Mmmm - magazines

This little lady was made using a kit from last month's "Mollie Makes" magazine. Mollie Makes is causing quite a crafting stir here in the UK, and for good reason - it's a simply beautiful magazine with a wonderful mix of enchanting photographs, lovely projects and interesting articles. Each month it comes with a little something to make or use in a project so if I'm organised I'll be able to share my little projects with you here.

I'm also subscribing to "Handmade Living" magazine this year and so far I'm really enjoying their mix of craft projects, recipes & interesting articles about UK locations. So far I've tried a few of their recipes with mixed success and I've picked out a good few projects that I want to have a try at.

So "Mollie Makes" & "Handmade Living" are what I've got coming through the mail box this year (anyone else out there subscribing to these?) because of this I've had to drop my subscription to "Inside Crochet" which has been pretty painless. "Inside Crochet has been getting increasingly repetitive with the patterns it publishes (every issue now seems to have some sort of beret, some sort of wrap, some sort of scarf and an ugly toy), the articles have been getting less interesting and I may be mistaken but I think the paper & print quality have also gone down hill.

Friday magazine reviews

Just thought I would put up a couple of magazine reviews this Friday as I've been getting a bit behind with doing them and they aren't much use if you get them 3 or 4 months late!

"Inside Crochet" issue 13
January 2011
UK crochet terms

This issue of Inside Crochet starts the New Year on the right foot with a good collection of patterns including the beautiful 'Esmee cardigan' by Sarah Francis which I am definitely making for myself one day. There are also patterns for some cute kids stripy jumpers, a very pretty 'Lily shawl' and a lovely 'Henna rug' which would look so pretty on our wooden floor.

As well as having plenty of good patterns this month there are also some great articles covering topics like customising your clothes, doing freeform crochet (which has intrigued me for a while and I may well have a try myself soon...), and some interviews with a couple of London based ethical craft shops which look fantastic (Fabrications and  Prick your finger).

"Inside Crochet" issue 14
February 2011
UK crochet terms

I really enjoyed reading through this issue of Inside Crochet too. There are some lovely patterns in here with my favourite being the 'Bloom blanket' by Rebecca Velasquez which looks so very bright and cheerful that it would be perfect for bringing Spring into your home nice and early. I also really like the 'Valentine settings' place mats, the pretty bobbily 'Artichoke hat' and the cosy looking 'Cherry wrap', so lots to keep you busy this month.

The articles also make a good read with a feature about filet crochet, some impressive fashion crochet pieces and a fantastic interview with Emma Lamb who makes some very beautiful crochet banners, cushions and pot holders that are bursting with colour.

Friday magazine reviews

"Sew Hip" issue 23
December 2010

This Christmasy issue of Sew Hip has quite a few projects that I like from some pretty dresses to a handful of lovely quick and fun Christmas projects. My favourite was the mini Christmas tree bunting which was simply little triangles of fabric quickly sewn together on a machine and joined together with line of stitches. After showing my issue to a friend she had a go at making some for my Christmas present so hopefully I'll be able to show you how that turned out soon.

I've also had a go at making something from this issue, the very pretty felt baubles that you can see on the cover. I added some sparkily sequins to my baubles so that they would reflect the lights on the tree and I'm very happy with how they have turned out. My only problem in making them was trying to cut the pattern sheet out of the magazine which was very tricky.

As well as some pretty patterns this magazine also had some good articles including one about a blogger who is trying to learn a new craft every week for a year. What a fantastic idea - if a little exhausting! Christine's blog is a very inspirational place to visit so why not have a look for yourself?

"Sew Hip" issue 24
January 2011

Strangely the contents of this issue didn't come as much of a surprise to me... remember that I won their Etsy competition last month? Well they reused a copy of their magazine layout as the address label for the parcel and I got a quick preview of what this issue would contain that way!

Not as much in this issue that I was keen on, I did love the little simple dress on the cover and the patchwork panda was very cute too. I also enjoyed reading the article about the work of Heidi Kenney who does such beautiful softies and has such a distinctive style to her work.

