My Haul - Walthamstow, Saturday 3rd October 2015

I had the pleasure of visiting the bargain fabric-centre that is Walthamstow last Saturday in a great meet-up organised by the lovely Marilla.

Needless to say I was helpless to resist the wares and came away with quite a few purchases :-)!

There was a fair sized group of ladies in attendance - including Rachel & Kate from the new sewing community site thefoldline.com! If you haven't checked it out yet, then please do.

Here's my haul from the day -->

Saeed's Fabrics: Grey Rib-Knit 1.5m (£6.00/m).

Fabric Store (No. 80 High Street): Dark-Grey Cotton/Lycra Jersey 1.5m (£2.00/m), 3m each of Moss-Green and Navy light-weight woven cotton 3m (£1.00/m), and Navy & White Striped Ponte 1.5m (£2.00/m).

Market Stall: 4x Standard Zips (Blue, Green & Yellow, £1 for 4), and 1x Coral Thread spool (40p).

Beads & Buttons (No. 138): 4x 10" Beige Standard Zips (4 for £1), 3x 14" Beige Standard Zips (3 for £1), and Coral Thread spool 50p.

Fabric Market (shop at No. 134): Medium-weight, dark stretch Denim 6m (£5.00/m).

 

The Textile Centre (No. 223-225): 
Lots of light-weight printed Viscose's, all £2.20/m - 1.5m each of: Blue & Hearts, Black & Birds, Blue & Birds and *Aqua Blue Cameras. (*I also picked up 3m on behalf of Vicki too.)

I also got a quick pic in of me, my infamous pink-trolley and Saeed (of 'Saeed Fabrics' shop no less).

On the day I wore one of my latest me-mades, my 6th version of the 'Deer and Doe' FREE 'Plantain' T-Shirt pattern. And, yes I know - I've been a bad, bad blogger - I should've posted about the 5x other Plantain tee that I've made already (and the 7th & 8th that I finished earlier this week too haha!). I love this pattern it's definitely a TNT (tried 'n' true) one for me now!

Happy sewing peops!

Fabric Malaise - Finding A Cure in Walthamstow

When the Stashitis gets too bad, *Fabric Malaise sets in, whence upon a Sewist must gather with others of her kind - there to unload the burden of her overflowing stash and release them into the arms of a fellow sufferer.

So, when you can't find a cure in Boots the Chemist what are you to do? People - I give you the Meet-Up! Unshackle yourself from your woes, and have some fun, and that's just the ticket for raising your spirits and inject some much needed Mo back into your Jo ;)!

Luckily, for fans of the fabric the wonderful Stevie organised a fab get together for us yesterday in a cold but welcoming Walthamstow (a place I am not unfamiliar to the enticing charms of LOL!)

The troops gathered at the entrance to Walthamstow Central tube station for 11am, then we all set of quick march to the Marrakech cafe on the High Street.

Much fabric, notions, magazines and patterns exchanged hands - but this was no clandestine liaison - rather it was a light-hearted and uplifting of like minded sewing-souls. And, whilst the weather was cold outside the atmosphere inside was exceptionally warm and inviting :)

As per my post late on Friday evening, I had over 60 items to swap - yup I had *it bad peops LOL! 20 pieces of fabric had been dutifully folded and placed lovingly into my pink trolley - but I knew that that was an awful lots of fabric to swap (hehe). So, to help my fellow Sewists decide what they'd like to take home with them I made a swatch-sheet with the width and length of every piece. Then, all anyone had to do was to pass the sheets around and jot-down their name next to the piece they fancied - simples!

Tilly and Jane eye up one of the trims & habby stalls on the market

Only 3 pieces of now ex-stash fabric didn't go home with anyone - but they instead were gathered together with anything else the group didn't want to keep and I dropped them off to the Sue Ryder charity shop just down the road from the cafe.

Stevie, Jane and Helen - enjoying the banter with the guy on the fabric stall outside of Sainsbury's

The day was filled with so much fun and laughter (see more pics here on Karen and Tilly's blogs), we discussed the potential fibre content of the wares on the man-outside-Sainsbury's-stall (perhaps a burn-test is in order - charts here and here folks?) and there as much praise for the Mathilde Blouse pattern too (I've bought mine already :) )

Ahhhh... the allure of the "From £2 per metre" table of knit/jersey fabric in Saeed's shop!

My personal acquisitions on the day were: 4 gorgeous pieces of fabric - a medium-blush pink polka dot fabric (courtesy of Zoe), some warm toned light-yellow baby- corduroy from Tilly, some soft deep purple knit from Stevie, and a lovely printed medium-dark blue denim from Karen. I was also the fortunate recipient of a lovely top pattern from Shivani - Simplicity 6808. 

