Wednesday 9 December 2015

WOYWW.....

Another week has just flown by here at Sewing by Annie's.  The sewing work has been flooding in and more progress has been made on the house front.

The new kitchen is all completed now apart from decorating and tiling.  In the old kitchen the cupboards were stripped out at the weekend [ and taken the the local tip in two car loads!] and a new worktop, cupboard and sink was fitted in what is now the utility.....more decorating needed.  On Monday our plumbers connected the new gas hob, disconnected the old gas cooker and fitted us a radiator in the utility........it's all go here :-)

So, what's on my work desk?



I completed the gorgeous red dress for Picklelily, the magician/children's entertainer.  It's a Lindy hop dress and suits Picklelily to perfection and I really hope it brings her lots of luck in her competition.

Since then I've made her three amazing table cloths from this sequined pink fabric....and learnt a very important lesson.  The sequined fabric is stretchy and I had to line the cloths with bright pink shiny lining fabric.  When I made the first cloth it nearly had me in tears to get it to stitch.  It was nearly impossible to get it to lie flat and the one fabric stretched and puckered on the other......then I had a brain wave.  I knew somewhere I had a walking foot for my sewing machine.  It had never been used before but I managed to find it, dust it off and wahooooooo it stitched like a dream.....guess who will be using this foot again.

This was another challenge I was brought this week.  These were patio door curtains that needed shortening but she also wanted a 14" frill sewing on the top made from another short pair of curtains.  It took a bit of working out how I was going to do them and of course my much older sister had to cut them for me....and as our Mum used to say....Two heads are better than one even if they are only sheep's heads.  :-)

So there you go.  |Just a little insight as to what's been happening here this week.  If you leave me a little hello message to say you've called in I will head over to yours ASAP to see what you've been up to.  Thanks for calling in.
Hugs,
Annie x
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22 comments:

  1. Lynn Holland9 December 2015 at 08:25

    The red dress is fabulous Annie and good to hear you are still progressing with the build.
    Its mass reshuffle and decutter time over at ours. Enjoy your week.
    Lynn xx #15

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  2. Bleubeard and Elizabeth9 December 2015 at 08:48

    I've missed you, too, Annie. I was reading through some of your posts and your kitchen looks great already. So does the new sewing room.

    I've heard of those walking feet, but never saw or used one. I have heard that the stretchy fabric can be backed using wonder under to keep it from stretching, but I 'm not a seamstress, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Sounds like you got it finished quite well, too.

    I hope to visit Friday Smiles soon, but I doubt this week. I'm freeing up my life at the end of the year and getting rid of a few challenges I'm in. So that will help. Happy WOYWW from #1.

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  3. Lunch Lady Jan9 December 2015 at 08:59

    So why did a walking foot help? What does it do differently? I've sewn a sequinned fabric like that and it's a PAIN!! The dress is brilliant,I can just imagine what it looks like on!
    Hugs, LLJ 16 xx

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  4. Marit9 December 2015 at 08:59

    The dress is really awesome, love the fabric with the little white dots and the model (shape?) is fabulous! I'm glad you figured out how to stitch the pink fabric... I broke two needles on a piece of leather before I thought of putting my leather-needle in my sewing machine... but eventually we learn from it and everything turns out alright, isn't it?! Happy woyww and a big hug from Holland, Marit #19

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  5. Fiona@Staring at the Sea9 December 2015 at 09:20

    The polka dot dress is gorgeous. I love that lindy hop style. The sequinned fabric sounds like a total nightmare. A walking foot is so useful. I got mine for quilting but it's useful for sewing knit/jersey too.

    Fiona #4

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  6. buterfliecrafter9 December 2015 at 09:35

    I bet that dress is just perfect, it has a vintage feeling about it. Vicky(#6)

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  7. Unknown9 December 2015 at 10:08

    The inexperienced sewer had to look up what a walking foot was (may need to know this some day). That red polka dot dress is beautiful. What caught my attention was the collar, looks almost like a bow.

