Travel Sewing Kit

Where are you going?

This was the question my husband asked when I showed him my new Hand Stitched Travel Sewing Kit. The answer was sadly, nowhere.

My head is spinning, there is the collection that wants to be finished and presented, there are 2 books to study more sewing and pattern making techniques that want to be worked through and there is already a new project that I want to realize. I could not make up my mind of what to do first, so I had a cup of tea and decided to make a Hand Stitched Travel Sewing Kit. 

Where am I traveling to? Well, I am fed up with thinking of where to put the magnet, especially not next to the computer and also the threads and pins got tangled up. I wanted to make one in the very beginning when I started sewing by hand. But the design wasn't mine and I also questioned the practical value of the design. 

This version is not much designed and thought through but it suits my needs. The scissors are secured, the threads held in place and the sewing needles are in a separate location from the pins.

It needed to be very small in case I really travel as I have to give up any space in a suitcase for toys and extra clothes for boys. I also did not want to have to extra pad it so I put a layer of felt around it. It is made out of a too small T-shirt of the boys and some leftover materials and it is easy to close with a strip of jersey.

So were am I traveling to? From my studio to the living room, to nanny's television room and probably sometimes to the park.

a collection / chapter end

Suffering (;

I knew this would come. 
I have this self-imposed rule that I draw a pattern straight after a new design is born, no matter what. And if I make any changes I transfer them immediately too.

Obviously, there are exceptions. Sometimes I am not sure and think I can draw the pattern later. Sometimes the drawing is very free-style as it is in process anyway. Although I must say through experience my pattern-development got more and more accurate as it just speeds up the process, and although I know by now how to cut what, it is still of advantage to have the pattern finished, named and neatly stored. 

A year has passed. It feels like a chapter is finished and it is time to move on. But before that I wanted to present what I have done in form of a collection. I decided which of the designs will be part of this collection and did the last fine tuning. And I spent the whole weekend to create the final drawings of those patterns, I mean the final final ones, which was quite painful as I had to test and work out if it is all correct, like super correct. Because they will be graded and if there is an error, it will be in every size.... 

(... From now on I am not only drawing the pattern immediately but also do the final drawing.)

Well, now I only have to choose the fabrics and manufacture and present this collection in my shop. What a big event!

Man's World

Tied up

Well I said I do not sew lots of men's clothes but as it seems I have to.

But this is more of an emergency project. I could not bare looking at a bought tie again for a whole evening, or actually invest in buying one. I don't understand the tie-concept and have not seen one I like so far.

There is a special occasion on tomorrow therefore I spent my morning entertaining a very bored toddler and creating a Hand stitched tie. 

At least I can concentrate on my red stitches tomorrow. I might make a toddler's and boy's version with elastic band around the neck as well.

Bra take 2

I finished the "day" version of this super comfy bra. I just wanted a second one that is not visible or looks like another T-Shirt layer like the Yoga Bra.

This time I have used a wider elastic band with a softer structure, which seems to be even more comfortable. I did not fold the material over and embedded the band but left it outside, sewn on a single layer of Jersey. But because of its width I had to sew two rows of cross stitch around the band, which is a nice decorative element. 

The cut is lower for this version. I might try a different shape for the next one, maybe a V? The best thing about this breathable Organic Bamboo Cotton Jersey is that I can wear it quite often with only airing it, compared to a bra made of Cotton or Lycra. The material is very suitable for a bra due to its elastane content for stability, but rather for smaller cup sizes (;

Still in test phase but already one of my favorite no feel designs!

Bikini Top (Pattern)

Change the fabric and seam colour and have a new Bikini Top whenever you need it!

Once again this project started with a need. To go aqua running I needed a Bikini Top that is safe enough to wear and not to worry.

I usually find sportive bikinis too thick in material and not feminine enough, so I decided to create one myself. But it also seems that I want to be surrounded by handmade only. This is the second one I made for myself and they are both in constant use and test and I love them! But see for yourself.

