The “Fools Rush In ” Two Seam Top

Now I am quite a goody good, I suppose you’d say.  I don’t like getting in trouble.  I follow the rules pretty much.  But when it comes to sewing I am quite the rebel.   Instruction sheets – pah – I know better, do the zip this way – no thanks.  If I can think of an easier way I’ll do that.  Recommended fabrics – I’ll be the judge.

But when Casey tried out this pattern and advised that it was meant for knit textures, I wish I listened.

Pink is not really my colour.  I like it for pyjamas, but it doesn’t suit me.  But when I found this lovely painterly 50′s-ish rose print, I thought – that will be just the ticket!

I am glad I only spent an hour sewing two seams – which sounds like slow going when you count them! But I wanted to finish them nicely – because it’s a sheer fabric.    Casey said turn and catch stitch.  I wonder if she has washed her one yet?  I was taught that hand sewing does not hold knit fabrics.   It just falls out – now that is a rule I am not willing to break!

This top is difficult to put on, pulls uncomfortably over my arms and falls down constantly, needing readjusting.  On me it is unflattering – too bulky at the front.  And I couldn’t drive a car in it – fail!

Still, I really like the concept and would love to make it up in a knit fabric, perhaps in a stripe – would be fun.

The pattern is intriguing as it uses really little fabric and does produce what is a cute little shrug – if you need such a thing to wear to your next summer wedding or formal event!

I recommend you take Casey’s advice – that girl knows her stuff.  And remember – hand sewing is not recommended!
The Facts
Fabric”  Thrifted Polyester Georgette $3.50
Pattern: Self Drafted based on Simplicity 4538
Year: 1950′s
Notions: just thread
Time to complete: 1 hour – a record!
First worn: April 2012 for the photos
Wear again? Nup!!

Source: google.com.au via Trish on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Trish on Pinterest

I found the back of the pattern envelope in Flickr here! And I coulden’t have done it without that – thanks!

The “Like a Table Cloth” – but in a good way patchwork skirt

I just stumbled across this little beauty from Anthropologie – while wasting time, I mean researching, over on Pinterest.

Source: anthropologie.com via Trish on Pinterest

Could be a great way to upcycle those vintage table cloths (and scraps) that I have been hoarding, but don’t have enough morning teas with ladies to use every day.  Cos I work, that’s right, to keep myself in vintage table cloths!

It would be so easy to make up:

DIRECTIONS

Arrange the patches to your liking

Sew together into a big rectangle

Sew a centre back seam leaving a gap in the centre back for a zip

Insert the zip

Gather the top to your waist measurement, attach a waistband in your size

Finish with a button/hole or hooks and eyes!

Wear it out somewhere fun and receive compliments!  Yay!

Divine Carrot Cake

Well hello there!

As promised, here is a recipe!  It’s my favourite cake recipe.  Yes, it’s retro – my Auntie Raewyn’s from the 80′s.  It is genius and better than any cafe will serve you with soggy walnuts and insipid icing – bleuchh!  It’s moist and crunchy – how clever.  This recipe is foolproof and easy!

A chef friend had a great saying “it smells cooked” obvious but true – if you are afraid of baking – don’t be!  It is simple if you;

- heat the oven up to temperature first

- follow the recipe (unless you are one of those gifted intuituve cooks – I am not!)

- once you have mixed the dry ingredients with the wet – do not muck around! get it in the oven – fast!

CARROT CAKE

Turn the oven on!

Use a 25cm square cake tin – grease, then line with baking paper – do this first!

All measurements are Metric.

DRY INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon all spice

2 cups plain flour ( you could use wholemeal flour if you like – it gives a granier texture)

2 teaspoon baking soda

3 cups grated carrot (ab0ut 3 carrots)

WET INGREDIENTS

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups olive oil

Sift dry ingredients together then mix in grated carrot

Mix the sugar and the eggs together, add the oil

Mix all the ingredients together

Bake 1 hr 20 mins at 325 or 170 degrees.  Test with a skewer to ensure it’s evenly cooked.

CREAM CHEESE ICING

Ice the bottom of the cake – to cover the ugliness!

2 tablespoons cream cheese (light is fine)

1/2 cup butter

2 1/2 cups icing sugar sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

and a small (start with a teaspoon) amount of BOILING water to blend

This makes a tonne of icing – could be reduced if you can do maths – I can’t.

I defy you to stop at one piece!

Calendar Girl – Teatowel Apron

Hey!  Normally I don’t do purple, at all, not even a little bit, not even a scarf or a piece of jewellery.  I once bought a 60′s handbag in a very bright shade of purple – it had some great gold hardware on it.  I gave it away when I moved to Australia.  So this week I am doing purple, cos the Sew Weekly told me to.

I searched my stash, no purple.  No purple thread either.  I visited the opshop and nearly bought a particularly hideous ikat scarf/sarong thingy.  But it was so vile i coulden’t bring myself to pay money for it!  So glad I didn’t ‘s cos the Salvos came through!

Isn’t she a beauty!

Teamed her up with the calendar teatowel, and as sewing time was short after last weekend in the Hunter Valley – an apron was the obvious choice.

So below is my recipe for a really easy apron

APRON RECIPE

Take 2 Vintage Aprons

Slice the ugliest one finely

Make a cup of coffee.

Use orange thread for a citrus burst.

Sew the pieces of the straps “in a chain” – this saves time and ingredients (thread).

Mix the strips together, anyway you like.

Hold your threads before you start sewing – saves your threads from getting all tangled up – and hours of work and service man fees!

Enjoy – it’s probably time for another coffee!

The Facts

Fabric: Purple 60′s teatowel $4, Calendar Teatowel $2
Pattern: None
Notions: Just Thread
Time to complete: 1 hour
First worn: December 2011
Wear again? Yes!

Total Cost: ~$6

I hope to share a real recipe with you next time – it’s a cake – in terms of cooking – I think I am ok at cakes, used to make sweets like toffee and fudge all the time as a kid.  I only cook because it’s good for my family.  If I didn’t have them I think I’d live on my friends Simone’s “Cake Diet” – cake for lunch every day!

School holidays in a week – can’t wait – lotsa sewing planned – how about you?

Who noticed there are no tiles in the kitchen?  That’s because I married a tiler!

50′s Eyemake up – how to!

If you are going to wear 50′s clothes, then the must have accessory, IMHO, is the eye make up too!

Just found this great video on how to get the perfect eyeliner,

Surprising how she “roughs it out” then colours it in to make if perfect

I can have kittens trying to get this right – hope it helps you too!

Alphabet Artwork to make

 

Noah my youngest started school this year.  He didn’t really learn his letters in two years of PreSchool.  I found this quite disappointing, quite.  But his wonderful Kindergarten teacher thought there was a tiny problem and packed us off to see the “Behavioural Optometrist”. clever man, who discovered that Noah is extremely long-sighted and is not comfortable with reading letters and numbers up close.   He has some groovy teal tinted lenses and is improving now.  I am very grateful for the experience of his teacher in picking up this issue!

I made him this chart for his room, and hung it over his bed – he loves to sing the alphabet and sadly now, pick the letters off.

The letters came from Living Textiles and I bought them when I was calling in at Babies Galore (working – sssshhhh).

 

Sorry the photos are out of order – still battling with learning this blogging stuff!

 

T x