Bloglovin instagram YouTube facebook twitter
  • Home
  • About
    • About me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Sewing
    • Modern
    • Vintage
  • Knitting
  • Crafts
  • Contact/Sponsor
  • Crafty Pinup

What Abi Makes


No fastening? Loose fit? Multiple style options? The Tilly and the Buttons 'Indigo' smock dress pattern has everything I'm looking for! This simple dress pattern went straight into the shopping basket as soon as it was released. The past couple of dresses I've made have been this loose fitting, babydoll smock style and this one might just be my favourite.

Here's a peek at the pattern:


You can see for yourself the potential of the pattern in the line drawing above. For this version I'm essentially making the bottom left dress. A full length sleeve with a gathered skirt. I haven't sewn pockets on this dress and have gone for the normal gathered skirt instead of the exposed one.

I hacked the skirt slightly as I added a smaller gathered tier to it. I did this by chopping the skirt pattern in half, then cutting an extra piece (eg. bottom tier skirt x 3). 

The fabric is a viscose, you know I can't walk past a ditsy floral on a black background!


Before I get into reviewing the pattern, I just want to quickly mention my photography set up. Since moving out of my parents two years ago, I no longer have my white backdrop set up which my parents forgivingly let me keep up in their dining room. I would take photos there and blog my makes once a week. But fast forward 2 years, that's pretty much impossible. But believe me I've tried! I did set up the backdrop in our flat's kitchen - the only place it would fit, but it's so big and such a faff, I quickly fell out of the habit of doing it.

Personally, I felt like my content suffered because I couldn't take photos how I used to and I've been in a real funk about it. But this is the first set of photos I've taken in our flat for outfit photos on my blog that I feel quite happy with. I know a busy background isn't ideal, but it's my home and I love the collection of stuff we have on our restored mid century ladderax. So going forward this will probably be how I take my snaps and I hope you like the change. 


Let's get into Indigo... 

Honestly there isn't too much to say! It's a simple to sew style, which I would definitely recommend to any beginners our there, so the sewing is nice and straight forward. There's no zip as the dress is pulled on over the head so there's nothing fiddly to contend with. I haven't yet made a version with the exposed gathered skirt, but I would like to. Most of my selfish sewing these days is quick and spontaneous and I know the visible gathers would require a little more concentration and time so I'm waiting for the right moment (and fabric!). 

I made one other version in October with the gathered sleeve tier. Have a snoop on that one HERE.

Fit wise, I have to watch out with a smock style. I'm 5"4 and pretty busty so I need to choose my fit carefully. I like to have the dress fit me snuggly on the bust and I keep the hem quite short. I think this balances me out. Alternatively you could add waist ties to pull you in at the waist if you want to or belt this dress.


Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Tilly and the Buttons 'Indigo' Smock Dress

Fabric: Ditsy Floral Viscose - bought in store at Abakhan. Here's a couple of cute alternatives I've found online HERE, HERE & HERE.

Notions: None.

Sewing time: A couple of hours.

Modifications: I added a gathered tier to the skirt.

Fit: Good. Always tricky with a large bust making a garment with a loose waist as I can easily loose my figure in it. Keeping the size snug and the hem short help balance me out. 

Difficulty: Easy.

Watch out for: Even gathers on the skirt.

Make Again?: Yes! This is my second time making it and my pattern copy will probably get worn down very quickly. 

--

Hack ideas:

  • Add waist ties to the bodice to pull the loose fit in at the waist.
  • Add a tiered skirt (like me!)
  • Add patch pockets instead of in seam ones.
  • Add a Peter Pan collar, like I did on THIS dress.

Overall, Indigo is probably my new favourite sewing pattern. I know it's going to be my new go-to when I have a spare afternoon to sew. It's easy to sew and lazy to fit, my kind of sewing for sure!

I hope you enjoyed the post and found it helpful. I really would recommend it to beginners and beyond and think it's a really nice thing to make with lots of possibilities to make it your own. Again thanks for your patience and understanding with my struggle for blog photos!

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: contains affiliate links.
12/15/2019 2 comments

'Tis the season for gift guides and what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't throw my hat in the ring!  I also enjoy creating mood boards and scouring the internet for cute stuff as its a great way to procrastinate... So here's my Christmas gift guide (but also highly recommended to reference for birthdays, valentines day, weekends, just about any time) for the knitter in your life!

1. Addi Gold Glitter Needles
I have a pair of these, and I'm not going to lie, I chose my current knitting project because it meant I got to use them again. Lovely to hold and to look at!

2. Lauren Aston Designs - LAD Bags
Everything Lauren designs is a winner, but how useful are these LAD bags?

3. We Are Knitters - I Am A Knitter T Shirt
Say it loud and proud!

4. Wool and the Gang - Knitting Kits
You know I love a knitting kit and in my opinion Wool and the Gang have the best ones. Choose from simple scarfs through to cable knit cardigans.

5. Crafty Pinup - The Knitter Pin Bundle
Couldn't do a knitting gift guide without a shout out to my own pin designs! Get my two woolly designs in a 20% off bundle.

6. Paintbox Yarns - Value Pack
I think Paintbox Yarns are a great affordable yarn option and their super chunky is a great dupe for the designer wools. Why not gift a value pack in their favourite shade? The colour choice is amazing!

--

Seriously my all time favourite present to get? A Gift Card. Yep! Honestly I love nothing more than a gift card for one of my favourite shops. Here's a round up of my favourite Gift Cards for knitting shops:


  • Wool and the Gang
  • We Are Knitters
  • Love Crafts
  • Minerva
  • Deramores
  • Abakhan

--

Perhaps send this post over to your gift getters as a not to subtle hint.