Friday magazine reviews

Sorry yet again for the delay in getting my Friday magazine reviews up - this time we have the latest two issues of Inside Crochet to have a read through...

"Inside Crochet" issue 11
November 2010
UK crochet terms

I'm not particularly taken with most of the patterns in this issue, especially the 'Nautical sweater' which is yet another shapeless looking pattern for men. I'm also not convinced about the baby leg warmers which go with a pattern in the previous issue for baby nappy soakers... and the Harlequin cardigan is also a bit too dated looking for my tastes.

The patterns that redeem the issue for me include the lovely looking chevron cushions which look like a lot of fun to make, I'm also quite taken with another hoodie pattern (which you can see on the cover image), but as I don't have the time for any large projects at the moment I'll just have to bookmark it for trying after Christmas.

The feature articles this week focus on colour theory and include a piece on choosing colours, working chevrons and also include an interview with Sarah London who does some of the most beautiful colourful crochet that I've ever seen.

"Inside Crochet" issue 12
December 2010
UK crochet terms

Lots of lovely patterns in this month's issue, the cover project 'Anastasia dress' is very pretty and the different stitch patterns used give a lovely individual touch. The 'Waterfall coat' for a little girl is also very lovely so I'll be bookmarking that for potentially making for one of my nieces, then there is the 'Winter mist jumper' that looks very cosy and with its rib effect it should be quite flattering when worn. As well as all this there are also a selection of smaller project designed to be quick makes for last minute Christmas presents - just what we need!

In the articles there was a piece about Pauline Turner (she has the impressive web address of http://www.crochet.co.uk/) who set up and runs the Distance Learning Crochet course as well as a feature on Irish crochet incleding a how to guide on how to work it.

Friday magazine reviews

Sorry for the delay in my usual biweekly reviews - there has been a lot of crafting going on here at Tea Towers which has distracted me a little from writing up my usual blog posts. I'll try to drag myself away from all the crafting excitement to get my 'to blog about' pile under control.

"Sew Hip" issue 21
October 2010

 Not much in this month's issue of Sew Hip managed to hold my attention for very long. The smaller, quicker projects didn't really appeal to me as they were either too simple to really merit the instructions (like the coasters which were just wool beads threaded together) or far too advanced/time consuming for me to want to start. The duffle coat on the cover is very cute - but definitely beyond my beginner skills. I also liked the pretty patchwork throw but sadly I just don't have enough free time at the moment to start anything that large.

The articles were quite interesting but more aimed towards the experienced sewer as there was a focus on tailoring and adjusting patterns to fit. I enjoyed the interview with founder of Craftsville which is a new craft website based in the UK that has recently been started. Craftsville is definitely worth taking a look at especially if you are a UK based crafter as they have up to date details of upcoming events.

"Sew Hip" issue 22
November 2010

Ah - much better! This issue of Sew Hip had quite a lot more in it that I enjoyed including a good few projects that I would like to try my hand at making. For me my favourites were the very cute little egg cosies that look so fun and quick to make, the pretty ruffled shoe clips that I could see being used on a number of different projects, the lovely fabric hampery baskets that would look so good with a pile of yarn in. 

The articles in this month's issue were also more enjoyable. The interview was with the Felt Mistress who makes some truly fantastic softies which are so unusual and full of character that they really don't fit in with traditional softies. There was also a piece on the curator of the UK edition of the Etsy blog which highlighted a few fantastic UK crafters which made for lots of drooling over photos of beautiful crafty goodies.

Maybe I'll have had a go at one or two project from Sew Hip by the time I next do a magazine review...

Friday magazine reviews

"Inside Crochet" issue 9
September 2010
UK crochet terms

Inside Crochet magazine has just gone monthly which means two things, firstly I'll have to try and wait to do my magazine reviews until I have the two latest issues (otherwise I'll just end up every two weeks with just magazine reviews and no book reviews). Secondly I'm going to need to get it renewed again at Christmas time as what I thought was a year's subscription now will disappear after 6 months!

