Sewaholic 1201 : Renfrew top

My daughters been bugging me for some long sleeve tops for a while, so when this pattern turned up it seemed a perfect match. I really like how it doesn't use much fabric so its perfect for all those scraps that I seem to accumulate!
Such an easy top to sew! I love the bands on the hem and sleeves - makes the finish look so much more professional! Its the first time I've zigzagged a top stitch too and I was worried it might look a bit dodgy but I reckon it finishes the top off great - I did it around the sleeve bands and hem as well.



I made her a sz8, graded to a 10 in the waist with 2" in length taken out from the sleeve and body length. The fabrics are thick knit fabrics I got thrifting ages ago - they're not quite as thick as a ponte knit but a lot thicker and more stable than a interlock - my overlocker didn't really like them so the finish on the inside looks a bit rough, but good enough for a basic knit top and I think its now her TNT top pattern!


Its the first project I've done in the new sewing room and I really need to set up the other desk for my overlocker and finish my cutting table! But otherwise it was great, lots of light which I wanted and its nice and quiet out there :)

Sewing room is finished!

The sewing room is finished!.....well mostly, still needs the door frames and doors painted, and the front door lock fitted, and the awning over the reverse cycle air conditioner finished off, and my cutting table and other desk put together and painted, shelving and a filing cabinet....but its mostly finished, lol!

We're picking up a small couch later this week to go in the corner opposite the tv, speaking of which - the tv is kinda massive, I bought it as an ex-rental clearance one and it was lots cheaper than a new small one, but it looks freaking huge in there!

I have plans to make a higher cutting table similar to this one, so when I cut I don't need to lean over so much, but the trestle is fine for the moment.

Theres so much left to sort out, I seem to have piles of stuff everywhere but I'm sewing tomorrow, Woohoo! I'll put more photos up when I have everything sorted :)

Sewing room progress - quick update

Walls and cornice are up, one window is in and the electricity is connected! I've started painting - done the ceiling and undercoated the walls. Getting there! The goal is to be in and sewing by Monday *fingers crossed*

Before undercoating


After undercoating and electricity connected!

I've got wooden floating flooring to go in, after having carpet for so long I'm looking forward to cleaning up all those bits of thread and pins a lot easier, and I have a couple of plain doors that will become my cutting table and sewing desk once I cut them to size and paint them.

Versatile blogger

The very lovely Ruth has nominated me for a Versatile Blogger award - Thankyou!


So lets see, I need to list 7 things you might not know about me, so;

1. I have 3 brothers, one of whom is a motorbike stunt rider in China (he does stunt shows before the F1 grand prixs, drifting competitions and car racing.)


2. I work 2.5 days a week (I job share) in an office, in a small plumbing business. It's me and 7 guys so as you might guess, not much offends me, lol.

3. I love reading, I'll read anything as long as the story is great

4. I met my husband when I was 14 (my poor parents!) - we've been together for 17 years this year, married for 12.

5. I love a bit of British humour - in our house we love The Mighty Boosh, Red Dwarf and Monthy Python to name a couple.

6. I grew up on a large farm near the most beautiful coastal town (which I would dearly love to move back to) - Beachport, SA



7. I've had around 70 hours of tattooing so far, and my artist is drawing up the next design which will go on my feet.

Now I know I am meant to nominate 15 of my favourite bloggers, but i think they have already been nominated, so I might just list some of my current favourites instead;

Oh, Fransson!
Lladybird
Fehr Trade
Tanit-isis Sews
Male Pattern Boldness
3 Hours past the edge of the world
Pattern Scissors Cloth
Sew Ruth
Stitches and seams
Erica B
K-Line
On the road to sew wear
Selfish Seamstress
Lazy Stitching
Julia Bobbin

There's so many more great blogs I read though, so please check my blog list to the side :)

Still no sewing......

So, not much more progress on the sewing room - the electrician has come for the first fix and we pick up the rest of the timber needed tomorrow.
I have painted a cabinet that will hold a tv though - I mostly followed this tutorial I did have a lot of trouble with the paint sticking the drawers shut though, and if I did it again after I put the masking tape on I would cut around the drawers with a stanley knife and lift them out and paint them seperately. But it still looks pretty cool :D





And since I can't sew all I've done is buy.....

StyleArc patterns


My first fabric.com order - I found the fabric a bit thinner than I expected, but it has a beautiful sheen to it and I love the fact I got 100% silk for $4 a meter!!


I've been reading up all my blogs and fell in love with Oh, Fransson! and have planned a couple of quilts - she makes it look so easy and I love the bright modern designs. So I have a few orders coming from my favourite etsy seller LilyBellaFabrics, like these Heather Bailey fabrics which will make a quilt for my sewing room;


Joel Dewberry fabrics for my bedroom


and some Robert Kauffman fabrics that will make a quilt for my son;



I'm also waiting on a couple of sewing pattern orders and a walking foot for when I make some chanel style jackets and have to quilt the lining....Yikes, I neeed my sewing machine and room back!