Tales of WOMAD and a Walkthrough of the Wrap Skirt

There's been a lot going on recently. And I mean a lot. There's been holidays and happenings galore. From work to seeing friends it's all got a bit too much recently. I've been sorting out my stuff for university as well as what seems to be a growing fabric stash!

As if I need to tell you TSC has been a little neglected. Last week I was in the middle of a field in Wiltshire getting soaked whilst listening to some of the best music I've heard in a while. I have to say (apart from the rain) WOMAD outdid itself this year.

Some of my highlights had to be the Jenova Collective, an electric swing band from Manchester, The Correspondents, who I have seen a few times but were even better with a band behind them and Red Baraat, a sort of modern rock-Bollywood fusion from New York.

Tutorial - How to Sew a TSC Draped Wrap Skirt

I have a fantastic pattern for you today!

(Note: there is a slight revision to the pattern shown in this post as well as a walkthrough, which is in this post here. However if you want information about the slash and spread technique carry on reading!)

I've put my bralette top aside for the moment as I am waiting on bra underwires in the mail.

In this post I was intending to show you how to do the 'slash and spread' technique often used when adding fullness to a garment, but I got a little carried away and I ended up drafting a pattern. The resulting skirt was pretty simple so I thought I'd share my maths with you!

The TSC Guide to Female Fashion Sketching

My machine is still a bit wobbly due to the lack of appropriate bobbins I have to my name (fortunately they're in the post somewhere!) so today I'm not sewing, I'm designing. If you have me on Facebook then you know last week I went to my favourite fabric shop in Sheffield for the first time in a year or so and got plenty of material to keep me sewing. After all the alterations I have to do, of course!

Anyway, back to the post. I'm on a costumers course next year and half of it will be designing, half of it making. Because of this I need to get back into the headspace of drawing out my designs before i make them as opposed to just making it straight off like I usually do. So for the next however long I have before I go to university, I am going to design my clothing before I start making them.

DIY Strap Alteration

Ever thought about buying a top and was put off by the straps? Well this is the tutorial for you!

So I bought this one from a vintage shop in Sheffield last week - but I knew I could do something with the straps in a matter of minutes as I looked inside the top - some are easier than others. This one was pretty simple as the straps on this one were hand stitched to the inside of the lining. If you have to undo some seams to get to where the straps are attached, consider how much you dislike the original straps and how long a time you can spend on the project. 

Tutorial - Menswear Sleeve Alteration

So I wear a lot of men's clothing as they fit me better in the arms and are normally longer in the body. I confess though, the sleeves really annoy me. They're normally annoying lengths and flap about a lot, so I'm using my Fifteen Eleven shirt to show you lot how to update your sleeves. Ready?

So first you need to unpick your sleeves. Personally I would advise not to cut them off as you lose your seam allowances, but it's your shirt, so it's your rules! (Blogger seems to be having a party at the moment, so the pictures are all over the place, sorry!)

Tutorial - Unisex Fingerless Mittens

This isn't a tutorial as such, as I've been a bit strapped for time recently. This is the pattern for my fingerless mittens - I've had them for 3 years or so - I made them for myself after making loads for friends and family who didn't really appreciate them!

As there are no fingers I decided to make these a one size pattern. A while ago I also made two mitten patterns with a similar fit, one for large hands (mine are about 8" long!) and a set for a smaller pair, so if you'd like me to publish those, please ask. 

These are unisex - my Mum's partner Tom can just about get them on and his hands are huge, so for a large male hand I would give yourself two more stitches around the girth of the glove. 

Fortunately I used a 'stretchy stitch' to cast on, so the ribbing stretches as much as it possibly can - you're not left battling with one row of tight stitches when the rest of the ribbing eases over your hand just fine.

My instructions do not include the purled stripes seen in the picture above, I added them last minute and didn't put them on the pattern, but they're not hard to work out if you have a little time.

Here is my method - 

Using 6mm double pointed needles cast on 32 stitches using the slip knot method. Here is a video that teaches you the method.

k2 p2 for 8 rows.

knit 14 rows.

knit until the penultimate stitch, m1, k2.

k2 m1. knit to end of row (16th row).

knit 1 row.

repeat the last 3 rows until you have 10 new stitches (42 in total)

knit 6 stitches, and slip the 12 stitches you have just knitted onto a stitch holder.

knit 3 rows.

k2 p2 for 7 rows.

cast  off.

