english girl at home

A Sewing & Knitting Blog, Made in Birmingham, England


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Linden Swap

Linden Swap Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

Just a quick post to share this amazing Linden which I received as part of the Linden Swap organised by the extraordinarily lovely Victoria ( on Instagram).

Linden Swap Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

I received this Linden from Elinor ( on Instagram), and in turn made a Linden for another participant (I was really late so they won’t have received it yet, sorry!)

Linden Swap Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

Elinor can’t have known it, but I have a total addiction to turtle neck jumpers! It has made me laugh recently to see that turtle necks are fashionable – well I was years ahead of the curve because I get them out every winter!

Linden Swap Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

As you can see, Linden makes a really nice top in a lighter weight jersey, and minus the cuffs and waist band.Thanks so much Elinor – love it!

Linden Swap Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt


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The Smiths Linden Sweatshirt

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

This is my latest Linden Sweatshirt (number seven blogged). It’s View A, Size 0 – although in this fabric I should probably have sized up to a 2 as it has limited stretch.

The original inspiration for this jumper were the excellent  which released earlier in the year. The Hades jumpers were limited edition and I missed the chance to buy a The Smiths jumper, so I thought I’d make my own. I’d love to knit something closer to the Hades original, but am a bit wary about tackling knitted lettering without a pattern, unless anyone can recommend something similar??

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

For this version, I cut a stencil of the lettering in acetate (more stable than paper and also reusable) and screen-printed the text using black ink onto the pre-cut Linden sweatshirt front. For reference, I always use Permaset Supercover screen printing ink to print on fabric and find it really reliable, Fred Aldous stock it in the UK.

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

I found it difficult to gauge the best size and placement of lettering while the sweatshirt was in pieces. If I make another, I will increase the size of the lettering, and move it closer to the neckline.

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

The fabric is a loop-back jersey purchased at Guthrie & Ghani during SewBrum. This pale pink is great for letting the text stand out, but does also get grubby easy.

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

I also made my scarf. This is TOFT’s Block-Colour Filet Scarf crocheted in their (British) yarn, in a natural (stone) for the main colour, with yellow for the accents. I’m pretty sure this is the same pattern (knitted in a solid colour) available from TOFT’s free pattern section. I’m not great at crochet, but this is a nice easy pattern and a relatively quick project.

My jeans are not me-made, but were made in the UK by Community Clothing.

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

These photos were taken in Hagia Irene, near Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, which was the first Byzantine cathedral built in Istanbul, and is now a museum. Like all Byzantine religious buildings in Istanbul, this has had a varied history, including earthquakes and acting as an armory. We had the building entirely to ourselves on our visit, and it makes for a pretty atmospheric backdrop.

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

P.S. in a similar vein, I previously blogged a screen-printed Morrissey tee.

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt

The Smiths Screenprinted Grainline Studio Linden Sweatshirt


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Sheepy Linden

I made this Linden Sweatshirt last year and finally photographed it recently in Bruges.

Linden Sweatshirt in Bruges

This sweatshirt is based on one I spotted in a fashion magazine while getting my hair cut.

LF Markey Sweatshirt

I recreated it using the Linden Sweatshirt pattern. The only change I made to the pattern (version A, size 2) was creating a seam in the sleeve. The cuffs and neckband are cut from the same fabric used for the body.

Linden Sweatshirt in Bruges

The main fabric here is a ‘warm jersey’ from White Tree Fabrics. The fabric I used on the arms was purchased from ebay.

This sweatshirt is a total man-repeller, Phil hated it as soon as I finished it, and it was also commented on by men in the office. To be honest, that just makes me like it more – kind of like a dare!

Linden Sweatshirt in Bruges

This sweatshirt was a test version for last year’s #lindenswap. I was paired with Katy who made me a very stylish Linden, and in return I made her a big furry linden! Sorry Katy!

Linden Sweatshirt in Bruges

The jersey used here is actually a bit lightweight for the wooly fabric, so for Katy’s version I used a different fabric – cut from a second-hand men’s jumper I found in a charity shop.

Linden Sweatshirt in Bruges

Bruges

Linden Sweatshirt in Bruges

I’m lucky enough to have finished work for Christmas so I’m off to finally watch Spectre in a minute, then back to Christmas present making.


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Liberty Linden Sweater Dress in Bruges

Linden Sweatshirt Dress in Liberty Fleece

Now that winter has returned, I’ve gone back to making Linden Sweatshirts! (Last year’s Lindens are here: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4).

Linden Sweatshirt Dress in Liberty Fleece

My mom bought me this Liberty fleece from SewBox at the Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts show in Birmingham during November, as a birthday gift. I didn’t have a particular plan for the fabric but thought I’d make a Linden rather than risk a new pattern with Liberty fabric. I only had one metre of fabric but this fleece is very wide and once I’d laid out the pattern pieces it was clear I had more than was needed for a sweatshirt.

Linden Sweatshirt Dress in Liberty Fleece

To make the dress I used View A of the Linden Sweatshirt (size 0), and simply extended down the full length of the fabric, shaping in slightly near the hem. I used the Linden View B length sleeves. As with my previous Lindens, I cut the neckline band approximately one size larger to ensure it would lie nice and flat.

Linden Sweatshirt Dress in Liberty Fleece

Due to the thickness of the fabric, I folded over once at the hem and bottom of the sleeves and sewed two rows of stitching to secure.

Linden Sweatshirt Dress in Liberty Fleece

These photos were taken during a recent long weekend in Bruges, down a quiet street. In fact the whole of Bruges was quiet like this (making it the perfect blog photo location!) – until Saturday when many more tourists descended. Ignore the creases in these photos, I’d been walking around in the dress all day, and had it screwed up under a coat and scarf – temporarily removed for blog photos.