This September issue was the first of my new subscription to Inside Crochet and so also came with some lovely white merino lace weight yarn that I can't wait to have a go with. The only problem is that I only got 50 grams of it and trying to find a pattern that will use that quanity is going to be tricky. Hopefully you'll be seeing the start of a project with it soon.

Now on to the contents of issue 9! The new monthly Inside Crochet has a new editor and for this 're-launch' issue she has found some new contributors which is a bit of a relief as we were starting to just get patterns and articles from the same people each time. There are some lovely patterns in this month's issue that really appeal to me, especially the beautiful baby dress that I just got on my hook yesterday and I'm alreadly loving how it is shaping up.

There is also a feature on working hairpin lace with a couple of lovely patterns designed for that technique. My other favourites include a very cute mushroom shaped pouch that I'm tempted to have a play with for a mystery project of my own, a mesh tank dress and the very beautiful flower square blanket made up using sock yarn in blues and silver.

The new magazine format includes crochet news with details of UK based crochet events, an array of lovely crochet related buyables, and a number of book reviews (the September issue also did a review of "Tasty Crochet" - obviously a popular book this month!), photos from reader projects, yarn reviews and a feature on a crochet related website. There was also a great article on crochet in fashion this month with some really fantastic photos from the graduate fashion week which was very inspiring.

So all in all a great new issue - I hope the new editing team continue to deliver!

"Inside Crochet" issue 10
October 2010
UK crochet terms

This month didn't seem to do so well for patterns, most of them I'm not even slightly tempted to make though there are a couple that redeem the issue for me, the lovely little kingfisher amigurumi designed by June Gilbank (I love her designs - the pigs I made recently were also by her), the Damson tunic looks lovely, the petal beret is very pretty and I like the stitch pattern for the Ammonite scarf.

The articles in this issue are what made it worth reading for me as there was another great piece about crochet in fashion with some more great photos of crochet designs on the catwalk. The article about the history of crochet was also very interesting, it spoke about the mystery over when crochet first started and where as well as about the highs and lows for crochet over the years.

Friday magazine review

"Sew Hip" issue 20
September 2010

Earlier in the month a copy of this magazine popped its way through my letterbox, along with a special subscriber gift (but more on that later). I'm still a little cautious when it comes to getting out my sewing machine and trying to make anything with it so my way of trying to beat that is to read a magazine about all the fantastic things I could be making if only I was brave enough to try. So this is where the Sew Hip magazine comes in...

The cover project really draws you in - that lovely dress looks so summery, and after reading through the instructions I'm startled to find that I think even I may be able to make it. In fact there are a large number of beginner projects in this issue, and on reading through a few of them carefully the instructions look clear, well written and easy to follow with clear diagrams for any of the trickier steps. But before having a go at trying to put together my first handmade garment I decided to tackle something a little bit more approachable, the lovely kit from clothkits which was my subscriber gift.

The kit was great, the pattern pieces and all the guidelines for folding were actually printed directly on to the canvas so no need to fiddle with cutting round a template - what a fantastic idea! The instructions were clear and helpful and I found myself working my way through them with very little difficulty. The only real problem I encountered was due solely to my not understanding my sewing machine... this was the first time I had every sewn on a zipper and working out how to change the normal foot to the sewing foot took quite a bit of puzzling out.

So now I have a rather lovely new wash bag to add to the increasingly crowded Christmas box. I'm so proud of myself for managing to make something that I think is good enough to give as a gift and I hope that this new found confidence means you'll be seeing more sewing projects here soon.

Friday magazine review

"Inside Crochet" issue 8
June/July 2010
UK crochet terms


Because I've only recently returned from holiday I've not been able to make anything from the latest issue of Inside Crochet so please forgive this project-less review, I'll try very hard to make it up to you next time!

