My Ass Rocks! (Pt 2 making a patch)

Really REALLY easy  REALLY Didn't need another post... but I don't post enough so deal with it!

so you're at this point:

(1) measure your design.
(2) cut the design (make a pattern out of paper to keep the angles right)
(3) cut the same size backing fabric x1 and interfacing x2
(4) interface the design and the backing fabric
(5) pin and sew all together along the edges with zigzag stitch

 Bob's your uncle

Fanny's your aunt.

bish bash bosh - job DONE!

x G

My Ass Rocks! (Pt 1 embroidery)

Check it out!!

  ICK! I don't like it that close up it's a bit unforgiving!

There we go:

It started out life here:

 Guys, it's the 21st century! we don't have to spend loads of money on embroidery patterns! google images has a feature now where can specify exactly what kind of picture you want:

and there you go - line drawing = embroidery pattern, job done. Save it, pop it in word, add a text box, add some cheeky text, Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt!

On the Internet there's loads of different ways to transfer embroidery patterns. I chose to use carbon paper because I happened to have some lying around after I failed to use it to transfer sewing patterns in the early days. (Just goes to show NEVER THROW ANYTHING AWAY!!)

As you can see, nice and light, but sharp enough to see what you're doing, awesome!
In case you care I'm just using muslin as a base and when I'm stitching I'll be using backstitch because I don't know ANYTHING about embroidery at all!

Ok so that's the hard part, it took me about 3 nights (3 school nights) to sew this, it's about 3.5x6 inches... something like that.... not big....

In the next installment: how to make you kickass embroidery into a patch for your jeans or jacket... but you still wont be as cool as this guy:

 see you soon!!

x G

Supergirl Costume

2 blog posts in one day?! I'm trying to be good... keeping a record of what I'm doing, as I'm doing it... anyhow... one day who knows?! somebody might actually read this shizzle.

Right... My sister-in-law is having a party beginning of september... a fancy dress party... 'heroes and villans' the Geeky Seamstress in me cried a little cry of happiness!

So this is what I'm going for:

This is what I've got so far:

and this is the fabric I've got:

I'm a little dissapointed... I dont think I'm going to use the shiny gold fabric (it's called 'lame'... that confused me.... shiny lame fabric?) because it's not on Helen Slater's costume and has only started to be applied to newer interpretations of the outfit ... I thought about making it into binding strip and hemming the skirt, cuffs and cape with it, but it's not stretchy and if I hem the cuffs with it I won't be able to put my hands through... and if I don't it wont look 'together' all the gold'll be on the bottom and nowhere else...

anyhow... thats what I'm thinking so far :-)

G x

Dr Who Pattern Book (AKA why it's good that Alex is a hoarder)

So one thing you probably don't know is that Alex (the boy) is a huge hoarder, he comes from a long line of hoarders and to be honest, he is taking ownership of his affliction and taking steps to curb his hoarding tendancies.

One fruit of his hoarding nature is this little gem:

Published in 1984, as you can see this was probably bought from a charity shop for 95p, which makes it double awesome as to buy today on amazon it would set you back about £25!!

For any international visitors Dr Who is a massive Sci-fi series from the BBC. 'Who' has been going just about as long as TV in the UK, it's so influential that when I was studying Media, Culture, and Society as part of my degree, Dr Who was often mentioned in lectures (groovy!)

And what did kid want to sew in 1984? ... well.. Dr Who costumes for their action men apparently...

And what did their Smexy dads look like?
the book actually includes the sewing pattern for this and a child's jumper... as well as a section called 'how to knit' for the absolute beginner... I shan't be knitting the Boy one of these....

But I may be making the boy one of these:
I think this is pretty cool, I also think it would go very well in the Boy's Star Wars room (don't ask... ) and he'd be able to use it to store paints, brushes, droid parts etc... I bought some fabric that's the right color, but it's polycotton and it's too flimsy. Although obviously I'd all the 'police call box bit at the top, its a bit dumb that Ms Gammon chose to omit this very important detail!

Cybermats are cute!
well... they are now.. I never thought of them as cute before this moment.
and d'you know what else is cute?
a knitted K-9! oh wow.. . I can imagine you've got to be quite skilled in the knitting stakes to get reasonable 'angles' on this... otherwise it'd just look quite unconvincing.

And if you don't knit, dont fear! You can sew K9 too!
I'm going to do this for a friend (and one for myself) but I'm going to mix the pattern in this book with the plushie pattern from crafty tardis (ohmyword craftytardis is awesome, I must add my creations there too...)

The book also includes the sewing pattern for that sailor top (apparently Romana's) ... what do you reckon the odd are of that little girl being beaten up by some angry chavs affronted by her mums hand made togs?

I like this shot - it's like the whole troupe saying goodbye at the end of the book.. very BBC

This book is awesome, you should keep tuned for various creations inspired by the patterns here.

Truely Geeky :-)
x G

Master of the Charity Shop

I found this gem in a charity shop in Aylesbury town centre, (£1.50!!) I'm going to make something truely geeky with it, but what? it needs ot be 80's and summery!.. lets go!