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Ivy + Bean

07 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by Evie Jones in books

≈ 21 Comments

When Button was in reception class she was, shall we say, a recalcitrant learner.  She suffers terribly from shiny squirrel syndrome…

a…b….see, there’s a squirrel in the playground

I’ve been fine with that.  She was 4 when she started school and, as she came home to us with significant global developmental delay, I was more than happy to let her set the pace.  Whilst I completely understand why some parents ensure their child starts school with some reading and writing skills, it was not something that concerned me.  I have friends who are teachers and they’ve always assured me that a) my kids were doing just fine thank you (and possibly a little too well on the verbal communication!) and b) it all levels out in the end.

This tactic paid off.  This year, she’s flying.  Reading, writing, maths.  She loves it all. Heavens, she quoted Neil Armstrong to me the other week. And often helps Boy with his letters.

I’m an incredibly proud mum!

With this in mind I’ve been trying very much to engage her in stories that I can read her at bed time, which are age appropriate, but also little more grown up than the books that we’ve always read and which are much loved (Julia Donaldson is, and always will be, a hero in this house.)

Enter my trusty local bookseller, who recommended a series called Ivy + Bean.

i&B

One of the big problems of being a kid is that your parents often try to make you play with people you don’t really like…These kids were often weird. I didn’t want to play with them. It was a problem.

But sometimes opposites can become the best of friends because they’re opposites…For Ivy and Bean, their differences mean that they have more fun together than they could ever have separately…The Ivy and Bean books are about the adventures—and disasters—created by this unlikely team.

These delightful chapter books have completely entranced Button.  We read one chapter a night and she begs for more.

ivybean2

Significantly, she retains the story, it’s so engaging.  I sat quietly earlier this week listening to her telling Nana all about how the protagonists tormented Bean’s elder sister with worms and ‘magic’.  Button roared with laughter as she recounted the tale.

I knew we were onto a winner!  In a world where girls are bombarded by Disney princesses (is it wrong that I’m  proud that Button can only name about 2 of them), Ivy + Bean are a charmingly mischievous antidote to saccharine sweetness, lounging around awaiting princely rescue, and princess dresses.

Today I picked up book 2.

book2It’s only been two nights since we finished book 1 and she’s been bereft. So when she discovered the book under her bed this evening she shrieked with joy and danced around the bedroom shouting “book, book, book”.

It’s joyous.  A whole world of knowledge and adventure awaits her, and she’s starting to venture into it.  Ivy + Bean are the new heroes of the hour.  And the reason why we must support our local bookstores.  You just don’t get that kind of service from Amazon!

So, if you’ve not already discovered Ivy + Bean for yourself and the small girl in your life, can I recommend that you do.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.

The Couture Cardigan Jacket

25 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by Evie Jones in books, dressmaking

≈ 18 Comments

I’m in the really rather fortunate position of only living about an hour from the legendary Linton Tweeds shop.

image courtesy of lintondirect.co.uk

Don’t hate me!

I have visited once before, when I bought the fabric for my Chanel style dress.

tweed dress

I’m longing to make a classic Chanel style jacket, but am waiting until the CrossFit kicks in and I’m a bit slimmer before putting all that work into a garment.  To be fair I’m not planning much sewing for myself over the coming months.  Only garments that will be easy to alter.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was to open my email inbox this morning to an email from Threads with details of a new book available for pre-order.

cardigan_jacketOh my!

Make this signature jacket for yourself. Coco Chanel’s designs have captivated the imaginations of fashion lovers for generations. Now, with The Couture Cardigan Jacket, home sewers can create their own high-fashion jackets with the impeccable look and fine detailing of the iconic original.

I am so excited by this book…I’ve already pre-ordered it.  It’s available on Amazon.co.uk for £15.19 with free delivery.  A bargain, no?

In The States you can order from Taunton press direct.

It looks like its going to be an amazing resource:

Learn the fine art of couture sewing. With The Couture Cardigan Jacket, you will be able to follow all the steps involved in replicating the characteristics of this signature jacket, including:

  • Cutting and shaping the jacket sections

  • Sewing princess seaming

  • Setting the sleeve

  • Adding the chain weight

  • Creating the double buttonhole

It should be with me early in November.

And who knows, maybe Father Christmas will bring me a voucher for Lintons…

Dressmaking at home

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by Evie Jones in books, dressmaking, fitting, patterns

≈ 10 Comments

I recently won this book in a giveaway generously hosted by Inna.  It arrived last week and I’ve been remiss in sharing this with you and letting Inna know it’s here safely.

dress at home coverAren’t sewing folk generous?  Thank you so very much Inna.

I love the cover dress and this one too. img904

Isn’t that fabric just divine.  The folklore embroidery is to die for.

I’m really thrilled with this as I do love Japanese sewing books…even if I’ve been terribly intimidated by them!