If you enjoyed watching this movie please do't forget to share it. Thank you.
♥ handmade

If you watched the movie you can start now! All you need is Lycra, buttonhole Thread, a needle (sharps NO4), thin pins, fabric scissors, paper and paper scissors for the pattern (to repeat), a mat and a rotary cutter (optional).

The pattern is a fusion of a Bikini and a Tank Top. You can use a bra or bikini Top for reference (cup size) or just measure how wide the cup needs to be so you will feel safe. I cut the opening as low as possible but again not too deep to keep it safe. You will need 1 cm seam allowance. The band around the ribcage is 2 cm wide and 2x folded, which makes it very comfortable and strong enough to pull it tight.

The first version I made is black with a pattern and red seams, this new one is grey-ish with yellow seams, both very thin and comfortable. If you ask me now where are the pants for the Bikini Top I have to confess I had no time yet. But I guess you made your own Hand stitched knickers over and over again so I am sure you will finish your Bikini pants in no time and before I do ;)

ONE and more

A year has past and the winner is ...

Time is a weird thing. It is either too slow or too fast and if I do not notice time it is perfect. Kids grow up so quickly and Christmas comes too often. 

Well, enough thinking, time to celebrate: I did not make the chocolate cake but will for sure enjoy the day, this first Birthday of my little business i can cu - Happy Birthday!

Somehow it is also a day to reflect on all that has happened over the last year. It has been so special to get back to creating after a long baby break and also very hard. I am proud to present my wardrobe, far from finished but I guess I won't stop anyway because there will be always this and that I have never tried! And finally all the patterns are transferred and stored. WOW.

It is also time to wait and find out which size, colour and colour of seam this special Birthday custom present will be, congratulations Serena! And thank you for supporting i can cu.

Do not forget to use chocolatecake1 the couponcode for 40% off on all your purchases in i can cu's shop!!

Lots of Love
Happy Day
x Tina & i can cu

blowin' in the wind

A Beach Experience

It has been about a week that I have waited to make it to the beach. The car was unavailable, or it was too late or it was raining, or something else was in the way.
Today should have been our 'family' day, which means we try to put work into the background :) but we spent it doing the tax year, which is not very nice in itself but when it is done it is done...anyway, the sun came out, the car was parked in front of the house and the kids helped nanny cooking and we managed to sneak out and drive to the nearest beach about 35 minutes away.
Being sunday afternoon we thought to find the beach heaving and were relieved to find it empty. On the path through the dunes we understood why. A gale was beating us with sand and it was hard to see at all. I got really upset but still as I made it here I wanted to at least see the sea. There was no chance to take the camera out of the bag with the wind full of sand......
But on the beach the sand stopped beating.
It was still rather freezing but determined to finish what we started, we went ahead with the shooting....
Mad.

i can cu = ONE . . .

i can cu is ONE on the 1st of July!!!!!

....you might be busy but don't miss this:
because of this very special occasion - it is the FIRST birthday 
- i can cu decided to spoil you with a Hand stitched favorite Tank Top 
especially made for YOU!
. . . and the only thing to take part is share this giveaway and comment on this blog
. . . go on . . . be brave and dare to treat yourself with a gorgeous super comfortable Top . . . and it will be one of a kind . . .

(more detail here)

Happy Birthday!

See you at i can cu . . .
. . . winner to be announced on the 1st of July!

How to Make a Headband

How to Make a useful Headband - very easy & versatile

This Headband is a must have for my comfort and daily life. Whether working, dancing or on the bike I don't want my hair in the way but I need something soft and gentle to hold it in place. I found this version very useful:

. . .if you enjoyed watching this movie please don't forget to like & share it, thank you!


What you need
.stretchy soft jersey with lots of cotton or it will be too slippery
.a plastic ruler
.a rotary cutter
.buttonhole thread
.a needle (sharps no4)
.some thin pins
.fabric scissors
.tailor's chalk

. . preparation
Determine the size you need with a strip of your material (cut along the grain line) and mark it with a pin. I usually make it a tick smaller because the fabric will give, but not too tight to keep it comfortable. Add 1 cm for overlap and cut a rectangle of 10 cm width (across the grain line) and the desired length of your headband (along the grain line). 

