Now, if you've known me a while, you will know I have a love-hate relationship with sewing. That love being the creative part of me who loves getting lost in a project and creating something no one else has. The hate side of me filling up with rage about how damn fiddly sewing can get and why can't I just by-pass the learning stage and immediately become a professional dress-maker who never has to wear a store-bought dress again. So shockingly enough, I didn't go there expecting  to buy anything. 

However, that was before I bumped into Sinead of Wee and Twee. Being a sewing blogger she was actually there to buy stuff (and not just mingle and drink prosecco). So she, erm, managed to talk me into giving sewing another bash. A proper bash. Not just the time I made a stuffed bird at a blogging event or my own Togepi for a Misty cosplay (and a related note: omg, Pokemon Go amiright?!?!!?). 

This all happened because she caught me eyeing up the Tilly & Buttons sewing patterns. If you've ever looked at a sewing pattern and thought the woman in the picture looks like the photos you've seen of your mum in the 70s, you're not alone. That's how I look at most sewing patterns. Tilly & Buttons caught my eye because they design patterns that look like they were designed this side of the millennium (and cute-as-a-button branding). That's when Sinead stepped in - and convinced me to try the cute Fifi boudoir set reminding me "if you muck it up a bit, it's only pyjamas and you could still wear them 'cause no one will see them". 

Well, aside from the entire internet. 

She then helped me pick out everything I would need to create the pyjamas I was inevitably going to blog about regardless of how they turned out. There was of course the super-gorgeous and super-pink penguin fabric (from the kids section, no less) and on top of that matching thread (pink and navy in my case), some dark navy material for the straps, elastic for the waist and a small ribbon for a final touche. Thankfully, this information is on the packet so even you don't have a Sinead to help you you should work it out.

Once I was home I would like to say I eagerly dusted off my (second-hand from my mum) sewing machine and got to work like Cinderella. Instead I waited a few days, and there was lots of faffing. Like re-learning how to thread a sewing machine. Wrapped thread round a bobbin. Watching YouTube videos to try and convince myself I knew what I was doing. After all that faffing I was able to start. and by start I mean wash the fabric (I didn't know this: but you should wash fabric before you start sewing so you don't make a pretty dress which then shrinks in its first wash). Then waiting for it dry overnight (and ironing it)

After preparing the fabric, I was able to cut out the pattern. I did so, and decided that was enough work for one day.

Next Weekend I started sewing. 

Very tentatively and timidly. Honestly, it's hard to remember which part I started with but I think it was the shorts, because they required less steps. In terms of  difficulty this was probably not the best pattern to start out with. There were folds, thin seems to iron down, elasticated waists and French seams. The instructions were helpful - helpful being the strongest word I can muster up. When you're a beginner - in pretty much anything - you appreciate intricate steps. However, the instructions were numbered paragraphs, which made them a tad intimidating (and easy to lose your place). It left me having to think about my next step, YouTubing things and sometimes just hoping for the best. Tilly & The Buttons actually have a beginners pack - which this design wasn't included in. Figures.

I was a size five on the pattern, and I'm a size 10-12 in the UK. The pattern sizes have only a few millimetres between them so I imagine anyone who is smaller than a size UK 8 and anyone bigger than a size UK 14 wouldn't fit this pattern. With size 14 being the UK average this seems like a bit of bad business move - just some feedback for pattern designers.

I spilt the project across a few weekends and was honestly high-5ing myself when I completed my Fifi pyjamas. The seams are messy and there is lose thread hanging everywhere, but as Sinead said I'm not wearing pyjamas in public (but I will post photos in the public domain). I could never sell them for an amount that would cover the cost of making them, but for a first attempt at making a proper piece of clothing I'm really pleased with myself.

Will I sew again?  

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Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

Morag x

For someone who has a love/hate relationship with crafting, I sure do seem to find myself receiving invites to a fair few blogging events which are to do with exactly that. The latest event I rocked up to with an attempt to take home something decorative was the Laura Ashley* craft event at the Butterfly and Pig. 

Laura Ashley are primarily famed for their beautiful country-chic homewares, however they have now branched out into creating DIY crafting kits. Perfect for folk like myself who have always said they want to do more crafts, but still need an instruction box with all the materials included. Or if you have a wannabe crafter on your Christmas to-buy list. 

