Love

It was barely what you would call love at first sight. In fact the relationship was a little rocky to start with. Were we even on speaking terms?

Perhaps back then we simply didn't understand one another. You seemed complicated and unforgiving. I treated you with some contempt. Progress was stilted.

But now we are a team. Others could see it long before me. They said we were meant to be together. That it would be a natural progression.

At first I scoffed. It could never work, I told myself. Yet here I am: finding I just couldn't be without you. It all seems so simple. Now.

Maybe I am biased.

My favourite gadget - a bias tape maker - and 10 metres of 25mm/1" bias binding created from Robert Kaufman's "Cute To Boot" cotton print.

Just a minute ... in January

Before the first month of 2009 slips away, I am joining in with Jenaveve's Just a minute meme. So, this month I have been ...

Growing ...
... pretty flowers. The start of the month saw a lovely floral display: cream and apricot roses, pink and blue hydrangeas, echinacea, cornflowers and dianthus. Sadly in the last few days the beautiful colours disappeared. The flowers died and the leaves on many of the ornamental plants browned and withered as the garden became tinder dry. The photos above are my last memory of a colourful garden. The food garden, on the other hand, has fought the good fight; eeking out an existence on recycled water. Three tomatoes were harvested. And take note people, if you have brown thumbs, plant watermelons. Apparently they are virtually indestructible.

Reading
... the wonderful Cook's Book: Patisserie by Loretta Satori. The author is a very talented pastry chef who wrote this as a text for culinary students. I love reading about the food science behind creating cakes, desserts and an array of fancy bakery items. However, the fascination really stops there. I don't think you will be seeing any fancy gateaux or petit-fours, coming out of the kitchen here at Chez Hoppo Bumpo any time soon. At best there might be a batch of scones.

Watching
.. the delightful World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. These gentle and beautifully animated tales from Beatrix Potter have made a nice change from the senses-assaulting programs presented for littlies. (Luckily Argy and Bargy enjoy the program too, so I can keep up the pretence that we are watching for their sake.) And despite having no interest in cars (other than getting from point A to B), I have also been enjoying a bit of Top Gear. The original UK version of course(afterall, how could you ever replace Jeremy, James and Richard? Global syndication has much to answer for. )

Dreaming
... of my fictitious Hoppo Bumpo business. The one where I make little children's trousers and sell them on Etsy. This week I surprised myself and washed three bolts of corduroy in preparation for cutting. Apparently you can dry a bolt in an hour, when the temperature hits 43 degrees. I can't say the cutting and sewing will be quite so quick.

To see who else is playing along with Just a minute ... head over to Jenaveve's blog, August Street.

Today's forecast

OK, can anyone remember thinking the metal roof was a good idea?

Unpleasant conditions prevail.

Blustery parenting and gale force children are expected to continue unabated well into Saturday. A deep low pressure system continues to adversely affect all craft and computer-based activities, as a ridge of high pressure to keep preschoolers amused indoors from sun-up until down, persists.

Mostly sunny. 43ºC/109ºF.

My creative space

I'm joining in again with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

Clockwise from left:

• Cotton voile, with hot pink, purple, burnt orange and sage print


• Fit For Real People (Palmer, P. and Alto, M; ISBN 0935278656) - I can highly recommend purchasing this if you are a beginner dressmaker. Its a fabulous text describing how to make alterations for realistic variations in body shape and size. I need to make quite a ... ahem ... large alteration to the waist of my pattern. I think I am going to use the rather daring-sounding slash and spread technique to make the bodice a bit wider.


• Trusty tape measure


• Simplicity 3504 Misses' tunic top - I saw the most beautiful version made up over here and thought this Project Runway pattern might be a handy summer design. I'm making up the view with the neck inset and elbow length sleeve (.... in the hope this will all balance out the large waist!).

Thank you to Kirsty for hosting. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Seam-along week 2 - French seams

If you have called in over the last couple of weeks, you would know that I am making a seam sampler of sorts.

