Featured — I Want To Be A Turtle

July 2016: #Vintagepledge Guest blogger - A Stitching Odyssey

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October 2016: Cut Out + Keep Sewing Superstar

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one for sorrow, two for joy - Obscurae Magazine Volume 6 Issue 1

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I Want To Be A Turtle

A creative lifestyle blog which mainly focuses on my personal sewing, drawing and thread painting projects.

Claire

Self taught sewist, fabric hoarder and handmade wardrobe builder. Say hello:

iwanttobeaturtle@gmail.com

Over on Instagram

Over half way through @emillieferris pansy pattern and I’m loving how it is working out.

Saturday morning sewing after a two month break. Trying something a little different in look and style as I’ve opted for the ruffles of view c.

#sewphotohop Day 11: creative process. It’s rare for me to sketch out a make ahead of time. Normally I pick a pattern and fabric (not necessarily in that order) and hope it turns out how I imagine it. Only really special makes are committed to paper first.

#sewphotohop Day 10: fresh out of the sewing machine. It’s been weeks since I last spent quality time with my machine and I made this floaty floral version of McCalls 7119 to take on holiday.

#sewphotohop catch up. I feel like I’ve just come up from being under water from a major deadline and I’m now playing catch up. Day 9: lightbulb moment. Mine tend to happen when I’m walking or running and the solution just pops into my head. A great example is my first Gabriola skirt where I had missed two of the four side panels. A month later, on my walk to work, I realised I could piece them from the left over fabric and no one would notice due to the crinkled nature of the crepe. Can you spot the extra seam line?

#sewphotohop day 8: specially made. I got a special request to help a little Yorkie I know stay warm in winter. I made her a quilted coat. Doesn’t it suit her?

#sewphotohop day 7: colour and texture. Sewing introduced me to green. I had previously avoided it, thinking it wasn’t my colour. I love the base green in this cotton which has a odd texture - so much so I had to ask it’s content when buying.

#sewphotohop day 6: seasonal favourite. This summer was the summer of the Cami. Particularly this #ogdencami in a deliciously light, floaty and colourful viscose.

#sewphotohop day 5: sewing corner. I have two areas I count as my sewing space. The first is our large dining room table where I complete all my sewing projects. It’s not quite the cozy sewing space I dream of (and I’ve seen so many of today) but it gives me fabulous views in the spring. The second is the corner of my sofa which always covered messily with a project. Currently it’s embroidery.

#sewphotohop days 3 & 4: separates or all in one and signature look.
It appears that I can roll these two together. My initial instinct was that I belong in team all in one. Looking back over my makes and recent wardrobe choices, I’m actually team separates. Which brings me to my signature style: a skirt paired with a top whatever the season. I love the snuggly nature of a warm top and boots in winter.