New Pattern: Cotton Time Coatigan
Hello All, I have a new zero waste pattern, published in Japan’s Cotton Time magazine. It’s a coatigan – a kind of relaxed coat, combining the structure a coat with the softness of a cardigan. This opportunity arose via Mirai Pattern, who license and translate my zero waste patterns into Japanese. Cotton Time has featured…
Read MoreA Pocket Story
Since last week’s post about the ROO pocket in TAUKO magazine’s Pockets issue, some really fab examples have popped up on Instagram. As part of TAUKO magazine’s celebration of pockets, I thought it would be fun to share a pocket story. Here’s mine: When I was a child, my Dad who was a life-long pocket…
Read MoreNew Pattern: ROO pocket
New year, new pattern. I’m excited to introduce a new pattern in TAUKO magazine, which has just come out. The theme for this issue is Pockets, celebrating pockets as a statement of style, function, and freedom. There are some really interesting and clever patterns in this issue, all of which can be viewed here. My…
Read MoreWrapping up 2025
Season’s Greetings Everyone, and welcome to the last post of 2025. The blog is now on holidays until late January-ish. The Craft of Clothes Christmas staff party was on the weekend. It was only me there, as I’m the only staff. Catering was a breeze, no boring speeches, and the chickens provided the entertainment. The…
Read MoreDream Jumpsuit Finished + Free Pattern
The jumpsuit I aspired to own as a teen is now complete, and I love it! I first saw this jumpsuit as a teen in the 1980s, when no-one wore onesies, and always wanted one. At the time, I didn’t have the confidence to sew one nor the $ to buy. But here we are,…
Read MoreDream Jumpsuit Progress Update
Last week I embarked on a project to re-create a jumpsuit that I saw once in my teens. Since then I’ve cut out a jumpsuit and run it up on the machine. It wasn’t without problems – I made the crotch 10cm too high and nearly cut myself in half trying it on. Otherwise things…
Read MoreTeenage Me’s Dream Jumpsuit
Back when I was in high school in the 1980s, I saw an oversized fleecy jumpsuit. It was at a mid-year study camp, the weather was cold, and a girl in our dorm wore one to bed (and to study in, if I remember correctly). I loved it! And determined that one day I would…
Read MoreNew Pattern: Humpty Dumpty
Hi Everyone, I have a new pattern. It’s a zero waste Humpty Dumpty. This pattern was my workshop project for Making Zen earlier this year. It’s now got a bunch of extras. The Humpty pattern is in my shop now. Please enjoy 25% off for the next month. Humpty stands at 23.5cm/9″ tall (he’s unable…
Read MoreRed Trousers Go With…
The red trousers from last week’s book review of Sewing with Scraps have been successfully worked into my wardrobe. It wasn’t too difficult – they go with so many things. If you’re contemplating red trousers, here are some ways to wear them. 1. Any print with red in it Any print with even a tiny…
Read MoreBook Review: Sewing with Scraps
It’s my pleasure to review Sewing with Scraps – 15 projects to sew a sustainable wardrobe using leftover fabric by Birgitta Helmersson and Sam Grose. In the interests of disclosure, the book’s publisher asked if I would like a free review copy, and I said yes, as I knew it would be good and thought…
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