Previously on seam-along ...
Introduction
Week 1 - simple edge finishes

This week I took a look at French seams, which are durable and quite straight forward to construct. They also look beautiful.

French seam

This is a lovely, enclosed seam - essentially a seam-within-a-seam. Due to its construction, it is really only suited to straight edges. You start by putting the wrong sides of the fabric together. Then using only a small seam allowance (say 1/4"), you machine stitch the seam.



Trim away some of the excess seam allowance and press the seam to one side.



Flip the fabric so that the right sides are together and the seam is enclosed. And stitch again.



Next, push the new enclosed seam to one side and press.



Et voila - you have your French seam. I read somewhere that in France this finish is known as an English seam. I have no idea whether this is true or not, but it makes a good story.

Mock French seam

This faux French seam finish can be used on curves. This time you put the right sides of the fabric together and stitch on the regular seam line.



Open the seam out flat.



Turn each of the raw edges inward ...



.... and press.



Bring both sides of the folded seam allowance together.





Top stitch in place.



Press the whole seam to one side.



Conclusion

To be honest I'm quite smitten with both these finishes. And just quietly, I have a message for my overlocker: Get your act together you recalitrant piece of machinery and loop and stitch as you should or it will be more than a French fling.

Did you seam-along this week? When would you use French seams?

Next Wednesday: Stay tuned next week, when bound seams (including a Hong Kong finish and a bit of gratuitous ditch stitching) will be on show. Read more about bound seams via Google.

Little stitches

Never too young to start.
Sewing with lace-up cards is great fun.
Even when you are only 2.

Lovely reproduction vintage sewing cards available here.

Australia Day

This was the view from my garden at 9.45pm this evening.



Each year our local council organises fireworks for the national holiday.



We live just a few blocks from where they are held.



They look - and sound! - like they are going off right over our garden.

Pretty vintage lace

This beautiful lace is the skirt from a vintage petticoat that my very kind auntie sent me. Its about 80 years old - a little fragile - and very pretty.



I am still deciding on its transformation: maybe under a protective layer of plastic as part of a bag? I do feel a little nervous, however, about taking scissors to vintage lace!

How would you use it? Any ideas?

While I think about its next incarnation, its living in this pretty case that Mum gave me for Christmas.

Eye Spy ... something beginning with J

I am playing along with Cindy's fun Eye Spy meme each Sunday. This week the lovely Lauren of Lauren Williams Handmade has returned us to purist Eye Spy. The theme she has chosen is I Spy Something Beginning with J.

Here's my "j" ...

Its the very end of a batch of jam that I made with a couple of kilos of feijoas last year. It was the first time I had tried eating feijoas - or making jam, for that matter. The fruit makes a very sweet preserve with an unusual, almost gritty, texture. I kept the fruit quite chunky and its been fabulous with fresh-baked, fluffy scones. Argy and Bargy are great fans of the jo-arr jam.

So, as we crack open the very last jar, we eagerly await the new season's fruit from my parent's tree!

Thank you to Cindy at Bug and Pop who is hosting Eye Spy and to Lauren for the fun theme. To see who else is playing, head over here.

John's back ....

.... and this time he is promising me riches beyond my wildest imagination.

Dear reader, I make no promises about how much longer I will be here. It seems by this time next week I could be lazing by the pool at my private villa, with nary a care in the world. You see, I received good news by e-mail this morning ...

GREETINGS.

We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a heir to the total sum of Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand British pounds in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. Name now withheld since this is our second letter to you.

We contacted you because you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as the heir to the inheritance. We therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed in your acceptance.

In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money. Please contact me via my private email so that we can get this done immediately.

Kind regards,
John McGowan Jr.

How remarkable - and exciting - to find that I had a distant relative with the surname HoppoBumpo.

Confused of Melbourne

Dear Agony Aunt,

I write in the strictest confidence, seeking your advice. I fear that my husband and I have met an insurmountable problem in our relationship.

You see, I made these little boy's pants today.