Linden Sweatshirt Dress in Liberty Fleece

I’ve got another Linden to blog soon, but am planning to try out Paprika Pattern’s Zircon as an alternative sweater / sweater dress next.


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Red Quilted Linden

Linden Sweatshirt

It’s been a really busy week, so this is just a quick post with another Linden Sweatshirt.

This quilted Linden was started with the leftover fabric from this quilted jacket, however I didn’t have quite enough so ended up going back to Barry’s for an extra 1/2 metre! Not such successful stash busting… The ribbing WAS from my stash, and is from Minerva.

Linden Sweatshirt

I sized down to size 0 for this version, and did my usual trick of cutting the neckline band approximately one size larger.

Linden Sweatshirt

These photos were taken in my favourite local park, Cannon Hill. The red grasses growing by the water there happen to match my sweatshirt pretty well;)

Linden Sweatshirt

I’m wearing one of my favourite necklaces in these pics. This Snoopy necklace was my mom’s; when I was a kid, our house was burgled and my mom’s jewellery taken, but this Snoppy necklace wasn’t stolen as my mom had given it to me and it was around the neck of one of my soft toys:) This is Snoopy in his pilot gear, although for many years I thought he was wearing a nice headscarf. See what I mean?

Linden Sweatshirt

We took these photos a few weeks ago – it was bright but still pretty cold; here is how I was dressed as soon as we finished taking photos!

Cannon Hill Park


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Floral Woven Linden & Snowdrops

It’s time for this week’s Linden! I will be posting makes from some different patterns soon, but still have a few Linden’s from a recent binge to show you. It’s probably a first for me, as I very rarely use patterns multiple times, but this pattern is so quick and easy (and so good) that I couldn’t resist. I normally struggle with OWOP, but I’m ready for this year’s now!

Floral Linden Sweatshirt

Last Sunday I visited a ‘snowdrop weekend’ at a (relatively) local church, St Leonard’s in Beoley, with my family. We walked around the grounds, which are currently scattered with snowdrops, and had tea and cake inside the church.

I wore my latest Linden, made in fabric from Barry’s. I have completely forgotten what the label on the bolt said about the composition of this fabric. It’s a heavy weight woven, with a slight one-way stretch. The right side of the fabric has a slight pile.

Floral Linden Sweatshirt

Construction wise, I actually made Version A with a few tweaks. I left of the bottom band, instead turning and hemming. I originally cut the full-length sleeves, but realised they were very tight and so cut a length off the bottom and hemmed them. I think they’ve ended up slightly longer than the sleeves from Version B. I also had to significantly lengthen the neck band (which is made from the main fabric); I originally cut the neckband one size larger than the body of my Linden (which I have done for all of my versions to prevent pulling at the neckline). However, in this fabric, with limited stretch, I couldn’t actually get the sweatshirt over my head… So I re-cut the neckband, estimating the extra length, and reattached. It now fits fine.

St Leonard’s Church Beoley

The one issue with making the Linen in a very stiff, non or limited stretch, fabric, is that you may have excess fabric sticking up at the back neckline. However, once I’d attached the neck band, I found that it pulled in the fabric effectively and that the neckline lies flat.

St Leonard’s Church Beoley

The fabric used has a large scale floral print. I centred the print on the front, but cut it at an angle on the back. I didn’t attempt print matching (as you can see), partly because I never do, and partly because I didn’t have enough fabric to attempt it with such a large-scale print. I would definitely get told off on Sewing Bee… (I’m loving this series by the way, although it seems to get harder every time).

Floral Linden Sweatshirt

The Linden is worn here with a beloved RTW skirt and shirt from Oasis, both of which I have had for many years (incidentally, both were gifts from my Nan). I take good care of my clothes so they tend to last a looong time.

Floral Linden Sweatshirt

My brother and his fiance’s miniature dachshund, Rupert, was with us at the church for a run around the grounds. Phil snapped him, as well as me, in his new threads.

Rupert the miniature Dachshund

Rupert the miniature Dachshund


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Lacy Linden Swap

#lindenswap Linden Sweatshirt

I love a good online event, and I also love the Linden Sweatshirt, so I was really excited to take part in the #lindenswap organised by Carrie and Ingrid.

I was even more excited when I found out that I was paired-up for the swap with Katy of Katy and Laney, as I love Katy and Laney’s blog and have been looking forward to trying out their patterns (Tap Shorts this summer? I think so).

#lindenswap Linden Sweatshirt

This is the stunning Linden that I received from Katy in the swap. It arrived from New York last weekend along with some much appreciated chocolates:)

#lindenswap Linden Sweatshirt

Katy made the Linden in a lovely soft sweatshirt fleece in a pale grey, with a darker grey ribbing for the neckline, cuffs and hem. As you can see, the really cool feature of this Linen is the white floral lace which Katy attached along the front and back sleeve seam.

#lindenswap Linden Sweatshirt

Katy also modified the hem, attaching the front and back hem ribbing separately, which creates a cool v-shape between the two sides.

#lindenswap Linden Sweatshirt

You know what’s even more fun than telling people who admire your jumper that you made it yourself? Telling them that you received it in a handmade jumper swap & it was sent to you from New York! Now that’s a pretty cool ‘how I got my jumper’ story. Thanks Katy!

#lindenswap Linden Sweatshirt

#lindenswap Linden Sweatshirt

Necklace by Working Clasp. I traded this with the designer Rebecca for one of my pandas when we both had stalls at a local craft fair.