Using tailor's chalk mark a line 9 cm away from the edge and across the grain line. Repeat on the other side. The area between those lines will be cut into strips.

Cut along the grain line from marked line to marked line leaving a 2 cm spacing between these strips. The strips make it more adjustable and it looks lighter and is also decorative.

. . sewing
Pin the edges overlapping 1 cm and thread your needle. Make a single knot close to the edge and a double knot about 7 mm further up. Start sewing a Cross Stitch by looping the thread around the edge first. Do this a second time and the space between these loops will determine the height of the Cross Stitch. 

Come up and make the first bottom part of your Cross Stitch. Continue all the way to the other edge, finish with two loops, a double knot close to the fabric and a single knot 7 mm further away. Trim.

Stretch the headband and make the strips curl up and it is ready to use.

Meet Dolly

Hello new friend . . 

Only a matter of time but now she finally made it, meet my new tailor's dummy. Hello!

I can cu featured!

hello friends 

my pink fingerless gloves 
are up for vote.

please vote for icancu2, 
thank you!!!!!!! 
very much appreciated....



http://onfireforhandmade.com/perfectly-pink-great-finds/

The Cross Stitch - a movie behind the scene

How to sew a Cross Stitch by hand - I can cu at work / meditation

As hard as editing in detail is as much calmness it spread in this case. 

While I am sewing I am not thinking. And if a thought comes up I usually make an error. And I love this. The best results come from an empty mind just in flow with a rhythm.

So in this state this movie was created and while editing I had to bring myself back to cutting and not drifting away in a cross stitch.

This movies explains How to sew a Cross Stitch (Herringbone Stitch), from start to finish, involves loops, knots and continuation with a new thread. 

I hope this film helps using this fantastic stitch, for mending, creating or just an eye-catcher.
Thank you for watching.

If you liked it, please don't forget to share it! Thanks again.

How-to sew a Hand stitched skirt

A DIY-sewing project by i can cu

Now, after practicing the Cross stitch ;)it is time to start the first project. It should be the season of showing more leg but it is also nice to wear one over leggings or tights, a skirt. This project is easy and can be repeated over and over again, shorter, longer, softer, brighter . . 

What you need
. Stretchy Jersey (anything that drapes nicely)
. Bottom seam of a T-shirt or a fold-over elastic band
. Thin Pins
. Gutermann Buttonhole / Top Stitch Thread in colour(s) of your choice
. Embroidery Scissors
. Milward Sharps Needle No4
. Cutting Matt
. Plastic Ruler
. Tape Measure
. Rotary Cutter
. Tailor's chalk or an erasable pen
. Fabric scissors

Measurements
First measure around your waist, your hips and around the widest part of your bottom.

Ready?
Half the fabric, align it and cut the edges straight (on one side, which will be the raw end of the skirt).Choose the length of your skirt, mark it and cut again.Cut the fabric in half now along the grain line using your fabric scissors, which leaves you with 2 halves of your skirt.Take one half and half it again along the grain line. Transfer the measurements taken earlier starting from the edge: first the waist measurement, leaving a 10 cm gap, then mark the hip measurement, leaving again a 10 cm gap and then mark the last measurement.Connect these 3 marks with your chalk or erasable pen, add 1 cm for seam allowance and cut, using your rotary cutter. Repeat the same for the other half. Half this half, transfer your measurements leaving a 10 cm gap between them, connect the marks and add 1 cm seam allowance and cut. If you don't like the angle and it would make your skirt too wide or too narrow, slightly adapt it but leave the waist measurement at the original point or very close to it, otherwise your waistband will have to accommodate too much fabric and this will make it very wavy.

Assembling
Now you can start pinning. Assemble both skirt halves, right sides facing each other, pin both ends first, which helps to align the fabric and then pin the rest, repeat for the other side.

