How to make pockets with rounded corners

Sometime ago I learned a very handy little hint for making pockets with curved corners.   It makes the process of turning the seam allowance in so much easier, and generally improves the finished result as well.

First trace the pocket without the seam allowance.  I usually use template plastic for this because I can put the plastic over the top of the paper pattern.  Then cut out the plastic template. Now use this to very carefully trace around on a piece of cardboard.

Next cut out the cardboard template.  (oh, and cut out the pocket in fabric using the original paper pattern that has the seam allowance, if you havent already)

Fold back the top facing on the pocket and stitch - as directed in the instructions that come with the pattern. Clip corners and turn the facing so that the new seam is on the inside.

Now, on the ironing board, slip the cardboard template onto the pocket.

Using the heated iron push the seam allowance over the cardboard.  Make sure it is on the dry setting or you may burn your fingies (ouch!).

Once all the edges are turned over and you are satisfied with how the curve has formed, turn on the steam and press.

Then remove the cardboard and your pocket with curved corners is ready to stitch on to the garment.

Yay!

PS. Please excuse my very grotty, many times scorched ironing board cover - time to make a new one, I think

more red white and blue

Those scraps left from the quilt cover have been put to use as lovely deep pockets - that makes four garments now.  There is still some left. Not much but given my current attraction to the three aforementioned colours, it is sure to appear somewhere soon. 

While we are on the topic of red, white and blue,  I recently posted the above skirt on etsy.  Etsy have appointed an Australian manager and they really are the best known site for hand made everythings.  I think Etsy is a much better place to sell now that shoppers can elect to see the prices in Australian dollars rather than USD, as well as being able to select  'shop local'.  So I'm going to give them a go.  I'm not including shipping to countries other than Aus. and NZ - the cost of international shipping from Australia is just outrageous.  Over the next few weeks I plan to put a whole lot more stock in the etsy shop and in a day or so when I get time I'll add a button to the side margin on this blog.

Tomorrow is Sisters Market at Brunswick.  Hope to see you there :)

Numbat - a lesser known woodland creature!

On a recent visit to the Perth Zoo I encountered a Numbat and wondered why I had never seen one of these Australian marsupials before.  I was struck by her beauty.  The colours in her fur were vibrant - appearing orange with black and white stripes on the lower part of the body.  She seemed very happy foraging in her enclosure, oblivious to being watched, hoping and jumping and scurrying.  Numbats are endangered. Once found right across the lower half of Australia, they are now only found in a very small region of Western Australia. The introduction of the red fox has been one of the major causes for such small numbers of numbats. Loss of their woodland habitats has also exacted a toll. Numbats eat termites and are active in the day - making them even more vulnerable.  The Perth Zoo has a breeding program and has so far been able to release 100 numbats back into the wild.

The red fox, which destroys so much of our native wildlife, has been a popular motif in recent times.  I thought I'd have a go at adding a numbat motif to a skirt.

Using a photo I found on Google images, i sketched my version.

 

Then translated this into fabric and stitched it on to one of the skirt front pieces I had cut out before stitching up the skirt.  Here is the finished result.  I'm happy with it.  I wanted a soft, light approach that blended, almost camouflaged, with the rest of the skirt

A Merry Mishap

Some weeks ago I had an idea for a tunic that kind of lapped over at the back and which, I imagined would look great over leggings or tights and a jumper.  I drafted the pattern in three sizes - small medium and large and so enthusiastic was I that I didnt bother making a muslin first. I cut straight into some beautiful Echino linen fabrics.  Not once, or twice but three times. one in each size.  I sewed the first one.  Making some big blousey pockets.  All went well ... until it came time to test the garment on an actual body.  It looked suspiciously like an apron,  but still I was confidant.  On it looked dreadful  - like an old fashioned pinnie; a shapless sack.  I was so disappointed I cast the garment aside.  The only consolation was that I had only stitched up one.  The other two, I knew I would be able to use the fabric in some other way.  The completed one, though.... Normally, I would unpick a disaster and just start again but this garment had french seams on linen and a whole lot of binding. I couldnt bear the thought of all that unpicking.  So it stayed, sadly slumped in my sewing room for weeks.
One day I had another idea and got to it.  I'd cut the top off the pinafore, form some pleats, attach a waistband and turn it into a wrap skirt - with big blousey pockets.  And here is the result:

 

So happy with this result I went on and turned the other two cut out pinafores into skirts as well!

I've learned my lesson though,  next time I'll be making up new ideas in less valuable fabric in case I cant resurrect the disasters!

1st day of Autumn

 

Well, Melbourne has had at least two seasons today - autumn and winter.  The cold has been shocking.  Just sprung up from who knows where. Grey skies this morning didnt look particularly threatening, so I washed all the towels. Before the machine had finished the cycle, it was pouring with rain, so I reluctantly put the towels in the drier, then just after I took the towels out, the sun came out and the wind picked up.  As Alexander says in the Terrible, horrible, very bad, no good day, "Some days are like that".
Having the heater on, first time for months has caught me by surprise.  Last week, however, I did happen to make some heavier skirts ready for cooler weather.  I've posted them in my on line store today but here is a peek of two of my faves.

piece by piece

For months I have been handstitching these little hexagon pieces. They've travelled with me while on holiday by the sea.  They provided moments of peaceful reflection during the busy Christmas period and they helped me to feel like I was doing something productive while watching Friday night thrillers.  It is the first time I have tried this form of paper pieced patchwork and I look forward to doing more as it is very relaxing.  Removing the papers once the shapes were joined was a lot quicker than I had thought it would be.

What shall I do with my newly created piece of fabric?  I know, I'll make a wrap around skirt with the patchwork as the front panel.  I'll line this piece with a soft white cotton then I'll team it with some light blue denim to make the rest of the skirt.  

Getting Red-dy

or going dotty!  Here are the skirts I finished today - ready for tomorrow's Blackbird Market

Turning the Table(cloth)s

What fun I have had this week.  It started with a visit to my favourite op-shop where I found three tablecloths just begging for a chance to do something different with their lives.  The first had a beautiful hand crocheted edge, so needed to be something simple to make the most of this.  It was also quite a small cloth and turned out to be just enough for this top:

The pattern was Style I 

which comes from the Japanese Pattern book Sewing Lesson:

The other two cloths I made into skirts.

front view

side view

front view

side view

For the first skirt  I used New Look pattern 6637  to make the short version of the wrap skirt 

The pattern for the second skirt was Style 16 

from another Japanese Pattern book:  One Day Sewing No. 746 

Japanese Pattern Books

I'm in love with these books!  The patterns are simple but classy.  I've been using this skirt pattern

from this book

to make this

and this

and the pockets on this skirt

from this book

inspired these pockets

on this skirt