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Orange Crush: Dress, Skirt and Top

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When I set out my goal at the start of the year, the one colour in the colour palette that filled me with trepidation was Orange.  I have never owned anything Orange.  It's not a colour that appeals to me and therefore to meet this goal I thought I'd be making a small token piece.  Never would I have imagined I would create 3. It just so happened at the start of the year, my sewing inspiration or guru if you will; Emily Hallman, was creating a Navy and Orange collection.  And one of her fabric choices, a rayon-cotton blend Ponte Knit from Mood Fabrics really caught my attention. As soon as I saw it I knew what I was going to make with it.  My favourite and most made summer dress; McCall's pattern M7130.  I have made so many versions of this dress that the tissue pattern is getting quite worn and I should really buy a back up. This dress is actually strapless, but I always add spaghetti straps because they add that extra layer of comfort and I find that I'm ...
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Self Drafted Pleated Skirt

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The one thing I like about observing a fashion trend is how it gets interpreted.  From how it is constructed to how it can be worn.  The pleated skirt is a classic example of this and there are so many different constructions that I'm inspired to draft my own. As simple as this self drafted skirt was in reality, it actually took me a while to figure out the silhouette I wanted and how I was going to create it.   From scouring Google for inspiration (above pictures from Shopbop and Reiss), my heart was set on something light, free flowing and dynamic, with an exposed waist band that cinched in at the waist. I toyed a lot with fabric choice.  My original thought was to go with an accordion  pleated chiffon, but then I found this grey metallic pleated jersey on Minerva Crafts that I thought would fit the bill better. This fabric had lots of little pleats and to ensure this translated into the final skirt, I tacked all the pleats in place before I cut into the ...
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Face Masks

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What a strange year 2020 is turning out to be.  If you'd told me in January that we'd be in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, I'm not sure I would have believed you.  If you'd have have told me that I would be making face masks for myself, friends and family, I also wouldn't have believed you.  But here we are. Since the pandemic started, I've been in 2 minds about making face masks.  The scientist in me is dubious about any benefits it has on preventing transmission of Covid 19.  But what I've come to realise, is that the true benefit is in reminding others to keep their social distance. I decided to originally make face masks due to concern for my sister's welfare, as she was on the frontline for the NHS and had no choice but to use public transport to get into work.  And if I had to make one then I may as well make a couple dozen more. I got the pattern off The Great British Sewing Community.  A great resource if you are looking for a way to equip...
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Love Life: We are Knitters Dragon Fly XXL Blanket

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My birthday, if I can, is a month long celebration in February.  I am not one of those people that hates their birthday.  What's the point.  It will come round each year like clockwork and rather morn for the earlier years I start the new year as I mean to carry on; with positivity and promise. A big event for this year is that I have bought a new build property.  A dream home if you will, because it is a spacious 2 bed flat, in the city centre (essential as I am a city girl at heart) and makes me feel extremely grown up.  Because of this I have been determined to have "grown up" art in the flat.  And so for the past few months, I've been scouring the art galleries to figure out what type of art speaks to me. The week of my birthday I walked into Castle Fine Art Gallery in Birmingham and was blown away by a piece of art by Nic Joly.  The piece is called Colour Me Up, but the actual sculpture spells Love Life.  It's the most joyous thing I've ever ...
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Pleated Skirt: McCalls Pattern M7906

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I'm a big fan of this pleated skirt trend that has been going on for the past couple of years.  There is an effortless elegance that comes with it, particularly at mid-length and paired with a nice pair of heels. I decided to make my first skirt out of a designer fabric that I got from Mood Fabrics; a Rag and Bone black cotton twill.  It's a lovely fabric and a bit of an indulgence - but I did get it during Moods designer sale. The pattern I used to create this skirt was McCalls pattern M7906.  I am not sure why I decided to choose this as my first pleated skirt.  I think I was lured in by how classic it looked on the model on the image and the fact it had pockets.  But it wasn't as plain sailing as I thought it would be. For starters this pattern has a gazillion buttons.  Ok this is some what of an exaggeration.  But buttons are some what of a nemesis.  I can always guarantee that no matter how many times I test the buttonhole on the fabric, the ...
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Undercover Hoodie: Papercut Patterns

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" Lounge wear" is a strange concept for me; partly because I don't lounge and because lounge wear screams 'too casual' for someone who is usually smartly dressed.   However that being said, the most casual you will catch me, is in my gym wear. Gym wear is probably one thing I will never sew.  Partly because Nike does such a good job and their products are built to last.  However, I have been looking for a hoodie to keep me warm  when I am going to and from the gym.  Typically the ones I liked were so pricey that I decided to make it myself. I managed to find some Atelier Brunette French Terry on Etsy, which seemed to be sold out everywhere.  So as soon as I saw it I had to get it and well worth the price it was too.  It's such a lovely and soft fabric. I decided to make the hoodie using the Undercover Hoodie pattern by @papercutpatterns - it's such an easy and simple pattern and the whole thing came together very quickly.  The instructions we...
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Midi Skirt: Butterick B6578

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I don't know what it is about midi skirts, but there is something quite elegant about it and dare I say it - "flattering" for my shape.  They are an easy staple and because it is a separate, by definition, it means that it can be mixed and matched with other elements of my closet. So it therefore comes as a bit of a surprise to me that the midi skirt is a bit of a scarcity in my closet.  It is only last summer that a few got added to the summer wardrobe, but for the spring, I have nothing that transitions well and that is suitable for the slightly cooler temperature. When I saw Butterick Pattern B6578 - I couldn't wait to make it.  A pattern for knit fabrics, a midi skirt with an elasticated waist band.  Then I found this gorgeous midnight blue poly knit sold by @newcrafthouse and that was the skirt made. The skirt was an easy make.  Very simple to pull together.  A definite go to pattern for the future to fill my closet with more of these midi skirts. I ha...
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