Saturday, 15 December 2018

How to make a sequin skirt reblogged from ruffled

I saw this on Google+ and I need to make it 😁
I'm hoping to do a bit more sewing in the new year- so I'm adding this to my project list when I see some suitable fabric.

The original post is from 

https://ruffledblog.com/diy-sequin-maxi-skirt/


I've posted the pics at the end.

What you’ll need:

Fiskars Orange-Handled Scissors


Fiskars Thread Snips


1 yard teardrop sequin mesh fabric in blush


1/2 yard stretch lining


1 yard nude foldover elastic


Matching thread


Making yout DIY Sequin Maxi Skirt

1. Make a pattern

I love this teardrop sequin fabric because it’s a bit stretchy, so making a fitted skirt is a lot easier for someone who doesn’t know make a pattern from scratch like me. I used a maxi skirt I had to make a pattern using butcher paper and added a fishtail like shape to the bottom to give it a mermaid skirt shape.

The other reason why this sequin fabric is a little more forgiving when making a mermaid skirt the first time is that the sequins aren’t as tightly sewn in as the mermaid sequin fabric (the one the sequins flip into a different color) and you can easily remove them for seam allowance using snips.

After diving the depths of the internet researching how to sew sequin fabrics, I came across this post that helped me along the way. Here’s another great project using mermaid sequins!

2. Prepare the fabric

You’ll need to remove the sequins along the seam allowance before sewing your panels. Skipping this part means you’ll run into issues with your needle sewing over the sequins + having a prickly feeling with the skirt sequins poking your skin.

These thread sniks from Fiskars, along with a seam ripper were the tools I used to remove the sequins along the seam allowance. Its pointed tips on the blades offer control when trimming in tight spaces and it gives a clean cut when you trim the ends of your thread. It will also cut yarn, floos and other lightweight materials.

3. Assembling Your Pattern Pieces and Sewing Sequin Fabric

Whenever you sew stretchy fabric, you’ll need to use a zigzag stitch. I also used the walking foot attachment to make sure the fabric wouldn’t move around while stitching.

You will sew the skirt and lining sepaterely. Starting with the skirt, flip both panels so they face each other as if they were inside out. Sew along your seam allowance (1/2″) on both sides.

To make the lining, I simply sewed a short tube skirt with stretch lining fabric. The length of mine was a little above the knees, so the length will vary depending how tall and how long you want it to be. Sew 1″ hem on the bottom. If you don’t have a serger like me, you can use an edge foot attachment which usually comes with your machine accessories

4. Adding Fold Over Elastic

This is super easy once you try on a piece of scrap fabric! FOE – fold over elastic – comes with a visible line in the middle, which is where (yup) you fold over the fabric.

Cut your foldover elastic to the same length as your skirt circumference and sew the ends together.

Align the lining skirt and the sequin skirt still inside out. I ran a wide stitch to hold both skirts together with a basting stitch, leaving both ends with long tails.

Place the skirt and the fold over elastic under it and lower the walking foot. Gently pull the elastic as you’re sewing around the whole skirt. Flip your skirt right side in and with your foldover elastic, align the skirt with FOE in the center. You sew FOE actually twice: there’s the inside stitch, which is zig zag; and the edgestitch for the “front” of the skirt.

Friday, 14 December 2018

Sunrise on the way to work

I can't believe it is still 8 days until the shortest day! It's so dark in the mornings now!
It was so cold and dark this morning that Marley wouldn't get out of our bed to have her breakfast!

It's been a busy but productive day at work. The office is so quiet. I guess people are taking time off to get themselves ready for the big day (11 days to go!)

I won some sparkling wine on the Christmas raffle whilst I wasn't at work yesterday.  So that was a good surprise.

Ray had her Christmas do in reading today, but came back early because the food was awful. Mum and I met her in town for fancy hot chocolate at second cup.
And then we went to the panto!
😁🎄

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

Gin bottle lamp

At the steam Christmas fair they were selling lights to make your own fairy light bottle lamp... So I made it my mission to finish my fancy gin from jenni.
I think it's very festive.

Sunday, 9 December 2018

Lydiard park

Tracey injured her foot almost a week ago falling down the stairs at work, so has been stuck in going stir crazy.
So we went to Lydiard park for a change of scene and then we made a super fancy home made pizza.

