In an effort to be more productive I’ve been paying some attention to the little shop. Perhaps unsurprisingly it slipped off my radar for a while, and I neglected it terribly, to the point where it only had a couple of things left for sale in it. There is nothing like embarking on a new venture and then promptly starting another life-changing one immediately afterwards is there?

Time spent sewing in bulk is always relaxing, since you only have to think about what you’re doing every half hour or so, and the rest of the time can be spent in gentle autopilot. I embarked on some tissue pockets, making use of the smaller pieces in my stash, and rediscovering some larger remnants from the scrap box. (Scrap box seems like such a harsh word for it – perhaps scraps box is the more correct term, with none of the ‘ready for the bin’ undertones.) As always one of the pleasures was rediscovering some favourite fabrics, and at the same time having my enthusiasm reignited. Lots of little plans are buzzing around my head now, and I’m sure I’ll never get around to half of them, but that’s a pleasure too. At least I know I’ll never be bored.

A little tidy up in the craft room today revealed a few things I’d like to share – a new obsession, an unexpected gift, a rediscovery. You know, the sort of things that somehow get buried under piles of cut material, scraps of paper, notebooks, filing that needs doing…oh no? Your room isn’t like that? Damn.

I’ve been buying lots of zips lately. Mostly I only need one or two for particular projects but since I found Zipperstop I’m compelled to buy by the dozen, in several different lengths and colours. The trouble is that they ship so quickly and the postage is so reasonable that it’s far too easy to just think ‘oh I’ll get a dozen of those as well’. I’m even contemplating buying the colour card so that I can properly feed my new addiction. How many zips in the stash is too many zips? Actually I don’t think you can have too many zips, even if you don’t have plans for them right now. One day you will.

I got this for my birthday. My friend has become obsessed with artist’s resin, and the suspension of things therein. He has cast jelly beans, flowers, fruit, sausages, butter… and of course hooks. I’m not even sure he knew what I would do with it when he gave it to me, but as soon as I held it I thought ‘pattern weight!’ Ideally I’d have several to pin down pesky tissue paper patterns, but one is a good enough start and might let me leave the button jar on the shelf sometimes. It’s a lovely thing, and entirely unique.

I also unearthed a bag of goodies from Japan, and was delighted to find these in there. They are face blotting papers (aburatorigami), and powder papers from a lovely shop in Kyoto called Yojiya, which will save me from having a big old shiny face this week. We went shopping on our last day, and ended up in there looking at the beautiful makeup brushes and cosmetics, but I only bought dozens of these as gifts for everyone. And myself of course. It brought back such lovely memories of that day, just looking at the packaging, because it was the same day I stumbled upon Linnet, having not realised that their shop was in Kyoto. There is a part of me that is tempted not to use these papers, and to keep them safe and unused, but what is the point of preserving something that is meant to be used? And besides which, if I do use them I’ll have an excuse to go back. (Although can you imagine that conversation? ‘We need to go to Japan because I’ve run out of facial blotting paper.’)

Other than that I have been laid out in front of my industrial fan watching the tennis, and this might be the pose I adopt for the rest of this heatwave. Hopefully you’re all finding ways to keep cool if you’re in it too :)

Dear readers, I am praying for rain. Humidity, temperatures in the upper 20s and pregnant ladies do not mix well. The one good thing to be said for the mixture is that if a pregnant lady wakes at 5.30am, far too hot to contemplate going back to sleep, she can of course get out of bed, make a large mug of tea, and slope into her crafting room, where she can make some progress on a little project she’s had in mind for a while.

Some time ago the lovely Julia sent me some iron on vinyl to play with, just enough, I thought, for a cosmetics bag. And so I found myself at 6am standing in front of the ironing board, carefully reading the instructions, and attempting to fuse the vinyl to my lining fabric:

It works a treat, as you can see, transforming any fabric you like into a waterproof, wipe clean piece of deliciousness. I am quite smitten.  The only thing that will stop me from covering everything in it is the fact that it is quite expensive, and I can only find one retail supplier in the UK. (Edited to add: you should always check your favourite handbag supplies shop too: vilene fusible laminate available now!) But I was right at least about it being the perfect size for a waterproof lining for a cosmetic bag:

I do love combining linen with prints, and have wanted to make this for such a long time – so long that I found three different pages in my ideas book with the same drawing on! I drafted a pattern yesterday but had to leave the rest of the construction to this morning, simply because I was too hot to do anything else. I had this finished by 9.30 this morning, which is just as well, because it very quickly got too hot for doing anything again.