My problem has always been that I don’t have a well fitting block and I’m a bigger size than the patterns supplied in the books.  Which makes my upcoming adventures with Sew the Perfect Fit even more timely.

stpfThe style of the pattern will, as well as a great fitting dress pattern for the lovely fabrics winking at me in the sewing loft, effectively give me a bodice, sleeve and skirt block.  Which means I’ll be able to finally get to grips with this book and the once kindly gifted to me by the lovely Himmelbjerget aeons ago, and which she’s probably given up all hope of me sewing something from!

Very exciting.

I’m hoping to get to this course in the next couple of weeks.  And I will, of course, review the course and post my progress to the perfect dress.

In the meantime I’ve got to get the camera out and some photos taken and I’ll have projects to share with you.  And once the stuff on the sewing table is finished I’ll be cracking on with STPF.  Yay!

Book Review – Sewing Machine Secrets

15 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Evie Jones in books

≈ 14 Comments

I don’t know about you but I use my local village library a lot.   As well as a great resource for novels so that avoid adding to our already overcrowded book shelves, I use the online ordering service to get my mitts on books that I’d like to take a look at before deciding whether or not to buy.  These are usually sewing, knitting or cooking related.

Big surprise there!

The latest book to come my way is Sewing Machine Secrets by Nicole Vasbinder.

IMG_7959_edited-1I’m always pretty dubious about new sewing books as I often find they tend towards a younger, less experienced seamstress. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for anything that encourages new sewists, but they don’t really have much to offer me.

This one, however took me, quite nicely, by surprise.

It’s broken down into two main sections. Section 1 is  “Choosing Machines and Accessories”.  I found the chapter about sewing machine needles to be really informative and useful.

IMG_7963_edited-1

I didn’t know, for example, that there are specific needles for machine quilting. As I’m about to embark on the quilting of the Gardener’s Journal quilt ( *cough* finally *cough*), this was a timely piece of information!

But, for me, it’s in Section 2 that this book really shines. “Sewing Machine Feet and How to Use Them”.  

IMG_7964_edited-1

I love this section!  It’s eminently practical without being too basic.  Perfect for newbies as well as gals like myself who’ve sewn a stitch or two but still have much to learn.

IMG_7965_edited-1

Each chapter covers a particular type of foot in detail giving:

  • clear photos or illustrations of different foot designs in each category, for example, zipper feet,
  • a brief description of the foot and what you will use it for,
  • step by step instructions of how to use the foot,
  • a great photo of the finished product,
  • and extra tidbits of information in “insider secrets” such as:

You can use the rolled hem foot as a guide for sewing on narrow trims…slip the trim through the scroll…it will feed through…making it easy for you to stitch it on straight

And whilst it covers all the basics, such as zipper feet and buttonhole feet, it also looks at some of the more unusual ones too.

IMG_7966_edited-1

Circle attachment anyone?

Who knew?

I am seriously covetous of this little beauty.

But not entirely convinced I can justify it!

Especially when I fess up a little guilty secret!

You see, my current sewing machine and overlocker were replacements for my original machines which were lost when my house flooded years and years ago. They came with several boxes of feet and attachments that have been tucked away in the sewing loft for forever without being used.  Every now and again I’ll think something along the lines of “I could really use a 1/4″ foot”, which will lead me to rummage though the boxes to see if I have said 1/4″ foot or if I need to buy one.

It’s a ridiculous waste of specialist feet and accessories  so yesterday, armed with this book, I pulled them all out.

IMG_7956_edited-1

IMG_7950_edited-1

Good grief!

Half of them are overlocker accessories, which aren’t covered by this book, but the other half are sewing machine feet and ALL of them I could use on a regular basis.

Sadly there isn’t a circle attachment hiding amongst them.  But they are all nice and tidy now and ready to play with.  I think there is a side project of trying out all the overlocker feet, too, and finding out exactly what each of them do.

But in the meantime, I can heartily recommend Sewing Machine Secrets.  I certainly learned something new from it…I suspect you might too!

Patternmaking

30 Sunday Nov 2008

Posted by Evie Jones in books

≈ 1 Comment

Whilst my mojo may have deserted me, my brain is working overtime on new ideas.  As I’ve mentioned previously, for the past 10 weeks I’ve been attending a patternmaking class at a local college.  Now that I’ve got my basic blocks fitted and ready to use, I need to start working on developing my skills.  So Mr Stitches purchased the above book for me.  (Thanks, honey.)
It’s a hefty tome, but just so inspiring.  Whilst the Winifred Aldrich book (which was the recommended text for the course)

gives you good basic instructions for a variety of garments, the illustrations themselves are a bit dated for my taste.  Helen Joseph Armstrong’s book is the opposite.  It illustrates a basic concept and then a number of variations.  It even has instructions for all the elements that I’m considering for my wedding dress, which is rather exciting.
So, when I do finally find my mojo, I’m going to have a go at drafting something a little more challenging than a skirt.  This could be the start of something good (and a whole lot cheaper and satisfying that patterns from the Big 4).  Watch this space.

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