Posts by lizhaywood
The Disappointing Trousers
This week I tried out a zero waste trouser draft I came across on Pinterest. Actually, it wasn’t a draft – more like a sketch of an idea. (This isn’t the picture I had but it’s very similar.) The problem was, I didn’t realise that these trousers are intended to be baggy. Really baggy. They…
Read MoreLike or Loathe it: stitching in the ditch
Stitching in the ditch is a line of stitching used to hold down a seam onto the fabric behind it. The stitching is done on the right side of the garment and doesn’t show because it’s hidden in the “ditch” of the seam line. The stitching sinks into the seam and is indiscernible. You might…
Read MorePattern review: Vogue 2859 top
Last with the latest. Vogue 2859 was released at least a decade ago (and I suspect it’s now out of print) but I found an unused copy at the op shop. There are quite a few reviews for this top on Pattern Review. Some people made it for 1930’s dress-ups and others just wanted to…
Read MoreLutterloh from the op shop
Arriving home from an op shop visit, my husband presented me with someone’s Lutterloh books. Lutterloh is a pattern making system from Germany. It was developed in 1935 and is still available today. Lutterloh is a pattern drafting system only. There are no instructions for cutting or making the…
Read MoreZero Waste wrap skirt
The 6-gore wrap skirt is my most popular post. I wear the original blue peanut print wrap skirt regularly in summer and always get a comment. This week I revisited the the draft and made myself a new one. It’s about 10cm longer, and 7 gore instead of 6. With an odd number of gores,…
Read MoreHow to draw clothes
There’s always a time when you need to make a quick sketch of a garment for some reason. To draw it for a friend, record the style or plan a pattern. If you don’t draw often, it’s a hard thing to do. A traceable croqui is the answer. A croqui (pronounced crow-key) is a figure…
Read MoreBook review: Bias Cut Blueprints
Looking for a new adventure in sewing? You might enjoy Bias Cut Blueprints. This book contains a method for making different garments of any size cut on the bias. You create a bias cut tube following the book’s directions, and transform it into a dress, top or skirt. The book explains many neckline, sleeve and…
Read MoreThe Craft of Clothes Turns One!
This month is my blog’s first birthday. Many thanks if you read regularly or you’ve subscribed. I hope you’ve found it to be interesting. Over the past year I’ve blogged weekly (usually on a Monday), and enjoy thinking of things to write about during the week. It’s a bit like having a personal magazine. By…
Read MoreLike or Loathe it: stay stitching
This is a true confession: I never do stay stitching. Just to clarify, if you’re not familiar with the term, stay stitching is a row of machine stitches (long or regular in length) made to the edge of a garment to stop it from stretching during construction. It’s often the first step in sewing a…
Read MoreFree Pattern: Pussycat Bow
The pussycat bow blouse. Margaret Thatcher wore them. So did my high school maths teacher, and a million air hostesses. Mel Trump wore a pink one, and lately Evan Rachel Woods wore a supremely elegant one to the Golden Globe Awards. It’s certainly a very smart yet feminine way to wear a blouse. The pussycat…
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