Furtling through July and a new obsession.

         Thank you to Mini Archie for the prompt to furtle back through July but oh dear, I have pitifully little to share from the crafty side of my life this time. Having said that, I am actually fairly impressed that I've achieved anything indoors this past month as my sewing space usually goes into shut down over the summer. But the reason is .... I've discovered garment sewing!

I think I mentioned last time that I'd always wanted to make my own clothes but the faff of how I was taught to sew put me off. But the new generation of designers, approaches and techniques have made the whole process, I think, more accessible to the likes of me and so I've been having a ball building up a few skills.

100 Acts of Sewing patterns have been really instrumental in this and July started with my third Shirt No 1 but this time I felt brave enough to customise the fit a little more. I'm now itching to make another as I had a lightbulb moment as to how to improve the neck line but that will have to wait. Anyway,  for the first time ever, I'm wearing yellow!

Beyond Measure ran a great wee challenge for July using the 100 Act of Sewing patterns and this gave me the nudge to have a crack at a Dress No 3. I learned lots from this and all was going well until I somehow made a gaff on the front pieces. The amazing thing was that I didn't tantrum or hurl it into the bin (as per past garment making forays) but took my time (omg) to think (Omg) and find a solution (OMG!!!).


The dress is a sort of kaftan but, being vertically challenged, it looked a bit like a nightie on me but the addition of a tie belt seems to have done the trick.  AND, it only went an won me a prize in the fourth week of the challenge! Result. I just need the opportunity to wear it now.

So then it was back to a skirt as I was desperate to use some cute puffin fabric I'd  bought on an impulse last month .  This is really simple A line garment and I'm reasonably comfortable with pattern despite it having a zip.

                                     I can't repeat Tara Boss Horse's language here.....

And of course, all this has got me looking around at other patterns on the web and I'm just about to launch into a tunic top by Wardrobe by Me as long as I can work out how to print the pattern properly . A double muslin is waiting ..... Then some more ... Then some light weight jersey......

                                        Think I've got a dandelion thing going on....

With all this activity,  quilty stuff has ground to a halt for a while except for a new project I need to get finished for September .  The Chair of the MQG I belong to has set us a challenge for a story quilt the size of a FQ, containing text and on the theme of something we feel strongly about.  Well, I've picked my worries over plastic but am struggling to stay upbeat with the thing! I'm sort of enjoying slapping bits of plastic into my design but it's soooooo depressing really.  Perhaps I should have felt strongly about fluffy kittens or something!

One quarter finished but I now need to think up a slogan that's not too gloomy....

??????????!

And that's about it Indoors for July. The Great Outdoors have made a huge demand on my time and energy, and Boo and I have had some fabulous experiences on remote and inhospitable hills close to home and my beloved fells of the Lake District. We even passed the height of our second Everest last week on the cumulative ascents we've made this year and are 200m towards our 3rd! No wonder my knees creak.

Chapelgill Hill, S Lanarkshire

Looking towards Helvellyn, Cumbria

and the best bit .....

Murph was in the wars last month when Jackdaw Pony (the horsey love of his life) bit a huge chunk out the top of his leg . Hormones on both sides (Murph thinks he's a full little boy - but he's not!!! ) were to blame ( the 'come hither' look followed by 'but I'll bite your leg off if you do') but although not deep enough for stitching, it's taken an age to heal. But all is good now and Murph is back to full Bumptiousness .

Back out and about with the need to shed a few convalescent pounds...

Last blog I reported on the arrival of mini Kippa and I'm glad t say that Kippa has quickly made herself part of our expeditions. Providing the odd Teacayk is in evidence and her showing off is allowed to go unbridled...

Showing off...

Showing off...

Showing off...

Have a great August and thank you for reading my ramblings. Sue  x  (and Boo xx)