Bits and pieces...

I've been wanting to have a go at drafting my own patterns for ages now. I'm happy doing so when it's a refashion for a children's garment, but have not had the confidence for a garment for myself. So, when Justine from Sew Country Chick announced her Pattern Making Draft Along, I thought this would be the perfect time to start. Here's what Justine has planned:

• Week One: The basic A line skirt
• Week Two: The basic knit t-shirt
• Week Three: The basic button down shirt
• Week Four: The basic dress
• Week Five and Six: Basic trousers

The trousers and shirts are the ones that particularly interest me. 

Rikka, from Ricochet and Away is running another of her fabulous bi-monthly sew alongs. This month, the theme is Ring Your Neck, with the end result being a scarf. While the northern hemisphere is heading in to Winter, on the other side of the world Summer is almost here. I love wearing scarves for warmth in cold weather and have a ton of them in different colours and fabrics. My daughter, on the other hand, has a lot of different textured, light weight scarves, that she wears in all seasons, to dress up her outfits. I'd like to add a few light weight scarves to my wardrobe.

I've already purchased the fabric for my first dressy scarf and am just working out how I will sew it. This should be quite a quick project (I shouldn't talk too soon... LOL!!!), will be a garment for ME and will be a lot cheaper than buying a similar item.

I'm also joining in with this month's sew along, Stockings of Cheer, run by Kristy, over at Hopeful Threads. Each month, Kristy hosts a new sew along in support of a different cause. November's project is aimed at children who will be in hospital over Christmas. I'll be able to show you what I've made as soon as they're ironed.

Each year I say I'll begin my Christmas sewing / shopping early. Despite my good intentions, I always seem to be in a mad rush in the last few days before Christmas. Hopefully this year will be different. Not only have I made 16 little items for children who will be spending time in hospital over Christmas, I've also started on Christmas sewing for the family. I've finished an outfit to be worn on Christmas Day.

It has lots of ruffles and pleats and is totally girly... an outfit for Christmas, without being too Christmassy. Head on over to the Sew Can She blog, She Sews! to see the whole outfit.

I've started off well, with my Christmas sewing. Let's see if I can keep it up...

... Pam