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: contains affiliate links.
12/09/2019 No comments

'Tis the season for gift guides and what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't throw my hat in the ring!  I also enjoy creating mood boards and scouring the internet for cute stuff as its a great way to procrastinate... So here's my Christmas gift guide (but also highly recommended to reference for birthdays, valentines day, weekends, just about any time) for the seamstress in your life!

1. Crafty Pinup - Sewing Machine Pin
Here I go again plugging my own stuff, but you've got to admit, a sewing machine makes a pretty cool pin right?

2. Sew Dainty - Mirror Acrylic Scissors Necklace 
Finished with a super sparkly Swarovski crystal, this scissor necklace is a stunner!

3. Tilly & the Buttons - Make It Simple
Very important sewing news! Tilly's next book is available for pre-order and you know it's going to be a best seller.

4. ETO Buttons - Matte Green Flowers
I've been stalking ETO Buttons on Instagram and I've tracked down a UK seller. You'll probably start seeing them everywhere soon though.

5. Ernest Wright & Son - Pink Shears
Dream scissors. End of.

6. Pink Coat Club - Contains Dog Hair Woven Labels
As a family who has a doberman, I need these labels in my life. Check out Joy's other hella cute designs too (yes there's ones for cat people).

--

Seriously my all time favourite present to get? A Gift Card. Yep! Honestly I love nothing more than a gift card for one of my favourite shops. Here's a round up of my favourite Gift Cards for sewing shops:


  • Sew Me Sunshine
  • Like Sew Amazing
  • Material Girl Laura
  • Minerva
  • Abakhan
  • Sewisfaction
  • Tilly and the Buttons

--

Perhaps send this post over to your gift getters as a not to subtle hint.

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: contains affiliate links.
12/09/2019 No comments
This time of year is always a bit mad isn't it? As an owner of two small online shops myself, I have a love hate relationship with sales. But whether you love it or not, Black Friday has made it's way to the UK and there's no stopping it!

So whilst we are all being bombarded with sales from big companies everywhere we look right now, I thought I'd share some love for my fellow indie businesses and share the sewing sales I think you'll love as much as I will.

If you're choosing to shop the sales this weekend, I hope this post will encourage you to support some small businesses. I'm also including some bigger sewing/knitting stores as they are some of my favourites I regularly shop with and think they're definitely worth sharing! Let's get into it...

First I'll shamelessly plug my own Black Friday/Cyber Weekend Sale over at Crafty Pinup Shop.

I have lots of bundle offers available year round, but I am offering 20% off all individual pins & patches for this weekend only! Code: CRAFTY20 

  


Indie Sewing Themed Shops:
(All of these were sent to me via my call out on Instagram)

  • Sew Hayley Jane - 20% off items in the Outlet Shop - code: BLACKFRIDAY
  • Samantha Claridge Studio - 20% off EXCLUSIVE - code: ABI20 
  • Material Girl Laura - #BARGS - ends Sunday
  • Oh Sew Shop - 20% off everything - code: BLACKFRIDAY20 - ends midnight Sunday
  • Sister Mintaka - 20% off almost everything (excludes preorders & sale)
  • Crafty Sew & So - Free delivery all week
  • Sewing Daze - Sale on Christmas fabrics & end of bolts
  • Like Sew Amazing - 15% off fabrics - code: WOWZER15 or 20% off over £40 code: WOWZER40
  • Pink Coat Club - Free notepad with orders over £25 - 20% off low stock - half price seconds
  • The Fabric Fox - 20% off - code: BLACKFRIDAY - ends Monday
  • Sewisfaction - up to 60% off
  • My Handmade Wardrobe Patterns - 25% off
  • WeaverDee - multiple offers

Misc. Handmade Businesses:


  • Sleepless Accessories - 20% off - ends midnight
  • Beaded by Laura - 20% off 
  • Stitched by Rachel - 10% off 
  • Neat Cute Design - 20% off
--

Other sales worth checking out:


  • Minerva Crafts - multiple offers
  • My Fabrics - multiple offers



  • Love Crafts - multiple offers

  • Deramores - 15% off almost everything
  • Tilly and the Buttons
  • New Craft House
  • Wool and the Gang
--

I hope you get to support a small business this sale weekend if you're choosing to shop. But remember, these independent businesses need your support all year round. Often there's very little margins to be able to offer items on sale and I greatly appreciate all those who sent me their discounts to offer my readers.

Please spend wisely and know orders placed with small businesses mean the world to those who run them. Happy Thanksgiving to my US readers!

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: contains affiliate links.
11/29/2019 1 comments

If you'd had said to me a couple of years ago that I would one day be knitting every evening I would have said 'hell no'. I've tried to learn in the past with varying success but nothing ever stuck. Until the end of last summer. Fast forward a year, I have a collection of me made knits, a bunch of patterns and wool stashed around the flat (shhh) and 3 projects on the go at once. I'm obsessed.

I hate to use the phrase but, I get a lot of DMs about knitting, about how I learnt, recommendations for patterns and yarns and a lot of messages saying they're nervous to try or can't find their flow and what advice do I have for them. SO, you guys have inspired me to start a new Knitting 101 series on my blog, sharing everything I know and my favourite resources for troubleshooting your knitting problems. Hopefully this series will inspire you to pick up your needles, learn or fall back in love with knitting.

My preferred style of knitting chunky, squishy and simple, so if you're after tight knit or fitted garments, this probably won't be for you. My attention span doesn't last long enough to tackle that style, I've tried but honestly it just doesn't interest me. I like to be able to complete my knitting projects within a couple of months, I'm too impatient and want to wear everything NOW. With that being said, lets get into it...

Online classes:

I initially kickstarted my knitting with a beginners scarf class on Skillshare. The class advised what size needles and yarn to go and buy, then you follow along with the class video. This appealed to me as I wanted to be able to watch someone knit each step and really hold my hand throughout the process. You can also see other people's projects and reviews who also took the class, a part of Skillshare I really like and find very helpful.

