My Crafty Week: 17th-23rd May

This has been a very busy week on the home/work front, and therefore a very quiet week on the crafting front!

I've done a little mending, especially teddy Dandelion Flower who needed her back stitching up!

Close up of the back of a teddy with just-visible yellow thread stitching up the back seam

Alterations

One of the things I always had in mind when I started sewing was not just making my own clothes but also adjusting shop-bought clothes for a better fit. I started looking at a few tops and dresses this week to see where I could adjust them. I started work on a flowy summer top that I've had for a while but always felt uncomfortable because there wasn't quite enough fabric in the sleeves which twisted the way the top sat on my body. I chopped the sleeves off, which helped a lot, but there's also the issue of the bust not doing up.

A blue and white top, inside out, lying on an ironing board with a pair of scissors on top

A blue, white and red patterned top lying on an ironing board. The sleeves have been cut off and there is a raw edge around the arm-holes

Katharine stands looking down into the camera pulling an annoyed face. We see that the fabric around the buttons of her top are gaping open revealing her bra

I got some great advice on Instagram, including a suggestion from SewBusty who have started a blog for the sewer who is well-endowed! Removing the elastic from the gathered part has really helped, I only need to find another inch to make it do up really well. I might simply need to undo some more of the gathers from the bodice portion to find that extra material.

Katharine looks into the camera. We see that the bust-gape on the top has improved since the previous picture

Crafty Chatting

I also participated in a crafty tea-break at work, chatting all things crafty with some colleagues. I love chatting to other crafters about their projects and sharing new ideas! During this tea-break I progressed the embroidery on one of my Jacobin Day quilt blocks... but as you know that's very hush-hush!

Shopping

I may also have bought myself a new pattern (the Loren dress/blouse from By Hand London) which has a lovely peasant vibe which I thought would be great for history-bounding. It has that shift or chemise feel which would go well under a dirndl type dress for a medieval/Tudor look!

I also thought I would try a pattern-printing service using the copy-shop A0 files that shops supply in their downloads. I used Fabulosew and I've heard that they've already dispatched the print outs! I'll update in the next My Crafty Week :)

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Eco-friendly Upcycled Face Wipes

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Confined Crafting

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