For many of us, including those of us who quite like winter, January can be a challenge. I like the rawness of New Year's Day, the way it feels like the first page in a new diary, full of possibilities and with no mistakes in it, but after that it's not so great. The days are still short and dark, and the weather is usually horrible. Memories of Christmas quickly start to fade, spring seems far off and it can feel like there isn't anything ... Read the Post...
Polka Dot Purse Tutorial
My poor old purse has finally breathed its last. While I was looking at its dirty, fraying self the other day, I realised that it had done its job for 4 1/2 years. My boys were all still at school when I made it, and I remember a bus driver remarking that it matched my dress, then made some other remark about Cath Kidston, and I felt pleased! I have to say that although my old purse did its job well, it did not do it perfectly. I found ... Read the Post...
Sewing With Knits: An Introduction
When you're new to sewing, you usually start with cotton fabric, and for good reasons. As well as there being a huge range of colours and prints, it washes and wears well, and it's easy to sew with. Cotton holds its shape and it's not slinky, so it doesn't slither about when you sew it. You can stick pins in it whenever you like without ruining it. If things go wrong, which they do for all of us sometimes, you can unpick it and try again. ... Read the Post...
Autumn Embroidery Hoop Design
At the moment I have rather a lot of unfinished projects. There's the flower dress I've started. Most of the bits are cut out, and I want to get them all cut out otherwise I'll forget and then I'll be an a hopeless muddle when I go back to it. I have fabric for another dress I haven't made, a ripple blanket I'm crocheting, plus the bit of my course I've officially finished but actually haven't, and the next bit that I've started. This ... Read the Post...
