Fabricaholic

Well, I have been fabric stashing HARD the last few months, busily gathering an array of beautiful fabrics and fine prints to add to my collection. In case you don't know 'my name is Polly and I'm a fabric stash-aholic'! It doesn't help that I have loads of amazing fabric shops right on my doorstep Simply Fabrics, Sew Over It, Fabrics Galore and a host of African wax print fabric shops just down the road in Brixton. Not to mention the online shops like Fabric Godmother and Middlesex Textiles. Yes this band of drapers have all been aiding and abetting my ever increasing fabric addiction ... and I couldn't be happier! I've stocked up on pattern paper and card and have a list of projects as long as my arm to crack on with. All will be revealed on the blog but here are some of the fabrics I've added to my stash recently...

Fabrics Galore

(Left - Polyester Satin, Right - Abstract Print 100% cotton)

Possible projects:
Kimono Dressing gown, Playsuit, Shirt Dress, Blouse

African prints

(Left to right - Vlisco Java,  African Java print x 2, African print voile)

Ava's Homemade Cot Bumper

Wow! Three whole months since my last blog post. Clearly I have commitment issues when it comes to updating this blog! Thankfully I've been a bit more motivated when it comes to actually making things. Last month I took a week off work to concentrate on a couple of sewing projects.

It. Was. BLISS! 

A whole week of sewing, drinking tea and listening to Kate Bush on repeat... heaven! I made myself a jumpsuit ahead of my holiday to Marrakech (photos to come) and I put the finishing touches to the cot bumper I made for baby Ava. And here are the results! Definitely worthy of London's tiniest fashion diva even if I do say so myself!

Clockwise from top:

My 'studio' for the week/ The finished Cot Bumper/ Close-Up/ The Cot Bumper in its new home!

Sew what's new?

Happy New Year everyone!

Well I think it's clear from my limited number of posts over the last year that I am most definitely a 'sometime' blogger, rather than someone willing to blog on a regular basis. Mainly because I'm busy conceiving and sewing the projects I post on here (and eating mince pies!), and rather than constant updates on my slow stop-and-start progress I think I'm happier to only post finished projects. That way this blog is more like a log of my achievements... much more exciting than hearing about the behind-the-scenes, like the week I spent comparing the merits of slipstitching by hand vs the 'stitch in the ditch' technique when it comes to attaching a lining. Or reading about the weekend I spent drafting and redrafting the fit of a jacket sleeve... yawn! 

*The yawn is for your benefit, I could write about the sewing geek stuff all day but would probably be a bit boring for you to read!

Although I've begun quite a few projects lately, very few of them are finished yet, which is why things have been a bit quiet on the blog, I'm mainly been concentrating on ideas for new projects and working on designing a few of my own patterns. But as a post is way overdue I thought I'd let you know what I've been up to the last few months.

I made some 'Ava' dresses for a charity craft fair at work...
Not only did I get my first custom order, but I've also now decided to start selling The Ava dress online!

 £25 each, sizes newborn - 3 years.  I'll post more details once I've got my Etsy page up and running but in the meantime if anyone would like a custom dress just get in touch!

Scuba Pencil Skirt

Well! It's Wednesday night and I'm in the middle of a grueling battle with the sleeve on my next sewing project, so as a distraction (and a reminder of what it feels like to successfully complete a sewing project!) I thought I'd update the blog with the last thing I made... 

and here it is...(drum roll) ta-dah!

I'd never worked with Scuba fabric before and was really surprised how easy it is to cut and sew. I thought it would be a nightmare but this was actually the quickest project I've ever sewn! I love the kaleidoscope print too and it makes a fresh change from all the florals I usually wear! I picked up the fabric at Mood Fabrics this summer while holidaying in New York... along way to go to get some more so I'm glad this pencil skirt didn't go wrong!

Fabric Stash

This year I also went on my first ever New York fabric shopping trip. It. Was. INCREDIBLE! I spent an entire morning in Mood fabrics and B and J Fabrics in the Garment District and came back with these amazing finds to stock up my stash.... The purple fabric is Silk Faille and the rest of the fabric is scuba. Not sure what I'll be making with it all yet but that's the whole point of a fabric stash!

Mood Fabrics in the Garment District ... my spiritual home... sigh...