Author: Rebekah Graves

For over a year now I have been on the way to recovery from an eating disorder and depression! One thing that’s helped me a lot is writing down my achievements. To start with it was little more than ‘got dressed’ or ‘ate without feeling anxious’. More recently my accomplishments have been more substantial. Here I will document my bakes, writing, crafts, textiles, gardening and other bits and pieces.

Me Made Made Final Round Up

May has flown by and we’re already five days into June. I’ve had a splendid time trying on all my makes. Good timing too, as lockdown is easing and I’ve been ever so social. It’s been good practise choosing outfits for all those events that seem to filling my calendar. This may has been colder than most, but summer seems to be coming into it’s own now. Next year I will challenge myself to wear a unique me made item each day. I think it would have been possible this year if I hadn’t gone away or done a bit more planning.

  • Lagos Tank from Itch-to-Stitch
  • Joni from Tilly and the Buttons
  • Mathide blouse from TIlly and the Buttons
  • Cardamome Dress from Deer & Doe
  • Joni from Tilly and the Buttons
  • Dottie Angel Dress from Simplicity
  • Flint Shorts from Megan Nielsen
  • Flint 3/4 legnth from Megan Nielsen
  • Romper from Newlook

There’s a fair few UFO’s (unfinished makes) floating around me which i hope to finish over the next month or two. First is a pretty wrap top hacked from a woven jumpsuit, I’m playing around with shirring though not sure how it will work on the wrap front, the back looks gorgeous though. I’ve another sirocco, hacked with a Joni top, on the go. I paused in making it because I needed elastic to stabilise the shoulders, that hopefully won’t take too long to put together once I get cracking on it again. Wish me luck.

Thanks for reading folks, wash your hands, wear a mask, stay safe if you can

Me Made Made First Round Up

Hello there, it’s been a while. Lock-down, house renovations, various mental health crisis’s, and a new diagnosis has left very little room for anything else. However Me-Made-May is here again! For the uninitiated Me-Made-May is a challenge designed to encourage people who make their own clothes to develop a better relationship with their handmade wardrobe. This year I pledged to wear one handmade item of clothing everyday. The photos are just for fun, and maybe to look back at when I don’t know what to wear. Seeing as we’re nearly half way through the month I thought I’d show off a curated selection of my finest outfits.

  • Ivy Pinafore dress, Jennifer Laurens
  • Active Leggings, My Handmade Wardrobe
  • Super cute Mila Dungarees, TATB
  • Hacked Jessica Skirt, By Hand London
  • Sirroco Jumpsuit, Deer & Doe
  • Hacked petal skirt, Itchtostitch

Thanks to the wonderful full length mirror I have in my brand new sewing room MeMadeMay has been a lot easier this year. Get up, get dressed, take the dang photo. My absolute favourite is the floral Sirocco Jumpsuit, it’s unbelievably soft and effortlessly elegant, not to mention, it has pockets! Coming in a close second is the Active Ware Leggings, these are my go to pilates gear. The thick, high waistband ensures everything stays were it should, without being too restrictive.

Next week may be a little repetitive as I’m going away and hope to pack light, still I plan to wear one handmade item everyday, even if there may be a couple of repeats. If you’re interesting in seeing more of my makes, I’ll be posting each day on Instagram at rebekah_creates (internet permitting).

Thanks for reading folks, Stay safe if you can who knows maybe it wont be another six months before I post here again

Inktober

This month has been Inktober, I’ve been teaching myself to draw throughout lockdown and decided to join in. Inktober happens every October and is a chance to practice ink drawing everyday with an interesting list of prompts. I thought I would share my highlights here. The first four are those that were given the most liked on Instagram

    These next few are my personal favourites but didn’t get as much love in social media. Its been so much fun drawing every day, I hope to continue, but maybe two or three times a week.