This was one of those projects where I was dictated to by my stash – the zip in particular. I drafted the pattern to suit the length of that rather than any predetermined idea of ideal cosmetic bag size, but as it turns out it’s pretty much perfect: I managed to fit a very large tube of Bliss moisturising cream into it…

…and if it leaks it will be fine, because it’s waterproof on the inside. Delicious.

Well obviously the first winner is me…

Yeah. It was a terribly hard week, lying around, reading, snoozing, swimming, sunning, eating. Terribly hard.

There is only one thing better than going away on holiday though, and that is coming home again. I do love home. And it was so nice to come back to all your comments on the birthday giveaway – how cool of you all to decloak! Sadly there can be only one winner this time. There were 43 comments but I took out one for Kyoko’s second comment, and headed to random.org. (I would have got one of the cats to do it, but you know Charlie is just not interested in doing anything I might want her to do, and Bert has been hunting bees all afternoon and his poor mind is shot…)

Lucky number 19 is Liz B who said “What a generous giveaway! I’ve not ventured into Japanese craft books yet because I found them a bit daunting. But lately I’ve noticed websites with sections devoted to translations of a lot of these books! I’d love a chance to try out this book, thanks for the shot at your giveaway.” Send me an email (jo @ joleo.co.uk) with your address details, Liz, and I’ll post it off to you!

Tell us about your sewing machine! That’s what they said at Sew Mama Sew, and so I’m happy to oblige. It’s sewing machine month, and their blog is full of great advice on choosing a machine and getting the most out of the one you have – if you haven’t read Florence’s post about feet, then go do so now! But then come back and read this post ;)

What brand and model do you have?

Janome Jubilee 85. It’s a special edition, which you can’t buy any more, but there is an updated version (which seems to cost a lot more). It’s computerised, with a whole bunch of stitches I haven’t had use of yet, but since it took me eight years to properly explore my last machine I’m willing to bet that I’ll get the most out of it in time.

How long have you had it?

One year.

How much does did that machine cost (approximately)?

Around £300.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?

Clothes, handbags, purses, crafty things. I’m about to make a foray into the world of quilting (and thanks to everyone who gave me such good advice and linkage).

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

Not as much as normal lately. But she does get a go at least once a week and if things are going well, then five days a week aren’t unheard of. I really ought to learn to give her a mini service because I’m sure she’s full of fluff.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

I do like her very much, though she doesn’t have a name. She is solid, and dependable, and she sews a lovely straight line.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

Top loading bobbin, needle threader (a bit of a surprise that one – I didn’t expect to use it at all), automatic buttonhole, automatic locking stitch, needle up/down, variable speed. I use these constantly and they’ve made such a difference to the speed I sew – I especially enjoy not sewing great long seams without bobbin thread like I used to!

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

No. Not one thing. Ask me about my old machine on the other hand….

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!

Oh I wish I did, but to be honest since the day I brought her home it’s been one of those quiet and steady relationships – no mishaps, no heartbreaks, no crises. Doesn’t make a good story but it makes for a peaceful sewing room.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

I would, because I think it’s a good ‘next step up’ machine, but sadly it isn’t available anymore. It feels like a lot of machine for the pricepoint too.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

The only important factor is really to consider how you sew – this obviously doesn’t apply to a beginner looking for a first machine, but there’s a lot of guidance out there for that. Once you’ve been sewing for a while you’ll know what things you wish your starter machine had, and the things you wish you didn’t have to correct, rip out, or master. Lots of people can manage without a top loading bobbin, because they are willing to check these things before they start but I am always too gung ho. Likewise, 4 step buttonholing was something that kept eluding me and I was too lazy to practise enough. Know yourself, and don’t beat yourself up about it. Life’s too short.

Do you have a dream machine?

Not yet – this one is still too new, and my sewing hasn’t moved up another gear yet. One day I’m sure I’ll hanker after a Pfaff or a Bernina, but until then I’m very happy.

(Yes! I’m still on holiday! The magic of computers eh?)

So it was my birthday on Thursday, which is normally not something I relish, but oddly as I get older I get more comfortable with the idea. Celebrations began (unprompted by me I hasten to add) on Sunday, with friends bringing over enormous cupcakes with candles, and lots of other nice goodies. I had lunch with a friend at The Wolesley on Tuesday, where we were lucky enough to spot Dominic West and Damian Lewis drinking brandy together, and on the day itself I got breakfast in bed and the shiniest present ever.

