Sewing puzzles and unseasonal sewing

The last couple of weeks I've been puzzling out a dress. It started with some fabric, then a lot of working things out in my head, then a mistake with the amount of fabric purchased which ended up being a blessing in disguise. It's ended with a dress that I'm head over heels for- although …

Hello Penny!

It's been an 'all change please' couple of weeks, as I finished my last job and started a new one. Different (nicer) commute, different challenges- all positive things. Doing this all in sweltering heat- less fun. It's not great meeting new people when you're a sweaty mess! My me- made dresses have come in very …

Queue for the Zoo Grace Dress

A long time ago (January I think, or February) I finished a making a dress. A little while ago (May), I wore it to a wedding. I also wore a hat to the wedding. It was a very 'me' outift. The pattern is the Sew Over It Grace dress. I made one of these a …

Camber Dress

Hello there blog, long time no speak! One of the things I was really keen to get made from my #makenine2018 was a Merchant and Mills Camber set dress. One of the wardrobe gaps I identified was a need for more simple day dresses, particularly for autumn and winter. Although it is technically spring now, …

2018 Goals and Make Nine

I never really intend to make any New Year's Resolutions. But as someone who is already prone to introspection and reflection, I can't resist the pull of a brand new year to think about how things are going and my goals going forward. You've got to love a bit of personal development after all! Some …

2017 reflections

I've had a rather brilliant end of 2017, celebrating Christmas with my family and then going skiing with Ollie and his family. Now we are on our way back home and I am excited to be back with my sewing machine again. 2017 has been a rather brilliant making year for me- last January I …

Fitting Masterclass feat. Betty Dress

Way way back at the beginning of September I went to the Village Haberdashery to take a fitting masterclass with Charlotte Newland. Firstly, how have I never visited the Village Haberdashery before? It is a wonderful place. Secondly, Charlotte is an amazing teacher; hilarious, knowledgeable, and was wearing an incredible dress with a koi carp …

Grainline Studio Tamarack Jacket

I did it! Finished my Tamarack jacket in time for Autumn. Making this jacket has been a labour of love that began way back in March, when I started scheming and planning and writing a list of all the supplies I'd need to gather- there were a lot! I think this is the first make …

A summer of Willows!

It is feeling very autumnal in London this week, but I never got round to writing about the summer sewing I did this year. I mostly made Grainline Studio Willows- a dress and a cropped tank for me, and a cropped tank for my sister. I made the same size as before- a 10 with …

Pineapple combo!

So back in March I made my amazing full circle, pink satin pineapple skirt and it might be the best thing I have ever made. At the time I wondered if I would have enough fabric left to squeeeeze out a coordinating cropped shift top. When I was invited to the wedding of my best …