It’s that time of the year again when the Instagram challenge Sew Japanese in January is hosted by @bloglessanna and @craftyjane_makes, and I do love this one as it makes me get out my Japanese sewing books and make plans! I actually thought about what I might need, rather than want, and I felt that […]
Read more
Recently there was a call for people to participate in a challenge to reproduce an outfit from the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit”. If you haven’t read the book (which doesn’t discuss the clothes) or seen the series, then it is about chess. It’s set in the 1960s so I probably don’t need to say […]
Read more
The latest zero waste pattern from Liz Haywood is the Ursa, which is a simple, draped, cowl fronted dress. This is another pattern that I didn’t think would suit me, but I have faith in Liz’s designs so gave it a go. I made the smallest size, which is based on hip measurement and my […]
Read more
I’ve participated in Designin’ December for the last few years (see 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) and I seem to have always chosen a vintage design, so I thought I should keep that tradition going. Designin’ December is a challenge organised by Linda from Nice dress, thanks I made it, with the tagline of “Why buy when […]
Read more
I am becoming such a fan of Liz Haywood’s zero waste patterns, so when she released the Cendre top I bought it automatically as I’ve found that all her other patterns fit perfectly into my wardrobe. I did have reservations, I have to admit. Those puffy sleeves with my out of proportion top would just […]
Read more
In 2017 I bought a roll of Japanese shibori dyed silk from one of the traders at Fibres West. Then it sat in my stash as I decided that the colour didn’t suit me and anyway, what was I going to do with this amazing fabric that was just 17″ or 43 centimetres wide, that […]
Read more
The latest pattern from Pattern Union is the Felix Jacket and I was lucky enough to be a tester. Sarah has been working on this for quite a long time and I was privileged to be privy to her development process. I began with a white cropped version made from a Victorian bedspread given to […]
Read more
I was asked if I’d like to join the Fibremood link party and I was delighted to say yes. I chose the Alice top as I felt that this would fit perfectly into my current lifestyle and I had a piece of thrifted fabric that I thought would be the perfect thing. It was a […]
Read more
As soon as Liz Haywood released the Smith Pinafore low waste pattern I knew I wanted to make it from recycled jeans. It took me a while to buy the pattern as I was busy with other things, and then I had to finish the Clair skirt, but I was impatient to get going. I […]
Read more
When Liz from The Craft of Clothes released her Clair Skirt I wasn’t sure it was for me as it seemed so pouffy and I thought it might swamp me. Then Wendy posted her version on Instagram and I was smitten. I dug out my Mum’s long compass, which is pretty old and a tad […]
Read more