New machine, new make up bag

I was lucky enough to have been given a new sewing machine for my 40th birthday (Dec 2012), so I just had to give it a go straight away.

I had asked for a Brother MS-5 (which, already seems to have been superseded!), nothing complicated or fancy. Until I know that I'm going to make some serious use of a machine, a bog standard one will do just fine.

So, what should I make? It was Christmas and snowy (and remember, we live up a hill) so going out to get supplies wasn't going to happen.







I already had some nice fabric - probably leftover from the previous Christmas, where I had made lots of gifts but been frustrated by the fact I could never get the tension right on my old machine.  And I found a zip in my sewing box.  My old make up bag was dirty and boring, so it seemed right to make a new one!








I don't quite know how, but I managed to make it so that it had a full lining and a French seam (at the time, I didn't even know what a French seam was - I learnt that a few months later from the TV programme, The Great British Sewing Bee).

The zip wasn't quite long enough, so I filled the gap with a fold of black ribbon, and because I wanted to test out the pattern stitches on the machine, I added a little pattern to it.

The only modification  I would make if I made another, would be to add some interfacing or quilting to make it slightly more sturdy.  It's a little floppy in general, but otherwise it is a really pretty addition to my dressing table.

A Popular Jacket

Knitting and crafts took a big back seat after the dog arrived.   I don't think I picked up a needle of any kind until at least September of 2012.  And then it was to finish that jumper.

While doing that, I also started a project to make a friend's child a knitted jacket.  She saw one of my Facebook updates about knitting, and commented that she wished she had something hand-knitted for her new baby, but she didn't know anyone who knitted.  Who could refuse such a plea??

So, I found the lovely Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn in a nice dark blue - my local shop doesn't stock the full range, so this was the nicest shade they had right there, right then (have I mentioned I'm impatient?) and the accompanying book, and set to, making the super cute Cabled Coat with Hood.

I had been dying to make something with cabling, as it was something I hadn't done for years, but I remember as not being that difficult.


And it wasn't.

Remembering which row you were on was the trickiest part, so I took it slow to begin with and it all came back to me!

I was really pleased with how it was looking as I began, and very, very happy with the end result. 

I tried mattress stitch for the seams, and I think it worked. It was better than the green jumper, anyway.

When I posted the finished picture on Facebook, I got many requests from friends to make one for them! Sadly, with it having taken 2 months to make and only being a baby size, I really couldn't face making another or enlarging it to be suitable for an adult!  Lots of disappointed friends!!

But baby and his parents were very happy with it, which was the most important thing, even if it will only fit him for such a short time.  They are the kind of people that I expect will keep it for baby number 2, when and if he or she ever comes along...

 
(Ps. That's me with baby. Such a cheerful chap!)