Discovering Halston’s bias cuts

A beautiful book I ordered on Halston (at great expense to the management) arrived during the week. I’m too young, and lived in the wrong country, to remember Halston’s fashions. I was a child in the swingin’ 70s, spending much of it on an actual swing. I phoned Mum to ask if she remembered fashions…

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Book Review: Zero Waste Patterns by Birgitta Helmersson

It’s my pleasure to review Birgitta Helmersson’s new book, Zero Waste Patterns. Birgitta is a Swedish/Australian designer and pattern maker based in Malmo, Sweden, where she and partner Sam Grose run a shop and studio. She has been making zero waste patterns for over a decade. Take a look at Birgitta’s website, where you’ll find…

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Making Wendy Ward’s zero waste trousers

Some time ago I bought Wendy Ward‘s new book How to Sew Sustainably. Actually, I borrowed it from the library and liked it so much I bought a copy. I really liked the trousers and dress made using the same cutting concept, and wanted to try them. Cleverly, the dress is the trousers turned upside…

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Book Review: Zero Waste Nähen

It’s my pleasure to review Stephanie Kroth’s new book Zero Waste Nähen. Nähen translates as sew or stitch, and this book is a collection of 25 zero waste sewing patterns. [In the interests of full disclosure, I offered to review this book when I heard it was coming out, as I thought you would like…

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Recommended Reading: Disney, Fibershed and Francis Marshall

A mixture of great books have arrived from the library lately, all very different but so interesting. The Art of Disney Costuming – Heroes, Villains and Spaces Between by Jeff Kurtti and the Staff of the Walt Disney Archive (2019 Disney Enterprises Inc) Everyone at home loved this book! It’s a big book, almost A3…

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Recommended Reading: Talley, Fassett and McMaster

Yes, Talley, Fassett and McMaster sounds somewhat like an academic paper, but they’re the authors of three interesting books I’ve just finished reading. The Chiffon Trenches – a memoir The Chiffon Trenches – a memoir by Andre Leon Talley (2020 Harper Collins). (Note: small very font.) I was alerted to this book after reading Andre…

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3 books for bedside reading

Recommended reading All 3 books together

The Haywood Household has been laid low. After the first few days in bed feeling utterly wretched, one migrates to the sofa in a dressing gown. Absolved of all household responsibilities, the time passes with reading, watching TV, nose blowing, taking little naps and eating ice cream with a teaspoon (to soothe the throat). This…

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Book recommendation: Mend it, Wear it, Love it!

Mend it, Wear it, Love it! – Stitch your way to a sustainable wardrobe is a new, highly-beginner-friendly “mending + more” book. It’s a nuggetty little hardback book. The author is Zoe Edwards, who will be familiar to those who have participated in Me-Made-May. Zoe blogs at Sozowhatdoyouknow. This is her first book. So…you might…

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Book recommendation: Modern Mending

Modern mending book cover

Mending is trending, but there are better reasons to mend your clothes… Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald’s new book Modern Mending is a comprehensive guide to mending your clothes that combines practical know-how with whimsical creativity. There is a light-hearted, creative vibe flowing through this book; mending can be artistic, stylish, maybe quirky, and add to a garment’s…

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Book recommendation: The Art of Dressing

Art of Dressing cover

Have you ever read a book that came just at the right time? The Art of Dressing by Tziporah Salamon was like that for me. I borrowed it from the library last week and had been feeling sort of flat about fashion and dressing. Uninspired, a bit bored. This book, in all its colour and…

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