Hannah Kitchen, Ashford Videos
Videos by Hannah Kitchen in Ashford. Hannah brings the happiness and relaxation of sewing to all ages. Choose 1-1 tuition; sewing groups, parties or team building. Sewing provides a break from worries. It helps you express yourself. A friendly online community awaits you too . . .
Me made every day in May
So Insta challenge #memademay2022 was fun. I learned:
1) Lots of my clothes are tight now but worth altering to wear! I also probably have enough clothes to go on for another month (?bad?). But much of the fabric comes from the back of someone else's airing cupboard (yay!)
2) I do love dresses and while many in the sewing community realise through this challenge they need to make more 'comfies' and jeans, I'm just not that woman. When I was 7, my mum tried to ease me into trousers via postbox red flared cords with a silver buckle. I AM NOT WEARING TROUSERS, I said militantly clutching the carpet of my bedroom floor. She had 4 other children under 6. I (mostly) won.
3) Moving forward I 'need' to make more t shirts and jersey tops starting with Sofia sweetheart neckline pattern.
4) Someone asked me if this process of sharing my home sewn items on Insta was hard work. Every part of getting dressed is a joy to me. But like many women I don't like looking at photos of me. But carrying on with that process and, on balance being celebratory, has been good for me around my changing body.
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Me made every day in May
So Insta challenge #memademay2022 was fun. I learned:
1) Lots of my clothes are tight now but worth altering to wear! I also probably have enough clothes to go on for another month (?bad?). But much of the fabric comes from the back of someone else's airing cupboard (yay!)
2) I do love dresses and while many in the sewing community realise through this challenge they need to make more 'comfies' and jeans, I'm just not that woman. When I was 7, my mum tried to ease me into trousers via postbox red flared cords with a silver buckle. I AM NOT WEARING TROUSERS, I said militantly clutching the carpet of my bedroom floor. She had 4 other children under 6. I (mostly) won.
3) Moving forward I 'need' to make more t shirts and jersey tops starting with Sofia sweetheart neckline pattern.
4) Someone asked me if this process of sharing my home sewn items on Insta was hard work. Every part of getting dressed is a joy to me. But like many women I don't like looking at photos of me. But carrying on with that process and, on balance being celebratory, has been good for me around my changing body.
Week 4 Me Made May
Instagram challenge Me Made May week 4. (The international sewing community take a chance to think about, plan and share ideas of handmade/homemade/one of a kind/bespoke clothes.) Three more days to go but #memadeeveryday
Days 15-21
Me Made May (Insta challenge to review and wear things from a handmade wardrobe every day in May) days 15-21.
Me Made May challenge days 8-14
Instagram challenge Me Made May: wear and reassess your handmade wardrobe. Days 8-14. In some of these pics you can see I'm weary of daily photos! But what great weather for a dress!
1-10 May 2022
Last ten days I've been doing #memademay2022 where the sewing community reflect on our handmade wardrobes and share handmade or significantly altered readymade. I wear clothes I've made every day anyway but I don't document other than in May or sometimes to share a new thing.
Ten days logged. A chance mostly to let go of things now too small for me. 21 days of Insta journalling to go including a new Jubilee dress (WIP!)
Contact me if you want to improve the fit or your existing wardrobe or make new things! For most of my life I've been a support worker rather than seamstress. I promise I'm gentle!
By Hand London 'Hannah' dress. #bhlhannah
This pattern is called 'Hannah' and by an indie pattern company called 'By Hand London'. I want to love it because who rejects a Hannah? Possibly because I didn't bother to do a full bust adjustment even though the company told me to so when I emailed them to ask and (bad Hannah), I don't feel it fits me well.
This dress is what the 'sewing community' call a 'wearable toile' (a less than perfectly finished first go at a dress pattern in an inexpensive and not particularly cherished fabric).
The benefit of handmade items is you do get to think about ideal fit and ideal shape - so I will keep going and make another.
I wore it out to a lovely pub lunch. Everyone's children happily entertained together elsewhere. The sun was shining. Perhaps I took the 'how do you model with a chair' silliness too far!
Message if you are interested in sewing lessons, commissions or alterations
Tilly and Buttons 'Indigo'
Will you stop wearing baby doll dresses. . . She said it this week. . .he said it to me too many years ago.
There's a sweetness about them I love. I can see they don't suit my shape. This #indigodress #tatbindigo Tilly and the Buttons 'Indigo' dress I altered with a keyhole shape to break up the front (and so be more flattering). I'm unsure it changes much. But the fabric the softest lawn and the green less dour with blonde hair.
Keep it or pass it on?
Bucket Hats XXL
Hats that fit. Hats that add a small portable statement to a neutral outfit. Interesting textiles. Hats to show off your smile. Hats to shelter your skin and shy mood.
I have a huge head (mostly literally) so making hats big enough for me is so much fun.
Tilly and the Buttons 'Miette' wrap skirt pattern
An A line wrap skirt is a winner because it gives you a waist and it cuts you some slack when your waist grows after a big lunch (or many many peri-menopausal chocolate Lockdown feasts!)
Two years ago - when I made all these skirts - i was two stone lighter.
I'm likely to do some alterations but a wrap means they were both pulling out the wardrobe and still do up!
I've got lots of wrap skirt patterns but this is another example of when I've gone head over heels for a style . . .
But PM me if you'd like to make any kind of wrap skirt with me. Or even commission me to make you a comfortable summer skirt!