Sewing, not blogging and my stash

Sewing, not blogging and my stash

A question for my readers who are bloggers:  Do you ever sew but not blog?

Up until now I would have said I blog everything… but then sometimes it’s just not possible.  Here’s a little bit of catch-up.

Last week Miss A came home from school with some sparkly fabric, a halter-neck top and a note for the drama teacher explaining that they were one top short for the end of year production and asking if I could copy the enclosed top.  I’ve never copied an finished item before, although I’ve read lots about it online, but I was up for the challenge.

It was a simple top, but without instructions, I did make some errors and gave my quick unpick a bit of a workout.  Miss A tried the top on for size (a perfect fit) but blankly REFUSED to let me take a photo of her in it.  The new top has gone to school un-photographed and will next be seen at the performance next Tuesday evening.  Miss A has been singing and dancing snippets of their show so I can tell we’re in for another amazing production this year.

Then there was a birthday parcel sent to Miss M a little friend of ours that lives in Germany.  Her lovely Mum reads my blog so I couldn’t post about the parcel before it arrived or I would have ruined the surprise.  But now that the birthday present has safely made it way to the other side of the world, I can spill the beans…

Enter Oliver + S’s Pinwheel Tunic.

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This was a lovely pattern to sew up.  There was lots of bias binding on this project (neckline, sleeves and flounce edge) which I opted to make in self fabric rather than a contrast.

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My favourite things about this make are the ribbon tie at the back and the fabric.  This Japanese seersucker cotton was purchased from Tessuti two years ago.  It was always earmarked to make a dress/top for Miss M, and I’m pleased I’ve found the perfect pattern to match it with.  I wish I’d brought some more of this fabric for me!

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I also made Miss M a long sleeved Oliver + S Hopscotch Dress.  This was the third of these dresses that I’ve made and definitely won’t be the last.  The fabric was the same as this one but in a dusky pink colourway.

Lastly, the countdown to when we move is on – it’s three weeks away.  Yesterday morning Lara, Leith and Rachel came and helped my downsize my stash by taking some home with them.  I thought I’d show you what’s left… 13 x 28 litre plastic tubs.

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Yes, it’s a large stash, but I not making any apologies about it or am I going to put myself on a fabric diet.  In fact, yesterday afternoon I popped into Tessuti on the way home from the weekly food shop at the Queen Victoria Market and purchased a hardcopy Eva Dress pattern and this linen to make it up in… swoon.

But Eva will have to wait, as this weekend is all about making presents for my girls teachers.  I best get dressed and go and make a start…

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  • I understand about sewing, but not blogging. I love sewing, and sometimes I just don’t have photos/time to write about each make before moving on to the next one. Also, with the silly season approaching I’m sure I’m not the only one trying to get a head start on gift sewing, and it would be sooo wrong to blog about christmas pressies before giving them.
    Good on you for “owning” the size of your stash without appologies – She who dies with the most fabric wins!!

  • That pinwheel tunic is adorable! You’ve just forced me to move it up my to-do list. And thanks again for that lovely fabric – I have been stroking and drooling over it again this morning. So much fun to help you to destash!
    But now I really want to make an Eva…

    • That Eva is alluring isn’t she… I would love to make my girls a pinwheel tunic, but I’m afraid they won’t wear it. They are very drawn to jersey as it’s so dam comfortable. Who can blame them?!

  • That Pinwheel Tunic is the bomb! Soooo cute. Thank you so much for yesterday. I laid it out on my lounge room rug and stared at it all evening, debating what to sew next with which fabric.
    But I’m with Lara… I desperately want an Eva!!

  • My teenage daughter is sometimes bolshie about letting me photograph her in stuff I make her….it depends on her mood. If she protests, I just don’t blog about it. After all, it’s not her choice that her mother blogs!