As I'm a Skillshare ambassador, you can get 14 FREE DAYS of Skillshare through me. CLICK HERE to sign up and start exploring today! I've also checked out tutorials on weaving (great for yarn leftovers!), embroidery, crochet and tech stuff. I've found it to be a really useful platform for creatives and I am proud to be an ambassador and to be able to offer you a freebie!

YouTube:

For literally any issue you have with your knitting project there's a video to help you out. I'm a big fan of Wool and the Gang's YouTube channel and recommend it to everyone who needs some help. The videos are short, close up and simple. Slow down the speed, pause and replay to your heart's content. That's what I do!

--

This is a great video for  probably the most common knitting problem - learn how to pick up a dropped stitch: HERE

--

Other channels I'd recommend checking out for knitting explained are Sheep and Stitch and We Are Knitters. 

Knitting Kits:

Knitting kits are my jam. Without these guys I think I would have lost interest in knitting pretty quick. If you grab them in the sales (of which there are lots), buying kits is a great way to knit in my opinion. You get everything you need, nothing more, nothing less, to make your project. And as someone who has trouble figuring out how much yarn you need for a pattern and what size needles, this takes all the fuss out of it. I'll always praise kits and recommend them, because without them I think I would have given up trying to learn.

Of course some of these kits can be pricey, and if you're happy to figure out your yarns and patterns for yourself then that's great. But as a newbie, kits were a breath of fresh air when I felt overwhelmed by knitting supplies and trying to piece everything together became stressful instead of fun.

Knitting kits brands that I love:

  • Wool and the Gang
  • Hip Knit Shop
  • Laura Aston Designs
  • We Are Knitters
--

 Get £10 off your 1st purchase at We Are Knitters with my referral code: MGM9VDFLT

--


Here's a couple of beginner kits I started with:

  • Wool and the Gang 'Whistler Scarf'
  • Wool and the Gang 'Lula Hoop'
  • In these photos, I'm knitting THIS scarf kit.

My affordable faves:

I've experimented with expensive yarns and affordable yarns, but as a beginner (or just in general) more affordable and budget friendly options are more appealing. They also don't feel too precious. Here are some of my favourite affordable brands:

Paintbox yarns - I've used this brand a lot and have been really pleased with the quality and the awesome colour range. They also have a selection of free patterns, I've got a bunch downloaded!

Stylecraft - Remember my pink cardigan I shared recently? I made that out of Stylecraft Aran weight yarn and I love it.

Rico - Rico have an amazing selection of yarn weights and styles, I've got lots on my wish list to try next. Definitely check out their patterns too, there's lots of styles that will appeal to all ages.

In general, I'd recommend visiting Love Crafts, my go-to knitting supply shop. You can browse patterns, yarn and more and filter the searches to suit your needs. It's an easy to navigate website and is full of inspiration.

--

Want to find a cheaper alternative to the reccommended yarn? Check out Yarn Sub!

--

Picking projects:

A scarf is a great place to start and that's what I recommend to people looking to start. You can get a feel for how you hold the needles and yarn, and you can see if you're a tight knitter or loose. You'll learn about good tension and it will help you move onto your next project. Plus if you end up hating it, you haven't invested a lot in supplies.

After I cracked the scarf and found my flow, I knew I wanted to stick with simple and chunky. But I couldn't knit scarves forever. Luckily there's lots of simple jumper and cardigans out there.

I thought any knitted jumper would involve increasing, decreasing and lots of complicated sizing and measurements and.... maths (eek!). WRONG. I'll be sharing my jumpers and cardigans in my next Knitting 101 blog post. Stay tuned!

--

Before I wrap up this post I wanted to share some miscellaneous tips with you:

  • When I first shared on social media I was learning to knit, everyone and their dog recommended Ravelry to me and told me to join ASAP. Honestly it feels like another social media/forum site to me, one that I'll never keep up with. I've found it useful to snoop on other people's projects when I was planning projects (which I'd rather do on Instagram), or advice on cheaper yarn alternatives but otherwise I've not found it particularly helpful. You might do, so have a look if you fancy. But I don't use it, so please don't feel like you have to to be considered a knitter (which was a little how I felt!). 
  • Don't be put off by certain styles, find your flow! Because my blog had a vintage aesthetic, I was recommended a lot of tight knit, fitted cardigans with traditional decorative pattern work, and honestly that's not me at all. I'm very happy to stick to oversized, chunky knitting where sizing isn't an issue and you can finish a project in a month. My ambitions go as far as chunky cable knit, but more about that later. Knitting can be simple as you like!
  • Don't buy full price! The big brands I've recommended above nearly always have promotions on, sometimes up to 30 - 40% off, and Love Crafts always have promo codes floating about. So make sure to sign up to the email newsletters and you'll save yourself lots of ££. 
  • Instagram hashtags! I LOVE to snoop on other people's makes before I get started, and this is my favourite way to do it. Nowadays, most designers will have a hashtag for all their designs. I also love to see patterns made up in different colours too as it helps me choose my own. Get snooping!

--

Instagram accounts to follow for some serious #knittinggoals

@clubknit
@theknitter
@goldfreckles
@nowaycrochet
@seeyaknits

--


I hope this post has been helpful to you and has demystified knitting a little and at least persuaded you to check out some projects. I feel silly for avoiding it for as long as I have, its brought so much to my life and has inspired me when I've felt out of whack with my sewing. Now it's my favourite lazy craft to do in front of the TV in the evenings. I still feel productive and there's a squishy piece of knitwear waiting for me at the end.

Next up, I'll be sharing my journey into knitting garments!