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  8. Sylvia/LittleTreasures9 December 2015 at 11:00

    Lots of projects and I just know they will all be finished up right. A walking foot, it has been so long since I've used some of those wonderful attachments. even a ruffler. Have a great WOYWW kind of day. Guess DH has changed my plans .... off to the city.

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  9. Neet9 December 2015 at 11:14

    So glad you solved the stretchy fabric sewing problem - can imagine how you were feeling. Great LH dress too.
    Isn't it good when you have a sister to rely on to help out.
    Have a good week
    Hugs, Neet 3 xxx

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  10. CraftygasheadZo9 December 2015 at 11:15

    Wow you have been busy. That dress is gorgeous. Take care Zo xx 28

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  11. Tilly Tea Dance9 December 2015 at 13:04

    I can only imagine how frustrating that stretchy spangly stuff must have been to sew! Looks magic (lol)! Happy crafting, Max

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  12. Robyn9 December 2015 at 14:18

    Loving the swing of that dress, and OOOOh the sequins!
    thanks for visiting and the snoop around!
    Robyn 2

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  13. Twiglet9 December 2015 at 16:14

    Yes - been spending far too much time on my knees this week!!! Titter ye not!!! You will have to demonstrate the walking foot - seems like a good idea - no pun intended. x

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  14. shazsilverwolf9 December 2015 at 18:19

    Hi Annie, what a week! I'm knackered just reading what you've got up to! Love the dress, hope she does too. Have a great week, hugs, Shaz #10 xxx

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  15. Anne9 December 2015 at 20:00

    The dress is fab. Don't like the sound of the curtains! Your story re the difficulties of fabric for tablecloths remind me of sewing my sister's bridesmaids dresses. Fine fabric, lining and it all gathering/puckering. I was in despair. Didn't know about 'walking feet' but my friend told me to put tissue paper between the seams - it worked a treat! Glad your kitchen finished. Anne x #49

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  16. Lisca9 December 2015 at 21:55

    What a lovely dress! She must have an amazing figure to fit into that!
    The sequined fabric looks fun. (Now that you have discovered how to best sew it)Of course I have no idea what a 'walking foot' is, but I'm glad you've sorted that.Is this all work for Picklelily? The patio door curtains too? She keeps you busy.
    Thank you for visiting earlier,
    Have a good week,
    Lisca

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  17. Felix the Crafty Cat9 December 2015 at 22:44

    Love the dress Annie, clever you. Sounds like everything is moving along nicely. The walking foot is a brilliant tool wouldn't be without mine. Thanks for stopping by and have a great woyww, Angela x

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  18. Elizabeth9 December 2015 at 22:45

    Hi Annie, I've been out and about visiting my grandson in his new house, and cuddling my little great-grandson today, so couldn't really join in but still had to take a peek at your desk. That dress is lovely - wish I had the figure to fit in to a Lindy hop dress again, but alas never will again! I so felt for you whilst reading about the trials of sewing that fabric. Glad you remembered your walking foot :) Have a great week. Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  19. Nikki9 December 2015 at 23:06

    Stretchy fabric is so tough to work with congrats on getting it to work
    Hugs Nikki 5

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  20. Helen10 December 2015 at 06:24

    Love the dress, and the shiny fabric - well done on solving your stretchy problem!! It sounds like you still have lots to keep you busy with the bungalow, but what a lot's been done! Have a great week. Helen 3

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  21. sandra de10 December 2015 at 09:46

    Gorgeous dress and well done for finding the walking foot....especially after all your renovations. Have a lovely week.
    sandra de @27

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  22. okienurse10 December 2015 at 19:33

    awesome dress! I bet she looked beautiful in it. I have tried sewing with the sequined material also and did miserably with it. Have a good week and thanks for visiting my page! Vickie #48

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