Items I went on to purchase were 2 of cones of overlocker (serger) thread, some zips (for some reason I have a tonne of invisible zips in my stash but like zero normal zips? weird!), some blue and cream thread spools, some more Singer branded sewing-machine oil for my Mum (what can I say when it comes to parts/accessories for her machine my Mum is a brand-name snob LOL!). Plus, 2 metres of cotton fabric (off-white with a green pattern - perfect match for the walls in my sewing room.. so how could I resist?). I was pretty proud that I went out with 20 pieces of fabric, and only came home with 5 (yay!).

Some of us (naming no names) arrived empty-handed, yet acquired so many pieces in le-grande-swap that they had to purchase a brand new trolley on the market in order to make it round the fabric stores afterwards! (See... trolleys are your friend folks - and NOT merely an excuse to buy even more stuff hehe!)

Persons now [temporarily] relieved of their *Fabric Malaise symptoms are (in alphabetical order (with the name of their blog too):

Stevie - Beebee's Vintage Dress

Ally - London Calling

Claire (me, LOL!) - Sew, incidentally...

Dibs - Dibs and the Machine

Helen - Sew Stylish

Jane - Handmade Jane

Julia - the secret life of seams

Karen - Did you make that?

Shivani - pins & needles

Tania - Feel the fear... and sew it anyway

Tilly - Tilly and the Buttons

Zoe - So, Zo... What do you know?

Zora (sans blog :) )

(Did I miss anyone out? Please let me know!)

After everyone else had departed for the station, I hung around and popped into the Lidl and picked up a set of 2 seat-pads, and a pair of shelf-baskets for my sewing room too.

I just want to point out for the record, that I don't have a fabric problem and that my heart does not palpitate and my eyes do not go all a squergly in close proximity to fabric . Also, I did not just have my fingers crossed when I typed that last sentence ;)!


*A ghastly affliction, usually caused by the over accumulation of fabric in one's stash. Notable symptoms include the squirrelling away of new acquisitions into secret corners of the home away from the inquisitive and enquiring eyes of family and friends, or the sudden loss of floor-space in every room. Sufferers are often place known to hang onto pieces of fabric for prolonged periods of time, before coming the realisation that they a) no longer like the piece, b) feel it no longer suits them, or c) believing that it will never realise it into an actual garment now, or indeed if ever. Symptoms may be alleviated via the sharing, swapping, or donation of existing fabrics with other Sewists. A last resort is the removal of excess items of fabric to the local charity shop / thrift store / or Ops shop. The Malaise is sadly a life-long chronic condition, the symptoms of which may ebb and flow - dependant upon numerous factors, including (but not limited to): the availability of financial funds, limits of storage space, and the co-operation of an understanding and sympathetic spouse.



 

Yup It's Over 60... Items That Is - Ready To Swap!!

20 pieces of fabric
1 book by Claire Shaeffer
2 Cath Kidston booklets
16 Zips
2 Plastic Pin Boxes (Vintage an in need of a clean?)
10 small spools of thread
2 Silicone Finger Guards (Pressing Aids)
6 Pieces of Single-Fold Bias Binding
2 copies of SEW Hip Magazine

err.... I think that's it folks!

 

Slide show - of all the goodies below :)

 

These are all destined to find new homes at tomorrow's meet-up in Walthamstow... maybe you'll be taking one of them home with you :) ?

My pink trolley is groaning at the seams - but the sewing room is breathing easier now (hehe).

What Happens in Walthamstow - Doesn't Have to Stay in Walthamstow...

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Today was an absolutely fabulous day! The sun may not have been shining bright - but the fun, friendly company of these fabulous ladies more than made up for it!

1. Alana - Lazy Stitching
2. Camilla (no blog, but still lots of fun!)
3. Catherine - Catherine Daze's Blog (Cyberdaze)
4. Claire (me!)
5. Jane - Hand Made Jane
6. Karen - Did You Make That?
7. Kat - Krafty Kat
8. Marie - A Sewing Odyssey
9. Melizza - Pincushion Treats
10. Michelle - Naughty Little Epoch
11. Rachel - House of Pinheiro
12. Rehanon - MissDemeanour
13. Suzy - SuzySewing (Suzy Patterns)
14. Zoe - 'So, Zo...'

Karen eyeing up the swap items on offer

We all met up today from 11.15am onwards at Walthamstow Central Station in North East London. Kat and Marie had even travelled from Leicester to join the fun today! Then a quick route march off down Selbourne Lane - a sideways dip into Willow Walk, then a left onto the High Street had us arriving at our luncheon destination - Ricco's Cafe.