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: contains affiliate links.
11/06/2019 No comments

1/2/3/4/5/6

Hi everyone! It's time for my second Makers Style File post, after what I think was a pretty successful first one. A blog post followed my first mood board featuring a dress and a cardigan that were in-keeping with my plans and made me feel a little proud that I actually stuck to something! I really enjoyed putting it together and I hope you enjoyed checking it out. So now we're 100% in to Autumn, my favourite time of year, I figured it was time for my next!

This time of year I always gravitate back to 1960s inspired styles and now more so than ever with my new style crush Lucy Boynton (along with THIS Instagram account featuring some stunning beauty looks). Not only am I planning a few 60s style mini dresses and smocks to steal her looks, my hair appointment is booked and I'm ready for a good chop!

I made the Tilly and the Buttons Martha dress a couple of years ago and it's a dress pattern that I always think of when I see retro high street styles and I think to myself that I really need to try that one again. The first time around I made it with the high neck, but I'm tempted to draft a Peter Pan collar on it, like I did in my last blog post HERE. Plus that will look super cute with a bob...

I'm also in a weird limbo with my knitting projects, I've got nothing chunky on the go and everything feels like its going to take forever but I want to wear them now. I've been looking a lot at the yarn and patterns by Rico recently and THIS yarn is a dupe for a cardigan I spotted in Urban Outfitters. It will knit up much quicker than what I'm doing at the moment, I just need to find the right pattern. And finally, I may already be an owner of a dreamy pastel blue bag, but THIS one is the ultimate and the colour looks so good with classic Autumnal tones. I'm looking forward to planning some outfits and makes to incorporate my love of both colour palettes.

Let me know if there's any 1960s patterns out there you think I'm missing out on!

Thanks for reading.
Abi xo

Disclaimer: contains affiliate links.
10/13/2019 No comments

Hi guys! Today's post is all about pattern hacking. If you've followed for a while, you'll know I'm partial to a simple pattern hack or two, and when I was asked if I wanted to be a part of this year's Simplicity Hack-Along for The Eve Appeal, I couldn't say no!


Since changing my blog from Crafty Pinup to What Abi Makes, I'm definitely feeling a little more relaxed with my style and I'm enjoying sewing garments I know are more 'me'. One of my favourite styles at the moment are smock dresses. I've always had a few on rotation in my wardrobe and I love that they can be styled with a 1960s flare, which is always a style I lean to in the Autumn. When I spotted the Simplicity 8658 top pattern in the hack along line up, I knew that this was the pattern for me. Its simple design lends it's self perfectly to multiple styles, but it wasn't until I'd found my fabric that I had a lightbulb moment.

Here's a peek at the pattern:


We've all got garments in our lives that we loved and lost and my memory was sparked when I spotted THIS stunning hydrangea print viscose crepe fabric. Years ago I had this TopShop smock dress, with a Peter Pan collar, full length sleeves which were elasticated around the wrists and it was made in the loveliest blue hydrangea print jersey. I wore that dress to death, quite literally. I had forgotten all about it until I saw this fabric and it came flooding back into my mind. Then I went back to my 8658 pattern, realised the sleeves were literally the same as my TopShop dress and all I needed to do was draft the smock skirt and a design a collar.

Then on came the mega sewing excitement feels!


How I hacked this pattern:

1. Firstly, you need to decide where you'd like your skirt to start and mark it on the bodice. The first time, I drafted it at my natural waist, but it ended up dropping a bit over night and looked quite unflattering, so I shortened it again to more of an empire waist. So have a play around and choose what works best for you.

2. Once my shortened bodice was sewn up, I drafted my Peter Pan collar by eye. Lying my garment on pattern paper to roughly trace the shape and curve of the neckline, and after a couple of trial collars and playing with the size, I got my perfect collar!

3. I pinched the skirt pattern piece from the Tilly and the Button Indigo smock dress, which is just essentially a rectangle, but I already had the piece to hand. I gathered the top of the skirt slightly and attached it to the bodice, matching up the side seams.

Simple as that!

I'm so happy with the final dress and other than a different shade of blue and not being made from jersey, it's a pretty accurate replica of my old TopShop dress.


Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Simplicity 8658 Top

Fabric: Lady McElroy Stretch Viscose Crepe Fabric Green & Black

Notions: 1cm wide elastic for the wrists. Button and hoop for the centre back.

Sewing time: About half a day.

Modifications: See above for the details on my hacked dress!

Fit: It started off a little big but the final dress is much better. Next time I would cut the size Small.

Difficulty: Simple.

Watch out for: Getting smooth edges on the Peter Pan collar.

Make Again?: Yes! I love smock dresses and now I have my own collar drafted, I can see myself making another one of these very soon.


Overall, I'm so happy with how this dress came out. I'm even happier I decided last minute to slice it at the waist and shorten the bodice. And when I say last minute, I mean one hour before I headed out to take these photos! Looking back, I think it probably looked a bit frumpy initially, but in the space of about 15 minutes, I whipped the skirt off and stuck it back on again!

I really enjoyed the whole sewing process for this one and the fabric was lovely to work with. It's a simple pattern to follow and because of that it allowed me to concentrate on finishing my seams really nicely and take a bit more care over the simple things. I'm really proud of this dress and how it's finished. I'm hoping it'll last as long as my original TopShop number.


So if you fancy making yourself a cute, raglan sleeve smock with billow-y sleeves, this pattern is a great place to start! Check out all the details on Simplicity's Pattern Hack Along for The Eve Appeal and how you can join in HERE. Simplicity will be making a contribution to the Eve Appeal for every ‘Hack-Along’ pattern purchased in the UK during the event.

Hack-along banner

Join in and don't forget to use the hashtag #hackalong. There are three categories for makers to enter to win prizes and these hashtags are: #hackalongday #hackalongparty #hackalongvintage - I'm choosing the vintage category for mine as I love the 60s vibes of my swishy smock!