    I decided to only use black and white and played about with shading. One of the lessons this month has taught me is to not be afraid to be messy. I look forward to using more colour instead of just black ink pens. A while back I brought some inks and brushes but they are somewhere in my house which is still disorganised from all the renovations.

    Thanks for reading folx, stay safe if you can.

    Pouf or Cat Bed?

    I am ever so happy with my Closet Core Pouf, as is my cat Theo. He is ever so grumpy with my when it’s time to add more fabric to the inner.

    This was not a quick make, though could very easily be made so, all you’d need to do is use a full circle for the top and use a solid strip of fabric around the sides, though I did enjoy matching different odds and ends from previous projects. The piping is also optional but I like the professional finish it gives.

    I am not the most precise sewer and somehow ended up needing to add a panel to the top and side for it to fit together properly. It’s just a bit bigger. This project is perfect for anyone who hates throwing away fabric, you can also put old clothes in there if they are too scruffy for the charity shop. This is maybe a year’s worth in there. I’ll be making another one in the not too distant future.

    I finished my Flint culottes just in time to get a few wears out of them. Autumn has well and truly set in now and they will be packed away until spring.

    Flint are the make I can sew time and time again, be it linen, crepe, cotton or viscose I am never being disappointed. I made these with a lovely cotton lawn, measuring them up to hang around the knee. There’s a fairly thick hem and two large brass buttons that you can’t make out on these images.

    I’ve got a few projects on the go at the minute, with no images of any of them yet!

    Simplicity 1950’s Jacket 1319: I’ve been working on the vintage jacket for over year, it seems I’ve been spoiled with independent patterns as the instructions from simplicity confused me a lot.

    Simply Sewing The Audrey Dress: This was a free pattern from Simply Sewing which happens to fit me perfectly, I’m working on a fully lined version as I’ll be using some gorgeous Broderie Analgise.

    Deer and Doe Sirocco Jumpsuit: I’ve cut out the fabric but may wait until I’ve got my overlocker back to sew it together. I feel like the pattern would benefit from an sturdy overlocking stitch.

    Crafty Sew & So PJ Bottoms: I shall whip this one up in no time, Crafty Sent me some beautiful lemon cotton to make a sample set for the shop. I love this make as it’s nice and simple to put together and very comfy to wear.

    Thanks for reading and wish me luck! I promise not to start another project until I’ve finished at least two of these.

    The Range Backpack

    I have been desperate to share this for some time, now my little sisters birthday has passed I can at last. The Range Backpack from Noodlehead. It’s the first complex bag I made on my own. I’ve created a few totes, shopping bags before but this one had so many more pattern pieces! I actually made a matching Carry All Bag from Crafty Sew & So but forgot to take a photo! To be perfectly honest I was thinking I would never make a bag again by the time I cut out and interfaced all the pieces. However, when I got to the sewing I was absolutely in love with the process.

    The fabric was a mix of Ankara wax fabric from Dovetailed London and quilting cotton from Crafty Sew & So (i mention Crafty a lot in this post, full disclosure I do volunteer with those lovely ladies though none of what I’m writing is sponsored). Everything is interfaced! The waxed cotton with mid-weight fusible interfacing and the lining with light weight fusible interfacing. I decided to make things difficult for myself by adding Bosal In-R-Form single sided fusible foam to the contrast base and back panel. I’m glad I did because it gave the backpack a sturdy and professional feel, though I did break a needle and bend pins whilst sewing the two foam pieces together. Top-stitching was a delight for this project and truly makes the bag unique. Quilting the back panel with different colours was super fun. I recommend buying a couple of reels of high quality thread for top-stitching as you’ll be going through a fair few layers. Despite the time it took the bag was simple to put together with clear instructions. I assumed it would be difficult using the hardware but the directions took me through it step by step, the adjustable straps look so professional!

