Fabric shopping in Bedminster

It's been a slow week for sewing - I've had quite a lot on in the evenings, which has distracted me a bit unfortunately!  I went out in the sun at lunchtime today though and went to Calico for a bit of fabric browsing.  Well...it was meant to just be a browse, but of course once I was in there I just couldn't resist...!

My next project is going to be PJ bottoms, and I'm going to make them from the new fabric I got today!  It's a beautiful soft cotton stripe - perfect for comfy PJs for curling up in.

However...I am in a bit of a quandry at the moment - I was going to use the pattern from the Great British Sewing Bee book, but I've read a few things online that imply that the pattern sizing isn't quite right.  I've been on the Simplicity website, and found this project for pyjama pants instead, so I think I might give it a go!  Has anyone tried either of these patterns - any recommendations?

The other fabric which I got recently is this gorgeous denim star print - I got it in the Nelaro Fabrics sale on Facebook!  Unfortunately it was the very end of the line, and so I could only get half a metre - so that obviously very much limits what I can make with it!  It might be another bag - we'll see.  Any other ideas welcome...!

Denim stars

No plans for the weekend as yet (apart from packing for my trip to London) so hopefully I'll get some sewing fitted in, and maybe even take my new PJs away with me!

Fabric shopping in Bristol

I was so excited yesterday...!  Like the compulsive fabric shopper that I have now become, I Googled 'Bristol fabric shops', and found there was a Fabric Land in the centre of town.  So Liz and I decided to take a little wander down yesterday on our lunch break to check it out.  I was really keen to get some new fabric for my latest project - the circle skirt from the Great British Sewing Bee book.

Well...!

It didn't look like much from the outside, but once I was in...I could barely decide what to do, where to go - I was overwhelmed with choice!  There are so many fabrics, and really reasonably priced as well, which is good for a beginner like me.  After all, you don't want to spend a fortune on fabric which you then end up unpicking five hundred times...!

Eventually I got myself two different fabrics - check them out.  Floral prints are my new favourite thing!

I think the blue one is quite Cath Kidson-esque, and I've already started making my new circle skirt from it - pictures to follow.  I've not quite decided what to do with the black fabric, but I may just make another skirt from it, if this one goes well - you can never have too many summer skirts, after all.

I will definitely be back there - I've a feeling that dashing into town for a fabric fix may become my favourite 'summer lunch time' activity!

Just before I sign off today - here's a (not very good) picture of the 'bank holiday bunting' in place at the window at the top of our stairs.

And here is me wearing my new top in the sunshine on Clevedon pier - I'm happy to report that it has been out and about, and hasn't fallen to pieces yet!