I regard them as funky summer cropped trousers in soft brushed cotton. Mr Hoppo Bumpo, on the other hand, says they are fashioned from fabric bearing a strong resemblance to flannelette ... and are quite clearly pyjama pants.

What should we do?

Signed Confused
(Melbourne)

Dust and smoke

The sun sets this evening amidst cloud, dust and grassfire smoke.

My creative space

I'm joining in again with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

Clockwise from left corner:

• Red hearts on pink, cotton
• Wonder-Under, adhesive webbing
• Pink and white stripe, cotton
• Vintage pattern Simplicity 3544 Misses Aprons - view D cut and ready to start work on a Valentine-themed apron swap
• Bias tape maker
• Embroidery floss and thread
• Maroon with white stripe, cotton

Thank you to Kirsty for hosting. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Seam-along week 1 - simple edge finishes

I started my seam sampler this week, beginning with some nice basic finishes.

Straight stitch finish

This is a very easy finish for an open seam. Simply stitch evenly in a line down each side of the seam allowance. Trim as close as possible to the stitching to remove the excess fabric.

Zig zag stitch finish

Another very easy finish for an open seam. Simply zig zag stitch in a line down each side of the seam allowance. Again, trim as close as possible to the stitching to remove the excess fabric.

Pinked finish

Houston, there was a problem: the pinking shears were blunt! I will amend this post when they have been sharpened. The general idea is however, that you cut the raw edge of the seam allowance with pinking shears. Its a finish that works best on fabric that isn't prone to raveling.

Clean finish edge



Slightly fiddly, but still an easy edge finish. Turn the raw edges of each side of the seam allowance under. Stitch close to the edge of the fold (perhaps a little straighter than I did!). This finish is excellent for fabrics that fray easily. Its not, however, suitable for heavyweight fabrics, as it makes the seam too bulky.

Overcast finish, by hand
(also known as overedging)

This finish is sewn by hand. Make small slanted stitches down the length of the raw edge of each seam allowance. The more prone the fabric is to fraying the closer you will need to make the stitches. So is it easy? All I can say is .... Good Gordon Highlanders, hand stitching is like, soooo not my thing. As you can see I left one side unfinished! So, when to use it? This type of edge finish is often used in couture garments. For the home sewist, it would be handy for tricky corners or where you wanted a very soft finish on the seam.

Overcast finish by machine
(also known as overedging)

This is a machined version of the previous finish, using a zig zag stitch. Sew right on the raw edge of the seam allowance. Carefully guide the fabric so that the needle falls just off the raw edge as it passes right. Some sewing machines have a special overcasting stitch/setting and/or presser foot - check your manual for details. I read in a number of places that a three-step zig zag stitch is the best for overcasting, as it helps the seam stay nice and flat. I tried it in the example above and thought that the finish was better than a plain zig zag.

Conclusion

All the finishes were quite easy to produce .... though of course the hand overcasting was the slowest! The clean finish edge would be the most durable - I saw no subsequent fraying. Where you have a finish that involves trimming the raw edge (straight and zig zag stitch finished) its important to do this as close as possible to stitching without cutting into it. The further away you cut, the more fraying you will get.

For the best combination of speed and durability I quite liked using machine overcasting.

Did you seam-along this week? Which is your favourite?

Next Wednesday: Stay tuned next week, when French seams (including mock French seams) will be on show. Read more about French seams via Google.

Bobbin

Ode to my bobbin
By Hoppo Bumpo

You've seen me through each elated high
And every ghastly low;
But little circular companion
Should I see you as friend or foe?

At first methinks ... friend, of course!
Your tireless work, so great.
Spinning, spinning, all a-twirl,
Interlocking so very straight.

Yet, there's a hint of something bad;
Occasionally some depraved angles.
How is it that when you're with your mates
All that thread unfurls and tangles?

And do you remember when you tricked me?
I thought the machine was spent
I dis-assembled all components
Only to find it was you that was bent

Then there's the times I sew and sew
Until there is no seam left
When I find to great annoyance
That you've been spinning completely bereft?