    My sister was very happy with the result! I had just enough fabric to create a face mask, this is the 3D mask pattern, Crafty Sew & So have a pattern with written instructions and video tutorial by Marie of Stitch Odyssey. This is my favourite mask to make and wear, even better than the fitted one I mentioned in a previous post. the way the mask is designed ensures it stays put even when talking, yawning etc. Personally I add fusible interfacing to the main pieces as it give the mask a bit more structure and keeps the fabric from being pulled in by a sharp breath. the other benefit of this design is the small amount of fabric required, an excellent scrap buster and super quick make

    I’ve a few more makes on the go, including more masks a pair of Flint culottes and Closet Core Pouf to make use of all those fabric scraps.

    Thanks for reading folx, stay safe if you can

    Kielo Wrap Dress

    It turned out even better than I expected, the tiny cap sleeves work really well and the fit is so flattering. I used a crepe from Weaver Dee with maybe 20% stretch which allows me to cross my legs. The only alteration I made was to lengthen the split, if the fabric had more stretch I probably would have left it as it was.

    Seeing as I’ve not left the house in around five month I took any excuse to wear my lovely new dress. My sister and family cam round for a socially distant picnic. Thankfully we are both out of the local lockdown zone so she could pop round before heading off on holiday. Look at how well my little niece is social distancing!!!

    I’ve been working on making some sturdy face masks with nose wire and fabric flush against the skin to minimise the risk of catching a virus. Jesse Killion has produced a comprehensive pattern based on a template from The Fabric Patch, they have a link on the page to the the fitted instructions and templates. The Jesse is designed to fit to the face. It’s been a fascinating experience making up different sizes for my inlaws and husband. The masks are split into three categories, average, narrow and wide. Apparently I have an average sized face.

    I took a day trying to find this pattern, there are almost too many out there. The written instructions were way too complicated for me so made them without. I altered the pattern a little, firstly adding an inch to the side seam to create a folded channel for ties, secondly I added a filter pocket for extra security. Im planning on writing up a set of simple instructions for my version of this mask so watch this space.

    Thanks for reading, hope you are staying safe out there. Don’t forget to continue to support black businesses, pester your MPs and sign petitions. For ways to help go to Black lives matters.

    Dresses & Shorts & Slippers, Oh My!

    A migrain struck once again. I am getting pretty sick of these. The weather has probably had big impact, muggy days followed by thunderstorms. There’s still an aura circling the corners of my eyes. The heat needs to break with another storm. Anyway enough of my complaining and onto the makes!

    A full photo of my Cardamom Dress! It’s gorgeous and summery, the fit is mostly good, the only thing I will do differently next time is add a couple of inches to the bodice, as my waist falls a little lower than the pattern allows and lengthening it will also ensure there’s no pulling about the chest.

    I originally brought the fabric to make a kielo dress, it’s still in the works but I had a desperate need for shorts this week. Happily there was enough left over to whip up a pair of Flint shorts. They are perfect for this weather and came together in only a couple of sewing sessions.

    So I pattern tested these for Crafty Sew & So. Utterly incongruous with the weather but adorably never-the-less. I’ll be writing up a blog post for Crafty which should be coming out in about august alongside the kit.

    I cannot go into much of what i am doing with this fabric as its going to be part of a present. however I couldn’t resist showing off this stunning Ankara Fabric from Dovetailed London. It’s a fabric shop across using the Shut up and Sew Vendor/Shop List its a collection of BIPOC and Allied sewing businesses curated by Jacinta Green aka @pinkmimosabyjacinta. If you’re interested I narrowed down the list to retailers in the UK, It’s in the menu above.

    Thanks for reading, I wanted to add It’s important for us all to keep the momentum of Black Lives Matter going. Be it buying from Black businesses, signing petitions, writing to your MP, educating yourself or speaking with family we cannot let the world slip back to “normal”. For more Information on how you can help check out Black Lives Matters.

    This is not a moment it’s the movement.

