The Nutty Seamstress

" 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...

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...

When I found out my friend was pregnant - well technically I guessed, I was overjoyed for her.  To start a family was a dream of hers and I was delighted it was becoming a reality.  It was also her first and the scan showed the sex was a boy.   It was all I needed to start deliberating a little baby collection. At the beginning of the year I had been to a couple of craft fairs and to my local fabric haunts, where I had managed to get some great remnants for a really good price; different furs (fake of course), fleeces, french terry's, baby soft jerseys.  They were all sat in my stash waiting patiently to be converted into something wonderful and this baby collection was the perfect incentive. I knew the collection would include a toy, some bibs and some clothes, but I wanted a theme to tie it all together.  When I laid out all the different pieces together, what jumped out at me were blue tones (cliche I know but bear with me), greys and bunny rabbits....

I love a Wrap Dress.  I particularly love a Jersey Wrap Dress.  It's the epitome of comfort.  A secret PJ if you will.  A classic that is flattering, yet a bit of a Chameleon allowing me to transition from office to bar with little to no effort.  It's my magic dress. I first saw this pattern, V8379 on one of my favourite blogs; Emily Hallman Designs.  I love Emily's blogs as she is an exceptional sewer, pays attentions to the finer details and likes to make things pretty.  A maker that appeals to the perfectionist within.  Her blog is somewhat of a sewists bible, so when I saw her versions of this dress I just had to try it out for myself. In my early days of sewing I had a bit of a love hate relationship with Vogue Patterns.  An 'Easy Vogue' never seemed easy.  So it was a pleasant surprise when I came to making this pattern that it was easy and simple.  For once it did what it said on the tin, so to speak. It also helped that I ha...