Are you taking part? Make sure to follow along to see what the other bloggers featured in the hack along are making. I can't wait to see...

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo



Disclaimer: contains afflilate links. Pattern & fabric gifted
.

The Eve Appeal logo
10/03/2019 1 comments

Hi guys! Time for a wordy post and some new makes in one. I didn't want today's post to just be a sewing pattern review, I also want to combine it with a little discussion about finding my personal style and moving on after my rebrand from The Crafty Pinup (there's a little explanation about that HERE). So this is the first bit of sewing (and knitting) I'm sharing since changing my blog to What Abi Makes and I think that this outfit really sums up my true style and where I feel most like myself, it helps that it's also super comfortable!

There's a little more behind this dress than normal as I didn't sew it on my usual sewing machine. Every September I dog sit at my parents for a week, and being away from work can be really stressful for me, so I thought I would distract myself and set myself up on my mum's sewing machine and make myself a 'slow sew' dress.

Normally I whizz through the sewing process (I like simple patterns and finishing makes in one sitting), but this time I wanted to take a little more time over the sewing process and try to enjoy it a bit more. Along with the fact I was also using a very basic machine compared to my usual. Mum has the JL110 machine from John Lewis, which I reviewed a while back HERE. Its a great little machine and worked like a dream on this project.


The pattern is the 'Etoile Dress' by French Poetry Patterns. I've been searching for the perfect button up, collarless dress pattern for months, but I'm not yet recovered after my awful first attempt at the Nina Lee London Kew Dress (I really effed that up). Then I saw this pattern release via The Fold Line and fell in love. I snapped it up straight away and paired with THIS floral viscose I figured it'd be a great match.

I'm not going to lie guys, this isn't my finest make and I'm so annoyed because I had the time to concentrate properly and I still managed to make a mess! The problem I'd like to say first, isn't with the pattern itself, more like me being an idiot. Let's talk measurements, my bust measures about 42" which puts me at the top end of sizing when it comes to most patterns, but that doesn't match the rest of my body compared to the size charts. I know I should do more full bust adjustments, but honestly, I like to opt for styles like a wrap or sew in jersey so I don't have to. In short, this was one of those occasions where I cut the larger size for my bust and ended up with a huge dress...


I was so in the zone following the instructions and having a jolly old time sewing and listening to podcasts that when I came to try it on just before doing the button holes, I thought 'oh crap what have I done'. So to rectify the massively oversized dress I made, I tried my best to pick up the shoulders without unpicking the sleeves as it was super long in the body and then I gathered the shoulders (because they were SO wide), I then took it in at the waist a little. I extended the length of the dress as I wanted a midi length.

Whilst technically this dress may be a little bit of a mess, I can honestly say I still LOVE it. Before I started this dress, if you saw my Makers Style File post or follow me on Insta, you'll know I've been wanting a midi length, viscose button up dress with a relaxed fit for some time, and this make ticks all the boxes. Even though it's large, it has that 90s style that's everywhere right now and I love it paired with my new boots. I've worn it a handful of times already and I made it less than a month ago so I'm counting that as a resounding success.


Sewing Summary:

Pattern: The 'Etoile Dress' by French Poetry Patterns

Fabric: Floral Viscose

Notions: 12 x simple black plastic buttons

Sewing time: I spread this out over about 4 days

Modifications: See above for the alterations I had to make

Fit: Again, see above for the alterations I made after making a size or 3 too big!

Difficulty: Pretty straightforward

Watch out for: I took extra care with the facing to get a flat and tidy neck edge. Lots of pressing!

Make Again?: Yes, I really love this dress, but I do need to fiddle with the pattern to get the sizing to work for me. E.g. narrowing the shoulders, shortening the bodice.

--

Knitting Summary:

Pattern: The 'Downtown Cardigan' by All About Ami

Yarn: Aran weight by Style Craft Yarns in 'Fondant' - leftover from a jumper last year

Needles: 5mm Knit Pro straight needles

Modifications: I used a smaller yarn and needles to create a smaller cardigan

Fit: I made a larger size as I was knitting in smaller yarn and needles than recommended. It's just what I wanted, a lil mini Downtown cardigan!

Make again: This is my second time making this. I made a huge squishy lilac one which I love. This mini one is super cute and great over dresses, I've already started it in red.


When I was out and about taking snaps of this dress, I haven't felt so myself in an outfit some quite some time. Having a blog called The Crafty Pinup made me feel like I was letting everyone down every time I made something that didn't have a vintage aesthetic, and when I talked about the blog name change recently with friends, one said he'd never seen me in vintage style the whole time he'd known me. It became really apparent I was trying to keep up appearances for the internet with boundaries I had set myself. The whole thing sounds so silly when I type it out now. Anyway, I feel so inspired to create new content for What Abi Makes, more so than I have for a long time. A lot has changed in my life since I started this blog, I sew for myself a lot less and I no longer have the space to set up my white backdrop for photos. But I feel more confident going outside to take photos and am planning my makes more consciously to suit my personal style, and I can breathe a sign of relief knowing that no one cares if I don't have victory rolls!

Thank you for the support for the name change/rebrand. I've got lots planned for What Abi Makes, I'll still be sharing sewing pattern reviews, I've got a big knitting for beginners blog series on the way and I'll be vlogging occasionally too.

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

P.S. On the day me and my friend went out to take photos, it was the windiest day ever! So these are the best of a bad, very wind swept, bunch.

P.P.S. I also wore this outfit to The Handmade Festival and had a blast!


9/20/2019 3 comments
1/2/3/4/5/6

Hi everyone! Welcome to my first makers style file post. A simple, mood-board style post with my current style faves and how to create the look, whether that be sewing, knitting, crochet or another crafty skill. This post is all about transitional dressing and what I'm making to fill this space in my wardrobe.