The lovely Manager had reserved the back area for us - and in between gulps of coffee, and bites of bagels we made great use of his cozy space.

We commenced the swap-a-thon proceedings in the [by now] customary fashion:

• Show 'n' tell - taking it in turns per person to quickly talk through the stash donations we had brought along to donate.
• The 1st person takes their pick of the bounty - they select an item from a 2nd person - and they can select from anything on offer.
• That 2nd person now has their turn to select an item.
• Say it's your turn to choose - but you don't fancy anything you can "donate" your picking-turn to another person.
• And, around and around we go!
• Get to a good point where everyone has had a lovely time swapping...
• and then, it's a free for all everyone swapping with whomever else they like!

A weird thing happened mid-lunch a stall-owner from the Market came in and very forwardly approached our little happy gathering to ask if we "...were selling fabric?" as someone had told her about our wee huddle in the back of the cafe. We politely pointed out that "Nope we we just having a fun time getting together and swapping out stuff". She then asked us the visit her stall (of crafty hand made items). She even came by to speak to us again when she saw us out on the street by the fabric stores. Clearly we all had secret invisible crafting homing-beacons inserted under the skin switched to the activate signal... 'cos we've never been a magnetic force for other sewing/crafters before LOL!

At the end of lunch we decided to pool together anything that anyone didn't want to take home with them - and the lovely Zoe kindly ran down the road to the local Age UK charity shop to donate them (so we're still paying-it-even-more-forward with the sewing Karma :)! ).

Sometime after 2pm, we headed a few yards eastwards down the High Street to Saeeds Fabrics (which has recently doubled in size - taking on board the adjacent shopping unit). Many, bags left heavy-in-hand from that store (LOL!).

Then, we were off to Fabric Store, Ribbons (a trims/haberdashers), New Fabric Shops, Sai Fabrics, and Hussains Fabrics.

Me 'n' Rachel in her Cape

Me 'n' Suzy in her Minoru Jacket

It was a lot of fun browsing roll upon roll, of fabric - much starting at only £1/£1.50 per metre! There was a particularly good range of printed knit fabrics in New Fabric Shops. And a few bundles of joy left with us from there!

Some of the ladies came looking with specifics in mind - for instance Rehanon was in search of Quality Street purple lace (but sadly none was to be had). Suzy was on the look out for lovely drapey blouse fabrics. I was searching for some fabric for my Minoru Jacket but couldn't find anything to pull at my heart strings.

After hitting up all the shops east of the junction at Willow Walk, we then did an 180^o degree turn and headed back along the High Street through the market stalls and stopped to visit the 2 fabric stalls outside of the Sainsbury's supermarket (on the South side of the High Street). I also picked up a foam pad to cover and turn into a seat pad for my sewing room from the man nearby, who is only on the market on Saturdays - a result at only £2 for an approx. 15" squared pad!

Camilla considers her fabric options very carefully at the stall outside of Sainsbury's

The Beads and Buttons shop opposite Truro Road then got a good look around it's wools, notions and threads.

Jane then very wisely suggested that we stopped for coffee and cake - so we dropped into Marrakech (No. 154) located just opposite the junction with Erskine Road. Stomachs and energy levels revived we then completed the last leg of our tour de force... the final few fabric and trims stalls; and The Textile Centre store at No. 223.

   

Trims stall browsing the wares

Around 5pm we decided to call it a day, I handed out the muffins and brownies I'd made to everyone (some sweet sustenance to see them safely home) and we all toddled off happy with our new acquisitions!

Speaking of acquisitions here's the lovely stuff I came home with today!

My lovely new goodies!

From top left (clockwise):-
(1) Bought - 2.5m of Grey floral fabric, very drapey for a new blouse/top. Only £2 per metre. For another Scout Woven Tee.
(2) Swap Item - White Polycotton with Black Polka Dots - 1 m of 150cm wide, received from Alana. Possibly for a Sorbetto top.
(3) Swap item - La Mia Boutique pattern magazine from Catherine.
(4) Swap Item - Vintage Pattern by Advance 6660 (Waistcoat, Skirt and Blouse) from Marie.
(5) Swap Item - Pattern by Butterick B5285 (Pleated or Gathered Skirt) from Suzy.
(6) Bought - 3.5m of 3/8" (9mm) wide light beige coloured Grosgrain ribbon (from a trims stall £0.50 the whole length).
(7) Bought - 6m of 2" (5cm) wide white cotton eyelet lace/ribbon (from another trims stall at £0.80 per metre).
(8) Bought - 2.5m of Grey/silver stable knit fabric for a Sewaholic Pattern - Renfrew Top (with cowl). Virtually no stretch to it. £1 per metre!
(9) Swap Item - Vintage Pattern by Maudella 1322 (A-Line skirt with pleat/tuck detail at front waistband) also from Marie.

