Just seen this on a website and it made me smile.

"I was recently asked by someone I met on holiday whether I had a stable. When I said I had a sewing room not a stable she replied, no, a STABLE, Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy. I think I probably have that!"

Well based on my expected future life time, no I haven't but there again if you always have a surplus on 'stock', it's bound to happen.

Over the last few months I've made two jackets:

https://sewdirect.com/acatalog/McCalls-7694.html

and https://www.wafflepatterns.com/product-page/moto-jacket-kaneel

and just started on another for winter.  With it being a bit cooler yesterday I wore the McCalls to go out in, the Waffle I'd worn before. 

So feeling pleased with myself with two successes, just why did I spend last night looking for some good quality suede to make the Waffle one again, when there is no way I can start it while at least February next year.  When I eventually found what I really liked and was ready to buy, my brain finally clicked back into gear and I stopped myself.  What is worst is that now I've found what I want, it will nibble away at me until I do buy.

Looking round for some ponte roma for a pattern I had seen, I have been scouring my usual places. I came across one on Ebay and I seemed to keep going back to it.  It was unusual, totally different to what I usually buy but the fabric on the picture shown seemed to have a bit of a bandaged effect.  I put the lowest bid in, regretted later but thought somebody would probably buy.  They didn't and it is mine. 

I was sat watching tv last night and DH closed the curtains later on.  It was then I realised that part of the pattern was very similar to my curtains.  The main pattern is set within a band on either side,  and the band part is similar but not the same on the dress fabric, which is what I think drew me to it.  I love those curtains, which is a good job since they cost a fortune are coming up to 20 years old.  But for a dress! I've just found the pattern on another site, going cheap.

https://www.thetextilecentre.co.uk/products/erratic-floral-patch-print-ponte-roma-jersey-print-1?variant=28107903368

I've been buying remnants over the summer, gorgeous stuff for winter projects.  I've just started one that is going to take a bit of time, so why, do I see a pattern I really fancy, bookmark it in 'sewing research', and then proceed to bookmark various fabrics to make it with the intention of buying when I've decided which (and pay day has arrived).  I have absolutely no time to make  based on present rate of progress.  Is this what they call an addiction or just judicious buying?

The first one finished was the McCalls, which was originally going to be in pink similar to the picture, then I chickened out.  Apart from getting the wrong zip size and thinking it didn't matter, this was relatively easy to make and looks like the picture.  What I didn't like was the dipping hem at the back, it's okay but I would rather it had been straight.

The big mistake on that was the snaps.  Never done them before, spent time watching videos until I was confident.  Bought the snaps, did them although they needed some hammering.  The penny dropped when I got to the last backing one on my left, I had got the heavy duty ones for handbags etc, so even with extra reinforcement I was struggling for grip.  Fortunately they are not going to be coming open once snapped on.

https://sewdirect.com/acatalog/McCalls-7694.html

 

 

The second was the Waffle Kaneel.  I did it for a start to see how the pattern went together as I intended to do the Tosti next. It's the first time I've done this type of pattern and I must admit it kept me busy and interested in fact normally every raw edge I normally put through an overlocker.  I never even went near the overlocker, forgot about it.  It fits but only just and I did a larger size than I normally do.  Fortunately I never intended to us the snaps on the collar as the jacket would be worn open all the time.  Not on the collar on the picture as I wasn't happy with the collar piece and unpicked and redid before I put the snaps on (right ones and a piece of cake).

It's an exposed zip on the top and I went with zips at the bottom. You can barely see the bottom ones and I think the next time I'd go for doing them so they can be seen but not fully exposed.  Otherwise everything worked fine. I'd also intended to put a leather zipper pull on the bottom zips and had bought some leather.  When I finally got round to cutting a narrow piece try out on the existing zipper pull, the white leather looked more a pasty white because of the  bright white of the drill fabric.  I then got some gold pulls but they didn't look right and also seemed a bit fragile for regular use so I've stuck with the YKK ones. 

Doing it again I'd also go for slightly wider sleeves in the middle.  Looking at the pattern there is very little difference in each size so after measuring an existing Landsend heavy duty winter jacket, I've cut out the largest size out for Tosti.

 https://www.wafflepatterns.com/product-page/moto-jacket-kaneel





I'm pleased with both of them apart from the fact I wished I'd used a different colour for the McCalls jacket and for the next Kaneel I think I might go with a patterned fabric, assuming I can find one suitable.

Only problem I have now - too many jackets.

Yesterday, after lunch with some old friends I emailed one a link to Joel & Sons, which meant I had to have a look round myself.  End result, I've bought myself some of their much reduced faux fur.

Next big project is Waffle Tosti jacket and I'd already decided the hood was out but the collar I wanted something different to sit on the top side.  So faux fur it is.  All I can think of at the moment is put a backing on it and use Velcro to attach, but that's a long way off.

Could probably get a gilet out of it as well?

I'm meeting some old colleagues for lunch next week.  Naturally I make sure that I'm looking as young as ever!!  Problem was what to wear, looks like it is going to be hot.

I'd picked a watercolour patterned dress out in cotton lawn, nice and light.  Having lost a bit of weight the shoulders had a habit of dropping slightly and I felt as if I had to pull them back again.  Then a catalogue crossed my view.  Normally they go straight in the bin unless I'm looking for ideas.  Anyway I saw something I fancied and ordered.  It arrived in two days, tried on and of course too long for mini me.

I'd already seen some fabric on Minerva that was identical and although it is too long, I do like the design. nice and simple and I love the sleeves.  £45 is not an enormous amount of money but when it is relatively easy to make it sticks in my throat spending, especially when I have to shorten.

So I had a quick looked and picked out the Tilly pattern Bettine (I could add the ties), has anyone seen anything else on their travels.

https://www.grattan.co.uk/products/tie-jersey-dress/_/A-84R688_10?cs_ev=browse-_-page1-_-listPosition5-_-none-_-PLP-_-refined 

In my clear out I've come across this stuffed away.  The leftover scraps from the waxed jacket made a couple of years ago.  It's quilted with a quilted lining in a browny colour, not my favourite colour but it looks okay.  The only thing I found is that the quilted lining makes me sweat a bit, cotton would have been better.

I would think there is sufficient to make a bag or maybe a couple of dog coats.  I've saved all the scraps, teflon foot definitely needed.  Just pay for the postage, doesn't seem too heavy.  It was bought originally I think from Textile Express and was around £15 a meter.