I'm currently lusting after everything from Nobody's Child, but mainly their Alexa style midi length button up dress. I love the relaxed fit, flowy fabric and it's a style that I love the look of paired with boots and leather jackets. It's time to sew the look for myself instead of lusting after it on other people. I'm currently sewing this pattern but the 'Kew' Dress pattern (pictured) is going to be my next one. Luckily there's lots of gorgeous, affordable floral viscose fabrics to experiment with. Check out my 2 recommendations HERE and HERE.

Along with some mid-season dresses, I'm starting to plot some knitting too. A couple of months ago I started my fondant pink, mid weight cardigan and it's so nearly finished. It looks kinda like the RTW one on the mood-board and I think it'll pair really well with the dress. It's going to be perfect for September's weather and it's a departure from a lot of the super chunky knits I made earlier this year. Next though, I've been eyeing up THIS mohair kit, it's been in and out of my shopping basket for weeks!

What's on your sewing table, or in the knitting bag?

Thanks for reading.
Abi xo

Disclaimer: contains affilate links.
9/05/2019 1 comments

Welcome to What Abi Makes, a UK based sewing, knitting and crafts blog. If you're wondering what happened to the Crafty Pinup, fear not, it's still me. It's just time for an identity change!

I've been thinking for a very long time now about changing my blog name, but it feels like such a mammoth task, that I didn't even know where to start. I've felt uncomfortable for a long time about the aesthetic suggestions the name 'crafty pinup' carries and every time I post a picture of myself or make something new, I feel like I'm letting down everyone who follows me because they love vintage style. It was really starting to get me down and knock my confidence. All for some pressure I put on myself.

I started this blog a couple of years ago and it's taken me on a mad journey. It was just going to be my little corner of the internet to share my sewing, not with anyone in particular, but to give me a reason to dress up a bit and get creative with writing and of course, to inspire me to sew. At the time I was loving 1950s style, so my blog name made perfect sense and for the first year or so a lot of what I made was either vintage reproduction or had a retro flair. But a few years on, I no longer feel like the same person and certainly don't live up to any 'pinup' look that you'd associate with the name.

Since starting this blog not only have I been lucky enough to collaborate and work with some of my dream sewing brands, I even opened my own shop and designed my own products. So in one way, it's only the beginning for Crafty Pinup, as now that'll be solely my shop,  I've got lots planned for it and I really hope it'll continue to grow. But as for my sewing blog and social media, I'm not setting myself any unrealistic goals and I'm keeping it simple. What Abi Makes is a 'does what it says on the tin' blog name. I'll continue to share what I'm making with you, whether that be my dressmaking, knitting, (hopefully) crochet and other crafts I'm dabbling in. I already feel so much better about it and like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders!

I'll always love vintage style. Since my teens I've dipped in and out of it and so much of my inspiration, from my home to my makeup, is taken from retro looks. So who knows, maybe the odd vintage make will pop up again in the future. But going forward, the old posts won't be going anywhere and I hope you'll continue to follow me on my crafty journey!

Thanks for reading,
Abi xo
9/05/2019 3 comments

1. Grenson 'Nanette' Boots

2. YouTube

3. McCalls 7946

4. Ditsy Floral Viscose Fabric

5. Scrap Busting Scrunchies

6. Sleeper 'Atlanta' Dress

--

Hi there! There was lots to lust after in July, starting with a pair of seasonally inappropriate dream boots which I'll probably never own of course... But a big part of July for me was vlogging! I almost feel back in the swing of things with my YouTube channel and I hope this is the start of a new chapter with a more relaxed mindset when it comes to creating. Recent content has included lots of shirring, sewing plans and upcoming patterns. I've got a few vlogs planned too, along with hoping to improve my filming set up and editing skills. Thanks so much to anyone who watches!

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 
8/14/2019 No comments
DIY Shirred Dress with Sleeves | Vlog Sew Along!

Hi pinups! I've been well and truly bitten by the shirring bug. It was a sewing technique I was always intimidated by and haven't even come close to attempting it even though I've been sewing for a few years. I just thought it was going to be more hassle than it's worth. Boy was I wrong!

A couple of weeks ago, I dedicated half a day to learning to to shirr and how to draft my own dress pattern. The best decision I've made for a while! I've been obsessing over the shirring trend on the high street right now, not only does it look super comfortable to wear, but easy to fit too with my larger than average bust... One particular designer one that is at the top of my wish list is an eye watering $320, but I figured the dress looked simple enough to worth having a crack at drafting myself.

So with a bit of guess work and mashing together lots of various tutorials I checked out, I managed to draft a dress not too dissimilar from the original designer one. I am SO pleased with it. This might just be one of my favourite ever makes. It's so easy to make and the fit is a dream, after a few sewing related hiccups recently, this was a breath of fresh air!

I shared my make on Instagram and had such a lovely, positive response with people wanting to know how I made it. So with plans to sew another anyway, I filmed the process, along with telling you how to draft the pattern so you can sew your own too!

DIY SHIRRED DRESS WITH SLEEVES | Draft Your Own Simple Pattern!Watch now:


Sew alongs always make me feel nervous, in case it isn't good enough, isn't clear enough or I've explained everything wrong and given awful instructions! But I'm throwing doubt out the window and putting myself out there anyway. I tried to be as clear as possible and filmed every step. But if you have any questions, please leave a comment on the video and I'll try my best to help! I've also included a bunch of tutorials on how to shirr in the description if you're totally new to the technique.


I don't think I've ever made 2 of exactly the same dresses so close together before, I'm talking 48 hours. I really do love it and I can't wait to try more patterns in the future that involve shirring and maybe I'll dabble in a bit more pattern drafting to shamelessly copy some more designer faves. After sewing a viscose one and a cotton one, I'd love to sew a linen one, a fabric I've never actually sewn with before!


