By Hand London Anna Dress (Or, brushing off the dressmaking cobwebs!)

Hello everyone, Emily here!

For one reason or another I haven't done any dressmaking for well over a year (moving house without my sewing machine, tension on said machine getting mucked up in move, pedal for said machine going missing!) but the urge grew too strong, so I looked for a nice easy pattern to ease myself back in with.

I went for the Anna dress from By Hand London - it had an easy rating, was the retro shape I love, and I'd seen others made up looking lovely on various blogs that I follow. The chosen fabric was a half bolt of squirrel print fabric that I'd snagged at a trade show, knowing that I'd do something with it sooner or later!

So, I set to work, and thoroughly enjoyed the process - the dress came together pretty quickly over an afternoon and a couple of evening's sewing, and although it's not perfect, I'm really pleased with the results.

I'm looking forward to making another Anna now, and changing the few things I need to. Firstly my measurements put me at a 20 according to the sizing on the pattern envelope. However, although I definitely need the 20 across the shoulders and hips, I had to take the bodice in at the side seams and darts for the bust and the waist, so may grade the pattern down in these areas when I cut it next time. Along with this the bodice is around an inch too short, so the skirt hits just above my natural waist. This isn't an unusual problem for me at 5 foot 7, and again is easy enough to rectify the next time. I also fancy swapping out the boat neck to the V neckline variation, as it came out higher than I expected and I don't think it's the most flattering for my shape.

So, now I have a good excuse to go fabric shopping so I can get started on another frock, I've definitely got the dressmaking bug back now!

More Granny Squares!

Yup, this certainly has been a Summer of crochet for us!

After the success of our granny square cushion, we couldn't help but give it another go in a different colour, so here it is, pretty in pink! You can now buy your own in either colour over at our Etsy Shop.

Details: Pink Crochet Granny Cushion  100% Cotton Yarn. Inner Fabric 100% Cotton

Crochet & Knitted Broach Bouquet

The flower broaches have evolved again!

Presenting... The Loopy Ladies Knitted Broach Bouquet! Perfect for your crafty big day!

The bouquet (£95.00) is composed of twelve individual brooches which can be detached  and given to members of the Wedding Party as Tokens of Thanks. Colours may be selected for your own colour scheme and more flowers can be included at additional cost. Individual flowers are also available as Corsage's. Also can be ordered as a table centre piece where flowers can be used as wedding favours.

They will be available from our Etsy shop soon, but in the meantime if you would like to make an enquiry just contact Karen!

Pink Granny Squares Crochet

Whilst we've been relaxing a bit over the Summer we've been experimenting with new colour ways for crochet granny squares and are particularly taken with this pink version! Look out for workshops to make your own coming up after the Summer holidays - we'll get the new timetable out soon, terrible to think it in July but we're having to think about Christmas crafts already!

Hand Knitted Heirloom Bunting

Hand Knitted by Loopy Ladies in 100% cotton and backed with 100% cotton fabric. The perfect gift for a New Born, for a Christening Gift or for a Naming Celebration! Why not add HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your Loopy Ladies Heirloom Bunting collection so each child in the family can have this displayed with their name to celebrate their special day! Select colours of your choice for a complete Alphabet for the Nursery. Help the Bride and Groom Celebrate their Special Day with their named Bunting. Celebrate Christmas every year with our HAPPY CHRISTMAS and MERRY CHRISTMAS Bunting and don't forget to have a HAPPY NEW YEAR every year!

Crochet Flower Brooch

The crochet flowers that we have been obsessing over this Summer have evolved into a gorgeous brooch!

So pretty, with a decorative button centre, and like everything from Loopy Ladies completely hand made.

Look out for workshops to make your own in the future, but if you just can't wait, they are available to purchase in our brand new Etsy shop at £4.99 each.

Bergere de France Baby Layette and Hat

We've recently started stocking the fabulous Bergere de France range of yarns and knitting patterns. We fell in love with the quirky French style, and the fabulous prices!

Of course, we couldn't help but knit something up as soon as we got our hands on it, and we're so pleased with this gorgeous baby cardigan and hat.

