDz7MVaXHjpVu08MDhL_mV8gOjA3-hRHKoPjR_BJAnW-ujjPLhAmaxCTHtn5v9mrMkXUXsy0dF6vCbaJxo_oEDQ4/s1600/chook.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693352043573093890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp9nnaoly4jbRcsDDcAvN7KDcurynhhpkldIGL0WgkCCzom4qMvumDz7MVaXHjpVu08MDhL_mV8gOjA3-hRHKoPjR_BJAnW-ujjPLhAmaxCTHtn5v9mrMkXUXsy0dF6vCbaJxo_oEDQ4/s400/chook.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-53480012786918825572010-10-10T21:44:00.002+01:002010-10-10T21:48:32.733+01:00Normal Service Will Be Resumed ShortlyI promise.<br /><br />Things have been a bit busy recently. Pregnancy. Baby. Summer Holidays (god, what a shocker, I've never done one of those before). Phased school entry.<br /><br />Now I have a bit of time to myself again I seem to be busier than ever. However, I need to start doing my PhD again, and I find that the more I write, the easier it gets. So, in anticipation of having to write Important, Serious things, I better start with some frivolous bloggy things.<br /><br />Expect them soon. But maybe not too soon. I don't want to cause any disappointment.kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-86235559599510436942010-03-04T17:15:00.005+00:002010-03-04T17:22:54.405+00:00Owl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3nvhyqPBZLjd_DGccFJOEQkuHpkhavxklLCVD1tmm8AryEgVuxA8XgPi8gSf-H1E7gWvlhbtmhXaClHe3pwfYQCbZn25kBMIbrRIp0OenQxdLGw6Kbg-yqD-5RbhwyOp5cLRCOfvcKs/s1600-h/DSCF1913.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444829109126957874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3nvhyqPBZLjd_DGccFJOEQkuHpkhavxklLCVD1tmm8AryEgVuxA8XgPi8gSf-H1E7gWvlhbtmhXaClHe3pwfYQCbZn25kBMIbrRIp0OenQxdLGw6Kbg-yqD-5RbhwyOp5cLRCOfvcKs/s400/DSCF1913.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>I've read the blog <a href="http://needled.wordpress.com//">Needled</a> for a while now, and find its mix of hills and wool and thoughtfulness most inspiring. I was greatly saddened to hear that its author, Kate, was taken very ill last month. Kate is very keen on owls, and was the inspiration for this. Get well soon!</div><div> </div><div>It was intended for Child C, but has received much critical acclaim from A and B, so might end up with one of them. Until Child C is big enough to fight back!</div>kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3707579553244148358.post-3295689392238910882010-03-02T17:04:00.001+00:002010-03-04T17:15:33.834+00:00New tshirts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqBq0NfdnIoN0Wc4zQAAaugItDtOXq06k2d06Fn-84PxogD_5rC1Noz8OaYf-uRXdI2rTRBIWdP1048mFbwT7JtDRyaH90mx-QYL0-HCnCG1-jzVPe1v19H1irN5qgTWpR3bl66Z4bA4/s1600-h/DSCF1916.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444826688024849618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqBq0NfdnIoN0Wc4zQAAaugItDtOXq06k2d06Fn-84PxogD_5rC1Noz8OaYf-uRXdI2rTRBIWdP1048mFbwT7JtDRyaH90mx-QYL0-HCnCG1-jzVPe1v19H1irN5qgTWpR3bl66Z4bA4/s320/DSCF1916.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZWZPSsNOY7FDJRXVj6J8gMdbXwEL93dJFAasTbNat-K910qkrtN99c-Ef5LsioVEtCLTxNwpjVmpKcwFTWapiFT5ykIJjeXvwISD7VUjINCUXRB0mgJLYsU32tvRPbh96BxNcsOSSmY/s1600-h/DSCF1915.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444826679616259970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZWZPSsNOY7FDJRXVj6J8gMdbXwEL93dJFAasTbNat-K910qkrtN99c-Ef5LsioVEtCLTxNwpjVmpKcwFTWapiFT5ykIJjeXvwISD7VUjINCUXRB0mgJLYsU32tvRPbh96BxNcsOSSmY/s320/DSCF1915.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Inspired by numerous blogs on freezer paper stencils, I've done my own thing: Swallows on a maternity top for me, peregrine for ChildA, angler fish for ChildB. Child C will be lucky to get away with not being called<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uOIxnFi_aL2RNxclyA8THjT5FSIodxJPTvEiyoXzhIO6TxLCd7hqgVF65PEnCs4Ef5RaFyKrJ0f7wdYi1adFXHjwC1Sz17Jk8WVYQkEX9wxruJWNaBlDHJPSPMycvQUlXUBFQ4urgj4/s1600-h/DSCF1917.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444826691611875970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uOIxnFi_aL2RNxclyA8THjT5FSIodxJPTvEiyoXzhIO6TxLCd7hqgVF65PEnCs4Ef5RaFyKrJ0f7wdYi1adFXHjwC1Sz17Jk8WVYQkEX9wxruJWNaBlDHJPSPMycvQUlXUBFQ4urgj4/s320/DSCF1917.JPG" /></a> Peregrine. </div><div> </div></div></div>kinkatinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767216949417213708noreply@blogger.com0