Back in July last year I made a new dress using a new pattern. I love it, so thought I’d make another.
This time it was a lot less hassle. I mean, I completed the zip first time. No fifth time lucky this time. I added contrasting fabric for the waistband, neckband and pockets to break it up a little. Et voila:
I’ve been hoping for a while to have a market stall to try out some of my items at. So, I’ve been busy stockpiling items to sell rather than plugging them online.
I’ve just put in an application for Brixton Makers’ Market on 8th June, so fingers crossed there’s space for me. I’ll keep making items to sell in the meantime and may even venture into the world of making ladies’ tops and skirts, so watch this space…
Here’s a taster of some of the things that’ll be appearing on the stall. More to come:
Lavender pouches
African print girls’ dresses
African print shorts
African print dribblers
In December, my third nephew was born. Welcome to the work AKBK.
I had knitted the obligatory newborn hat, but come the new year I wanted to knit him something else. Some time ago, my sister gave me Essential Baby from Debbie Bliss and I had, of course, fallen in love with so many items. One piece I particularly loved was the duffel coat. So, I bought some very fitting green (AKBK is half Irish, half Ghanaian) double top cotton from Texere Yarns and got to knitting.
I found the tension difficult to get right and ended up having to knit tightly using 3.25mm needles to get the right gauge. So, after enduring a few weeks of knitting away, the tendons in my hands were pretty sore and achy. I didn’t end up adding pockets – what 3-month-old has anything to put in their pockets? – and I added lovely purple and green west African print fabric covered buttons to finish it off.
This was my second small-person knitted proper item of clothing (the first being a cardigan for my niece L2) and I’m not sure I’ll make another in a hurry. I love Debbie Bliss designs, but I often find them hard work to complete, much prefering Sirdar or Rowan patterns generally.
But, this duffel coat’s gorgeous and AKBK looks adorable in it, so I’m happy enough. I just hope he doesn’t grow out of it too quickly and my sister-in-law keeps hold of it for future BK/ Hostick-Boakye kids 
I’ve been busy trying to build up stock for the first Sophie Kingo market stall this spring/summer (more on that later) but a couple of weeks ago managed to find time to make myself a new item of clothing out of an old remnant of Liberty lawn cotton I had knocking around.
My second ever dress was a maxi dress made with fabric my (then) boyfriend (now husband) bought me for Christmas 2008. I’ve used little bits and pieces that were left over for birds, bunting and oyster card holders. But the other day, when I’d decided I wanted to make myself a top, I wished for enough of this Liberty fabric to make it happen.
I had bought a pattern some time ago but had not liked it enough to use it; I just wasn’t a fan of the frill down the front of the neckline. But I thought I’d make a start with it and see what took my fancy. Half way through I knew that without anything around the neckline the top would be too plain and not worth the fabric or time.
So, I drew up a Peter Pan collar, cut out some Broderie Anglais from my fabric stash and incorporated that into the design. And I love it. Planning to head down to Liberty sometime soon for some new fabric to get some more on the go.
My latest shift dress and home knitted cardigan
For Christmas 2008 my husband (then boyfriend) gave me two lengths of Liberty fabric and told me I was going to make myself a couple of dresses. Since then, I’ve made 13 dresses and four skirts, for myself alone:
My skills have definitely improved since my first wrap dress. And the latest shift dress (left) is my best yet.
Here’s each dress and skirt in order, starting with my first ever (with one skirt missing along the way).
A couple of weeks ago I bought an overlocker – just the cheapest Janome that John Lewis stocked – and went on an Overlocking for beginners workshop at The Make Lounge. I had been wanting an overlocker for some time, but horror stories kept putting me off. I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Yes, they’re scary with their four threads, but the overlocker has transformed my sewing life.
Ok, I’ve only used it once so far, but along with my first sewing machine sewn blind hem, it means I won’t be looking back. This new dress is definitely my best yet.
I can’t wait to start using the overlocker on my African print girls’ dresses.
Homemade dress
Blind hemming for the first time
Overlocked edges along the zip
My new sewing setup
Two new fabrics
As well as knitting Christmas presents for 2012, I also sewed a few.
For nieces L1 and L2 for Christmas 2009, before Ls 3 & 4 came along, I made named bunting. These have been hanging in their room ever since. But L3 and L4 have been missing theirs. So 2012 was the year. I gathered together a range of fabrics and tasked Jeffrey to draw the letters while I cut out the flags.
Here they are in progress and complete:
I also wanted to sew something for my Mum for Christmas and had been meaning to sew myself a knitting needle roll for some time, so thought my Mum could also do with one. I browsed the internet for inspiration and amalgamated a few I came across to come up with these. Each one is made using a range of African print fabrics and has two different height pockets – a taller line of pockets for straight pins and a shorter line for circulars, haberdashery needles, stitch holders, scissors, etc.:
Knitting needle roll for me
Knitting needle roll for my mum