    My Shot – Hamilton

    We are Not Going back to Normal

    This week i discovered a wonderful resource for all your sewing needs. Shut up and Sew Vendor List, curated by Jacinta Green. The layout is a little tricky for me to read as I am working off a tiny laptop so I made a list of all the UK Based Allied and POC businesses Jacinta has listed in a way I can go back to time and again. If you want to know more about how I am personally taking responsibility for the damage my privilege can cause, take a look at my sister blog, Today I Wrote. All links will open in a new tab, I hope you find it useful.

    I’ve ordered some beautiful wax printed fabric from Dovetailed London. I’ll be making a present with it so it’ll be a little while before I can show it off. I hope I have included all the UK stores but my eyes got a bit tired after a while so I may have missed a few. Now on to a couple of my latest makes.

    Jelly Roll Cushion

    Firstly a bit of patchwork. My step-dad mad a little bench during lockdown for my niece and nephew. We’re all getting a little creative whilst stuck at home. It was so much fun using a bunch of left over jelly-roll strips to make a super cute patchwork cushion. I used some quilted jersey whcih ive had for ages as the wadding. It gives the cushion a good sturdy feel. However it was a bit of a nightmare to sew through.

    Cardamome Dress

    I absolutely love my Cardamome dress. The cat buttons finish it off beautifully. It fits very well about the chest and neck! I was worried the neck would be too tight or the buttons would pop open but it works really well. The day I finished my dress the weather changed so I haven’t had a chance to get photos of it on me. I’m currently working on a Kielo Wrap Dress from some gorgeous stretch crepe. Hopefully I can get it finished by next week!

    Thanks for reading, please check out the list of makers and take a look at #blackmakersmatter on instagram, we all need to work to make the sewing community more diverse.

    Muted and Listening

    I’ll be silent on social media for a week in order to amplify melanated voices. Please support where you can. Resources are available through blacklivesmatters.carrd.co. Many do not require any monetary donation.

    My Final Makes Of Me Made May

    Life has been heavy the past few days, my mind caught up in worry and stress. So, I did not have the mental energy to appreciates many of my makes. But I shall share what I’ve got nevertheless.

    Day 24: Cardamom Shirring

    I mentioned I got the hang of shirring in my last post and this is the result. It’s my first attempt at shirring a garment and I am so happy with it. I had to unpick a couple of rows as I forgot to lengthen the stitch or had the needle in the wrong position. Once I got the hang of it the bodice came together beautifully. I highly recommend using shirring. I have a brother machine with a top loading bobbin, most of the tutorials assume a side loading bobbin which recommend a low tension for the top stitch and high tension for the bobbin. I don’t have the ability to change the bobbin tension on my machine so I got a bit muddled. As soon as I followed the Brother instructions on their website it worked like a charm.

    Day 25: Moneta Dress

    I made this dress recently, I wrote a post in April, Moneta In The Sun. The subtle metallic sheen in the fabric really makes this dress something special. I’m drawn to prints with faces or figures. I’m not sure what it is but many of my recent purchases have depicted images of women. This design has a wonderful energy to it. Shame it was the last lot from Crafty Sew & So.

    Day 30: Joni Dress

    This is a real treat to wear. Only finished yesterday and I couldn’t wait to swish about in the garden. The finishing of the neckline really bugged me on the first Joni I made. the fabric stretched about the twist so i had to add elastic, also the binding was way to thick and heavy and the top stitching just didn’t work well through all that fabric. This time I added binding to the lower section and the front part of the neckband before I twisting the top. All my seams are beautifully hidden and the jersey won’t have a chance at stretching out. I’m delighted with the result. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the finishing I still adore Tilly’s book, Stretch. I made the fluttery sleeves from her tutorial and it was a lot easier than I thought, i’m very much looking forward to altering more sleeves from various patterns to recreate this look.

    Thanks for reading. I’ve really enjoyed this month of makes. It’s good to have a thing to do everyday during this time. I’ll try and stick to weekly posts on what I’ve made. It’s gratifying to look back on what I’ve achieved.


    Stay safe, stay kind, stay home if you can