Lekala Patterns Review 1...from Russia with Love?

Ok, so I have been toying with the idea of buying some of these Lekala downloadable sewing patterns for a while...so I bit the bullet and spent 5 euros for 10 patterns/units, a bargain...I will do an individual pattern review as I go along.  There's a great range of patterns on their site, some are really quite unusual and just to let you know the "knittings" section is for knits, it took me ages to suss this out and as I am rather partial to jersey fabric, this was great.

Anyway, in order to get your patterns you first need to purchase them via Soft Key, which I did and paid easily with Paypal.  Within a few minutes Soft Key sent me my account registration details (keep a note of them) and then the activation code needed to register with Lekala and then lastly the 15 digit number which Lekala require when purchasing your patterns.  It all sounds a bit complicated, but it was easy and all came through really quickly via email along with instructions for the next step...just remember to keep a note of your passwords and activation codes

The next thing I did, was decide on my patterns (you don't need to choose them all at once, just keep a note of how many units/patterns you have used and  your "password for the construction of patterns") clicked to order and entered my measurements in centimetres and the 15 digit passcode.  I chose the patterns without a seam allowance as I think this option counts for 2 units/patterns instead of the 1 unit without the seam allowance included.  Its easy to add the seam allowance in whilst you're sticking together and cutting out your pattern.

I chose the patterns to be sent to me in PDF format, A4 sized paper and they all arrived within an hour of entering the details, fab.  The patterns are really easy and simple to print off and stick together (not too many pages either, I think the biggest is 30 pages but most tops and simple dresses are like 14 pages), I printed with no scaling at 100% actual size.

I copied and pasted the instructions and the photo of each pattern from the Lekala website (some of which were dodgy Russian to English translations lol) into Word and saved under the pattern number.  Even though some of the translation is a little peculiar, if you have basic common sense and some sewing experience, you can get by...I hope!!!!

Well, that is all I can report for now and I am happy with the service speed and process of receiving the patterns and will report back once I get down to sewing individual pieces. Pin It

Fabric Bracelets (from plastic bottles and fabric remnants)

Ok, so I have been having some real fun today making bracelets from old plastic bottles and fabric scraps.

I normally recyle what I can but sometimes I love to just reuse the items instead plus I am always on the look out for ways to use up my fabric remnants.  These bracelets were inspired by a tutorial on Favecrafts (which is a fab site for allsorts of crafts) and I added my own twist to it as always.

 Ok, so the first thing to do is cut up a clean and dry old round plastic bottle, I used a 1 litre sized one.that had a wide enough circumference to make a bracelet to fit me.

Then, I cut out strips of plastic of various widths with some plastic left over for who knows what as yet :0)  

Once you have cut out your bracelet shapes, staple or glue the ends together (I did both as the glue didn't want to stick) to your desired circumference.  I just used a shop bought bracelet I already had to gauge this.

 The next thing you want to do is cut a long strip of fabric, I didn't measure the length or width, just winged it.  Now if you like, you may want to hem the raw edges so that you have a nice smooth wrap of fabric around your braclet.  

Then, you need to apply some hot glue or other suitable glue to the inside of your bracelet and start to wrap your fabric strip around it, adding glue each time you stick down the fabric.

 This is 1/2 way through wrapping the fabric around the bracelet...keep wrapping and glueing and wrap it tight!

 Once you get to the end, you want to cut off the end of your fabric strip (if there is a lot left) and turn the end into the inside of your bracelet

 This bit is optional, but its for a Flower embellishment: - draw  2 or 3 circles of different sizes onto the back of your fabric (or another fabric if you like), I just used a couple of different sized pots I had lying around

 Cut out the circles, they don't have to be perfect as you we will be "singing" the edges

 Then cut some little nicks into your circle (I did 4) to form the petals

 Now using the heat from a lit Tee-Lite gently waft your fabric flower close but not in the flame.  The fabric will start to curl and take more of a flower shape....please note, I used polyester satin, I am not sure how this would work with other types of fabric.
(PLEASE BE CAREFUL TO NOT CAUSE A FIRE - IT MAY BE WORTH HAVING A BOWL OF WATER NEARBY JUST IN CASE) .

