Taking Stock #2

Well, Taking Stock #1 went down much better than I expected! Thank you all so much for your comments. I’m in two minds whether to change up the image each time. What do you think? For now, I’ve decided to stick with the same one, especially as I don’t have a new one that’s nice.

Anyway, some great content has been cropping up over the interwebs and such over the past month so without further ado…

Swoon

• In September, Sewaholic announced a range of athletic-inspired patterns with their Vancouver collection. I’m particularly crushing on Seymour Jacket (stop it! You’ve barely started the Minoru Jacket yet woman) and the Fraser Sweatshirt.
• I’ve seen a few versions of the True Bias Southport Dress but Mary of Idle Fancy’s version has to be my favourite! How gorgeous is the fabric?!
• Being a sucker for small wildlife on navy fabric, Amy of Almond Rock’s Sew Over It Vintage Shirt Dress is bloomin’ beautiful! That mustard collar is divine.
• Not being a massive fan of gingham, I surprised myself with how much I loved Handmade Jane’s Gingham Agnes Top, using some jersey from Girl Charlee UK. I really must suck it up and make something with jersey! It’s becoming ridiculous. Also see Jane’s post about 10% off at Girl Charlee UK until the end of October.

Blog Talk

• Martina of LaDulsaTina‘s post Debunking 5 fears and myths about sewing. Having only been sewing for 2 years or so, I can still remember what it was like to be completely unaware of the craft as well as having some misconceptions about it. I’m very keen to dispel these myths and fears, and would love to know more people personally who sew. I’d even let them come round my house and have a go on my machine! I do think The Great British Sewing Bee and the make-do-and-mend attitude have helped with making it ‘cooler’ to the general populous. Thankfully, I wasn’t judgemental about dressmaking as my mom and nan used to sew lots, and I used to do cross-stitch. And because I like to think I’m not judgemental. Anyway, a recommended read!
• Leigh of Clueless Seamstress is one of my favourite sewing bloggers so when she tweeted that she’d written a post about love and dating, I clicked through instantly. And it was a great read! She talks about her reaction to a podcast about online dating, being single and love. On my own personal blog, I’ve written about my experience with online dating (hopefully in a funny way) and identified with a lot of this!

Learn

• When Sewaholic released the Oakridge Blouse and Granville Shirt earlier in the year, I placed my order straight away. I’ve sewn a couple of Oakridges but still not tackled the Granville yet, because I’m pretty sure I’ll have to make several adjustments, and because I quite fancy making it in plaid/check. Meaning Tasia’s recent posts about plaid matching with the Granville Shirt were immediately pinned! Check out her posts on what to cut on the bias, cutting tips and matching the sleeve placket.
• In the same vein, Katy and Laney have a great tutorial on stripe matching.

Community & News

• For UK sewists, Lidl are selling sewing machines and overlockers again on Monday 12 October 2015: Singer Brilliance 6180 Sewing Machine (£119) and Singer Overlock 14SH754 Sewing Machine (£129). I can personally vouch for the overlocker as I bought it last year (getting to the supermarket for when they opened at 8am!) which is worth ~£250 and a good overlocker. They usually sell out fast so get down there early!
• Hopefully many of you saw the newly launched sewing community website: The Fold Line. If not, go check it out! It has a great search function for patterns, a pattern review feature, and social network and media aspect. You can find my profile here.
• Again, for those in the UK, today marked the start of The Knitting and Stitching Show, taking place 7 – 11 October at Alexandra Palace in London. And I shall be attending this Sunday 11 October! Is anyone else? Holla!
• The Sewing Directory’s Ultimate list of independent pattern designers

Listen

• Colette Patterns released their first sewing podcast episode of Seamwork Radio, which I really thought was great and cannot wait for the next installment!
• I came across another podcast: Limetown, which has been described as the fictional version of Serial and in mid-September was #1 on the US iTunes podcast chart. It’s only two episodes in at the moment, so the jury is still out for me but I’ve enjoyed it thus far.

Read

• Having finally finished 700+ page Steve Toltz’s A Fraction of the Whole (which I thoroughly recommend), I am on to my next book club read: The Chimes by Anna Smaill. Sadly, I’m not particuarly enjoying it, or even understanding it, at the moment. Hopefully it will get better!
• The most recent issue of Love Sewing magazine (#19) has some great projects, columns and free patterns. I’ve already made up one of the Simple Sew Sophia Top. Anyone else?

Watch

• Tonight featured some brilliant BBC television in the shape of The Great British Sewing Bee Finale (yay for the winner!) and Doctor Foster, which if anyone hasn’t seen this, please watch!
• A third video from Leigh of Cluessless Seamstress, a fabric haul from Goldhawk Road in London.