I got a new book today. I even had a full stamp card so it didn’t cost as much as it said it would. I’ve looked at this book a few times but never got it because most of the stuff in it I can find somewhere else or do myself with some work.I finally decided to buy it because (a) it’s really handy to have a whole bunch of useful knowledge in one spot and not have to hunt around for it and (b) it’s kind of handy to have had someone else do all the hard work and just hand you what you need. I’ve also discovered that this book is full of little bits and pieces that really flesh out my sewing knowledge. It’s also very down to earth and enjoyable to read.
 
The idea behind it is that the author (a designer) has made up three basic patterns - a skirt, blouse and trousers - that can be used as a jumping off point for creating whatever you want. What’s really great for me is that she goes into just enough detail about how patterns fit together and how different fabrics behave for the book to be useful without me having to slog through a lot of text. I learned a lot of my basic sewing skills from my Mum but I’ve just sort of picked up pattern making skills here and there a long the way. Some things are starting to make sense but frankly altering armscyes still scares me.
 
My Regency gown is my best fitting project to date and I love how well it fits (though it will only fit over my Regency underpinnings). I’m determined to take a little more time with my sewing and make things that really look and feel the way I want them to. I’m starting with a couple of skirts.
 
The brown and dark green chunks of fabric above are going to become skirts for fall and winter respectively. The brown is a linen blend (going by feel) that I got a few years ago but never decided what to do with. I think there is just enough for a nice tea length skirt if I use something else for the facings. I think I might give it a lining for a nicer drape. The green is actually a skirt already; it’s just to big. I got it last year knowing I would have to alter it but because it was just the sort of thing I wanted for a winter skirt and as it’s A-line it wouldn’t be difficult to alter... Except that I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I’ve found some kind of strange things in the construction that I think I need to fix (the facings have been sewn in without any reinforcement and the whole waist band is stretching) so it is no longer just a matter of taking in the side seams.

Now that we are past all the wedding preparation I finally have some time for blogging a few of the other things that have arrived in the past week.
 
These are two new sewing books that I had ordered a couple of weeks ago. The both include patterns and instructions for variousprojects and are spiral bound so they’ll lay flat on my work table (Yay!).  I’ve already picked out a couple of projects that I want to try as soon as I’ve cleaned up enough space around my sewing table (wedding preparations kind of eclipsed housework for the past couple of weeks) - a check book cover, a cafe apron, some cushion covers and a pair of wide leg lounge pants (so comfy). Other projects will have to wait until I can get a few more supplies or we move into new space where I don’t have to worry so much about making holes in the walls - a magazine holder, a wall organizer, a room divider with little pockets in it (they look so cute).
 
Something I’ve found fun about these two books is that they have some very similar projects such as pot holders or aprons but each writer has made hers very differently from the other so they don’t really overlap. Both writers also encourage you to play with fabrics and designs to make things uniquely your own and to reflect your personal style and how you like to live.
 
I can’t wait to get started.