I can see more of these in my wardrobe! They are so easy to make, and so comfortable to wear.
Saturday, 9 February 2019
Tunic top - New Look 5430
I have made this top twice now. It is a very popular pattern in my Tuesday morning sewing group, 3 of us have made it now!
I made the leopard print one just before Christmas, and in fact wore it at Christmas as it is so easy to put on and lounge about in! No need for ironing as this gorgeous jersey fabric doesn't crease, and being animal print is bang on trend! I made the purple and grey one with some fabric I had in my stash. I bought this at a show a few years ago. Glad to make use of it! It has a lovely velvety look to it, but it is lighter than the leopard print. The only difference is that the leopard print has a V neck, and the purple/grey one has a round neck.
I can see more of these in my wardrobe! They are so easy to make, and so comfortable to wear.
I can see more of these in my wardrobe! They are so easy to make, and so comfortable to wear.
Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Frosty Garden
One of my goals for 2019 is to use my camera more! I use my phone camera an awful lot - it is so handy, and takes some quite good photos. But I also have a Panasonic Lumix which I have had for a couple of years. Before that I had a Nikon DSLR, which was very big and heavy, but did take gorgeous photos. I got the Panasonic mostly because of its small size and lightness, but also because I can change the aperture and speed settings. But being lazy, I mostly use it on automatic! In fact, it has an intelligent auto setting which is fantastic.
Here are some photos I took in the garden one frosty morning this week.
Here are some photos I took in the garden one frosty morning this week.
Expect more photos on my blog this year, especially of my garden!
Friday, 18 January 2019
2018 Year of Sewing
I love reading about other sewists hits and misses for the past year. See Gillian's Top 5 Hits and Misses over on her blog Crafting a Rainbow. I haven't got a top 5 of each, as I only finished 8 garments:
Denim jacket Started in 2017, finished in January 2018
* fleece jacket (unblogged)
* Shirt for Maurice (unblogged)
* Shirt for myself (unblogged)
* leopard print tunic (unblogged)
* dressing gown
* 2 x Long sleeved t- shirts (unblogged)
* Summer 'cold-shoulder' top
Also 3 from fabric I already had in my stash:
* red shirtdress
* cape (unblogged)
* black top - unhemmed at present
I refashioned a few items too:
* skirt into top
* trousers taken in
* too large top shortened and taken in
Other sewing I did includes:
* new curtains for my newly decorated bedroom (see photo in my previous blog post)
* finished my calendar quilt
* autumn table runner
* knitting bag
* made a bag that scrunches up into a small corner
* a cross stitch sampler - still to frame
I love sewing for Christmas! Here are some items I made as decorations and gifts:
* felt Christmas decorations
* crayon rolls for great nieces and nephews
* cushion for Tash - for her vintage caravan that she is renovating
* t-cosy for Burnice
* Quilt for Nicholas - it is backed with the softest fleece fabric, so cosy.
I have been very lax in blogging for a few years, so many of these are not blogged. I need to take some better photos and write more posts!
It has been a very good sewing year for me! I am hoping that 2019 proves to be just as good.
I have plans to make at least 1 quilt from my stash (I have kits for about 4 quilts that I have had a long time)
Use up more of my dressmaking stash
Refashion more items
Challenge myself with dressmaking - maybe make a coat?
I am writing a review of other things I did in 2018, be sure to come back and have a look!
Denim jacket Started in 2017, finished in January 2018
* fleece jacket (unblogged)
* Shirt for Maurice (unblogged)
* Shirt for myself (unblogged)
* leopard print tunic (unblogged)
* dressing gown
* 2 x Long sleeved t- shirts (unblogged)
* Summer 'cold-shoulder' top
Also 3 from fabric I already had in my stash:
* red shirtdress
* cape (unblogged)
* black top - unhemmed at present
I refashioned a few items too:
* skirt into top
* trousers taken in
* too large top shortened and taken in
Other sewing I did includes:
* new curtains for my newly decorated bedroom (see photo in my previous blog post)
* finished my calendar quilt
* autumn table runner
* knitting bag
* made a bag that scrunches up into a small corner
* a cross stitch sampler - still to frame
I love sewing for Christmas! Here are some items I made as decorations and gifts:
* felt Christmas decorations
* crayon rolls for great nieces and nephews
* cushion for Tash - for her vintage caravan that she is renovating
* t-cosy for Burnice
* Quilt for Nicholas - it is backed with the softest fleece fabric, so cosy.