Take about 2.5 skirt lengths of your thread and cut it in an angle to thread your needle  easier. Make one single knot close to the edge and make a double knot about 7 mm further up. See here and here for knot details.

Start sewing with making a loop (up through the fabric, around the edge and up through the fabric again right next to the previous hole) and continue in a straight line a straight stitch, try to stay about 8 mm from the edge and keep the stitches even.

When you reached the end run your fingers along the stitches finding the right tension between fabric and thread. Finish with a loop and knot off, first make a double knot close to the fabric using your nails to gently push it there and a single knot a bit further away, trim.

Repeat on the other side. The single knot, the double knot, loop around the edge, the straight stitch, adjusting the tension, the loop, double knot, single knot, trim.
Turn the skirt to the right side and fold one seam to the back and start pinning. On the other side fold the seam the same way, so they both face back and pin too.

The Cross Stitch
Thread the needle, make a single and double knot and loop the thread around the edge of your fabric. Choose to loop through the folded seam (thicker). Come up again through the fabric (below the created line) making the first bottom part of the cross stitch. 
The top part of the cross stitch is exactly the same but moved to the right. You always come up again where the last stitch ended.

Down and through the fabric for the bottom part, come up again to finish the bottom part where the last top stitch ended and move to the top part and through the fabric again, up and so on. Finished one side, make a loop and the knots, trim and repeat on the other side. Keep the top and bottom part of your cross stitch in a line, so the stitch looks regular. If you have to restart with a new thread make your knots and continue. More details for the cross stitch here. 

The Waist Band

Use as much waist band as comfortable around your waist and add 2 cm for overlap. 
Start pinning at the back, half the elastic band, and pin again. Quarter the elastic band and pin. . . Pin you way around, and keep checking that the fabric is fully tucked in while stretching it.Start sewing a cross stitch next to the overlap (so you go over the overlap in the end). The first few stitches can be tricky but as soon as you moved along it will be easier to find a rhythm again. Do the cross stitch all the way around so the last stitch meshes the first. Knot off, trim. Finished!I hope you enjoyed making this skirt, here is the movie this project is referring to. Thank you and see you at i can cu!

Spring 4 Liverpool

A bit of spring for Liverpool

Just finished 2 pairs of wrist warmers in the shades variation. These have only 3 colours but wider sections. Don't know but they took ages to finish, probably due to sick kids and lots of ideas and new bamboo/cotton super jersey that arrived and is just waiting in front of my eyes . . .Anyway they are in the shop now here in Liverpool. The shop is an art shop and you can find a lot of gorgeous things there and it also attracts some interesting people. Volunteering there means meeting some of them and enjoying talking to them as well. Really nice when they are interested in Hand stitched fashion and even purchase some!

DIY Hand stitched infinity scarf

DIY Hand stitched infinity scarf / head band / necklace / accessories / emergency scarf for freezing kids . . .

I don't think I have enough infinity scarves. My first Hand stitched infinity scarf was made out of a bit of scrap material. I found a piece of cashmere knit exactly the right size to fit twice around my head. The material (rectangle) was longer along the grain line which was fine for me because it stretches less this way and is perfect for a headband that keeps its shape.

So that is how my infinity scarf production started and I adapted it in many different ways. One for example is made out of the leftovers of an Organic Cotton jersey top I made and turned into a scarf with lots of necklaces. Another one is made of a warm knit and a bit wider so I can pull it over my head and it is very warming and cozy. . . So if you would like to stitch your own infinity scarf by hand, 
this is what you need:
. Fabric - anything that does not fray but stretches
. Cutting Matt
. Rotary Knife (optional)
. Plastic Ruler
. Milward Sharps Needle No4
. Gutermann Top Stitch Thread in colour(s) of your choice
. Thin Pins
. Embroidery Scissors
. Fabric Scissors

STEP ONE

First decide what shape your infinity scarf should have. This project demonstrates a thinner version, that serves as a headband but also a necklace or scarf. 
The width should fit twice around your head, add about 1.5cm for seam allowance. The height is about 33cm but again decide what suits your purpose. The grain line runs with the length of the rectangle.

