Finished Object - Nora Jumper

A few weeks ago I took a five day shift off work to use up some of my holiday, and had a long list of sewing plans that didn't quite all come to fruition. But one of the things I did make, was a Nora Jumper. Pattern by Tilly and the Buttons.

Shortened Body

I made it with some fabric I had been given, the same as my Heyday Dungarees. I don't know much about the fabric, but it does have about 20% stretch and was lovely and cozy. So given I had the Nora pattern, and it calls for fabric with 20% stretch, I decided to give it a go, and this was my first time working with stretch fabric.

I went for the full length version, of both the body and the sleeves, as I had enough fabric to make it. But after wearing it for a day I decided that the body was too long for me and I shortened it. I made it almost entirely to pattern although I hand-stitched the pieces where I had to do top-stitching. This was because I didn't have a thread that looked nice on the fabric, and whilst I used the colour that most closely matched the fabric, it wasn't quite close enough that I liked it. So the collar, cuffs and hem were hand stitched with a whip stitch, only picking up the fabric on the inside of the jumper. Whilst you can't see any of the stitching, this doesn't make it invisible, but I am pretty happy with it. 

This jumper has already made a fair few appearances in Me-Made-May and I am really enjoying it. So I may even make a Nora tee soon as well! 

Before Alteration

WIP Wednesday - Peppermint Purple SAL

Now blackwork is something I'm quite new to, and didn't really know anything about until I saw someone I follow on Instagram post about this exact Stitch-A-Long (SAL) and I decided to get involved. 

Blackwork uses backstitches to create a pattern on a fabric, which can be, and usually is, cross-stitch aida. Which is what I used, as I had some of it in my fabric stash, I also decided to try and use leftover embroidery floss that I have from when I had done a sampler for the birth of my Nephew. So far I am really enjoying it, even though I hate backstitching my actual cross-stitch pieces! XD

The SAL is free to anyone who wants to join and is running all year long. Every week a new box is released, and on some weeks there are a couple of options for you to customise your own work. There is a lovely facebook page for support if you need it, and even though we are halfway through the year it really isn't too late to start. 

It would be great to say that I had been keeping up every week, but that is far from the truth. I tend to miss out on a week or two, and then catch up on a day off. As the boxes are quite small they are doable in an hour, and a couple doesn't take too long. I find this is a nice no pressure SAL and by the end of the year will have a lovely piece to frame and put up somewhere.