January challenge

Number 7 was chosen as our group challenge for January 2026. hank fully I made a toile as the bodice of the pattern with its princess seams did not suit my shape. Instead, I used the Aspen dress and turned it into a pinafore. I tried the burrito method for the first time and drafted a facing for the bodice using the principles from the Noa dress. 

A different perspective

It is good to look at things with a different perspective. I often cut large volumes of fabric at our kitchen island as it is a better height for minimizing bending and it' a clear space which my sewing room is generally not clear.

I stitched up a quick toile of the Noa dress in a secondhand duvet cover. I am so pleased that I did that as the bodice did not fit at all. I also don't have the skills to alter princess seams so that the bodice would fit. I decided instead that I would make a winter version of the Aspen dress by Fabric Godmother. Having cut out the bodice and skirt, of course, there wasn't enough fabric for sleeves! So I have now altered the pattern for the Aspen dress to turn it into a Noa style pinafore. Wish me luck.

WIP Wednesday- honey of a tiny town

This is not a big cross stitch project by any stretch of the imagination, so I had hoped to finish it in January. Continuing bouts of vertigo have slowed my progress, but I have worked the full width of the piece. The next series of Bridgerton is released on 29 January, so I predict binge watching and cross stitch.

Now I need to work on my January UFO challenge project which is a tale of woe!

Rainbow clock

One of my Christmas presents from Lizzie and Matt was this £2 clock from Ikea. I have included the reverse of the clock so you can pick one up too.

I planned out the basic colours on a scrap piece of paper and then picked suitable skeins from DMC threads that were waiting to be put away. Having stitched those numbers, I then picked out the remaining colours from my storage boxes. I used three 12" lengths of DMC six stranded floss.

I have now hung the clock in my sewing room in an alcove where I store my overlocker.

Paris Je t'aime - section 4

I prepped the applique pieces of section 4 to take to my guild meeting on Saturday. However I woke late on Saturday and road works around the venue put me off going, so I stayed home and did the applique and then pieced the units together. I am pleased with how it's looking so far and I will now put the project away until February when I'll work on section 2.

I now need to work on my January UFO challenge piece which is the Noa dress by Tilly and the Buttons.

Frosty tiny town

 

I took this piece to the framer last Tuesday and collected it yesterday. Initially I thought the painted frame was too brown but when I photographed it this morning it looked much better.

Design boards

 

Yesterday I did some cutting out for a pattern that I am designing. I pulled out my 18" design board to keep the pieces in some sort of orderly fashion. I made these design boards according to Lori Holt's instructions here. I ask my local framer to cut the mount board into 18" squares for a small cost. I also use premade bias tape for speed.  I don't however use a hot glue gun as I haven't mastered using one and I end up with big blobs of glue everywhere. Have you made any of these design boards?