This issue focuses on more summery projects with a good number of light weight crocheted cover ups that would be great for those cool summer evenings. There are also a few other projects that catch your interest with a very cute tea pot cosy (which I may have fallen a little in love with) as well as a chunky bag that has a great woven/plaited texture, a very sweet little crochet top for a young girl and a quick crochet project for kids to try. There are also a good selection of interesting articles to read through including a short piece about the fantastic SIBOL project that I wrote about in my previous Friday review.

Overall this was a great issue, there are a good number of pretty patterns that I'm sure would suit a range of tastes as well as some interesting articles and crochet news that focuses on events in the UK (including a brief piece about the upcoming Stitch yourself event being held by the Science Museum). This issue marks the last of my current subscription, though I'm hopeful that one of my family members will renew it for me as a Birthday present as I really do enjoy getting it through the post and so far it has been well worth the £25 for 6 issues. So keep your fingers crossed for me and hopefully there will be more Friday reviews for this magazine soon.

Friday magazine review

"Inside Crochet" issue 7
April/May 2010
UK crochet terms

This latest issue of Inside crochet is focusing on the broomstick lace crochet technique which I've yet to have a go at. The section showing you how to do the broomstick lace technique is clear and has good photographs of the different steps involved. With this and 3 patterns for broomstick lace items including a really nice cardigan I'm very tempted to give it a go myself.

Apart from that though there wasn't much in this issue that really appealed to me. The little crochet dress which is also shown on the front cover does look very sweet, but for some reason this issue seems to have focused on hats, scarves and wraps - not really very seasonal for a April/May issue!

There is also a really good article about Shauna Richardson who does the 'crochetdermied' animal pieces which was a really interesting read. If you haven't heard of her work then you should go and have a look at some of the amazing pieces she has done on her website http://www.shaunarichardson.com/

Friday magazine review

Mixtape - issue 11 (late 2009)

For my first Mother's day my husband subscribed me to this little zine that I had been hankering after for some time. Sadly though this will be my 4th and final issue of this as during my time subscribed to this the magazine has become colour through out as well as increasing in size which has caused the cost of it to go up as well.

I've really enjoyed getting this quirky zine through the post, just getting post all the way from Australia is pretty exciting, but I never really knew what to expect when the latest issue of this came through the door. The articles are mostly to do with crafting, there are features about specific artists works as well as book reviews a few simple how-tos and always something unexpected, like this week's short article about old fashioned motel signs.

But unfortunately £40 for 4 issues is more than I can justify right now so my husband will just have to be even more creative when thinking up what he is going to get me for this Mother's day. However, I think the price is fair for the lovely magazine that you get and I would recommend it to anyone else who is tempted to try something a little different. Hopefully Mixtape will continue to go from strength to strength and perhaps someday I'll get to read it again.

Friday magazine reviews

As I'm running a little behind in reviews at the moment I thought I would treat you to the last two issues of my favourite crochet magazine - enjoy!

"Inside Crochet" issue 5
December/January 2009/10
UK crochet terms

My first flick through this issue was a bit of a disappointment as there were no patterns this time that jumped out at me and demanded to be made. There are a couple of interesting tops that use some unusual crochet effects - but as they didn't appeal to me I skipped quickly past them. The strange (similar to one worn by Cheryl Cole when performing "Fight for this Love") red Waterloo jacket was also not my style. That with some other unappealing miscellaneous crochet bits n bobs it was all a bit disappointing.

There was however a cute little pattern for some white mice which is a real improvement on some of the previous issues attempts at crochet toy patterns. This one pattern and the interview for the latest Nicki Trench book (Super-cute crochet creations) were the best bits in a sadly lacking issue.


"Inside Crochet" issue 6
February/March 2010
UK crochet terms

For some reason I enjoyed reading through this latest issue much more than the previous one. The articles within it this time were all good and covered a range of topics that appealed to me. There was a great piece on using up your yarn stash with some really good ideas for small projects that were suited to odds and ends of yarn that most crocheters of any length of time will have plenty of. I also enjoyed the article about recycled yarn, which had all kinds of ideas of different materials you could have a try crocheting with.