Thumb - 

pick up stitches from holder.

pick up 2 more either side of the body of the glove, one on each needle - I did this to try and stop the big hole appearing between your thumb and finger that happened with other mitten patterns, and it worked for me (total 14 stitches).

knit 4 rows.

cast off in the same manner as before.

Cut and sew in your ends with a large needle, and you're all done!

Sorry I've not had time to show you with proper pictures this week, but try the pattern - it's pretty easy!

See you next week,

Toni

Tutorial - Christmas Rag Wreath

Hello there. Today I'm going to try and get into the festive mood and use up some of my scrap fabric at the same time - I present - how to make yourself a Christmas Rag Wreath. This one's great for kids and adults a like as it's so simple!

You will need:

Wire (I used a coat hanger)
Scrap fabric - this depends on the size of your wire ring, I got through about 1.5m x .5m in 4 colours with my coat hanger.
Scissors
Decoration (optional)
Time. Indeed, this takes a while, but you can easily do this in an evening in front of the telly if you're careful!

Instructions:

Bend your wire into a circle, and put to one side.

Cut (or rip, depending on your fabric types) strips of fabric. Mine were about 3/4 of the diameter of the circle, by 1".

Get cutting!

After each batch, add them to your wire so you know how much more you need to cut. I tied mine with a knot, and in order, one of each colour.

Carry on going! I cannot stress how easy this is! After you've crammed as much as you can on, add any decorations you want, and ruffle up your wreath, making sure you can't see any of the knots.

You're finished! Told you it was easy. 

Next week I'm thinking present ideas - I know it's early, but these things take time...

Toni

Tutorial - A Spooky Three in One

So here it is, my first DIY for you lot! To celebrate halloween, what are your plans? Are you hosting a halloween party at yours, going out on the town in fancy dress, or taking kids round the neighbours for a trick or treat? I can tell you one thing, you (or your mum, or even your kids!) would look extra spooky in a homemade halloween 3 in 1! It can be worn as scary scarf, an 'orrible overskirt, or a petrifying poncho, giving you lots of options, especially if you haven't decided what you're going as yet.

It'd work brilliantly in miniature, but also it would be a great holiday craft to do with the kids, as all you have to sew on is a button. Here is how you do it...you will need:

• 1 square of fabric, see how to measure it below.
• some scissors,
• a button,
• a needle and thread.

You need a big square of fabric that roughly measures from one hand to the other. The best way of measuring it is to take two handfuls of fabric along one edge and wrap it around your shoulders, letting the fabric run through one of your hands, then mark the place where your hands end up. Or, if you don't have the fabric already, do the same with a piece of string, then measure that.

Your fabric needs to be square for this one, but you could turn it on it's corner if you like. Use any other geometric shape you desire, but they might need some preparatory calculations first. Personally I would lay off the circles for this one, as I think cobweb points fit the halloween theme perfectly, but it is up to you. Make sure you cut your selvedges off!

Find the centre of your fabric and mark. Cut from any point on the edge of the fabric to the centre of your shape in a straight line.

Calculate 1/4 of your neck size divided by 3.142 and measure the product of your calculation around the centre point, and cut this circle out. The circumference of the circle should be 1/2 of your neck size, but if you've done the maths right you don't need to worry about that!

Using the same measurement as before, cut two lines that distance apart from the first cut you made from the middle of your shape to the edge. Your new cuts should line up with the edges of the circle you cut out in the centre. It should now look like the pattern above.

Almost done! Now you need to sew a button on for your skirt. Sew it wherever you like, but have a fiddle first, take the wrap and put it around your waist to see how it lies, have a look on google at wrap skirts. Place your button and snip an appropriate button hole. 

Now you can wear it as a scarf, a poncho and a skirt, but make sure you're wearing something underneath your new hem, as we don't want you to be flashing anyone, do we?

I'll take this point to mention that I'm on Pinterest, Facebook, Tumblr and Google+, and would love it it if you dropped by. I hope you enjoyed my first DIY as much as I did, and hope you enjoy happy holidays!

Toni