Cardigan and hat are from Bergere de France Magazine 165 - Layette 0 to 24months , Pattern details

This is age 12 months with actually knits up quite small. Yarn used is Caline which knits up beautifully. This lovely colour is Baigneur, but there is such a wide selection of colours to choose from in Caline, you may feel the need to knit this in several colours and at just £3.25 a ball your baby can wear a designer garment at a fabulous price!

If you have fallen in love with this garment and know just the baby that deserves such a beautiful item but you feel it may be a little above your skill levels, ask about out Knitting for You service, where we will have this garment knitted for you in your choice of colour and size. Prices start from £50 for age 3 months.

Vintage Style Crochet Cushion

Continuing with our current crochet obsession, here's a vintage style cushion that Karen recently created - we love the shabby chic style!

Remember, if you'd like to learn to crochet, look out for our beginners crochet workshops!

Knitted & Crochet Flowers

We're currently playing with knitted and crochet flowers in different shades of pink and blue.

Pretty enough on their own, but they're actually the starting point for an exciting new project we have in the works... more on this very soon!

Improve Your Knitting Skills and Create a Beautiful Knitted Throw

Today we just wanted to shout a little about how much we are enjoying our regular knitted throw workshops.

We now have a fabulous group of ladies who get together every other week on a Saturday afternoon to knit a new square for their throw - learning a new stich each time, then taking the square to finish at home over the next 2 weeks. In fact there are now just two places left!

You can join at any time and start from square one, and spend a couple of hours knitting, chatting, munching on gorgeous cake from the local Regency Tea Rooms, with Karen on hand to lend her knitting skills and wisdom (!) and as you go you will build up your own gorgeous knitted throw blanket - a real heirloom of the future for you and your family to treasure!

The next session is on Satuday 15th June, at 2:00pm, all yarn is included in the price (with a slightly higher price for square one to include needles and a bodkin too.) You can book your spot here.

One of our lovely knitters, Jane, with her impressive knitted throw in progress!

Making a Victorian Etui - A Sticky Business!

We spoke about our Victorian Etui workshop a couple of weeks ago - and explained to you what on earth one actually is! (A really pretty, and very clever, folding sewing box!)

Well, now the workshop has taken place we thought we'd pop up a few photos of one of our favourite crafters, Jane, getting stuck into making hers! (There's almost as much glueing as sewing involved in this project!)

Jane's Etui in the making

The sticky bit!

Getting to grips with the glue!

So proud! The finished article!

Granny Squares Crochet Cushion

 

We're a little obsessed with granny squares and flowers crochet at the moment!  After working away on them for our Grandmother's Squares Crochet Lap Blanket Workshop, we thought, why not a cushion? Really pleased with the results, so cute and the colours could be adapted to look fantastic in any home! 

As usual, we like to use the best quality materials, soo this one has a feather cushion pad, and a 100% cotton fabric used as lining. If you don't fancy spending a few hours with a crochet hook to make one for yourself, you'll be able to nab one of these very soon in our upcoming etsy shop!

Learn to Make a Victorian Etui

First of all, what on earth is a Victorian Etui? Well it's a clever little sewing box that takes up little space, but pop off its lid and it unfolds like a flower to reveal places to keep all of your crafty essentials.

Let's keep this historic sewing box design alive! Come along to our class on Saturday 11th May and make your own - full details on our website here, and remember booking is essential for all workshops to make sure we have enough cake!!

Helen gets to grips with making her Etui at our last workshop

Annette's Baby Blanket

Another Loopy project that we just had to share with you! One of our lovely customers, Annette brought in her completed hand-knitted baby blanket /shawl to show us - how gorgeous to wrap up a new born in!

This project was knitted in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino purchased from Loopy Ladies to a Debbie Bliss pattern. You can see our full range of Baby Cashmerino here.

Rosamund's Raffia Hat

Hello everyone!

Today on the blog we'd like to share this lovely picture of one of our crafters Rosamund in her Raffia Hat, which she made at Loopy Ladies on our Raffia Hat Course.

Doesn't she look fabulous? Made from plaited raffia, these hats are great, as not only are they easy to make but they're also incredibly durable and withstand being folded flat to pack into your suitcase time and time again, so perfect for your summer holidays! (Or the odd sunny day we get here in the UK. It does happen sometimes!)

If you'd like to know about our next raffia hat course date, pop us an email to karen@loopyladies.co.uk and we'll make sure you're on our list to receive the next term's timetable.