The patterns seemed to be much better this week, I really loved the lion and bear kids hats by Jane Bibby, the pretty swing coat for a little girl by Tina Barrett and the lovely floating wrap by Robyn Chachula. There is also much more about Amigurumi in this week with an indepth look at designing your own as well as a rather strange pattern for 'Walter the walrus' which didn't appeal to me but is a hopeful sign that there will be further amigurumi patterns in up coming issues.

Friday magazine review

"The Art of Crochet" issue 1
ISSN: 1759 7250

While out trying to find thank you cards in WHSmiths my husband spotted this new Crochet title and as it was only 99p I thought it worth getting a copy to review for you all.

The Art of Crochet is another of those endless partworks that suck you in with a cheap first issue and free gifts and then before you know it you've subscribed and seem to be knee deep in ring binders and bits of hole punched paper...

The 'hook' (he he!) for this part work is making a crochet throw with a new ball of yarn each week, and at 120 squares in the throw you'll be buying this partwork for over 2 years before you've finished. The yarn you get is only a 26g ball - enough to make your square but very little else. At the full weekly price of £2.99 it really doesn't seem worth getting as the content to the partwork seems pretty basic with some not very original patterns, a new stitch each week and a quick page with tips and tricks.

The first issue is there to pull you in with a DVD that shows you the very basics (useful for visual learners - but remember there are loads of crochet videos online that are just as good), the two small balls of yarn (the practice ball of yarn is even smaller at only 6g!), a metal 4mm hook and the instructions for a scarf, some cushion covers and a mesh pattern top.

This isn't something I am going to buy again, and I'm slightly disappointed by how little you get as I worry that it will turn potential new crocheters away from a fantastic craft. If you want to learn to crochet there are lots of other ways to begin with loads of free resources on the web as well as some beautifully written books for beginners. This partwork is a very overpriced way of doing it and really doesn't offer anything special to help you.

Friday magazine review

"Inside Crochet" issue 4
October/November 2009

For the last few days I've almost attacked my poor postman when he delivered our mail but failed to bring the latest issue of this magazine. Some kindly spirit must have been watching over him though as it has now been delivered and he is free from the threat of an anxious crocheter armed with a 3.5mm hook, at least for another two months that is.

Why did I want this issue so badly? Well, at the back of the last issue was a photo of a 'Hooded stroll jacket' by Rebecca Velasquez which I have fallen in love with. I've never made myself a proper garment using crochet, (shawls and a poncho really don't count) and for the last year I've been thinking I need to stop worrying about messing it up and just have a go. This jacket would suit me so well, and I've gotten it into my head that I simply must have it, whatever the cost.

Ahem - perhaps not whatever the cost, after greedily reading through this fantastic issue I did a bit of yarn research and was shocked to discover that the recommended yarn for this project was not available from within the UK and would cost approximately £75 to order it from the American manufacturer. Thankfully there are 3 other alternative yarns listed, but to get the quantity of yarn I need for this jacket I would have to spend between £30 and £40 just to purchase the budget yarn recommended. This has been a bit of a wake up call for me so I need to do some more research into this before I go ahead and splurge that much on yarn when I may still make a mess of the jacket...

As for the other patterns in this issue there are a lot that I really like, including a lovely felted backpack (and an article all about felting/fulling to help get you started) some lovely tops a couple of scarves (just right for the upcoming autumn months) and a cute scull laptop pouch by Rockpool Candy. The only disappointment was that I was expecting more amigurumi in this issue and all that was included was a rather lumpy looking caterpillar which was so basic it really didn't deserve to be written up as a pattern and I can't imagine anyone bothering to make it.

Friday magazine review

"Inside Crochet" issue 3
August/September 2009

After reading two fantastic issues from this new magazine I decided that I didn't want to risk missing any issues and so was very happy to find that one of my Birthday presents was a one year subscription to it.