Bobbin, bobbin I need you so
Without you I cannot work;
But frankly its a love-hate thing.
The reality is ... you're a jerk

Alterations and decapitations

As I've lamented in the past, Chez Hoppo Bumpo suffers an imbalance between X and Y chromosomes. Opportunities to make clothes for little girls are few and far between. So I had lots of fun making a little playset for a family friend, who turns 5 today.

The outfit is made from BurdaStyle's very easy Sophia Little Girl's Playset.

I can highly recommend this pattern. Granted, that printing, cutting and taping 19 pages together is a bit of work, but at US$2 its good value. The pattern is multi-sized, giving 92-104-116-128cm. I made up the pattern for a 110cm child, so needed to redraw all the pattern pieces between two sizes. The sewing itself, however, was all very straight forward.

If you look at the original design, you'll see that I used a bit of poetic license. The bodice is meant to be cut in one piece, giving seamless shoulders. I didn't have enough of my cute Aunty Cookie fabric for to do this, so instead I cut the top in three pieces. The print was used on the front, with black with white polka dots on the back. I also omitted the little cap sleeves (read: I forgot to cut them out, then decided to make do without). The seams and hems were all finished using some home-made bias binding.



After fitting the top on (a hesitant) Argy (rats ... the game is up - he definitely knows the difference between girls and boys clothes) I decided to re-cut the neckline. I made it a bit wider and deeper, so that it would be more comfortable on a hot summer day.

Unfortunately, this alteration took out a row of carefully lined-up Cookie girls in the centre front. They all lost their heads. Nasty, that. And one headless soul was condemned to stare from the back as a covered button. Gruesome, huh?

BurdaStyle BS-005 - Sophia Little Girls' Playset
Sizes 92 - 128
Requires 1½ yards or 1.4 metres lightweight cotton
Pattern available for download from BurdaStyle.com
"Cookies" black on white linen/cotton blend by Aunty Cookie

Frankenstein's pencil roll

And so it was that Hoppo Bumpo tried to create the paragon of stationery storage from scavenged fabric stash and batting. But upon bringing it to life, she realised that there was something odd about the creation. It was half pencil roll; half quilted pot-holder. Dismayed, she gifted it to a five-year-old (who wouldn't know what a pot-holder was), then fled.

Eye spy ... a taste of summer

Trawool Victoria - 18 January 2009

I am playing along with Cindy's fun Eye Spy meme each Sunday. This week the very talented AnastasiaC of Anastacia Drawing and Dreaming suggested thinking of something that reminds us of summer.

This is my taste of summer: a warm northerly wind, impossibly blue sky and parched landscape. The rolling brown hills and plains seem synonymous with an Australian summer (I'm sure that the wonderful poet, Dorothea Mackellar, was writing about summer in her work My country).

Thank you to Cindy at Bug and Pop who is hosting Eye Spy and to AnastasiaC for the nice warm theme. To see who else is playing, head over here.

Hip-hip-hippo-hooray

The blog was looking a bit, er, plain. So what better pick-me-up than a makeover?

Thank you to the very talented Maree who designed the blog header and brought the Hoppo Bumpo hippo to life. She's quick, consultative and full of great ideas.

And good with hippo eyes. What more could you ask for?

Maree's blog with samples of her wonderful work is over here.
Maree's Etsy shop Work At Home Designs is over here.

Re: Application for garden makeover

Dear Extreme Renovation Makeover Blitz for Gardens,

Please consider me for your forthcoming television season.

I enclose a picture of our backyard, which I recall once comprised a manicured lawn and ornamental garden. I'm not quite sure what happened. I only looked away for a minute to do a bit of sewing and turned back to this. Can you explain this phenomenon? What is it called?

Anyway, I'd be quite chuffed if you could send round some people.

Perhaps a rangy bloke with a dog, who will barrow in 4 tonnes of new soil and take off his shirt in the sun (pphhwwooarrr). And a gal who will bring new plants and use suspect botanic names like gigantea nudiflorum. And maybe a theatrical chap, who make the whole thing look like a Balinese garden, with a water feature and something a bit thatched.

