M is for make a bedside tidy

Motivated by a towering pile of books on the end of my daughter's bed, here is a guide to making a bedside tidy to hang on the side of your bed and stash your stuff. I used a half yard of Heather Ross fabric, equally good would be Echino or Kiyohara fabric.

These measurements are intended to give you a rough guide, and you may want to tweak them to fit your bed, but my finished tidy is 50cm wide and 25cm high. Here's how you make it...

1.  Cut the rectangles of fabric for the back panel and pocket panel. I added a 2cm seam allowance at the side and bottom, and a larger 4cm allowance at the top, the back panel measures 56cm x 29cm and the pocket panel is slightly smaller 54cm x 28cm.

2.  On the back panel, hem the edges, on the sides and bottom, fold over the fabric onto the wrong side 1cm and iron, then fold over another 1cm and iron again.

3.  Cut off the corner at the end of the hem to reduce bulk when sewing the corner. Pin in place. Starting at one side, sew the side and bottom hems.

4. Next, hem the top. This time fold under 2cm of fabric onto the wrong side, iron, then fold over another 2cm, iron, pin then sew. Your finished back panel will look something like this.

5. Next, sew the ties. I chose to use slightly shorter, wider ties with velcro rather than tie a bow, and made 3 to avoid the tidy sagging in the middle. You can use more or less depending on the length of your tidy and how much weight it will hold. Cut 3 pieces of fabric 10cm x 20cm and 3 smaller pieces 10cm x 12cm. These measurements are based on the size of the rail it will hang on with one long tie coming over the top and fixing to the shorter one on the outside of the bed.

6. Fold each tie in half lengthways (wrong sides together), iron then open up, then fold the long edge on each side in half to the middle (wrong sides together) and iron, finally fold in half again and iron. Iron a 1cm hem both short edges. Pin in place.

7. Sew along the edges, close to the edge as you can whilst sewing through both layers.

8. Next Sew the ties to the back panel. As the fabric will be quite thick due to the multiple layers, I set the tie in slightly from the side of the back panel. Sew one long tie to the right side of the back panel as close to the top and you can. Then sew the second shorter tie to the wrong side. Again because of the thickness of the fabric, I set this slightly below where the long tie had been sewn on. Sew two at each end and another pair in the middle.

9. Next stick or sew the velcro onto the correct side of the tie. You may want to hang it on the bed to make sure you put it in the right place.

10. Next hem the pocket panel. Fold under 1cm onto the wrong side on the sides and bottom and iron. Snip the corners to reduce bulk as in step 3. On the top of the panel, fold under 2cm of fabric onto the wrong side, iron, then fold over another 2cm, iron, pin then sew as close to the fold as you can.

12. Place the pocket panel on top of the back panel with the wrong sides together. Centre the panels with pocket panel inset slightly. Have the pocket panel roughly 1.5cm lower at the top than the back panel. Pin in place and sew around the side.

11. Finally sew as many pockets as you need. I chose 2 so sewed a divide up the middle of the tidy through both layers of fabric, being careful to stop at the top of the pocket and not carry up to the top of the back panel.

12. Finished - hang up and enjoy!

Kew Gardens

One of the highlights of my oldest being at school is that during the school holidays there are days when the youngest is at nursery it's just her and me. So we can do big grown up things together, yesterday we went to Kew Gardens for the day.

I've never been to Kew before, it's absolutely beautiful, so huge, well maintained, full of different things to explore. In the palmhouse (shown above) you can go up a windy staircase and walk around the top to get an amazing view of the plants.

Another highlight was the Treetop walkway (not to be confused with Treehouse towers which is a play area). I didn't think I had a problem with heights but on climbing up the stairs (we chose to visit on a day the lift was out of order!) and reaching the top, it was really high giving an incredible view of the treetops.

You can just see the opposite side of the walkway in this photo.

The structure was really cool with these big rusty columns holding up the walkway, very Jurassic Park.

Another highlight for me (but definitely not in any way for my 5 year year old) was the Prince of Wales Conservatory. Certain rooms were full of the most amazing butterflies, some of them huge. Which to the horror of my daughter had a habit of slowly flapping towards your face and looking dangerously like landing on your head. Ok, I had to admit is was a bit freaky, but the beauty of them just outweighed this.

It was a series of interconnecting rooms with different climates and plants in, some with butterflies, some without. We got hopelessly lost trying to find our way out once it had been decided that the whole experience was not going well. At one point (at the same time I realised it!) my daughter said 'we are going round in circles!'. Hilarious, we found our way out eventually, but at every interconnecting door we had a tense discussion over whether or not we were going to enter a 'butterfly room'.

But then we were out, in the first and last room, full of soaring butterflies, exit in site, striding towards it and this huge black butterfly swoops straight towards my daughter's nose. I think it just knew! Anyway, it made me glad I had decided against a trip to a butterfly farm earlier in the week.