STEP TWO

Then pin the (shorter) edges (pic 2).

I usually fold the material so the wrong side is inside and the felled seam you will create will be outside. The reason for this: When you wear the scarf it twists and so when the inside is visible it looks neat and still attractive and the seam being placed on the outside gives another element to look at (pic 5+6).

STEP THREE 
Make 1 knot at the very end (about 2mm away from the edge) to prevent fraying and then about 1cm higher make 2 knots in the same place to fixate your thread at the start.(The double knot in the same place might take a bit of practice)

(fot the knot also see http://icancu4more.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/diy-hand-stitched-wash-bag.html) 

Start stitching. I loop the first stitch around to the back and up very close to the first hole which seems to give it more hold. Then sew in a straight line a straight stitch. 

The stitches should have a nice rhythm. Too wide leaves a gap, too narrow might ruin the fabric. When you reached the end run your finger along the stitching from the beginning to the end to find the right tension between fabric and thread. Too tight and the fabric looses its stretch, too loose and the thread makes loops. 

Finish as you started. Loop the last stitch around to the front and down next to the same hole, make a double knot in the same place (on the wrong side) by using your nail and a single knot further away, trim the thread. Ideally both knots the first one and the last one are on the same side.

STEP FOUR

Pin the seams to the side where your knots are (so they will hide under the seam). Thread your needle, it is nice to use a contrasting colour for this eye-catching cross stitch. 

The start is the same as for the straight stitch by looping your thread around the edge. Come up next to the loop and make the first bottom part of the cross stitch, the needle should come up at the same distance from the edge as the stitch that came up next to the loop. The top part is exactly the same as the bottom part but moved to the right and you come up at the same distance from the edge as the last stitch that came up on the bottom. . . Keep your top and bottom parts of your cross stitch in a line so your stitch looks regular with a nice rhythm. In the last pic you can see the wrong side. 

End as you started by creating a loop that goes to the back right next to the last stitch. Knot off and trim.

Enjoy!

And now you can also watch The movie for making a Hand stitched infinity scarf:

If you enjoyed watching this movie please don't forget to like an share it, thank you!!! ♥ handmade!

Yoga pants test phase

Testing Day for my new Hand stitched Yoga pants

When I did my training as a graphic designer I remember finding myself criticizing the to my opinion wrong spacing on shampoo and soap packaging or whatever was there in the bathroom while I was washing my hair. 

For my Birthday I got a voucher for Liverpool One, which is a popular shopping corner in the center of Liverpool. And again I was looking at seams and shapes . . . .

It has been now over a year that I am 'off high-street' and wearing handmade. I am far away from having a whole wardrobe stitched by hand but I am getting there, slowly.

So the next project are these Hand stitched Yoga pants. I designed already classic leggings which are very comfortable but I wanted to top it with a band made of the same fabric as the pants instead of an elastic band. The reason for this is it is soooooooooo comfortable and gentle around the waist. I call them pants because they are not as tight as leggings but still have a snug fit. The eye-catching cross stitching transforms this rather simple design into some very nice Hand stitched Yoga pants.

Today is the test phase for the cut and so far no pulling and adjusting and only comfort . . . .

Soon to be tested in an Organic jersey made of bamboo, cotton and elasthene. Really looking forward to that!

% SALE - get ready 4 spring!

Icancu has a new SALE section to help you to get ready for spring and refresh your wardrobe!

It is January and spring is wanted! 

I am really looking forward to a warmer season and thought it is good to get prepared. 

This new SALE section will help you to refresh your wardrobe . . . . Enjoy!

icancu2.etsy.com

♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ♥

prolonged for one more day *

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

♥ ♥ ♥ shop at icancu ♥ ♥ ♥
type HAPPYBIRTHDAY (couponcode) 
to get 38% off - 
only today ; )

* icancu2.etsy.com

Enjoy!