Sew Darn Tired

I picked up this Elna from Freecycle a couple of weeks ago. They said it wasn't working and good for parts. I don't have an "Elna" but a rebranded Elna (Elina 40) and thought maybe it would be ok for some bits for it but it isn't the same machine or even close. When I picked it up it had no cover, no power cord and was filthy.  It looked like they over oiled it (like with litres of oil) and it glugged up the insides. I didn't test if it worked but figured it as it was stiff and badly cared for, I could learn something. I pulled it all apart and cleaned it up. I cleaned it up with a brush (above) and some metholated spirits. I found some of that invisible, nylon thread caught up around something and figured that's what lead the owners to oil it to death. It was really glugged up all over. I pulled all the cases off and really cleaned her up. I had to get a bobbin case (it's the old side entry bobbin case) and used my very first Janome ...

Actually, these fabrics above are from The Fabric Store a couple of days ago. The coloured on is a lovely lightweight silk that will make a perfect summer top ($18 1.6m remnant), and the other is the merino backed (the lighter colour that is terry like texture) and nylon stretch stuff that was $8 per metre and what I made the warm tights out of, so as there was more there I bought some more. It's very useful, easy care, great colour and won't go to waste. This lovely turquoise and dark gold embroidered border eyelet I got at Metro Textiles (or fabrics or something) in Sydney. I dragged my son there for a morning (under promise he would get some swapping cards he is currently interested in), with high hopes of getting some bra making notions and lots of fabric (that I don't need).  This is a polyester that feels very silk like, is lightweight and really gorgeous. I got 2 metres @ $8 per metre. My experience here was less that enjoyable. The man 'serving' wa...

There are a few blogs I go to that have excellent blogrolls. (I have tried to adjust & add to mine but for some reason blogger won't let it happen). Today I went to one and found another I had not heard of before  Spit Up and Stilettos . I love the name as I think any mother would get it! Well they have a range of patterns that they have up for FREE till Friday (U.S. time). You can find the details  here . I had not heard of this pattern label before and they have some nice patterns that are on trend and not too difficult. I just downloaded a few and will try to make some up this coming week. I really like that they have the number of pages that the print out will print and they also have some (basic) baby pattens too. The other interesting thing is that they offer their patterns either by usual single download or on a subscription basis of (U.S.)$15 per month. I don't know what the pattern production level is but if you are a very productive sewer this could be a good ...

No sewing for the last two weeks. We've been away. We did a 12 day driving holiday through New South Wales to get to Newcastle to visit friends. We left the car there and caught the train to Sydney for a few days. (Can you believe it cost as little as $5 for Alex and I to go to Sydney one way!) We had a great time. I had been to Sydney twice last year but Alex hadn't been since 2011. He was desperate to go to the IMAX theatre to see the Ninja Turtles movie ( I would have preferred the shark documentary) but they can only play one movie at a time so we went to the Turtles... holy smoke, it cost nearly $60 for the two of us - no snacks with that - just tickets. Really??? I mean, I was there and I had a 10 year old, and we were on holiday but that is really a rip off. I know the movies are (were) made with special cameras but is animated IMAX the same? Anyone know. What surprised me the most I think is that the cinema (which is obviously huge) was nearly full! We spoke with a fam...

My niece came back from Japan yesterday and leaves tomorrow for New Zealand. She came past this afternoon to say goodbye in between seeing friends in town and going out for dinner with her parents and brother. After we had some afternoon tea and she showed me a couple of things she bought for the weather in New Zealand (which will be a lot colder than Japan and here where currently it is about 26-28 deg in the day time). She showed me some togs (bathers; swimsuit) she bought and mentioned that she wanted some swim shorts to go with them to wear under the wetsuit she'll have to wear when she goes caving (yikes!). So like the  yoga bag  I made a few short weeks ago, I made her a pair of swim shorts at the last minute...again! She chose the colours from my small stash of lycra. The hot pink was a remnant from Spotlight a couple of years ago and the navy was an Op shop find - I've made a few pairs of togs for Alex with this (another one nearly finished) and it's old but g...

Yes that is original '70's towelling. My Mum bought it in the early '70's to cover one of those click drop back couches that were covered in vinyl that was hot, hot, hot in the summer in Brisbane. However, as a mother of 5, she never got the chance so I grabbed it a few years ago. Looking for something else in my fabric bins, I found this again and gave it a wash.  It is a very good quality one - thick and soft. I love the psychedelic waves. I found perfectly matching bobbles  and some fantastic elastic that has cording running though the middle. (I put a label on the front left after I took the photos and it looks really cool). I should have taken a photo of the elastic - it's about 3cm wide and has the nylon cording throughout it evenly, but when you cut it and pull it out, there's plenty to tie up. I just made some button holes inside the 'waistband'. Basically this is just a rectangle with this elastic put on with the overlocker and then fol...

I made a t-shirt for my son. It's from Burdastyle 3/2013. I meant to photograph the pattern line drawing but I forgot. I am testing out the pattern for some merino ones I want to make for when my son goes to the U.K. for Christmas holidays. I wanted to check the size. The sleeve with the label on it. This went together in about 30 min and I'd say it's a 1 hour job to trace, cut and sew. Easier than shopping. My son has a favourite t-shirt that is raglan sleeved (white with black sleeves) that he loves so I promised I'd copy it. He only likes plain t-shirts with no prints on them and really they are quite hard to find. The fabrics are from East Coast Fabrics. I've just finished the edges with a three thread overlock and if my son wants me to hem it I will but I like the look of just the overlock and I like the curved hemline too. I also made a lumpy pillow out of one of his t-shirts that he loves (ha, one with  a print) but got too small. He loves ...