Sewing

Tummy time roller

I have to say at the outset that I had never heard of a tummy time roller, but I’m fully across them now! If you don’t know what it is, it’s for a young baby who should spend a short time each day on its tummy. All the babies I’ve known have hated tummy time, […]

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recycling, Repurposed, Sewing

Detachable Collar

I’ve had a bit of a yen for a detachable collar and found one in the local COS store that really appealed, so set about replicating it. I wanted to use some small table napkins I have, obviously morning or afternoon tea versions. I have a large number of these, as I suspect they are […]

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Sewing, Travel

Hoodie hack

My most favourite ready to wear hoodie is on its last legs and I’ve been meaning to cut it up to turn it into a pattern for about two years, but as this year I am not wearing a single item of ready to wear clothing, the time has come to copy it. I am […]

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Sewing

Sun smart swimsuits

Followers on Instagram have already had a bit of a sneak peak at these swimsuits, but they deserve a better description, I think. I have been swimming laps and found that my arms, shoulders and back require sunscreen, and I frequently forget, so I wanted a leotard style swimsuit. Now keep in mind that I […]

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Sewing

A salvaged cardigan

I decided that I had an urgent need for a long fitted tank top to wear to yoga and set about making one. It was an unmitigated disaster! I made it so fitted that it turned from black to white when I put it on – the stretch was so great. I cut the shoulders […]

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Sewing

The Muresk tops

This pattern has been dubbed the “Muresk top” because it’s based on a copy of a top that I got free on the last day of the garage sale at the Fibres West retreat held at Muresk, and I used fabric that I eco-dyed during my sojourn there. The original top is by a well-known […]

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Sewing, Travel

I love Liberty!

I’ve been posting photographs on Instagram of me wearing a couple of tops whilst on my recent holiday, so I thought it might be time to talk about them. They are both made from Liberty knit fabrics that I bought at Shaukat & Co on Old Brompton Road when I was in London with the […]

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self-drafted, Sewing, Travel

Two directional top

One of my few remaining pieces of RTW is a very stretchy top that I used to love, but which I haven’t worn for about three years. I decided that I would like a new one, so rubbed off the pattern and then went shopping in the stash. I found a small remnant (what else?) […]

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Sewing, Travel

Secret dressing gown

Or a cardigan. I really wanted something light and comfortable to wear on the long haul flight that I’ve just done, and happened to mention this to Sarah at my patternmaking class, and before I knew where I was we were into it! As it happens, she had designed something almost exactly what I wanted for herself […]

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recycling, Sewing

Coco and me

I acquired this pattern for the Coco Trouser from Ralph Pink patterns as part of my winnings in the Sewalongs and Sewing Contests group on Facebook. I was not only attracted by the photos, but by the description: “Uniquely Extraverted Coco Trousers: The 1920’s were an awe-inspiring era, and now you can bring a bit of retro-chic into […]

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