I was surprised how much fun Kew was for a child, it helped that we had the most amazing weather. I would definitely come back with or without a child, it would be a lovely grown up day out.

Bird Song Tote

The first thing I made a few years ago when I got back into sewing was a tote bag in Echino fabric.  It's has lasted really well and hasn't really worn out, I just fancied a change. I've been wanting to make something from the Echino bird song fabric since it arrived and it just seemed perfect for a bag.

So here is the finished product, it's lined (in an attempt to make a dent in my fabric stash) and I made a pocket for my phone inside as I am always scrabbling around in the bottom of my bag for it.

I love this fabric, I think it might be my favourite Echino fabric at the moment, there is so much in the design to use. I would love to make my daughter a skirt from the dark pink leafy border on the bottom. And for myself, I was thinking the other side would make a great skirt too, something simple lined and A-line, what do you think? (modelled from the offcuts!)

(Note to self, wear shorter jeans)

or this way

 or (great idea Stash Avalanche) this way

Boden preview!

Last week I went to a preview of the Autumn/Winter 2010 Boden collection.

When I think about Boden, primarily I think big recognisable prints which perhaps is why I like the new teen range with it's restraint and pretty details, it's like Boden, but in disguise.

The collection was set out in a stunning building and the staging was beautiful. Really beautiful, I was there to see the clothes, but I had to admire how they were displayed, from the pictures on the walls to the iconic furniture, I hope my photos do it justice.

So to the collection, and ladies first. As I mentioned before I don't wear a great deal of women's Boden, mostly sticking to staples such as plain tops and the odd pair of trousers. Those prints are just a bit too much for me, but this collection, and maybe it's because it's for Autumn/Winter, showed far more restraint; lovely plummy colours, pretty prints, buttery soft leather jackets.

look how the print on the dress matches the one on the picture!

There were a couple of stripy tops that I know I will buy as they will be so easy to wear. I also liked this needle cord dress with pretty gathering around the neck. There was one mac with a bonkers print on which made me smile, because it couldn't be more Boden.

What I really wanted to see was the teen range. And it didn't disappoint, I found myself going along the rail thinking, I'd have that, and that, oh and that, the kids would think that was hilarious (*pic below), and I'll take a couple of those too.

I saw some decidedly non-teens keenly trying this jacket on, isn't it gorgeous over this dress?

I think this was my favourite from the day, the photo doesn't do it justice, but the print, fit, details, it's just perfect and it will be mine. There were a couple of other lovely dresses too;

Also in the range were pretty camisole tops, think vintage style prints and cute details. Skirts far too short for any one over 19, but very cool non the less, and some funny stuff.

*This is the one the kids would love (I mean my pre-schoolers, I'm not trying to be street).

Moving on to the kids, the staging upped it's game, Jane Foster prints on the wall, a miniature Eames rocker, try not to be frightened by the headless baby climbing out of the cot. Oh and some cute baby clothes too.

But look at the girl's range, there were people with children there and I would have loved to have got my 5 year old's take on the clothes. There was one dusky pink ballerina style skirt with layers of soft netting that she absolutely would have picked out, and I probably would have had to prise it from her hands before we left.

There were some big prints, but where better to find them on coats and wellies. Overall the range felt more grown up to me.

After the teen dress, this was my next favourite of the day, the whole outfit is just perfect even down to the bronze pumps.

One disappointment of the day was not getting the chance to speak to any of the designers of the teen collection - I would have loved to have learnt more about the design process.

I was in the swimming pool changing rooms with my daughter the other day and I heard a mum admiring another child's swimming costume. Apparently the mum had bought it from a supermarket because she had though it was 'very Boden' and had picked up a top with the same idea too. I love that Boden can be used as a adjective!

So what do you think? anything here that catches your eye? I'd love to read any comments.

Tie - top take three

To my surprise I actually did manage to finish my tie-top from 'Les Couleurs Francaises' this weekend, thanks in no small part to the rubbish bank holiday weather keeping us in the house.

You can see my 2 draft versions of this top here and here. I made it from Anna Maria Horner Little Folks voile, in anticipation of stocking this fabric at 'M is for make' imminently. I am always searching for pretty dress-making rather than quilting fabric and this voile is perfect, it's so soft, drapes well and has a lovely sheen. I can't wait to use more of it.

The finished top has turned out well, I love the details, although they are a little hidden in the print, it has gathering along the seam on the bust and a pleat where the tie joins the top at the shoulder.

It fits nicely, when I make it in a different fabric, I will make the arm-holes maybe half a centimetre bigger as they feel a little tight, even though they didn't on the draft version. Also despite adding quite a bit to the length, I would still like to add maybe an inch more. I had first intended to make the top from Nani Iro fabric, but changed my mind last minute so had the wrong colour bias-binding, but you can't see it when it's on.

