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12/1/22
That would be a good name for a band “The Odd Bodkins”.
I came across these in my workshop, whilst looking for something else entirely.
No idea where they came from, I don’t recall buying them.
The all silver one is a “binding type bodkin” which can be used to feed elastic through casing, , or any flat ribbon.… Read the rest
07/2/22
It’s February , which means I’m taking part in this Instagram based challenge .
Each day in February @jayneemersontextiles gives a textile related prompt.
You can see some of my efforts so far here
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mcanaraksfabricrecipes2020/
For “day 5. #pleat” I posted some photos of customised skirts I have made in the past, and they got a great reaction.… Read the rest
18/1/22
A customer sent me this photo and asked if the jacket was suitable for customising.
Unlined, 100% cotton, a blank canvas, it was eminently suitable, although I have to admit that I am not overly keen on working with such light coloured garments, because I’m so likely to spill my tea/ get sewing machine oil on them.… Read the rest
18/6/21
I bought this denim coat at a car boot sale sometime last century, I like the shape, but it is lined which limits what I can do to it.
The lining is ripped at the back slit, and I was having a look at it to see how to mend it when before I knew it I had picked up my seam ripper and removed the whole lining!… Read the rest
25/6/21
I bought a jacket online that was described as “size large”, but when it arrived it was a size 14, alas too small for me, you can read all about it here . Today another jacket arrived in the post, this time it does fit, hurrah.
I’m going to embellish it with some of the dyed linens left over from the previous jacket.… Read the rest
17/6/21
You can read the first part of this jacket’s tale here but in a nutshell I transformed these charity shop linens and a jacket off ebay..
into this…..
You can click on any photo to enlarge it…
I really enjoyed working on this one, I’m a bit jealous of the person who ends up wearing it.… Read the rest
10/06/21
Back in October 2020 I wrote…..
“Recently I took part in an Instagram based challenge called September Textile Love or #septtextilelove2020 in Instagram-speak . You can see all of my posts for it here
One of the prompts was “Disappointment” and I wrote this…
“When heavy hints were being given that we might be heading into a 2nd lockdown I decided I needed a project ready to work on if , like the first time, I lost my sewjo.… Read the rest
On 11/3/21 I wrote on Facebook…..
… Read the rest“the only “non-essential” shops I missed when they were closed (except for the lovely shops that sell my buttons and brooches, that is!) was the charity shops, which are now open woohoo! check out this beauty, size UK 22 , unlined, ripe for customisation. I have an inkling that this might be someone’s dream jacket, like the one in this blogpost…https://www.mcanaraks.com/textile-trail/
28/04/21
Unexpectedly, on Sunday, during an unseasonable heatwave, against all odds , I tidied the workbench where I do my sewing, for the first time in probably a year. It’s been piled high with stuff that I had been using to make brooches, scarves and bunting and dangling decorations. Rather than tidy up between jobs I shoved the craftermath further back on the table, creating just enough room to work on my next project.… Read the rest
23/10/20
T’other day I hung one of my handmade scarves over a blouse, for want of a spare hanger, That looks good, I thought, and it gave me an idea to decorate the blouse in the same way I would make a scarf.
I selected some colours of selvedge that I could use and set them aside.… Read the rest