A Jacket for Spring: Minoru by Sewaholic Patterns, and Adding Pockets

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Well April looms large on the horizon - which means only 2 more weeks until our Walthamstow Swap 'n' Meet up!

Pattern: 1103 - Minoru Jacket (Image Source: Sewaholic Patterns)

I'm hoping to find some great fabric to make my Minrou Jacket by Sewaholic Patterns - I want something medium-thick(ish) in a cotton or blend. Kinda casual fabric in a beige or khaki type colour. Here's hoping that I find it :)

I've already bookmarked all of Tasia's great series of sewalong posts she ran for the jacket - so I'll be able to tackle this soon. Which is a good thing too, as all I have jacket-wise for work is either too thin and light weight, with ¾-length sleeves and only really suitable for Summer; or it's a long woolly coat and winter-weight - so too warm for the nicer weather. Either I freeze or I am to warm. Ergo I need a spring jacket!

But, I definitely need my Minoru to have pockets! There's been some great posts for this already:

Side-seam pockets (via BurdaStyle)

Sophia Sews: Minoru Jacket: Adding Pockets

Patch-pockets with FREE template (from Karen at DidYouMakeThat):

And, this article by Threads Magazine: How to Attach Patch Pockets Without Topstitching (using your machine, not by hand!)

I want nice big pockets for shoving my hands inside it's a toss up between patch-pockets or the ones from Sophia Sews, where she's added-in a new vertical seam between the bottom of the waist and the hemline - and into that inserted in-seam pockets. Hmmmm... maybe I'll do both! Side-seam pockets lined with something flannely / fleecy-stuff to keep my hands warm + patch pockets on-top to dump all my bits 'n' bobs in :D (yay! )

Vintage Sewing Notion - 'Magic Stitcher'
Image Source: eBay #280845028553, from this seller

In the meantime, I've become obsessed with Pinning pictures of tailor tacking gadets (aka speedy / quick / auto stitchers - or even called sewing awls) onto one of my Pinterest boards (so, so addictive LOL!)

Well... If It Was That Good, Let's Do It Again - In Walthamstow!

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Okay, so last Saturday was just too much fun not to do it all again, and soon ;)!

Where we ARE going :) !

So, who's up for another meet-up, swap 'n' shop - this time in Walthamstow, London? The last one I went to there (back in Feb '11) was organised by Karen and it was an amazing time.

I propose we meet up on Saturday 7th April 2012 at Walthamstow Central Station - we can go and have something to eat/drink straight away, swap our little hearts out and then go hit the market stalls and shops! 

NB: The UK Easter Bank-Holiday weekend this year is Friday 6th (Good Friday), and Monday 9th April (Easter Monday).

Whatdoyousay? How can you possibly NOT join in (hehe!)?

                   Place: Walthamstow Central Station (in the ticket hall inside)

                   Date: Saturday 7th April 2012

                   Time: Meet-up from 11.15am till 11.45am

                   Swap-a-thon + Lunch: 12pm - 2.00/2.30pm
                   Market/Shopping: 2.30pm onwards!

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We'll meet up from 11.15am at the ticket hall inside of the station. Then, we'll aim to walk to a cafe/bar (venue as yet to be announced) to start eating an early lunch at roughly 12pm (it won't take too long to walk there I promise!). There, we'll swap, de-stash, chat, eat lunch and make merry until 2.00-2.30pm. Afterwards there'll be plenty of time to visit the lovely bargain-a-cious market stalls and shops.

                      Wanna join in the fun?...

                       If you fancy coming along to this meet-up please email me at:   

                       sew[dot]incidentally[at]yahoo[dot]com 

                       (please mention Walthamstow Meet-Up in the email subject line).
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Maps and mobile phone numbers for contacts on the day itself will be emailed to attendees nearer the time once a list of names has been confirmed.

Will it be wet in Walthamstow?

Wish me lots of fabric-shopping luck today - I'm off to meet up with Karen and her posse of fabric shoppers 'n' sewing bloggers for her Walthamstow Shopping Frenzy !

Walthamstow (postcode E17 - the same name as the band LOL) is a 60min bus ride for me... so I should be safe for the rain for a while!

NOT what we are visiting!

(Image Source: http://www.tvscoop.tv)

Where we ARE going :) !