Everything Tote - It Sure Is!

This is my Everything Tote, from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing.

I made it almost a year ago and finally took some photos of it this summer, during our holiday in Portugal. And I was very pleased that my very sweet Godmother - who is a professional seamstress (so it was a bit nervwrecking having to show her the bag I sewed...) - accepted modelling it! She was very funny with whole thing and of course there were lots of jokes about vegetables...! We had a great laugh! Thank you Gina!

I know a lot has been written about this pattern, and the erratas in the book, and yes I did have problems with the handles, but in the end I got a great tote which really carries EVERYTHING! This summer we've used it as a beach bag, a market bag, a "mum" bag, a shopping bag.... And it just holds so much! And as a user, lover and dependent on big bags this was definitely a great project to have done. And I will do more of these, I'm sure!

The outer fabric is from Åhléns, from last year's collection. The lining fabric is deep pink cotton, from a local fabric shop.

If I Only Had A ...

... tin full of biscuits!

I've been searching for the perfect biscuit tin, as Dorothy was searching for her way back home. And on our holiday in England I finally found it!

We are all huge fans of The Wizard of Oz and what could be better than this tin featuring our 4 favourite heroes? 

I grew up with these old classic musicals and maybe I even dreamt of becoming a musical movie star, tapdancing and singing on the big silver screen.... It's so wonderful now to watch my two sons enjoying this film as much as I've always done! It's really timeless! 

Today, a rainy day, we baked delicious biscuits to fill up our new, perfect tin! 

And now every time I take a biscuit from the tin I can't help but start singing all those amazing songs. It's a bit like those music boxes which start playing when you open them!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

The Munchkin Song

If I Only Had A Brain

We're off to See the Wizard

And more...

So let yourself skip and jump out on the streets as if you were dancing along the yellow brick road!

And smile!

Which is your favourite song from the Wizard of Oz?

Or, which is your favourite musical?

SEW & SHOW - Gentleman's Challenge!

I am very pleased that the ascot I sent in for the Sew, Mamma, Sew! Make it! Wear it! challenge was featured in their highlights!

 Ascot/photo by Miss Pelicano

I was happily surprised that from people's comments it sounds like lots of fathers and grandfathers out there do enjoy dressing elegantly. 

Is there anyone else out there also making "Gentleman's" items?

Neck ties/photos by Miss Pelicano

Here is a challenge for you!

SEW & SHOW - Gentleman's Challenge!

• Sew an item for the Gentleman
• Post it on your blog and link to this challenge post
• Send me the link to your post and I'll list it on the side bar  

Have fun!

For the Gentleman!

Here is the ascot (or cravat) I made for my Dad, for his 

92nd Birthday!

My Dad always dresses very elegantly. My sister and I always say he dresses like an English gentleman! So this was an excellent accessory to sew for him. My Dad lives in portugal, where I'm from, but since i'm living in Sweden I hadn't celebrated his Birthday there with him for a few years. This year I made sure to be there with him and I'm so glad I was and to personally give him this present. He was already wearing an ascot, of course! One which I bought in a shop in England a few years ago. But he immediately took it off and put his new one on, commenting on how much better quality the one I made was!  It's the joy of handmade!

The beautiful fabric is a high quality quilt cotton with a lovely touch.
The fabric is called "Cocorico", by Hoffman California International Fabrics.

I can't believe my Dad is 92! He looks amazing and as elegant as always!

I even sent this top photo to the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog challenge Make it! Wear it! and it was chosen to feature in the highlights but because of different time zones, by the time I read their e-mail it was probably already too late to send my approval. Oh well, maybe next time! And I'm still flattered!

The ascot was made form the Burda 3404 pattern and it is a very easy one with very effective results! The pleats are fun to make and immediately give it a very elegant look.

 

"The Modern Gentleman's Neck-Tie ABC"

Then I found this fun little book in a bookshop in Sweden.

 

 

 Through clear pictures it shows how to tie different knots on different neck-ties.

I had to wear a tie for years as part of my uniform when I went to school but I had no idea there were so many different ways to tie it! With the help of this useful little book I now know that the knot I tied is called English I, and according to the same book it is "the "classic" knot, the most common and easiest one to tie". Oh! What a surprise!...

 

After some googling I learnt that Plastron is also called Plastrong, the Swedish word for ascot, or cravat.

And here is how you tie it!

 You can also get help with the perfect suit/tie colour coordination!

Click on the images to enlarge to get a closer look.

If you're a man, there's no excuse now! If your man needs help, here is the answer!

The mustasch is optional...

Isn't this classy? 

We talk a lot about how beautiful and elegant vintage ladies wear (dresses, skirts, blouses) was (is). I'm thinking 30's to 60's. And how much fashion has changed. But for the gentleman (!) has it changed that much?

From the little I know about sewing blogs I haven't seen much men's fashion, so I propose a challenge for anyone who wants to show any sewing projects you have made, are making, could make, for men!

Check out other ties I've made, here!