Gloucester

On Saturday, I went to Ray's for a craft day.
She wanted to ice her Christmas cake. And I was asked to crochet some items for a raffle at work for the night shelter. Initially I wasn't sure anyone would actually want to win any of my crochet wares, but several people have since told me that if they don't win a scarf they'll bring me the wool to make them one. So I guess they'll be acceptable prizes

We are homeowners

Yesterday we completed our house purchase.
😁😁🏠
We are now home owners!

Monday, 3 December 2018

The updated loft

So, today was supposed to be building control sign off day.
But today, once again, it didn't go to plan.

So last time the only thing that could be signed off was the window.
Today the window was the issue- so the landlady had to build a structure to support it to stop it from escaping.

We try again for building control sign off tomorrow....

Southampton

Argh, sooo many train delays! It took forever to get to Southampton today! I've never been so relieved to see the clock tower before.
I had hoped to get here early enough to see the Christmas markets but the trains had other ideas.

I'm chilling in my hotel room now watching Nadia on the TV eating hotel Chocolat mulled wine truffles procured at reading station.
Even my free drink token couldn't tempt me to walk downstairs again.

Work presents!

Sunday, 2 December 2018

Christmas at Steam

Today I worked at Steam, doing the storytelling as part of Santa's grotto.

It was exhausting, but really fun. I'm feeling very festive.

I got some goodies from the Christmas fair there too. 😁

Saturday, 1 December 2018

Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Liothyronine- article from the telegraph

Ok, so this was in the telegraph, but I'm going to ask about it at my next GP appointment.
I will post about what they say.

Patients suffering from thyroid conditions are being routinely abandoned to gain weight because NHS bosses refuse to pay for unnecessarily expensive life-changing drugs, a report has found.

An investigation commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care reveals potentially thousands of patients are being left to battle excess weight as well as diabetes, depression and heart problems because of the back-door rationing.

Between one and two in every 100 people in the UK suffers from an underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, an endocrine system disorder where the thyroid gland does not produce enough of the hormones needed to regulate metabolism.

Around 20 per cent of these require liothyronine, which costs less than 16p per pill to manufacturer but which until last year the NHS had been paying £9.22 for.

The new report found evidence that local healthcare commissioners are refusing to pay for the medication, despite national guidance stipulating that they should.

It means patients are being forced to endure the life-changing consequences of untreated hypothyroidism or pay for the drug themselves.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, who campaigns for better treatment for thyroid patients, said: “It’s not acceptable that vulnerable people are getting caught up in something that should have easily been avoided."

The report, which relied on interviews with more than 400 patients and was conducted by a consortium of charities, has been passed to national NHS leaders.

Last year liothyronine appeared in a NHS England consultation which considering whether to cease payment for various drugs and treatments.

In the end it was decided the medication should continue to be funded, however the report speculates that local leaders may have taken advantage of the uncertainty to introduce their own rationing.

Dr Krishna Chatterjee, Professor of Endocrinology and president of the British Thyroid Association said: “The current uncertainty, with liothyronine-treated individuals either being denied ongoing prescriptions or needing to source the treatment themselves at their own cost, seems very much against patients’ interests.”

Marley's big adventure

Because of the building work that starts tomorrow, Marley has been sent on a mini break to my parents.
Traff has gone to stay with them too, to keep an eye on Marley.

So far she's really enjoyed exploring their house. Only 10 minutes under the sofa on arrival! 😂

Cambridge

Today I went on a work adventure to the INI.
It's very rainy in Cambridge. My shoes are full of water!

Monday, 26 November 2018

Gloucester

Today marks the beginning of a very busy and chaotic week.
The loft is being ripped out on Wednesday and Thursday. The process required for this to happen is extremely drawn out.

Over the weekend we emptied the loft, and stored everything in the front room. Today I took Therese to stay with Ray in Gloucester, so that we could move the lift things into Jenni and Therese's room.

The house is looking surprisingly empty and feeling very quiet!

It's been a long night of driving about and carrying boxes, but it's been worth it for these two views!

Gloucester cathedral and our street. It's so cold that you can see the stars. And the moon dog effect around the street lights.
I spent all of last week complaining it's too warm for Christmas. But I take it back now! Definitely cold enough!

Sunday, 25 November 2018

Family history day!

Today my Dad and I drove to Nottingham to meet with his second Cousin, Amanda.

She's been tracing back our family tree and was able to tell us loads about our ancestors. Definitely a few characters!

She also had a ton of old photos which I'm going to upload here!