I have been very lax in blogging for a few years, so many of these are not blogged. I need to take some better photos and write more posts!
It has been a very good sewing year for me! I am hoping that 2019 proves to be just as good.
I have plans to make at least 1 quilt from my stash (I have kits for about 4 quilts that I have had a long time)
Use up more of my dressmaking stash
Refashion more items
Challenge myself with dressmaking - maybe make a coat?
I am writing a review of other things I did in 2018, be sure to come back and have a look!
Monday, 7 January 2019
2018 in review - The Year of 'LIGHT'
In the spirit of writing more for this blog, I have decided to start with a few posts reviewing my year of 2018. I like to set a word for each year as a focus for my life, following Ali Edwards 'One Little Word'. Last year I chose the word 'LIGHT', and I think it is the best word yet! (Words I have chosen in the past include: SIMPLIFY, CREATE, ACTION, GROW, DEVELOP, FLOURISH SLOW).
I thought that the word LIGHT would be a focus for all areas of my life, and decided to focus on these 3 areas:
LIGHT touch on the planet
Letting my LIGHT shine
LIGHT and airy home
LIGHT touch on the planet
I focused my efforts on recycling as much as possible. We are lucky in that our local recycling centre is very good and takes most things that can be recycled. I tried to reduce my consumption of single use plastics, and picked up at least 3 items of plastic rubbish on the beach every time I went down there.
I also cut down on buying new clothes, although I did have a little splurge in the summer with new summer tops! I used up some of my fabric stash to make new clothes, and refashioned items bought from charity shops. (More on sewing projects coming soon!)
Letting my LIGHT shine
I started meditating using a meditation app - which I really enjoyed, but I have not done so much lately. I took better care of my skin, instigating a routine of a twice weekly scrub and facepack. I started using jojoba oil on my face every morning and night. I wanted to lose some weight, but have failed miserably in that regard!
I tried out a 'capsule wardrobe' following Style Bee 10x10. I made a much more concerted effort to wear smarter casual clothes and make up whenever I went out.
LIGHT and airy home
I persuaded OH to paint our bedroom, and our feature wall is now a calming green. Along with new bedding and curtains, the room looks much lighter and brighter.
I did a lot of decluttering and had some success with selling unwanted items on eBay. I decluttered my craft stash (again!), and gave some of it away using Freecycle.
It's been a great year for me, and I hope for you too! I'll write more about sewing projects and our travels soon.
I thought that the word LIGHT would be a focus for all areas of my life, and decided to focus on these 3 areas:
LIGHT touch on the planet
Letting my LIGHT shine
LIGHT and airy home
LIGHT touch on the planet
I focused my efforts on recycling as much as possible. We are lucky in that our local recycling centre is very good and takes most things that can be recycled. I tried to reduce my consumption of single use plastics, and picked up at least 3 items of plastic rubbish on the beach every time I went down there.
I also cut down on buying new clothes, although I did have a little splurge in the summer with new summer tops! I used up some of my fabric stash to make new clothes, and refashioned items bought from charity shops. (More on sewing projects coming soon!)
Letting my LIGHT shine
I started meditating using a meditation app - which I really enjoyed, but I have not done so much lately. I took better care of my skin, instigating a routine of a twice weekly scrub and facepack. I started using jojoba oil on my face every morning and night. I wanted to lose some weight, but have failed miserably in that regard!
I tried out a 'capsule wardrobe' following Style Bee 10x10. I made a much more concerted effort to wear smarter casual clothes and make up whenever I went out.
LIGHT and airy home
I persuaded OH to paint our bedroom, and our feature wall is now a calming green. Along with new bedding and curtains, the room looks much lighter and brighter.
I did a lot of decluttering and had some success with selling unwanted items on eBay. I decluttered my craft stash (again!), and gave some of it away using Freecycle.
It's been a great year for me, and I hope for you too! I'll write more about sewing projects and our travels soon.
Thursday, 1 November 2018
Diabetes Awareness Month
November is ‘diabetes awareness month’, so as a fairly recently diagnosed type 1 diabetic, I thought I’d give you some info about this disease. I was diagnosed 4 years ago in my mid-50s. Most people who have type 1 diabetes get the disease in their childhood or as a young adult. It is rarer to get it when you are older.