I really hope you'll enjoy the new sew along to create this designer inspired shirred dress with sleeves. If you try it out please do tag me @craftypinup on Instagram as I'd love to see and share.

Next up, I'll be sharing the high street and designer sewing inspiration behind this shirred dress, along with other shirring designs that have caught my eye online recently (it's a big trend right now!).

Thanks so much for reading and watching, pinups!
Abi xo
8/03/2019 3 comments

It's been so long since I've filmed and published a vlog, I feel like I've forgotten just about everything when it comes to filming and editing! But for the first time this year (and about 8 months eeek), I've uploaded a vlog on my YouTube channel...

So if some relaxed sewing chat is your thing, then check out my latest Sew & Tell video, showing you my favourite makes of the year so far. 


Thank you to those subscribers who have stuck with me whilst I took an unplanned break from vlogging. It means a lot to me that anyone at all watches my vlogs and subscribes to my channel. Hopefully I'll start to film regularly again soon.

Thanks for watching, pinups!
Abi xo
6/23/2019 No comments

Hi guys, something a little different for my blog today but it's something I really wanted to share and know it'll appeal to some readers. Me and Matt have an interiors Instagram account @side_piece_diy where we share our mid century inspired home and our restoration projects. Over the past month or so, we've been restoring a mid century arm chair and we're over the moon with the results. 

So instead of sharing a thousand images of the chair with long captions on our insta, I thought I'd pop them in a handy blog post, along with the supplies we used and some online resources that helped us.

First things first, we're new to the furniture restoration game. We've done a few pieces now (which you can see on our page HERE), but this is the first time we've reupholstered anything. I'd like to say it's a 50/50 process, but honestly Matt is the talented one here and I'm just taking the credit (haha!).

We've been in the market for a mid century armchair to restore for ages, but have never found one that was within our area or price range. Then I found our chair on eBay, weirdly in our town, for a steal at £50. We won the bid and it was with us the next day! Sadly there's no maker's mark on it, but the design is reminiscent of a Parker Knoll 988 armchair with a few minor differences. It could be dated anywhere between the 1960s and 1970s, and judging by the fairly modern care home sticker on the underside of the frame, it's been reupholstered within the last 20 years. Despite its distinct 1980s-car-seat looks, I knew with some TLC this could be a gorgeous armchair. So here's some 'before' snaps...


The wooden frame of the chair was in pretty crappy condition and the upholstery, whilst not damaged, was naff and outdated. 

We wanted to reveal more of the covered wooden frame, which turned out to be in not-so-great condition and made from beech, in contrast with the legs and arms which are dark teak (or maybe walnut?). However we were hoping with the help of some dye stains and wood filler we could get the light beech frame, to match the darker arms and legs.

So here's a break down of what we did:

Firstly, we removed all the old upholstery, leaving the seat springs (with leather covering) and webbing (which were in good condition so we kept them).

On the sides of the chair frame, above and below the arms were extra wedges of wood that had been stapled and glued on. However these gave the back of the chair an odd 'bloated' look, so we decided to remove them to leave a straighter silhouette. This involved misting the area with warm water and using a hair drier to soften the glue, then using a hammer and chisel to remove the wedges of wood.

The next step was to sand the entire chair with medium followed by fine grit sandpaper.

To try and bring the colour of the beech frame closer to that of the arms and legs, we began with a coat of teak dye stain. This got us closer, but not quite there, so this was followed by a coat of a darker walnut dye stain which was much closer to the colour we were looking for.

After removing the upholstery, the beech frame had been left with staple and tack holes, these were filled with wood filler and then lightly sanded flush with very fine grit sandpaper, and wiped with white spirit to remove dust.

All exposed wood was then given a total of three coats of Danish Oil (a mixture of linseed oil and varnish) which offers an easy to apply, hard wearing, satin finish that brings out the natural grain of the wood. After the final coat has dried, rubbing the whole chair with a piece of plain paper removes any rough patches and leaves a lovely smooth satin finish.

Finally, the filled holes were coloured using furniture touch-up marker pens to match them to the grain and colour of the surrounding wood (as best as possible). And that was the frame finished! THIS playlist of video tutorials on chair upholstery were really helpful in figuring out the process.

Left: finished wooden frame. Right: in progress.
Once the frame was prepared it was time to reupholster the chair. Here's a breakdown of the supplies we used:

- Staple gun and a box of staples
- Calico to stabilise the back support (where a hessian fabric was before)
- Foam and wadding to create the back of the chair
- Seat foam and wadding for the cushion
- Upholstery fabric to cover the chair
- Self-cover metal buttons
- Ply-grip (also known as metal back tacking strip) to cover the back edges of the chair neatly without any staples visible.
- Mallet or fabric covered hammer, to flatten down the edge of the ply-grip.



Making the armchair cushion cover is really the only part of this restoration that fell into my skill set. Having only made a couple of small cushions before, making a fitted seat cover was pretty daunting, especially as Matt is such a perfectionist. The cushion is a square of seat foam, which we sat on in store to test out how squishy we wanted it to be, wrapped in wadding. I watched several online tutorials on how to cover the cushion, THIS video was extremely helpful. Whilst the finished product isn't totally perfect, I'm really pleased with it as at one point I was ready to throw it out the window...

Here's some side by side before and after photos:



Overall, we are so happy with the finished chair and feel very proud of it. We certainly had a few hiccups along the way and definitely learned a lot too. I love spotting a beat up piece of furniture and seeing the potential in it and with our combined skill set I think we make a pretty great team! 



Now we just need to move all our other furniture around to fit it in!

Have you tried your hand at any furniture restoration before? 
Don't forget to follow our dedicated interiors page @side_piece_diy to see more of our projects!