I had a great moment whilst putting it on, where I found myself looking for a label so I knew which way was the front and then realising that of course, there wasn't one.

Tie - top take two

Sitting here and flicking here between take one and take two, there doesn't look like much difference between the two. But this top is a much better fit, it's not too big at the sides and I have added roughly 5" to the length so there is absolutely no risk of me accidentally flashing my stomach, ever.

I ended up dropping 2 sizes, so this is a size "9" incase anyone else is using this book. Next time I make something from a new book I will take a bit more trouble to measure myself and compare it to the chart rather than ploughing straight in with the first size that takes my fancy.

One area where I will try and tweak the pattern is at the front, it has a bit too much fabric in the centre, if you look closely in the picture, you can see it's pinned. This might have something to do with the next line being unfinished as it will have bias binding on the final version. I think even with that it may bag too much, so I am going to take about 1cm off at the top and hope it turns out ok. I did this on my pattern cutting course dress to stop the scoop neck gaping and it worked out.

The plan is this weekend to make the top up and wear it, i'll let you know how it turns out.

Tie - top take one

I have finished my first draft of the tie-top from 'Les Couleurs Francaises'. It's a really simple top and as I wasn't doing any finishing on this rough version, it was really quick to sew up. I'm so glad I did this version as it's way too big, I need about an inch off at the sides and in the middle, you can see the neckline folding in the picture. I suspect I have made it one if not two sizes too big.

Looking at the pattern, going one size down should take off enough at the sides, I think it's safer to use the pattern than try and adjust this one which is too big all over.

I LOVE this top though. I wasn't sure if the neck line would be too high for me, and was prepared to lower it a bit, but the long scoop works really well and I like the gathers too at the bust. As I suspected it is a bit too short for me, I blogged about my size 26 back a while back and I'll be adding 2 or 3 inches to the length of this. Also I am loving the top in this duvet cover fabric, maybe i'll start a new trend, remember - you read about it here first.

Sewing from Japanese books - part 4

Read part 1, part 2, and part 3 here.

I have finally finished the top I have been making from 'Sweet Style for Kids'. I'm really happy with the way it's turned out. The fabric is really pretty, quite soft, perfect for a summer dress.

The pattern turned out well too, it fits nicely, just the right amount of flare. It's intended to be worn as a tunic over jeans or leggings, and it will make a great summer dress if a few inches longer. I think this could be a staple of her summer wardrobe, maybe one in each colour as they don't take long to make.

The only bit I am disappointed with it my bias binding on the neck and arms, I hurried it and so it didn't turn out as well as it could. Also putting a french seam up the back made it difficult to sew the edges on the opening at the back. I'll zig-zag the seams next time when I get an overlocking machine foot. Also I might try different finishes on the arms and neck, maybe using a contrast colour to bind them on both sides.

Sewing from Japanese books - part 3

 Read part 1 here and part 2 here.

The next step after cutting out the pattern is the fun bit - sewing it all together! In this pattern, each step is numbered. You can see here, step 1 is finishing the raw edges by zig-zagging them, sewing up the back centre seam but stopping short of the top for the opening, the measurement for this is given in an earlier diagram. The second picture shows the same seam pressed open.

In step 2, the side and shoulder seams and then sewn together and pressed open.

Step 4 and 5 explain how to attach the facing to the neck, first by joining the front and back facings together, then sewing it onto the neck hole, including fixing a loop for the fastening. It shows notches clipped out of the curve within the seam allowance. In the last diagram on the right, the facing is stitched 2mm from the seam allowance to stop it from rolling over. Next (shown in the picture below) the edges of the opening are stitched 0.5 mm from the seam.

Step 6 explains how to bias bind the armholes, I found this quite confusing the first time I did it, but after bit of googling, it became clearer!

Step 7 is sewing the hem, 8 is making the casing for the belt  and 9 is sewing it on. The measurements of where to place the belt are shown in the original diagrams. Step 10 is fixing on the button for the opening.

All finished! It is a simple garment to make, and no doubt making other things especially for adults might be a bit more complicated. But most of the instructions are shown in the form of a picture and infact they are extremely detailed, showing steps they maybe don't need to.

The finished draft top is shown at the beginning of the post. The fit is good, though I might take in a bit of slack under the arms. I didn't bother with any of the finishing with this version as I just wanted to check the fit. I re-drafted the pattern with about 1cm less at the side under the arm, and flared it out to the same point at the hem.

Yesterday I actually remembered to pre-wash the fabric I will be using, so won't be frantically ironing it dry so that I can sew it, which is what I usually end up doing!

The pattern shows how much fabric to use in this diagram, suggesting 115cm - 125cm. However, I have decided to bias bind the neck rather than use a facing, so this cuts down the fabric considerably and by measuring the pattern pieces, I worked out that I only needed 75cm.

I will try and sew it up this weekend and post the final top.