Blood sugar regulation
People with diabetes cannot control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. We require glucose for energy, and a hormone called insulin allows the glucose to enter from the blood into the cells in our bodies. Our bodies have some fantastic mechanisms, and one of them is blood sugar regulation.
We get glucose from the carbohydrates we eat. In a non-diabetic, two hormones; insulin and glycogen work to stabilise the amount of glucose in the blood. Normal values are between 5 and 7 mmol of glucose per litre of blood.
Insulin is produced by the pancreas, and acts like a key, letting the glucose in the blood gain entry into cells to be used for energy. When blood glucose rises, eg after eating carbohydrates, the pancreas produces more insulin and the excess glucose goes into the cells. If the blood sugar drops, there is another hormone called glycogen, that causes the liver to release some of its stored glucose.
Types of Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the receptors on the cells do not work properly – they do not recognise the insulin, so glucose cannot enter the cells. The pancreas works harder to create more insulin and eventually 'tires' and stops producing insulin all together. Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, and lack of exercise.
In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin (beta cells) are attacked by the immune system, and there is no insulin produced. Type 1 diabetics always have to inject insulin.
There are over 3 million people with diabetes in the UK (29million in the USA). By far the majority – 90% are type 2.
Insulin
I am a type 1 diabetic, so not producing insulin. I have to inject insulin 4 or 5 times per day.
Insulin comes in 2 forms:
Basal insulin. One injection per day of long acting insulin, a kind of background insulin that counteracts the liver’s own production of glucose.
Bolus Insulin. Injected before each meal depending on amount of carbohydrate consumed.
I use this ‘Multiple Dose Insulin’ regime, but some people have a pump, permanently attached which drip feeds small amounts of insulin constantly, more like the pancreas in a normal person.
Hypos and hypers
There is always the possibility of the blood sugar going outside the ‘normal’ range, especially as other factors apart from food can affect the blood sugar too, such as activity levels, illness, stress and alcohol.
Hypoglycaemia. When the blood sugar goes below 4mmol/l, it is called a ‘hypo’. This can be caused by too much insulin on board, and/or exercise, etc. Hypos can be a bit scary, as you can feel quite unwell, sweaty, dizzy, jittery, nauseous, confused. You need to treat the hypo as soon as possible by consuming fast acting carbohydrate such as fizzy sugary drink, jelly babies, dextrose tablets etc. If not treated, it can become a medical emergency as you can slip into a coma and die.
Hyperglycaemia. When the blood sugar goes high, ie above 7mmol/l, it is a ‘hyper’. This can be caused by not enough insulin on board to cover the carbs in the meal, stress or illness etc. If blood sugar is constantly high, the risk of complications such as blindness, heart attack, stroke, nerve damage leading to amputation and dementia increases. There is also the risk of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), a nasty condition where the blood gets acidic and you can become very unwell very quickly and require hospital treatment.
Measurement of blood sugar
Consequently, I check my blood sugar at least 5 times per day. I used to use a blood sugar meter like this, and have to by prick my finger and use a drop of blood on the test strip that goes in the meter.
Abbott Freestyle Libre
Nowadays I use a flash glucose system called the 'Libre'. I have a sensor stuck to my skin (on my arm) and swipe a meter over it from time to time. It gives me a reading of my blood glucose plus an arrow showing me which way it is going, up, down or stable, and a graph of how my blood sugar has been over the last few hours. Here's a picture of my reading just now. I try and keep the line within the blue band. The Libre has helped type 1 diabetics get their blood sugar under much better control, and is beginning to be available on the NHS. (At present I do not qualify for the libre, as my control is quite good, so I buy it myself. It is quite expensive at £100 per month!)
I always carry a blood sugar meter and hypo treatments, especially when walking the dog!
Low Carbohydrate diets
Many diabetics are finding that a low-carbohydrate diet helps, and some type 2 diabetics have been able to reverse their disease with this diet plus exercise. I have been trying to eat low-carb, but it is difficult! I avoid starchy food such as potatoes, rice and pasta, and limit the amount of bread I eat. No cake, sweets or biscuits as a general rule!
