Merchant & Mills bag {Sewing}

There was a preview on the MiH facebook page as soon as it was finished (I just had to share) and then it went for an outing on Saturday... So let me formally present my (currently) favourite tote - all Made in Home! 

Well sort of... The bag came as a kit. I am usually not one to buy things in a kit - fabrics all cut up, and all notions provided (except the thread). It leaves little room for changes, and I do love to be able to modify things and make it my own. But I fell in love with the bag when I saw it on the Merchant & Mills website - and to be honest, there is nothing I would change. I may make a slimmer version now that I have this one, but that is it. I love the simplicity of it, and the fact that it can go with any outfit I have - and can take everything I owe.. 

So what to say... it comes in a very cute packaging - I thought that was a very nice touch. The pattern/tutorial is very comprehensive, including pictures as well as well-written instructions. 

It took me 2/3 hours - one of Baby MiH's long nap basically (could not believe it when he kept on sleeping). It is all cut for you and you are told what to do - that saves a lot of time! It is made out of oilskin fabric (that you can buy by the yard on the website), with a canvas lining. I had a problem with the gusset - not sure whether it is me or the size of it, but as far as the overall result is concerned it did not matter.

I learnt quite a lot - if I were to do another tote with straps it would definitely be inspired by this pattern. 

... with an internal pocket... 

This is the perfect summer bag - and at £48.00 - it is not that bad. You do get to keep the pattern, if you wanted to make more of them, in this fabric or others - and yes, I might be thinking of the next one already. 

Mr MiH styling... or showing off his car, I will never know

* This is not a sponsored post - I paid for the kit, and just happened 

to love it and wanted to share it with you*

Just chilling...

For a week in France with that view... We should be fine. 

Have a good week everyone!

How to Sunday - The lazy way to change your serger thread colour {Dressmaking}

So once I decided to make all the seams of the Breton butterfly top red, it also meant changing the colour thread of my serger - boohoo. Well, I am a bit of a novice when it comes to my serger and when I look at the diagrams it is all hieroglyphs as far as I am concerned. I could have really done it in white (so easy, all threaded) - but it was too late, I had it in my head that it would be in red.

Just to let you know, I was taught this quick way to do it - but I had never done it by myself, on my own - I had a vague memory how the different steps...

1. Snip the thread above the machine on all four spools - go on, don't worry it will be fine.
2. Replace your old thread with the new cones, and bring the new colour through the thread guide.

3. Tie the old color to the new color.  

4. Pull the thread through gently - gently is the operative word here. I pulled my looper threads separately from the needle threads, but I don't think it matters - it is just easier.

5. For the left & right needle threads, don't pull the knots through the needle eyes (I couldn't). Snip the threads and re-thread both needles with the new colour.
6. Off you go - funky seams all the way!

Cooters End Lane

Mixing (my) handmade and high street... 

Wearing: Top, Made in Home (blogged here); Bag, Made in Home (not blogged yet); Scarf: Accessorize; Jeans: New Look: Sunglasses bought in France 

Breton butterfly top {Le Challenge #3}

Here is my take on this month's theme - maritime - a feminine version of the Breton top. The pattern is from a Japanese book in French. Although as with other Japanese sewing books, the information is minimal, and relies on very good diagrams. I managed to make one so I am sure you can too. 

I did make a quick muslin first - to understand the construction, but also check the length of it. It seemed to be on the short side in the pictures. I am glad I made a muslin, I found out that the sleeves were a bit large, and that I wanted a bit more room in the body of the top.  

Pattern: C-Top from Exclusivement Feminin

Fabric: lightweight jersey (from my local John Lewis in Welwyn Garden City)

I did not change much. I made the size L (I am a size 12/14 in the UK, EU42). I added 1 cm to the seam allowance, I added 2 cm to the length seam allowance, and I did not use any seam allowance for the sleeves (to make them slightly shorter). However I reduced the 'larger' size at the end after trying the top a few times.  The neckline is therefore a bit deeper than it would have been. 

The neckline is made according to the pattern, but it was really fiddly. Next time I will change the way I do it. 

The seams are red, adding a bit of fun. You also see the seams of the butterfly sleeves when you wear it so it was worth thinking about the seams. 

It took no time at all in the end - which I am still surprised at considering it looks quite complicated. It is a great top for the summer - and is that little bit more dressy than my usual Tshirts. 

Next time, I will probably not go for stripes, the matching is quite complicated - especially if you keep decreasing the size. At least these were small stripes and to a certain extent I think it matters less (or so I am telling myself)... 

Zingy berry cake {Recipe}

I am about to go to France - and more scarily going to be in a swimsuit every day and all I can think about is cake - typical right! The only thing to do in these circumstances is just make one - there is no point resisting, better get it out of my system. 

Here is a fresh, full of berries cake. As you can see from the pictures (and these are the best) this is really looking homemade - no fancy styling, more an every day cake than 'I have people for tea' cake. 

You will need (for 12) - for those interested this a 5 points/slice cake. 