Unfortunately the 3rd issue has not lived up to my expectations as most of the patterns it contains are for items that I would never make. The cover project is a good example of this - these odd fingerless crochet gloves are meant to be worn with your wedding dress, and even if women do want to wear gloves on their wedding day there isn't much chance of these matching their outfit, even the model wearing them hasn't managed to make them look appealing.

Out of the 14 different patterns within this magazine I only really like 3, one is a pretty top called 'Lucienne' by designer Annette Petavy which I am very tempted to have a go at. There are some fun and slightly crazy looking frog hats (by Jane Bibby) shown on the front cover of the magazine which I will be making up to keep my little boy's head warm this winter. And lastly there is an unusual pattern for a pebble rug by Rockpool Candy which is made in natural shades and the individual pebbles are then felted before sewing together into an arrangement that suits you.

There are a few more interesting crochet articles in this issue including an article about the properties of yarn made from different plant fibres which I found very interesting. The next issue looks much more promising though and as I received it last weekend I'll be able to feature it in next week's Friday review.

The terrifying UFO

Possibly this top doesn't look too terrifying to you... but when I look at it my heart always skips a beat and I run screaming from the room. Hundreds of loose ends to work in! Hours and hours more work trying to crochet together the motifs on the bottom edge not to mention needing to finish the whole thing off with some sort of single crochet border to give the work a bit more strength.

This top also fills me with guilt every time I look at it, it was meant to be a Birthday present for my sister and is now looking like it is going to be almost a year late. Well I'm trying to be better at working at it when I have a spare moment or too but the work is still going slowly. To try and help me motivate myself into finishing I've made a pact with myself not to start a new project until it is done, which is part of the reason why I've not joined in the SEWN giveaway and made anything for that (the other reason is I really have no idea what to make!). Once this top is done though all bets are off and I'll try to host a giveaway with something cute and homemade - any suggestions?

I've already got another sewing project lined up for when the top of doom is finished and that will be using this lovely fabric from Ikea which my husband picked out. This is to make a custom pillow case to fit his oddly shaped ergonomic Ikea pillow. Not too sure whether I'll try something as complicated as making a specially fitted cover or just stick to a simple case that is a little smaller than the normal sized pillow cases.

This has also been a great week for magazines with me getting a chance to read both issues of the new UK crochet magazine "Inside Crochet" and receiving the new issue of "MixTape" through the post.

Inside Crochet is the new UK crochet magazine, in fact it is the only UK crochet magazine being published at the moment and it is fantastic. For some reason I was unaware of it's existence until a couple of weeks ago when I noticed it on the shelf of my local WHSmiths and I very eagerly picked it up. I held off reading it though until my trip up North to visit the in laws as I was trying to justify spending the £5 but after reading it I thought it was well worth the cost. There are some lovely patterns in there (and a couple of not so great patterns - but really the good to bad ratio is very high) that I can't wait to have a go at, I may even make my first piece of crochet clothing (the top of doom doesn't count as it is embellishment to a shop bought top) from it. The second issue I snapped up as soon as it appeared in the shops and there are even more patterns in there that I like. As well as some lovely patterns there are a number of well written articles - some even by people that I know of from the blogosphere. Hopefully I'll be able to wangle a subscription for my Birthday next month as I really don't want to miss an issue.

MixTape is a little crafting magazine from Australia that features loads of inspiring articles and one or two little craft projects. This issue is the second of my Mother's day present subscription and it made my day when it hit the doormat yesterday morning. I've already almost finished reading through it and there are a number of articles in this issue about Craftivism - doing craft for good causes as well as articles on eco-crafting and crafting with kids. All great stuff well written and in the lovely new all colour format that really brings this little zine to life.

Library finds

In recent weeks I've been spending quite a lot of time at my local library with my little one as he seems to enjoy the trip out almost as much as I do. As I now have a bit more time to look round properly I've been noticing more and more things that I never realised this library service offered including a selection of craft magazine to borrow!