See how shiny? You can see my mug of tea! I’ve been less shiny, and somehow lost some emails and things in the transfer process, so huge apologies to those I owe an email, especially the de-lurking variety…

Since I’ve been given some lovely lovely things this week, I thought I’d share the love, and have a little giveaway. How about winning a japanese craft book and a couple of half metres of japanese inspired cotton to play with?

The book is called ‘bagu no hon’, which just means (roughly) ‘book of bags’, and it contains patterns and full instructions on how to make lots of lovely bags. Of course they’re in japanese but that’s half the fun.

I’ll post anywhere, so if you’ve been too nervous to dip your toe into the japanese book world, or even if you have a collection already and just need one more, (believe me they are addictive) leave me a comment below to enter the draw.

I’ll pick a winner when I come back from my holiday!

We are such last minute larrys around here that we booked our summer holiday last week and we’re going next week. In contrast to the last holiday (Japan) we simply want to lie in the sun, read books, swim and eat, so we’re off to Madeira. Apparently the streets are paved with honey cake or something…

Heading to sunnier climes to lie by the pool brings up that old dilemma – how to carry all that necessary stuff from room to poolside? Well, how about making a roomy carry everything bag for less than a fiver?

Ingredients

• 1m (or yard) of double sided strong fabric. Mine came from Ikea and was only £5 a metre. You won’t need all of this by the way, unless you really go to town with pockets. Double sided is essential as this bag is unlined, which is why we do a lot of folding and ironing of edges…
• Co-ordinating thread

Cutting Out

There is no pattern as such, so no need to make paper pieces to trace.

• Take your fabric and fold in half, cut edge to cut edge. Measure in from one selvedge a good width for your bag. I chose 24″, because this worked well with the stripes on the fabric. Cut through the folded fabric to make one large piece – this will be the body of the bag.
• Cut two strips 4″ wide x 24″ long for handles
• Cut one rectangular piece (size is up to you) for a pocket.

Making

1. 
   

   Neaten the edges of the pocket: Take the pocket piece and fold the short edges over twice 1/2″ and sew in place. Repeat with the long edges but use a 1″ fold for the top edge. Sew in place. (I used a decorative stitch for the top edge.)

2. 
   
   
   Place the pocket onto the main bag piece: you can choose to have it inside or out, it’s entirely up to you. To make sure you leave enough fabric below the pocket, fold the main piece in half and measure at least four inches up from this crease. Place the bottom edge of your pocket at this mark. Sew onto the bag along the two short edges and the bottom, using the stitched seams of the pocket as a guide.
3. 
   
   
   Sew the main seams: fold the bag together right sides together, and sew the side seams. If you have an overlocker (serger) I suggest using that. Otherwise, simply sew the seam as usual, and neaten the edges using an overedge stitch if your machine has one, or a zig-zag (see step 4 for a picture.)
   
4. 
   
   Create the bag bottom: Iron a crease at the corners of the bag’s bottom edge to help you find the right spot.
   
   Pull the fabric out from the corners to form a triangle – the seam should lie along the crease you just ironed. Pin.
   
   Measure two inches away from the point and mark a line. Sew along this line and cut away the excess corner.
   
   Neaten this seam using overlocker, overedge or zigzag.
5. 
   
   Prepare the handles: fold the 4″ strips in half lengthways and iron. Open out and fold the long edges towards the centre crease and iron again.

   

   To neaten the edges fold the raw edge of the short side in 1/2″, before folding the long edges together.

   

   Sew together along both long sides.

6. 
   
   Finish the top edge: Fold down 1″ and the fold over again. Iron and pin in place, before sewing the lower edge all the way around.
7. 
   
   
   Attach the handles: handle width placement is something I’ll leave up to you – you might prefer a wide set handle, or you might want to match the handle to your fabric, as I ended up doing. Pin the handles on, matching the bottom edge of the handle to the bottom edge of the folded top edge. Sew along the stitching line on the handles.
   
8. 
   
   Final topstitch: Sew all around the bag along the very top edge, catching the handles in your stitching.

One lovely, cheap and roomy bag, with plenty of space for all those essentials. You can embellish it however you like too – more pockets, add an eyelet to attach a coin purse (ice cream money!), longer or shorter handles… It’s lightweight and folds small too, so doesn’t take up too much room in your suitcase, and there’s no reason why you can’t use it when you come home for grocery shopping.

I’d love to see any that you make, but don’t feel obliged.

Personal Use only please!