It has been an emotional rollercoaster. From shock at first diagnosis that I have a life long medical condition, to fear about the future and the complications, to sheer desperation that I can’t seem to get my blood sugar levels right, and depression for the relentless slog of having to think about it all the time.
However, after 4 years I am getting used to the daily slog, and realise that there are worse diseases to have! I can continue my life reasonably normally, I still exercise, I still drive, I can still do all my crafts. I am grateful for that, and that Insulin was discovered and it keeps me alive. I am grateful too that I became diabetic in my 50s and haven’t had it all my life. It must be really hard if you have a small child with type 1 diabetes.
Do please let me know in the comments if you have any questions and I’ll try to answer them. I don’t claim to be an expert, but it’s amazing how much I do know about the disease now!
Blood sugar regulation
People with diabetes cannot control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. We require glucose for energy, and a hormone called insulin allows the glucose to enter from the blood into the cells in our bodies. Our bodies have some fantastic mechanisms, and one of them is blood sugar regulation.
We get glucose from the carbohydrates we eat. In a non-diabetic, two hormones; insulin and glycogen work to stabilise the amount of glucose in the blood. Normal values are between 5 and 7 mmol of glucose per litre of blood.
Insulin is produced by the pancreas, and acts like a key, letting the glucose in the blood gain entry into cells to be used for energy. When blood glucose rises, eg after eating carbohydrates, the pancreas produces more insulin and the excess glucose goes into the cells. If the blood sugar drops, there is another hormone called glycogen, that causes the liver to release some of its stored glucose.
Types of Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the receptors on the cells do not work properly – they do not recognise the insulin, so glucose cannot enter the cells. The pancreas works harder to create more insulin and eventually 'tires' and stops producing insulin all together. Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, and lack of exercise.
In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin (beta cells) are attacked by the immune system, and there is no insulin produced. Type 1 diabetics always have to inject insulin.
There are over 3 million people with diabetes in the UK (29million in the USA). By far the majority – 90% are type 2.
Insulin
I am a type 1 diabetic, so not producing insulin. I have to inject insulin 4 or 5 times per day.
Basal insulin. One injection per day of long acting insulin, a kind of background insulin that counteracts the liver’s own production of glucose.
Bolus Insulin. Injected before each meal depending on amount of carbohydrate consumed.
I use this ‘Multiple Dose Insulin’ regime, but some people have a pump, permanently attached which drip feeds small amounts of insulin constantly, more like the pancreas in a normal person.
Hypos and hypers
There is always the possibility of the blood sugar going outside the ‘normal’ range, especially as other factors apart from food can affect the blood sugar too, such as activity levels, illness, stress and alcohol.
Hypoglycaemia. When the blood sugar goes below 4mmol/l, it is called a ‘hypo’. This can be caused by too much insulin on board, and/or exercise, etc. Hypos can be a bit scary, as you can feel quite unwell, sweaty, dizzy, jittery, nauseous, confused. You need to treat the hypo as soon as possible by consuming fast acting carbohydrate such as fizzy sugary drink, jelly babies, dextrose tablets etc. If not treated, it can become a medical emergency as you can slip into a coma and die.
Hyperglycaemia. When the blood sugar goes high, ie above 7mmol/l, it is a ‘hyper’. This can be caused by not enough insulin on board to cover the carbs in the meal, stress or illness etc. If blood sugar is constantly high, the risk of complications such as blindness, heart attack, stroke, nerve damage leading to amputation and dementia increases. There is also the risk of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), a nasty condition where the blood gets acidic and you can become very unwell very quickly and require hospital treatment.
Measurement of blood sugar
Consequently, I check my blood sugar at least 5 times per day. I used to use a blood sugar meter like this, and have to by prick my finger and use a drop of blood on the test strip that goes in the meter.Abbott Freestyle Libre
Nowadays I use a flash glucose system called the 'Libre'. I have a sensor stuck to my skin (on my arm) and swipe a meter over it from time to time. It gives me a reading of my blood glucose plus an arrow showing me which way it is going, up, down or stable, and a graph of how my blood sugar has been over the last few hours. Here's a picture of my reading just now. I try and keep the line within the blue band. The Libre has helped type 1 diabetics get their blood sugar under much better control, and is beginning to be available on the NHS. (At present I do not qualify for the libre, as my control is quite good, so I buy it myself. It is quite expensive at £100 per month!)