The selection of magazines isn't brilliant (unless you are more of a card maker/scrapbooker) but that really isn't the library's fault as this basis towards paper crafts is very noticeable in all newsagents in the UK. They did have this one title "Quick & Crafty!" which I had a good flick through and then borrowed a bunch of back issues. While the majority of projects are paper craft and jewellery making there are a good few other crafts included too; like using polymer clay, cross stitch, and the very occasional knit and crochet patterns. The magazine also comes with a free gift each week for which there are a few projects in each magazine... I wonder what the library staff did with these?

While perusing the craft book section of the library I also came across a few titles that fancied so I grabbed hold of the following two to borrow:

"Simply enchanting crafts" by Lilas Force
ISBN: 978-0715330043

After reading a review of this craft book on another blog I decided that I wanted my own copy - what could be better than some beautiful craft projects with a fairy theme? So when I saw this in the library I was very excited to be able to get a good look at the book before buying my own copy.

Unfortunately it wasn't really what I was expecting it to be... the book is lovely all the photographs are beautifully taken and there are some very pretty things in there. However the projects all seem to be jewellery making with a couple of sewing projects and some recipes at the back. As I don't really do anything with beads myself (more because I just don't have space to start yet another craft than I don't want to - I do!) I found myself feeling a little let down that there really wasn't anything in this book for me.

I would have loved to have seen more variety in the crafts in this book - perhaps more detailed instructions too as these seemed a little basic to me. Otherwise a very lovely book to look at and definitely one for the jewellery makers out there.

"Baby crafts: Unique gifts for new arrivals" by Lynne Farris
ISBN: 978-1564967961

This is a lovely little baby craft book with a good few projects in that I would (if only I had the time) like to have a go at. There are a variety of crafts included in this book including some simple machine sewing, painting, paper craft and a bit of knitting.

My favourite project would probably be the sweater duck toys - such cute little duckies made out of a up-cycled sweater. I also loved the simple idea of adding a small applique to the front of a baby vest to make a more personalised item.

Sweet and simple - well worth a look through if you have a special little someone to make for.

Sew happy :-)

Earlier this year I inherited this lovely sewing machine from one of my mother in laws friends, but I had to wait until recently to receive it as it was waiting for me up in Yorkshire. During that time I've been doing a little sewing machine reading so that I'll at least know some of the basic techniques in theory before I start.

One book that I found really helpful for this is "Bend the rules sewing" which for a newbie like myself is great as it goes through all the basics in a clear and friendly way.

I've also been drooling over "Little stitches for little ones" and "Stitched in time" so now I have huge ambitions for what I want to make but I'm slightly daunted by just how lovely all these projects look and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to be up to that level of sewing for a good while yet!

For my first sewing machine project I wanted to keep things simple and use fabric that I didn't mind making a mess of. So I cut up an old duvet cover to make a basic drawstring bag which I could fill with my little boy's dirty laundry.

This bag in the photo on the left is my completed bag and took about 6 hours to make (mostly because I completely messed up my first attempt and had to start over - that's what happens when you start sewing before thinking through what you need to do). The hardest parts were doing the casing for the drawstring at the top in a neat way that didn't leave any raw fabric edges, and making the cord itself from a much folded and ironed spare strip of duvet cover fabric.

I'm very happy with how it turned out though the bag does seem a tiny bit bigger than it probably needed to be it does the job.

In other craft related news which I had forgotten to mention until now; I've just started receiving this little craftzine which was a Mother's day present from my lovely husband. After being very disappointed that O'Reilly Craft magazine stopped being published I started scouting around for a different craft related mag that I could subscribe to. I found a mention of this one (Mixtape)on one of the blogs that I follow and I thought I would give it a try - and I'm very glad that I did! This is a lovely little magazine that comes all the way from Australia and is the work of a husband and wife team. The articles are well written and I found them all interesting, and the layout used throughout the mag is just lovely. So if you haven't heard of this craftzine before it really is worth a look - I personally feel that it is 10 times better than the O'Reilly Craft magazine and I can't wait for the next issue to arrive.