  • What a sweet top, you did a lovely job.
    I agree, my children are (mostly) pretty happy to pose but I do have one twin who is more obliging then the other.
    And that is okay.
    xx N

  • I’ve been madly sewing at the moment but not blogging, lots of reasons why but I will eventually!
    Work is insanely busy so that’s not helping – nor is the steady downpour of rain….
    Seeing your stash made me feel better, mine is about half as big!

  • At the minute, with so many half finished projects and so little sewing time, I’m blogging everything I make, just so it really happened!

    But I’m trying to look on the blogging as a chance to show my friends what I’m up to, rather than producing a monetised, beautifully photographed document of my sewing, complete with tutorials. There are plenty of awesome ladies out there who fill that role, and I can be happy with my bad iPhone photos and no close ups if dodgy stitching!

    As for the stash, mine is probably not quite as big as yours, but it’s not as organised either! I have about 3 big bags full of vintage stuff to go through and er, edit. If I can do that, it will be much easier to get in the room and sew more!

    • If you need some help editing or sorting, you know who to call. I like that fact that you’ve found your own little blogging groove. There is no competition, just a space to share our creations (and emotions!). Love your work.

  • I try to at least photograph even if I don’t blog about something otherwise I completely forget about it. I have so many projects pre blogging days that I didn’t photograph and now I want to sew those patterns again I can’t remember how it turned out or what I want to change. Blogging is handy for recording those details

    • Excellent point Kristy. I too enjoy referring back to the information that I’ve written on items made. Interestingly, it’s the sizing information for the girls that I revisit most frequently.

  • I think a stash is only too big if you’re finding it overwhelming rather than inspiring. I love that with my current stash, I can sometimes find just the perfect thing for a last minute costume, or to whip up small gifts or maybe even a full garment. But I pretty much know what’s in there. We get some customers in the shop who say they shouldn’t be browsing because of the size of their stash, and they seem weighed down: it seems to be stopping them from sewing anything. That’s when I think it’s time for a purge!
    I’ve been sewing quite a bit that’s not been blogged lately because we sew so many samples for the shop (which happen to double as wardrobe staples too!). Not enough hours in the day! But I consult the internets so much for pattern reviews & inspiration, I try to blog as much as I can to contribute back to that pool of knowledge.
    Can’t wait to see your Eva dress. Looks like a lovely pattern.

    • Your insights into the stash – inspiring versus overwhelming – is spot on Jane. Thanks for sharing. And with regards to the blogging, we all do what we can when we can 🙂 Is now a good time to confess that I’ve spent several hours pouring over your online store and dreaming about making a double gauze cot quilt and all the things I’d like to sew with your gorgeous linens. Maybe a trip to Adelaide over summer is in order…

  • I like the comment that a stash is only too big if it is overwhelming. So true.

    Mine is perhaps a third of yours, but I’m returning to sewing after a few years break. All my fabric was bought with clothes in mind, and eventually I’ll sew them. Some of those garments were first considered 10 years ago. I should edit out those fabrics. No way will Miss Now 13.5 wear (or fit) dress fabric intended for 3 year old ; )

    I do stock up on various interfacings, threads, zips and buttons. And patterns, do they count as part of the stash?

    • Jane’s insights were great weren’t they. I’ve been trying not to think about patterns as part of the stash. Although, I’ve been more restrained with my pattern purchasing lately.

  • I like a good over the top stash. If it can still be contained by box or bin in one location, I think you win. It’s about keeping orphan textiles off the streets for me. A labor of love.
    This year I’ve done a lot of remakes- patterns I loved and are quick and fill in my need for basic tops for jeans- so I haven’t blogged most of them, I feel like it would cause yawns all around!

  • Love your pinwheel. My fabric stash is manageable, it’s my pattern stash that I feel is getting away from me. this dress is still in the untouched pile. it’ll move up a spot after seeing yours!
    Everything I make goes on the blog just to document what I made for my own sake. I’ve tried getting clever and photographing things along the way to make tutorials but then I inevitably screw it up. Sew first, photograph later works best for me!