Thanks for reading!
Abi & Matt
xo
6/09/2019 1 comments

Hi pinups! Oh gosh. I think I should really lower my expectations when it comes to setting myself goals. Me Made May has always been a struggle for me. When I first took part a couple of years ago my pledge was to wear a handmade outfit on my birthday (because I had only just started sewing so didn't have a lot of options) and I should have stuck with just that! Wearing handmade on my birthday has been a pledge I've managed to keep, but I can't say the same about the rest of my over zealous pledges! I don't think I'll ever be someone who can wear something handmade everyday, and that's okay with me. A lot of it is down to my lifestyle and what I wear to work. But even though I didn't have a totally handmade month, I'm pleased with what I achieved and have some plans to put into place for a more cohesive wardrobe.

Here was my 2019 pledge:

'I, Abi, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May 2019. I endeavour to wear a handmade item of clothing (including knitwear) every day during May 2019, with hopes to identify holes in my wardrobe and wear garments that may have been pushed aside. Resulting in (hopefully) a more cohesive and easy-to-wear wardrobe!'

I found this year's challenge, well, challenging. I had fun the first week, but I was hit with my usual issues. I wear loungewear too much and I don't have a lot of handmade items in that respect. I like to be comfy while I work so I don't like to get dressed in something I don't want to crease up or get covered in threads. However, I do think I looked less scruffy as I thought more about to co ordinate my handmade knitwear with my pjs.... if that counts for anything. So here are some outfit snaps from my most worn looks of the month...


I found a large part of the struggle for me this month was the damn weather! It's been all over the place and I found it difficult to plan outfits. One minute it felt like winter, bundled up in cardigans and joggers than the next minute it was boiling hot and I was looking for anything cool and comfy! In my head May was going to be full of all the nice summery dresses I've made, but honestly it was just too cold! I certainly wasn't expecting to be in my funnel neck Coco dress!

On my birthday I wore a Simplicity 6301 wrap dress!

In regards to my goals, I definitely know the holes in my wardrobe. I need some t shirts and some plain coloured items to pair together. I've also got a tonne of warm weather clothes but not so much for colder weather (other than knitwear).

During May, I wore my Simplicity 8608 jersey jumpsuit A LOT. It comfortable, easy to get in and out of and looks cool styled in multiple ways. I could definitely do with a couple more. Other makes that I wore regularly during the month wear my Deer and Doe Mysostis dress and my Seamwork Dani leopard print pinafore dress.


Overall, this challenge always gets me thinking. I knew I set the bar too high, I must have been in an over-enthusiastic mood the day I set my pledge! From now on I think I'll stick to the birthday outfit and then anything else will be a bonus.

How did you get on with your pledge? I loved following along with people's on Instagram. I'm always so in awe of people who get dressed every day (haha!).

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi
6/06/2019 1 comments
Newer Posts
Older Posts

HI THERE!

HI THERE!
I'm Abi, welcome to What Abi Makes, a UK based sewing, knitting and crafts blog.

Follow Me

CRAFTY PINUP SHOP

CRAFTY PINUP SHOP

SUBSCRIBE NEWLETTER

SHOP MY SEWING SPACE

SHOP MY SEWING SPACE

NEW VLOG:

Trending Posts

  • The Bra That Cured Me: Emerald Erin - Black Beauty Bra
  • Make Nine 2021 Plans & a Look Back at 2020's Line Up
  • VLOG: Sew & Tell | My Fave Makes of 2019 So Far!
  • Tilly & the Buttons 'Martha' - Round 2 with added designer inspired hack!
  • DIY Shirred Dress with Sleeves | Vlog Sew Along!

Popular Posts

  • Retro Butterick '53 B5708 - Shoulder Tie Dress
  • Butterick Patterns by Gertie B6354 - Bustier to Skirt Pattern Hack! #RetroTikiCollab
  • The Cocktail Hour Sew-Along - V8943 - 1950s Inspired Prom Dress!
  • Tilly and the Buttons - Cleo Dungaree Dress - Button-up Pattern Hack!
  • Tilly and the Buttons - Cleo Dungaree Dress

What I'm pinning

LoveCrafts

Blog archive

  • ►  2021 (2)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ►  2020 (18)
    • ►  December (4)
    • ►  July (1)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (2)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ▼  2019 (29)
    • ▼  December (3)
      • Tilly and the Buttons - Indigo Smock Dress (new fa...
      • Gift Guide: The Knitter
      • Gift Guide: The Seamstress
    • ►  November (2)
      • Black Friday & Cyber Weekend Sewing Sales!
      • Knitting 101: My Recommendations, Resources & Tips...
    • ►  October (2)
      • Makers Style File #2
      • Plain Top to Cute Smock! Hack-Along for The Eve Ap...
    • ►  September (3)
      • Finding My Style ft. French Poetry Patterns 'Etoil...
      • Makers Style File #1
      • Goodbye Crafty Pinup!
    • ►  August (2)
      • What I've Been Loving in July
      • DIY Shirred Dress with Sleeves | Vlog Sew Along!
    • ►  June (3)
      • VLOG: Sew & Tell | My Fave Makes of 2019 So Far!
      • Mid-Century Armchair Makeover!
      • Me Made May 2019 - A Round Up of Outfits & What I ...
    • ►  May (3)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  March (3)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (4)
  • ►  2018 (40)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (4)
    • ►  October (2)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (2)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  May (5)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (4)
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2017 (65)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (4)
    • ►  October (3)
    • ►  September (3)
    • ►  August (5)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  June (7)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  April (8)
    • ►  March (9)
    • ►  February (9)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2016 (41)
    • ►  December (6)
    • ►  November (5)
    • ►  October (5)
    • ►  September (3)
    • ►  August (4)
    • ►  July (1)
    • ►  June (3)
    • ►  May (5)
    • ►  April (8)
    • ►  March (1)

Created with by ThemeXpose | Distributed By Gooyaabi Templates