Of course, I'd be equally happy with someone who could tell me how to get rid of the weeds. That is, making use of something that won't annihilate the ankle-biters or the pet residing on the other side of the fence (the rowdy, barky one that makes noise at all hours). On second thoughts, just take the kids into consideration.

Thanking you in advance.

Yours faithfully,
Hoppo Bumpo

My creative space

I'm joining in Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

Clockwise from left corner:

1. BurdaStyle's Sophia playset - 19 pages of pattern downloaded, printed, trimmed, taped, traced and ready to go
2. Auntie Cookie craft panel; black with white polka dot cotton
3. Pattern drafting ideas from an assistant

Thank you to Kirsty for hosting. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Interesting seams - seem interesting?

My sewing kit circa 2006

Hello, my name is Hoppo Bumpo and in a former life I stapled hems. I believe I once also attempted to prevent a seam from coming asunder with a piece of sticky tape. This is the solemn truth. I am not proud of what I did. But desperate times (and lack of sewing skill) called for desperate measures.

If I recall correctly, early on in our relationship even Mr HB did a better job with seams. There was at least one hmmpphh ... gosh you're useless ... here give it to me moment. The man himself, would of course vehemently deny engaging in any perceived big girl's blouse activity, but as he doesn't read the blog, rebuttal is unlikely.

And as to me now? Well this is a sewing blog, so I hope you can see that I have tried to reform. To improve myself. The stapler was set aside some time ago.

These days I look longingly at sewing class descriptions with the words couture and techniques used in the same sentence. Don't get me wrong here. I would love to know how to do some of the fancier seam finishes, but realise I am not yet in the right league for a class like that. I'd be hopelessly at sea with setting in a jacket sleeves and or creating a welt pocket. So for now, I have decided to explore seams on my own.

I thought I might set about to make a seam sampler of sorts. Something where I could learn techniques and uses ... and check durability. I am particularly interested in finding beautiful finishes, which are as tough as nails. I am after all the Queen of Fray.

Which reminds me of a favourite joke.

A piece of string walks into a bar and orders a drink. The bar tender looks at it and then points to a sign. "Sorry mate we don't serve string in here". The piece of string leaves, but outside has an idea. He ties one end and musses a few threads. Ten minutes later the string returns and orders a drink. "Hey didn't I just tell you we don't serve string?" says the exasperated bar tender. "No, I'm a frayed knot" says the string.

Ahem ... I promise not to tell any more jokes ... back to the topic at hand. Over the coming weeks, I am going to trial some seam finishes each Wednesday. The list won't be as extensive as this (whoever knew there were so many seam types?) , but will include interesting things like French seams, Hong Kong finishes and Flat and Mock-fells.

Would you care to join in the experiments for this very casual seam-along? Or are you a frayed knot?

This week's goals

Do a bit of research and reading to learn about ...

• Straight stitch finishes
• Overcasting by hand
• Overcasting by machine
• Creating a clean finish edge
• Pinking a seam allowance

... followed by sewing a sample of each and tossing them in the wash to check out how sturdy the seam finishes are. I'm also going to think about how/if/where I might be able to use these finishes again in the future.

Captivating

She arrived early; just after dinner.
Larger than life.
All aglow; magnificence in a shade of gold.
Her face was soft and full.
Her beauty captivating.
She seemed to cast warmth over everyone in her circle.
It was impossible not to stare admiringly.

But as the evening wore on she appeared to withdraw.
She seemed smaller.
Distant.
Her face pale and the light colder; harder.
Lined with shadowy features.
And as she retreated, was barely noticed.
Until she was gone by dawn.

Once a month, I sit crouched outside in the evening shadows. Camera poised. Hoping to capture the full moon, as she rises in all her glory about the horizon.

The moon, however, is my photographic nemesis. Trembling hands and a lack of tripod, guarantee that the moon remains just a wavy blur in print. Always a doomed venture.

As they say, lunacy is the act of doing the same thing over and over, hoping for a different outcome.