It’s all Helen’s fault. Oh ok, so maybe I mentioned wanting to do it first, but she pointed me in the direction of this jelly roll. The trouble is, having bought this lovely object (and I do think of it as an object, rather than strips of fabric) I am now a little bit lost. I had ordered a book (Layer Cake, Jelly Roll & Charm Quilts) but the delivery date has been pushed back a month, and a month is something I probably don’t have if I’m going to finish this by September. The internet is full of advice, but how do I know which advice to take, since I have no background knowledge to help me filter out the crazy and unnecessary?

That’s right – I ask the internet to help. I want to make the boy a jolly quilt for rolling around on, and being wrapped up in, so I think crib size is the way to go. I have looked up wadding and don’t know where to start – I’d prefer natural fibres but will they wash well? Apparently I will need safety pins – what kind are best? Is there a good place for patterns? Do I need a pattern? And should I get a walking foot before I even begin? Any tips you have, any websites you find useful, anything at all, would be most welcome, because I can get lost inside the internet for days as it is, and I’d prefer to benefit from other’s mistakes if I can. (If you include a  link your comment won’t appear right away – spam issues…) Of course, feel free to just cheer me on even if you don’t have any tips because I tell you, I am very hot indeed, and doing anything, even thinking about a new project the like of which i’ve never done before, is an effort of extreme will.

I finally have my first handmade maternity garment, made from Hot Patterns Boho-de-luxe Peasant Tops. Like all the HP patterns I’ve tried so far it went together very well (once I applied myself) and has resulted in a fantastically comfortable top, just right for this amazing weather we’re having in London right now.

Sadly I cut this out so long ago, and was remiss in my pattern piece marking, so I have no idea if I went up one or two sizes from the usual, but the advice from Trudy (Mrs HP herself) in having a summer pregnancy was to ‘embrace the volume’. I suspect this will start to make even more sense when I’m 8 months along and it’s August, but it is nice to wear things that don’t cling to the skin when the skin is asking to be naked to the wind, as it has for the last two days.

For contrast and a bit of glam I decided to ditch the self fabric binding, and instead used some dark charcoal satin bias I had in the stash for the sleeves, neckline, and then doubled it over to make a ribbon for the empire line tie. I think making the version with the tie is the best decision for maternity wear, otherwise you do end up feeling like a sack of potatoes- pregnant curves are nice, so why not point them out? I also lengthened the top so that it’s more of a tunic length, which should give me enough growing room.

Incidentally, it’s meant to be slightly shorter than this, but I have become deeply lazy about hemming, and just overlocked the bottom, so that I could wear it because of the weather. I’m sure I’ll hem it properly eventually… (I did this with a pair of  trousers at the weekend too, which has to be the laziest way of altering ready to wear ever. I mean, I didn’t even cut them to the right length – I just whacked them through the overlocker and let it cut them for me. Oh the shame.)

So as far as I’m concerned it’s another winner, and the pattern will still be there for me next summer, which is much better value than having bought specific maternity patterns. The other pattern I bought for maternity wear was Delicious Dresses (a possibility for some very nice silk I have), which will last in the same way. Money well spent.

Dare I add a new acronym? Finally Finished Project…

I took it up to the Lakes and spent a couple of evenings putting the last squares together, before embarking on the border. I even did a little bit of that on the train – crochet is so much easier than trying to knit on the move – which makes me one of those people who have crafted in public. Never thought I’d be able to say that…

I did attempt a mini blocking session, with it spread out on a towel and me on my knees with a water spray, but I don’t think I’ve quite got the hang of it yet (or it could be that hanging about on my knees just isn’t as much fun as it used to be and I got bored and wanted it finished). It’s a great size for the sofa, because if you’re curled up it covers your legs and feet perfectly, without that annoying extra bit of blanket making you too hot, or gathering crumbs under your chin (I have my own cardigans for that). The cat for whom it was intended thinks it’s wonderful too, and she’s had several sleeps curled up on it already, which is lovely as she’d stopped sleeping next to me on the sofa when we got the new leather one.

I started off following the pattern in Simple Crochet for the modern afghan, but departed from it slightly. I used a larger hook (4mm) than asked for, and ended up with more squares (48 in total), but I think this has increased the finished size to something slightly more useful, for me and the cats. The next crochet project will be a crib/pram blanket, which I’m going to make using a combination of squares from the 200 crochet blocks book. No pattern in particular, just whatever square I fancy at the time, which should introduce the little nugget to the random nature of his mama’s mind sooner than he realises.