First up on this crafting afternoon was making a Pinterest-friendly decopage home sign. Not since trying tore create some of masterpieces that Neil Buchanan drew up on Art Attack have I got friendly with paper, glue and something to stick it to. But how hard can it be if children do this routinely in art class? A bit harder than I expected, apparently. Let's just say I was a bit overenthusiastic with the glue. Which you're apparently not meant to do as it makes the paper a wee bit fragile and slightly transparent. However, you're not meant to be neat with this kind of craft and can go over it with more paper.

And the kit comes with the word HOME and a heart, so I cheesily put together my blog name. 

After all that glueing and sticking, it was time for a quick break. The last time I was in the Butterfly and Pig they didn't have a vegan suitable cake however this time I was in luck and sat down to munch on a courgette and pistachio cake. And then drink tea out of their pretty teacups (with saucer!). 

After our lunch break it was time to move onto the next craft box: needle felting. Now, needle felting is something I have zero experience in. Not next to nothing, or very little experience. I have absolutely never sat down to felt anything in my life. And I didn't even know what the concept was. 

Well, apparently - according to what was in this box - needle felting involves taking loose felt, a bed of needles and hitting them really hard with more needles until the threads join together in a desired shape. We were meant to be making Christmas decorations but when my Santa's boot was questionable and my starry night ended up looking like a Scotland flag (and was subsequently turned into a Scotland flag), I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own version of The Little Mermaid: 

And won a Laura Ashley throw for my spare bedroom. 

See I'm not that bad at crafting, though having a nice little box made up by the folks of Laura Ashley probably helped a lot! 

Morag x

Like most individuals who love clothes and fashion, I'm probably not alone in disliking wearing something that everyone else and their favourite blogger owns. And because of that I've entertained the idea on several occasions of designing and sewing my own one of a piece item. But for one there's the fact that I've never sat down to learn the art of seam-stressing. Then there's the availability of beautiful and funky fabrics. Because let's be honest your local high street fabric store is usually full of designs more appropriate for Halloween or a set of curtains rather than a Saturday night frock. 

My opinion on high street fabrics changed however this week when I was invited along to Remnant Kings on Argyle Street (the entrance is hidden near House of Frasers - you can easily miss it). Whilst Remnant Kings have been guilty in the past of offering only plain coloured fabrics, they are now a brand with their finger on the fashion pulse and have launched their very first fashion range ready for Autumn/winter 15/16. And I'm telling you, it's gorgeous. 

Throughout their store - which has been re-done to include a sewing hub - stocks a wide range of fabrics from a wide selection of designers. Their fabrics range from tartan, to faux fur to something that wouldn't look at all out of place on Etsy. There's the calender fabric I instagrammed which I still have buyers remorse about and might pick up again to send to my mum (who can sew). And as an extra special treat - you can purchase fabrics from the talent at Clyde College! On top of the fabrics, there's all you would need to actually carry out the sewing from patterns to thread and needles. And whilst some grinches out there will detest the use of the 'c word' in September, the Christmas range is already available and stocks fabrics for those who like traditional Christmas attire to those of who want something a bit more modern and Pinterest friendly.  

But if you're still sitting there thinking "but I can't sew??!!?". Don't worry, neither can I. But this is where Remnant Kings are also thinking ahead and have launched a new sewing room with a range of sewing classes. You can can contact the individual stores about booking but the from the handy press release I was given the following classes are coming up in the Glasgow branch: 

On the night we also received a demonstration on creating a winter coat from a pattern by one of the lovely (and hilarious) seamstresses who had made it across from the Remnant Kings Falkirk store. Whilst a winter coat was not fully created right in front of our eyes, we learnt about using a pattern, the importance of creating a mock up first on toile before cutting up your pretty fabric, the different kinds of scissors and adjusting your pattern to sit nicely on your body shape. The staff definitely know their stuff. 

Me personally? Whilst I doubt I'll ever find my calling as a seamstress I'm certainly feeling inspired. Back in March I cosplayed for the first time as Misty from Pokémon and was raring to go with other designs. When I visited my parents in the summer I sat down with my mum' sewing machine to work on costumes in advance, but ended up so frustrated trying to create a Charizard costume (which was admittedly a bit ambitious) I swore off cosplay and have been attending cons in casual clothes ever since. 

But after my evening at Remnant Kings I'm feeling more confident about getting my thread and needle out again. I was also given a goody bag with some new kit (pins, needles, some plain thread and some basic patterns for a tote bag and circle skirt) and I've also discovered the Remnant Kings Stitch and Share blog for ideas and inspiration. Happy Sewing! 

Thank you to Remnant Kings and Palompo PR for inviting me to their event. As always all opinions are my own and all pictures from the night are available on my Facebook page.