I always carry a blood sugar meter and hypo treatments, especially when walking the dog!
Low Carbohydrate diets
Many diabetics are finding that a low-carbohydrate diet helps, and some type 2 diabetics have been able to reverse their disease with this diet plus exercise. I have been trying to eat low-carb, but it is difficult! I avoid starchy food such as potatoes, rice and pasta, and limit the amount of bread I eat. No cake, sweets or biscuits as a general rule!
It has been an emotional rollercoaster. From shock at first diagnosis that I have a life long medical condition, to fear about the future and the complications, to sheer desperation that I can’t seem to get my blood sugar levels right, and depression for the relentless slog of having to think about it all the time.
However, after 4 years I am getting used to the daily slog, and realise that there are worse diseases to have! I can continue my life reasonably normally, I still exercise, I still drive, I can still do all my crafts. I am grateful for that, and that Insulin was discovered and it keeps me alive. I am grateful too that I became diabetic in my 50s and haven’t had it all my life. It must be really hard if you have a small child with type 1 diabetes.
Do please let me know in the comments if you have any questions and I’ll try to answer them. I don’t claim to be an expert, but it’s amazing how much I do know about the disease now!
Saturday, 15 September 2018
Feeling all grown-up!
My most recent sewing is this shirtdress Simplicity 8014.
A shirtdress always looks crisp and smart don't you think? So much so that I feel all grown-up when I wear this one! I have wanted to make one for some time. I did make the Collette Hawthorn a few years ago, but it is sadly too small now.
This one has a loose fitting bodice, pleated into the waistband. I added the gathers at the yoke by cutting the back wider. I cut a size 16 for my narrow shoulders, tapering out to a size 20 (eugh!) at the waist. I did make the dress quite a bit shorter than the pattern, as I ran out of fabric! The fabric is from Ditto Fabrics in Brighton, bought several years ago, when I decided that I ought to have a 'stash' of fabric. That wasn't the best idea I ever had, as I don't love all the fabrics in my 'stash' now. In fact, I was a bit dubious about this ditzy print, as I am hankering after the big blowsy prints now. But all is well now as I love this dress! I am looking forward to trying it with boots and a cardigan in the cooler weather.
I am not sure if you see the buttons agains the busy print, but I decided to use the wong side of some pearly buttons. It adds to the vintage vibe of the dress.
A shirtdress always looks crisp and smart don't you think? So much so that I feel all grown-up when I wear this one! I have wanted to make one for some time. I did make the Collette Hawthorn a few years ago, but it is sadly too small now.
This one has a loose fitting bodice, pleated into the waistband. I added the gathers at the yoke by cutting the back wider. I cut a size 16 for my narrow shoulders, tapering out to a size 20 (eugh!) at the waist. I did make the dress quite a bit shorter than the pattern, as I ran out of fabric! The fabric is from Ditto Fabrics in Brighton, bought several years ago, when I decided that I ought to have a 'stash' of fabric. That wasn't the best idea I ever had, as I don't love all the fabrics in my 'stash' now. In fact, I was a bit dubious about this ditzy print, as I am hankering after the big blowsy prints now. But all is well now as I love this dress! I am looking forward to trying it with boots and a cardigan in the cooler weather.
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Cold Shoulders!
During the hot weather a few weeks ago, I decided to try out the popular 'cold shoulder' look. I had not done so previously because being type 1 diabetic, I have a blood sugar sensor stuck to my arm, and I am rather self conscious of it, not wanting it to be on show. I actually bought a couple of tops in the sale at H&M and realised that in actual fact, the lower sleeve hid the sensor quite well.
So, this pattern was sitting in my stash, and then Laura at More Sewing got this fabric in - blue and white stripes with flamingos! Perfect for my top! This fabric is sold out now, but have a look here, at her other lovely jersey fabrics.
I had to go out and buy white trousers specially, but managed to find some in the sale at Peacocks. I rather like the little bow at the ankle.
I love the top! But I hadn't realised how difficult 'cold shoulder' tops are to wear. The 'sleeves' ride up all the time, and the front edge kind of strangles me, so I am always pulling it down. Consequently, I am not sure how much wear I will get it out of it, but it is nice to wear out on summer evenings. Shame the hot weather has left us now!
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