Layby pick up!

 Finally got to pick up one of my Spotlight sewing laybys today. While not overly exciting (i.e. not a new machine or fabric) these are thing that I have been thinking of getting for a while and I think will come in useful. 
Also - if truth must be told- I'm thinking that even if I don't truly know 100% what I'm doing all the time, at least with these tools I might look like I know what I'm doing right? ;) I mean doesn't that tailor's ham and curve ruler just smack of some serious dressmaking going on?

And maybe one day I might just get good enough that I will be needing tools like these all the time, and then I will be soo glad I thought ahead and got them ;) One can dream...

I was spurred into laybying after receiving a "spend $100 get $40 off" in the mail (loyalty clubs do pay off sometimes) and -just in case I missed that_ they also emailed it to me too. Obviously the sewing gods were telling me something ;)

Now I must say that while not being the most patient person when it comes to getting something - I think my generation was the beginning of the "instant gratification" era- I did enjoy going in every week and checking out what new stock was on the floor while I paid my measly $10 on the layby. Knowing I had this (and two more laybys!) to pay off was also a good deterrent for buying anything else.

Currently planning my next big sewing related layby once my other two packages are paid for...

Happy Sewing!

Kate :)

Avoiding the "Pluck Of Shame" or "Guess what? I made undies! (again)"

Underwear making has been in full swing this past week (in the sewing moments I actually get after the kids are in bed and housework + cooking is done...). 
So for my efforts I have 5 new pairs of undies to show! I know this might not sound like much but for me ever since I made my first pair of knickers I have been hanging out to make more! 
 Yes I could go down to the local supermarket and buy a pack for close to what the elastic and thread for these guys cost me, or even spend a few more dollars and get a really nice but pricey pair from a proper lingerie store, BUT will they fit me properly?
Most importantly - to use a phrase coined by another sewist on a blog/forum I read recently (sorry I can't remember where) - WILL I have to do the "Pluck Of Shame"? (I did come up with my own term for this phenomenon "HBS" or "Hungry Butt Syndrome" ....somehow I like "Pluck Of Shame" better ;)
 Unfortunately the answer for most store brought underwear is yes, YES I will have to do the "pluck" if I wear them (sorry if that's TMI).
 I've tried cheap, I've tried expensive and so far in many years of buying underwear there have only been a few islands of pluck free sanctuary in a sea of ever upward creeping ass coverage.
Frankly - in my case- there just isn't enough fabric to cover my decidedly pear shaped behind (thanks genetics!...and chocolate), plus even if the fabric coverage is generous usually the shape is all wrong!
I discovered - mostly by accident- after making my own that if I scoop out the rear leg seams (the one that makes the elastic sit under your butt checks) and make them a bit rounder then "voila" undies stay where they are meant to be! No other magic required!

 

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only person to have thought of doing this and that if I actually did a little research I would have come across this method (or something similar and probably sooner) on the Internet. Still I'm a little bit chuffed I came up with a solution to my "pluck factor" problem on my own! ;)  I actually have seen a similar thing done in lieu of a FBA on the side seam of t-shirts, which is what gave me the idea :)

 Of course this does make my undies look a bit more "boule" shaped once the elastic is added (pulling in that extra bit of fabric) and they are off the body:

 BUT (or is that butt?) as long as they look OK -and work like they should when on- I'm more than happy!
   
Here's to D.I.Y underwear!!!

Happy Sewing!
 Kate x

Hardware store love for the sewing room

 Someone posted about these roller cutters on a sewing related FB group (the Sewing Library) I subscribe to. I thought I would share in case you were in need of a good, cheap rotary cutter and unaware of this cheap alternative:

For the princely sum of $10 (some people have found them on sale at random stores for about $5) you can get a roller cutter and 10 replacement blade at Bunnings. Not all stores seem to have but I think its definitely worth a look-see if you happen to be cruising by one and have the time. 

 I found mine in the power tools section, where they also sell things such as spirit levels, drill bits, spanners etc...

I've stocked up on three of these "Craftright" cutters in the last week (there's a rumour that the line is going to be deleted?) and I figure that should see me through for the next few years or so. Funny that my first rotary cutter was also a buy from the same hardware chain, a "Fiskars" cutter that I think I paid about $13 for. I'm mostly buying these ones for the blades (hello to not paying $7 per blade for a while) but the handle is actually suprisingly easy and comfortable to use- yay bonus win!

If you live in Western Australia I have seen these for sale at Malaga and Midland- if I visit any other stores and find them in stock I will update in my comments.

Makes it worth tagging along next time someone in the household needs to do a hardware run doesn't it ? ;)

Til then...

Happy Sewing (and cut-price cutting!)

Kate x

Kitchen as workspace

What to do when working with a slippery fabric and your cutting area (or kitchen bench!) is not quite big enough? 
Open up a couple of cutlery/utensil drawers to catch the excess fabric and stop it spilling off onto the floor as you pin it up/cut it out:

 And yes there are cutting mats under there!

Happy pinning/cutting/sewing all!

Kate x