sewing Lessons for the Children

Today being Saturday, it is the day the Children come to sew.

Although today we didn't get much sewing done. We were choosing fabrics etc to make a sewing machine cover. Influenced by this months issue of Love Sewing and Simply Sewing. 

This picture is of the start to one little girls  "caravan" 

Eventually they will be appliqués together then of course the rear and the sides will be created, before assembling it all together into an incredible cover. 

2016 Changes

AHappy New Year!

Where does the time go?

Running the shop has been full time, and my blog has suffered rather than been improved on.

I have managed to update my website somewhat but I still struggle to update things. 

I do have a running commentary going on on MSE website, which has become my haunt over the last 9 years. However that is more about my life then my making.

I'm thinking of changing my blog to be more about life, as the shop work means that I am not making much anymore.

I'm challenging myself to save the scraps from the jobs we alter in the shop and see what I can make with them. Could be interesting, or a complete failure. 

Time will tell. 

Meanwhile here are a few things that I did do this last few months

Lampshades

Thermal bags

More bags

Recovered chairs

Rebuilt evening dresses

Even more bags

Made coatumes

More costumes

Knickers!

Egyptian gods

and bunting!

All since September. 

So actually that's not so bad as I thought.

1st Anniversary/Birthday for Mooloo's the Shop!

I can hardly believe that we have been trading for 12 months already!

The time has flown by. 

Here is to the next 12 months.

Changes are coming at the shop, tomorrow I am dismantling the clothing section on the middle floor, so we can make a bigger changing room, and the seamstresses can have more space.

Then we will consider the clothes, and will possibly be opening a dress agency instead. 

Tip of the Day - how to make a TuTu

http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/how-to-make-a-tutu-007543/

The National Sewing Circle is an American site full of Video's- etc

You will need ribbon the size of the child's waist, plus 24" for tiying. Then strips of tulu twice the finished length.

You then literally tie the tule to the ribbon. 

Here they use a yard stick to make it easier to work with and then remove the stick once at the required length.

Simple and actually a no sew project!

Mini Knicker Course

This Morning I taught my class of ladies how to make a pair of Knickers. Always a fun and popular little course.

These were the demo pair I made. Although I didn't have any pretty knicker elastic to use. 

In the afternoon we had a few ladies looking for remnants, and then a one to one lesson with another lady.

All in all a good day. 

Yesterday I had a meeting with a Fabric Sales Man, and have ordered £500 worth of fabrics, by the bolt, to sell in the shop. So I need to work on my website so I can also sell on line. 

The Workshop

At Mooloo's shop, I am lucky to have three rooms. All one ontop of the other, however many people only see the ground floor where I work most of the time. 

But if you join me for a sewing lesson then you come to the top floor, where you will find my favourite place, the workshop. Here is where my other machines are, where my pupils, young and old come to improve their sewing skills. 

Where I keep some of my fabric stash, and escape to do the bigger jobs. 

It is quite different from when I started last Autumn! 

Sewing Patterns

Well Mooloo's is evolving.

In September it was me, one desk and lots of ambition.

Now it is me, A part time reception/assistant, two part time sewing ladies.

Two desks, three filing cabinets full of sewing patterns, and a workshop full of beautiful remnants and about 8 sewing machines and 2 overlockers. Oh and a floor full of Nearly New Clothing for everyone!