williamsews

  Just wondering what to make next and still buying patterns. I’ve been trying a collar/cuff/front placket variation, I don’t know if it will become a shirt but it’s fun to try out different ideas. With a similar inset on the cuffs. One project I’d like to start would be this shirt; It’s the closest to a safari jacket but the search is still on for a good safari jacket pattern. Starting this would mean copying the pattern carefully onto Ram Board and making adjustments because I don’t want to damage the original pattern by pinning. That’s my day. Regards,  Will.

  I have finished the troublesome shirt and it’s not too bad. I sewed a bias strip on both sides so they look like a front yoke. (Bad photograph, taken late at night). I used multi-coloured thread and am pleased with the result. I’ll have to do more with this thread because I have a lot of it. The small reels looked enticing, so I bought some and they sew well – then I bought the cones on special. Next will be a shirt for me, I have a pattern I’d like to use but may fiddle with a few other ideas first and then draft the pattern. A safari jacket would be great but I just can’t find a pattern in my size, they’ve been around but people are beating me to them…there is obviously a resurgence in Safari Suits & Jackets. It’s raining; perfect sewing weather. Keep well, Regards,  Will.  My Site:  william-sews.com

  I made a grave mistake today; I will admit that I was impatient. The trouble started with sewing in a sleeve, the first one was fine but the second one needed three tries and on the last try I ripped the seam instead of unpicking. The result was a torn front. I was going to abandon it but it’s for someone else and they suggested patching it, so I did. I made a bias strip, used fusible stabiliser (wash away) and zigzagged the tear. I then covered it with the bias strip. I looks OK, I was going to put a matching strip on the other side but David said not to bother…so I didn’t. Interestingly asymmetrical. Just the buttons/holes to go. I’m glad it’s over and I shall never do that again. A new vintage pattern has arrived and two more on the way; will I ever make them? I hope so. Take care in this viral world. Will.

  I was shopping in a newsagent yesterday when a customer asked if they had any postcards, the young assistant didn’t know what they were. It seems that they have gone the way of telegrams, aerogrammes and so many other past and passé items. I sent postcards to my mum from every place I visited in my travelling days (along with souvenir spoons), they were fun and the photos were much better than any I could take…except I wasn’t in the shot. I sent dozens over the years, they were a great way to send a short message (Wish you were here) and were the text messages of their day. I scrabbled around and found a few that have been saved; The variety was wonderful; whimsical, artistic, funny or scenic. The cards I treasure are from the First World War, my grandfather sent them to my grandmother from France. Two of them had embroidered pockets to insert another, more private note. My sewing consists of repairs and alterations at the moment while I decide what to make next…I am sewing a few...

  Please visit my blog at;  william-sews.com I have discovered a whole new source of patterns on eBay & Etsy. eBay has the edge on Etsy because most have free postage whereas Etsy’s postage can be ridiculous; around $20-$25 just for postage alone, the patterns are inexpensive enough, so it’s a pity, it makes the cost prohibitive – I don’t know why it’s so much because patterns only weigh about 45g. Anyway, there are local Etsy suppliers who have free postage, like these two. The one on the left is a real treasure, from 1958 and untouched. The western one didn’t have an envelope, so I found a photo of the cover and printed it out, this pattern is also unused. The 1950s one will be great to make, I just have to figure out the best way to copy the pattern without marking it. I’m going to make a few face masks from scrap fabric pieces today…I could very easily have matching masks and shirts, but that would be going too far. Time for a coffee and crumpets. Regards,  Will.

  It’s certainly taken longer than a day to make this shirt, I must be slowing down in my old age. Didn’t like this shirt as it was being made, which is probably why it took so long but it’s OK. I usually make trim 2mm wide but thought 1mm could be interesting, it is actually very fiddly and not worth the trouble. It’s made with sheeting fabric and it’s rather dense and creases easily but should be comfortable to wear during summer. It was difficult to sew straight and pull the tiny trim out fully…lesson learned, 2mm is MUCH easier. A shirt for someone else is next. Regards,  Will.

I like fabric so much that I disliked wasting any but the smallest scraps, cutting tiny pieces to make quilt squares. Each of these 18 pieces is 5cm square. And this one is the same. Also eye-jarring crazy quilts. Roman Wall pieces are 5″ x 2″ and the smaller version; 2.5″ x 1″. I’m a bit more relaxed about it now and don’t go to such extremes – I haven’t actually thrown all the tiny pieces out, just put them away. The perfume of Jasmine is in the air.  Quite a few gardens nearby have masses of Jasmine in the garden, I have some outside the sewing room and it smells wonderful. It has finally rained, it’s been a very dry, warm spring so far. Working on a shirt and doing a few alterations today…what could be better on a wet Sunday. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Regards,  Will.