Tutorial: make a gadget wallet

Gadget (n):

1. Small mechanical or electronic device useful for a particular job. Often thought of as a novelty.

2. Small appliance costing an arm and a leg. Easily scratched or dented. Guaranteed to to be the subject of bitter recriminations. Always sold without a protective case.

Remain blameless. Keep the novelty alive. Avoid trashing a gadget.

Make your own protective wallet. A tutorial and pattern for this short project are available here (available both online and as a PDF for download).

Eye Spy... something I want to try in 2009

I am playing along with Cindy's fun Eye Spy meme each Sunday. This week the lovely Bek of Red Chocolate nominated the theme of something we'd like to try in 2009.

I seem to have quite a number of somethings ...

1. Collars and plackets - the last frontier in basic garment construction
2. Lino cutting - tried once before, but the box says these cutters cost $7.80 ... so clearly quite a long time ago
3. Velvet embossing - after the great velvet fiasco of 2008, I have plenty of remnants to experiment with
4. Knitting - will it be easier to learn than crochet?
5. Quilting - starting with a picnic rug
6. Sketching - again, tried before ... but with 2 decades between me and this sketch, I'm not sure I even remember how

Thank you to Cindy at Bug and Pop who is hosting Eye Spy and to Bek for the great theme. Its good to have a list of goals for the year! To see who else is playing, head over here.

Blogfession

I couldn't resist when I saw that Amy from Badskirt was conducting a Blogfessional. What better way to get a bit of guilt off one's chest than declare it in a forum guaranteed both permanence and large scale humiliation.

Amy has confessed to light-fingering paint chips. Apparently she has a penchant for collecting them - all without an iota of intention to colour-match and paint. I should imagine that at this very moment Dulux is probably hot on the heels of chasing down her IP address. With a bit of forensic analysis, her number (which is 6600-AC in Blue Teal, apparently) will shortly be up. I can just see tomorrow night's news now ... as a PC and heaving bags of paint chip evidence are removed from Amy's home.

My secret on the other hand relates to paper napkins in restaurants and cafes. I know I shouldn't but I always take more than my quota. Not one or two. A teetering stack of them. The sort of pile that says serious mop-up operation. Of course with two disgustingly filthy boy-children I can almost always inwardly justify my greed need. Still, when you next go to dab the corner of your mouth after your meal and find the napkin holder bereft, you'll know squarely who to blame.

My other confession (ooooh ... its all spilling out now) is that someone in our household has blown the broadband allowance for the month. All blog writing, blog reading and photo uploads are hereby decreed to be excruciatingly slow for the next four days. (If you don't hear a great deal from me, other than some swearing in the distance, you will know why.)

Ah that feels better. Now, head on over to Amy's blog and see what other people are 'fessing up to ...

Huge twice-yearly clearance

Don't miss this massive summer clearance. On for a limited time only.

Its all got to go: appliances, toys, building supplies, glassware, furniture and more.

Multiple locations. Available by the cubic metre.

Bargains will just be walking away. Hurry - strictly while stocks last.

(Just don't get caught)

Weird stuff happens in my handbag

Upon my return from grocery shopping this morning, there was a message on the answering machine.

Um, was it you ... dialling me every couple of minutes ... throughout the morning? I could hear muffled sounds. And at one point I'm sure it was your voice; telling Argy to get off the pram and stop squashing his brother.

Oh dear. What can I say? My poor sister fielding all these nuisance calls.

I felt like such a Nanna. But to be honest, that would be maligning most Nannas - who I'm sure manage keep their mobile phone strategically placed, or locked, so that mysterious calls are not made from the depths of their handbag.

So I decided I shouldn't take any risks with the newest family gadget: a GPS. This evening I made a nice secure case for any times that it might need to live in my bag. Goodness knows what might happen if I didn't. There could be all sorts of inexplicable journeys made to fabric shops all over Melbourne.

Own design gadget wallet. PVC shell, print fabric outer and felt lining, with bias binding trim. Tie closure. Tutorial and pattern can be found here.