 So here are the 2 layers to the flower

 Next I hot glued the smaller layer to the bigger layer, stuck the flowers to my bracelet and glued on a few rhinestones and voila!  I also made a pink one out of a remnant of Sari fabric that has been used in so many different projects it has an endless lifespan!

Until next time, Zoe xxx

I am linking this post to these fab sites linky parties...

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Plant Pot Jackets

First you need to measure the circumference and height of your plantpot..add 1/2-1" to both measurements

to allow for your hem

 Next using your measurements, cut out your fabric and hem all the way around all 4 edges

 Then sew on some Velcro (hook and loop)..I put the loop on the right side of the fabric and the hook on the wrong side

Wrap your finished jacket around your plantpot and voila!  I like that these can be put in the wash and changed when I get bored of them.

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Valentines Melt and Pour Soaps

Spring Inspired Valentines Soap

I melt my soap using the double boiler (dish over pan of simmering water)

but some people choose to use the microwave, either are just fine :0)

I used Food/Cosmetic Grade Liquid Colourants and Cosmetic Grade Fragrance Oils

 Valentines Layered Soap with Spring Inspired Embeds

Valentines Soap Cupcakes

 Sorry...it's a bit difficult to read this...the soap icing/frosting is made by melting white melt and pour soap.  Once melted, add 1 tbs of liquid castille soap to each ounce of melt and pour soap...add any colourant and whisk with an electric mixer until it resembles icing.  I made 2oz and this was plenty, enough to make some little wax tarts...see below

And these are the "tarts" from the left over icing with a few embeds thrown in there!

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Gel Polish Manicure and Pedicure Experiment

Ok, so there's a new type of nail polish on the market now, its a cross between a regular nail polish and a gel, so it needs to be cured in a UV lamp...although application is the same...clear base coat of UV gel, 2 layers of colour and 1 layer of top coat...each coat needs to be cured separately under the UV lamp.  The great thing about these new gel polishes is that they last for up to 3 weeks on the hands and 6 weeks on the toes!!!! and are chip and smudgeproof, no more waiting to dry once its cured, you are ready to go!

So these are my first experiments, using  with Cuccio de Pronto Clear as a base coat, Chijue Gel Polish No  and Christrio Gelaquer Permashine as a top coat...strictly speaking, you are not supposed to mix products from different manufacturers...but I have not had any problem as yet...basically you need to prep the nail first by
1) washing your hands
2) apply sanitiser...I used the antibacterial gel
3) push back the cuticles and lightly buff (to avoid damage) the nail plate
4) brush the residue off, use a wipe to dehydrate the nails
5) apply base coat, cure, apply one coat of colour, cure, another coat of colour, cure, top coat, cure and wipe the dispersion layer if necessary and done!

On my toes, I added some rhinestones by sticking them to the final top coat and then I gently applied a little more of the top coat over the top of them before curing...they may move around a little as you apply your topcoat, so you may have to move them back to the correct position with a little birchwood stick before your final cure...and thats it

UPDATE:

the gel polish on my nails peeled after about one week..hmm..not really that impressed to be honest

the toes were going to last for ages but I got bored and soaked them off (took about 10 mins) soaked cotton wool in acetone and wrapped each toe with the cotton wool and silver foil, popped my feet in a plastic bag (heat helps the gel polish to come off as well)

Gel Polishes on Amazon - Fraulein - these have Soak Off Gel Polishes have good reviews and are between £4 and £5 a bottle Pin It

Gel Nails

Sorry its a little blurry, but these were my Christmas artificial gel nails...I used natural tips, Christrio Gelaquer Soak Off Builder Gel 2 coats and their Permashine Soak Off Topcoat...once cured in my UV lamp, I applied 3 colours of polish, some silver glitter with a striper polish and a few rhinestones...love it and it lasted ages!

Gel Polishes on Amazon - Fraulein - these have Soak Off Gel Polishes have good reviews and are between £4 and £5 a bottle Pin It

Sewing

Ok, so here is most of the sewing I have done this year...NEW LOOK 6977, MCCALLS 5248, SIMPLICITY 2374, WOMANS REALM (Vintage) L109, SIMPLICITY 2666 & NEUE MODE 23273...click through to flickr here as I have labelled the pattern for each photo!  I am a beginner seamstress, self taught (with the help of youtube and sewing sites) and I absolutely loveeeeee it!

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