    • My pattern stash is currently manageable, well that is if I exclude all the Japanese pattern books I purchased a few months ago! Blogging is very time consuming, but I love it. I haven’t even considered tutorials, that seems way out of my league at the moment. Oliver + S patterns are the bomb!

  • Very nice make and I think your stash is very reasonable given all the people and occasions for which you sew! I’m so impressed with you ladies who sew and blog–I don’t have enough time to sew what I’d like to so blogging and photographing are out of the question! But I feel guilty benefitting from the reviews of others and not contributing, not that I have all that much to give as a beginning sewist. One day though!

    • All in good time Sarah Jo. It took me a long time, and some gentle persuasion from some other Melbourne bloggers at a meet-up, to take the leap into blogging. I’m so pleased I did, but we all do what we can when we can. For now, just enjoy your sewing 🙂

  • That is one heck of a stash lady!!! I love this little dress, the flounce detail is so cute. Good luck with the lead up to the move.

  • I was wondering where you’d gotten to!

    Good luck with the move. I can’t say I envy you, but I bet everyone’s looking forward to being home home for Christmas. How exciting!

    • I’ve been quiet haven’t I? The house/move is taking up lots of time, plus end of year activities at school and at night-time I’m currently choosing sleeping over sewing. Sometimes I’ve found slowing down and rejoicing in a little bit on mundane for me is very good for me. The BBQ got it’s thorough 6 monthly clean this afternoon!

      • I totally agree. I know when I’ve been away from sewing for a little while, or even when it hasn’t been my focus that i enjoy it so much more.

        Breaking out the barbie tonight I hope… perfect bbq weather 🙂

  • Some women collect shoes and handbags, I’d pick fabric anyday!

    I sew plenty of things that don’t get blogged, but they’re usually faster makes that I really want to wear

  • Sometimes when I’m sewing I’m so excited with what I’m doing I can’t wait for it to be on the blog and other times, I just can’t be bothered to pose for pictures. There’s a dress I made recently that’s been through the wash 6 times now- I love the dress. I’ve just never had someone around to take snaps. It seems fated not to make it onto the blog.

  • This is cute cute cute! I am knitting somehing with a ribbon tie at the back too 🙂 An awesome fabric stash is so useful when you want to sew something and you can simply shop your stash without having to step out of the house. And this brown and pink top reminds me that I have a similar fabric in cotton earmarked for a top for myself 🙂

  • This dress is lovely. The flounce is a great design feature. If only my stash was as small as yours! Although mine is mostly quilting fabric being re-purposed into garments. Happy sewing days. Cheers, Karen

  • Oh absolutely. Although it’s not a frequent occurance – I do have about 4 things I’ve just never gotten around to officially ‘documenting’. Usually when I make a repeat of something, now I think about it. So how did the performance go last night?
    It’s a gorgeous top… Oliver & S hey? They have some amazing patterns! Almost makes me want to procreate so I can sew some of their lovelies up. Almost being the operative word, hehe 😛

  • It was a fabulous performance last night. The drama teacher does and amazing job with the girls. We have having a ‘rest day’ today. The girls are playing nicely and I hoping to trace some patterns in a moment. I highly recommend procreating… but only when your ready 🙂

    • I highly recommend procreating… but only when your ready …

      So very true! You do have to be ready, and that is YOU, not people around you.

      Regarding the patterns – do you have nieces & nephews?

  • […] my “wearable muslin” I used a knit that came to me via Anna’s stash (thanks Anna)! It was easy to work with, with assembly primarily done on the overlocker. Hems and […]

  • I had to laugh when I read your post. Lately I’ve had just enough time to sew or blog, but not both. And I’ve been getting a fair amount of sewing done – enough that I’m not sure I’ll get around to going back and blogging it all. Sigh.

    And your stash is perfectly reasonable. I loved the comment someone above made about a good stash being inspiring instead of overwhelming. So true! I’m going to remember that the next time I feel guilty about the amount of fabric I have.