Review: Pattern
Pattern recommendation: fabric boxes
Stitched Sewing Organizers is everything a craft book should be: beautiful, thoughtfully designed projects, gorgeous photography and easy-to-understand instructions. I wanted to make everything in it, whether I needed it or not. The book is a collection of things to make to hold sewing supplies, either for at home or traveling. On the weekend I…
Read MoreVogue 2507, 30 years on
Not many people can say they still have something in their wardrobe they sewed 30 years ago and still wear. I realised that I do! I sewed Vogue 2507 when I was 16 years old in the late 1980’s. It’s designed by Claude Montana, whose runway collections didn’t appeal to me at the time. (I…
Read MoreTHAT blue dress: Vogue 2787
Regular readers of this blog may remember the blue dress, Vogue 2787, I started making as a possible “author talk outfit”. Read about when I started it here. The fabric was 50 year old cotton and came from a collection given to me. I did finish the dress but I never wore it…
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 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…
Read MorePattern Magic 2: wearing a square
Pattern Magic 2 by Tomoko Nakamichi has been in our bookshelf for some time, but I’ve just made my first garment from it. Wearing a square is a top made from, not a square, but a rectangle of fabric, with some clever cutting. If you like sculptural clothes, and quirky, interesting patternmaking, you’ll…
Read MoreThe Japanese cardigan
An intriguing construction and silhouette motivated me to make this cardigan from the Japanese pattern book She Wears the Pants by Yuko Takada. The title suggests a book of trouser patterns, but it’s translated from She Wears Mannish Style and features mainly tops and pants with an androgynous “menswear for women” look. I liked the…
Read MoreThe Mystery Skirt part 3: Revealed
Hi All, The Mystery Skirt got finished. You can read how I started it in Part 1 and Part 2. The skirt is from Sato Watanabe’s Stylish Skirts. Mine has emerged slightly different, but I’m very happy with how it turned out, and the fabric was a dream to sew (although difficult to photograph for…
Read MoreThe Mystery Skirt Part 2: The Trial of the Toile
On the weekend I sewed a toile for the “Tweed skirt with panel detail” from Stylish Skirts by Sato Wantanabe. I wrote about this skirt in my previous post. I was reminded how hard it is to fit oneself. I was also reminded how unlike this quickly-sewn calico skirt is to the one I’m eventually…
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