Posts by lizhaywood
Vintage buttonholes
Are you a person who likes sewing buttonholes? If you do, I bet you have a machine that makes Really Great ones. If your machine makes so-so buttonholes or you’ve had problems with it, it’s hard to get enthusiastic. My “everyday” sewing machine is a 1964 Singer that doesn’t make buttonholes. Instead, I select different…
Read MoreCelebrating corduroy
Do you love wearing corduroy? I do. It’s a feel-good fabric that oozes comfort, warmth, and happy 1970’s nostalgia. This Friday the 11th is National Corduroy Appreciation Day, as proclaimed by the (currently in recess) National Corduroy Appreciation Club. The date, 11/11, is the number that most resembles corduroy. Yes, I know what you’re thinking,…
Read MoreResewn: Shape Shape’s Reversible circle vest
Shape Shape’s Reversible circle vest left me disappointed last week, but even though I was still undecided whether it’s “me” or not, I just had to have another go at it. I really do like the concept of this pattern -a reversible collared vest made from a circle. So simple to sew and wear. I…
Read MoreShape Shape: Reversible circle vest
The Reversible circle vest from Shape Shape by Natsuno Hiraiwa (2007 Interweave) is an unusual pattern but easy and fast to make; I cut and sewed mine in an evening. It features on the front cover of Shape Shape. Am I happy with it? Well, I was kind of disappointed, but partly because I’m not…
Read MoreA good old fashioned Country Show
There are few events, apart from bushfires and clearing sales, that bring country people together so well as a Country Show. I visited our one-day show, and there was lots to see as there is with any show…shearing competitions (as above), animals, farm machinery, all manner of agricultural produce, cake decorating and the hotly-contested fruit…
Read MoreExhibition review The Dressmaker costumes
The costumes from the movie The Dressmaker are on display at the National Trust’s Ayres House in Adelaide, and I visited it last week. If you’ve seen the movie no doubt you loved the fabulous costumes, and there are more than 50 on show, all thoughtfully displayed. The exhibition includes a short documentary…
Read MoreLike or loathe it: topstitching thread
Topstitching is an great way to emphasise a construction detail, hold seam allowances flat, hold interfacing in position, or to add interest to plain fabric. It also reinforces seams, and I heard that topstitched garments require less ironing! I’m a bit of a topstitching evangelist these days -I really love the look of it- but…
Read MoreFree pattern ballerina slippers
Hello Everyone, May I present, for your sewing pleasure, this free pattern for ballerina slippers -my first ever downloadable PDF pattern. These are the slippers I made for my Jeans Recycling Challenge, where the challenge was to turn every part of an old pair of jeans into something else. Click on these for the pattern:…
Read MoreThe Jeans Recycling Challenge the final analysis
The Challenge: Transform a torn pair of jeans into something useful, re-using every part of the jeans. The jeans recycling challenge is now finished. I just couldn’t find a use for the final scraps; they were too scrappy. They didn’t end up in the bin -I added them to a cushion…
Read MoreThe Jeans Recycling Challenge the last leg
The Jeans Recycling Challenge: Transform a torn pair of jeans into something useful, re-using every part of the jeans. The story so far… I haven’t quite finished the jeans recycling challenge yet. I still have the slippers to sew, and some small…
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