• 200 g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 75 g caster sugar
• 100 g blueberries + 75 g of raspberries (you can adjust this according to your own taste)
• zest of 1 unwaxed lemon (or vanilla extract if you are not keen on the lemon taste)
• 2 large eggs
• 150 g low fat natural yoghurt
• 2tbsp skimmed milk
• 50 ml sunflower oil

Lemon icing

• 100g icing sugar
• 4 tsp fresh lemon juice

How to make it

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C/Fan. Line your tin with some greaseproof paper. 
2. Sift the flour and bicabornate of soda into a large bowl and stir in the sugar, blueberries and lemon zest. Make a well in the centre.
3. Beat the eggs with a large whisk until smooth, then beat in the toghurt, milk and oil until well combined. Stir into the flour mixture with a large spoon until very lightly mixed. 
4. pour into the tin. bake in the centre of the oven for 25/30 minutes - check with your knife that it is cooked in the middle. Transfer it to a wire rack and leave it to cool. 
5. To make the lemon icing, mix the icing sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth and runny. Using a spoon, drizzle over the cake and leave to set for 30 minutes before serving.  

If I am honest, it is not as good as a full fat lemon drizzle cake - BUT it is very satisfying  and moist, and with one slice you do feel happy. I suppose I am always happy when there is cake!

Pull Isa - English version Part I {Knitting}

I am still working on the Pull Isa - and getting to the crucial point of preparing the sleeves... I think I am going to modify the pattern here as well, but I am not sure how to go about it. However I want my final garment to be nearer to the original inspiration for this knit.

La Poule's version is much looser and of course less structured. I feel that my tighter version should have more structure - maybe including a raglan sleeves construction. Anyway it is all in the works at the moment. 

la Poule's version

I thought you would find useful the translation of La Poule's version. I am merely translating here - none of my modifications are included. It is how she has written it. This is only the first part - up to the sleeves. I will work on the second part for next week. 

What you need for a size EU38 (ultra loose)

·       5 skeins of Sweater Spud & Chloe (in Chipmunk) or 750m of a yarn of equivalent thickness

·       5.5 mm circular needles

·       Markers

·       A cable needle

·       A stitch holder

Stitches used:

·      Ribbing: 1x1

·      Cable on 8 stitches, every 10 rows – put 4 stitches on a stitch holder and keep them in front of your knit, knit 4 stitches, place stitches back on left needle and knit them.

·      Confetti stitch (beware you are on circular needles and therefore your purl row is in fact a knitted one) **

Construction:

This is a bottom up knit, knitted in one piece up to the sleeves increase – then the jumper is knitted in two sections – the top front and the top back. The sleeves are attached by grafting. Neckline and sleeves are knitted afterwards – picking up stitches around the neckline and armholes.

Gauge:

She has not knitted one.

Measures:

None

Body of the jumper:

CO184 stitches on 5.5 mm circular needles. Knit in the round (beware of not twisting your stitches). Place a marker to mark the start of the round. Place another marker half way through the row (92 stitches).

Knit 8 rows of 1x1 ribbing

Start the confetti stitch at the front and the back of the jumper, and place the cable stitch in the middle of the front.

On each side of the jumper, she added 2 bands of stockinette stitch of 3 stitches on each side that will structure the jumper. If you decide not to knit them, make sure you adjust the number of stitches.  

Set up row (after ribbing) 

K1, repeat 10 ** of the first row of the confetti stitch, p1, k8 (cable strip), p1, 10 reps ** of first row of confetti stitch, K1, slip marker, K2, 22 repetitions of ** of first row of confetti stitch, k2, slip marker.

The twist is placed at the centre front of the sweater, is surrounded by 1 purled stitch on each side, the rest of the body of the sweater is made up of the confetti stitch except the two stockinette bands on each side.

Knit for 41cm - from the bottom row- in repeating the 4 rows of the confetti stitch and making the cable stitch every 10 rows.

Armhole increases:

It is done over 4 rows (continue to follow the confetti and cable stitches)

First increase:

kfb, repeat ** 10 times of confetti stitch, p1, k8 (cable), p1, 10 reps ** of confetti stitch, kfb the stitch before the marker, slip marker , K1, kfb, 22 repetitions ** of confetti stitch, K1, kfb the last stitch, slip the marker

The next row is normal.  

Second increase: 

kfb, K1, repeat ** 10 times the confetti stitch, p, k8 end (cable), p1, 10 reps ** confetti stitch, K1, kfb, slip marker, k1, kfb, K1, 22 repetitions ** of confetti stitch, K1, kfb, K1, slip the marker

The next row is normal

It is an increase of 8 stitches - 4 sts at the front, 4 sts at the back.

The next part will be start by separating the body in two sections. Then you will start knitting the front whilst the back stitches are on a stitch holder.

Last week I talked about reading Pride and Prejudice... well I decided to watch Colin Firth instead... I can totally talk about Pride and Prejudice now - paid attention to the dialogue especially when Mr Darcy talks. 

Ah Mr Darcy...