June round up and July’s sewing plans

I’m really getting into the swing of blogging regularly now, and am getting things up pretty promptly. Yay, me! Here’s last month’s round up if you’re interested in seeing how I did compared to my overambitious (as always) plans.

Blogged in June:

L-R: The Bucket and Spade Hat, The Starry Starry Dress, The Some Like it Hot Dress, The Striped Sweetheart Tee.

Phew, lots of makes blogged last month! I also wrote a post all about my current sewing set-up at the end of our main living space (living room/dining room) in the hopes of inspiring anyone else struggling to sew in a limited space.

Sewing done in June:

I didn’t get many projects completed in June. Just two. But hey, they involved making toiles and more complicated, time-consuming sewing than a simple t-shirt. One was a summer blouse, Butterick B6217, and my very first make for the Minerva Crafts Blog. The other is a pair of purple Flared Shorts from Gertie Sews Vintage Casual. I know I said I was making the Cigarette Pants, but the toile revealed some fitting issues, so I wanted to check out my changes at the hip area before cutting into my trouser fabric. Luckily I had just enough stretch fabric left in my stash to make these, and I needed shorts too! You’ll see these on the blog later this week.

I suppose you could count Gabriel’s hat as being technically completed in June, but it was almost finished by the end of May anyway. Two more projects (the Hacci Kimono and the Striped Pencil Skirt) were cut and ready to sew by the end of June. Admittedly they haven’t progressed much since then, but I’m getting around to them. Honest.

Money spent: £31.05

Patterns: £4.45 , Haberdashery: £10.47 , Fabric: £16.13

Not too pricey a month, but the next couple of months are going to have to be very lean as I’ve run out of birthday money to spend on sewing. Essential haberdashery purchases only (probably from John Lewis as I have vouchers), and I’ll be using fabric and patterns from stash. Luckily I have plenty of things I can make 🙂

July sewing plans:

Clockwise from top left: Colette Crepe dress, Simplicity 8342 (the cap sleeved top), Seamwork Reno and Dakota bikini, Colette Wren dress (but with the gathered skirt, with added pockets) and Gertie’s Cigarette Pants (pedal pusher variation)

I think I’m being crazily overambitious again, but these are all relatively simple patterns so who knows, I might manage it all in the next twenty days, especially as I’ve already done some pattern tracing and toiled the Crepe bodice.  Oh wait, I’ve got that pencil skirt and kimono to finish still. Hmm… I reckon the pedal pushers might not make the cut for July, but I want the rest of these summer garments for my holiday–we’re going to the Cote d’Azur for the first week in August and it’s going to be HOT!!!–so will do my best to sew ALL THE THINGS!!!

And the following June sewing find might well help me out with this…

My new (old) sewing machine:

I was chatting to a friend recently who mentioned she had an old sewing machine in her loft, and half an hour later I was heading home with a second sewing machine! It’s on very long term loan (only required back if one of her kids one day wants to use it) and she’s a real beauty with a sturdy hard case. Check her out:

She’s a motorised straight stitch machine–all metal–from Jones. I’d never heard of Jones before, but it turns out they were a quality English sewing machine manufacturer, who were taken over by Brother in the late sixties. This must have been one of their last models. She’s still in full working order, but the belt needs replacing to be able to sew with the motor. I’m really looking forward to getting her to work as a second machine for topstitching would be marvellous! That might not be her only job either, as you can still buy the presser feet to fit her, and they’re much cheaper than Bernina presser feet (my other machine is a Bernina–lovely, except for when it comes to paying for accessories). I might treat myself to a Jones invisible zip foot so I can finally put the damn things in properly!

What are you planning to make this month? Anyone else busy sewing for upcoming holidays?