u/rebelwithmouseyhair

I got this gorgeous tablecloth from a second hand shop a while back. The saleswoman pointed out some rather unsightly stains and asked if I was sure I wanted it, then since I wasn't fazed by them, she discounted it heavily, I think I paid maybe €2 max.

In between two other projects I had a couple of days free so I finally got round to making the top. It's just a very simple top, back and front, no darts, just plenty of ease, copied and adjusted from an old favourite top. I usually use facing but this time I decided to line it, because I had some leftover voile and because I realised the embroidery is a bit messy underneath, I was fretting that it might unravel with wear.

It was great fun choosing which motifs to use, and my one regret is that I didn't take a before photo of the whole tablecloth because it was truly a masterpiece. Not only were the motifs very cute as you can see, there were additional little swirls of foliage gracing each corner and other areas. The little black lines have been painted on, but everything else is embroidered. There are just enough tiny imperfections to prove that it was hand-embroidered, I imagine it must have been a true labour of love.

Now enjoying a second life keeping me cool during this blazing summer!

This is literally just a skirt pattern I have (copied from a much beloved skirt that fell apart): a half circle attached to a band. I just made it a bit longer and added straps and of course a pocket, placed a little too far down but it doesn't matter. I then added a last-minute lining when I realised it was see-through.

Made using Ivy, (which means everlasting) who has just come back from the repair shop after spending a good 20 years chilling in the basement, with a good 20 years' loyal service/serious mistreatment before that. The guy in the repair shop put me on a 3-month waiting list, then only billed a couple of hours and one small part and she is working perfectly again, just like new.

I just started learning to weave this year and I've been making this for the past couple of months (one 3-hr workshop a week). I have no idea what I want to do with it, any ideas are welcome.

For the weave I played around with several variations of Swedish lace, using pure linen. Both warp and weft yarns were tripled, and I had fun producing the shading effects by using just the lightest blue, then using two yarns of that blue and one of a darker shade, then one yarn of the light blue and two of the darker blue, then all three in the darker blue. I introduced a black yarn at one point, but undid all but the part with just one black yarn, because it looked dramatic and ugly, not at all what I wanted.

It's surprisingly soft and supple (especially compared to my previous effort, using the same yarn).

The first photo is the right side and the second is the wrong side. IRL I prefer the wrong side, the pattern seems more emphatic, but it doesn't seem to show up in the photos.

I couldn't begin to tell you what kind of loom I did it on because I'm in France so I don't even know the vocabulary in English to describe the various parts.

I've already signed up for next year, I love it that much!

So I found this lightweight cotton fabric while looking for something else, and thought it would be great fun to have that for a summer outfit.

For both the top and skirt I used favourite garments that I cut apart and traced. The top is just a loose-fit back and front, with side slits to accommodate the hips and no darts. The skirt is a half circle attached to a rectangle that fits easily over my hips and is elasticated at the top. Both garments have a pocket, they are very easy and comfy to wear and the skirt swishes delightfully. When I want to ride my bike, I can either hitch it up over my bust or tie it up so that it doesn't get caught in the spokes,

You can't see it in the photo, but I cut the rectangle from a plain pink fabric, which I will also use to make a jacket. Right now it's so hot I can't imagine ever needing a jacket again, so I'll be getting on with curtains for my son in the meantime.

I made covers for my partners laptop and tablet because last time we went away he just chucked them in a carrier bag​.

I used scraps leftover from making trousers and curtains, and used an old towel for a protective lining.