Friday, 23 July 2010

She that holds the diamond necklace dearer than the golden ring/ She that finds a winter sunset fairer than a morn of spring.

Why do I find a pile of scraps like this, that any sensible person would throw out
more inspiring than nice new fabric? I'm looking at this and wondering if there is any way I can patchwork them into a skirt. I admit it might be a challenge but I bet I can do it. In fact I bet I can do it quicker than I can thread the serger (I'm cautiously declaring that serger a success. Cautiously.) I'm also looking at these (note the careful laying out on the bed – you can tell this is not my bed. If it was my bed they would all be thrown in a heap on the middle)

and thinking what I can do with them. I found this blog recently which has some fascinating things people have used ties for, I love the ones incorporated into furniture. I'm thinking I will open them out, iron them, and go from there. We're going to go on holiday next week and I can see I'm going to drive Partner mad* combing the charity shops of North Norfolk looking for bits of unloved fabric that I can make into things. If anyone reading this has ever been to North Norfolk, isn't it lovely? You know how people on travel shows say everything is 'unspoilt' even when they're standing outside McDonalds next to a four lane bypass? North Norfolk really is unspoilt.

* Actually I'm doing Partner a disservice here as he loves poking round charity shops and has never misbehaved. However. Last year we were in Primark in Manchester (and you can guess my views on Primark but in my defence we were walking through to get to somewhere else) and there was a display of some actually rather attractive Balmain-esque military jackets. I heard the siren call of a convincing knock-off. I paused. I looked at the jackets. 'Look at these' I said, thoughtfully, to partner. I lifted one up from the rail to look at it more closely. Note: I lifted the first jacket from the rail to look at it. I did not look at the size. Partner did, however. 'Size 10?' he said, in a loud voice which carried through the shop as Partner is used to giving lectures and not used to talking in hushed tones in temples of consumerism. 'You'll never get in a size 10!' I was annoyed, obviously, although this was patently true and I hadn't been intending to. 'Actually I might' I hissed at him. 'Rubbish!' he said, even louder. 'You'd have no chance of getting in that. Look at the size of your chest.' Half of Manchester turned round to look at the size of my chest. Partner is now banned from clothes shopping but in Oxfam etc they have books and he can look at those. It is a win-win. Look out, charity shops of North Norfolk. We are coming.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I detect that you have had a blog shifty :) nice! And hehe bout the shopping story :P

Susie said...

Aha yes I have! Glad you like it ;-)

resa said...

Love the new layout. Best of luck with the charity shops. Last time I took the Boyfriend with me he pointed out that despite what the size tag might say that the sweater I was holding looked very small. I was the one making a scene expounding on the miraculous stretching ability of knit ribbing.

Absinthe Fairy said...

I have seen some lovely skirts made from ties, opened out and sewn from waistband to hem line in a vertical patchwork style. Loved those. And also bikinis of all things, because there is just enough width in the end of the tie to make patch worked cups and briefs.

Susie said...

Yes, those tie skirts sound nice - I think I might have a go at making something like that that works with the tie shape - it should come out A-line or half circle. I'm not sure I could get away with a tie bikini ;-) (although, you know, perhaps I should be more adventurous...)