This is all I ever want in an email!:
“Polly has spent the day sewing and creating her FABULOUS new trousers! She is thrilled. Â
Caroline xx “
Here we have the joyous, colourful and ever so slightly bonkers squid print viscose crepe made into drapey trousers by the utterly inspirational Polly (who sews with her grandma Caroline when she comes to visit).
The keen eyed of you may have also notice the curtains in this rather amazing paint swatch print
Mandy came by the shop in her boiled wool coat which is STUNNING, she loves it and says it is such a good weight to just throw on for a quick outing. If you have never made a wool coat before boiled wool is a great choice to start out with- the slight give to it makes setting sleeves and easing seams a joy. The pattern is Katherine Tilton for Butterick b6919 (still in print at time of writing), Mandy used our navy and aubergine boiled wool. This is fabulous
This is Penny with her beautifully made wool and cashmere green coat – this fabric is 13366 on our website or search âwool cashmere coatingâ for other colours.
She had this to say about it:
Iâm thrilled with this designer wool and cashmere fabric from your range. The colour and feel are superb and much admired. This coat took me about three weeks to make and the fabric was a joy to handle. The job was made much easier by your advice on interfacing and shoulder pads and everything arrived so quickly after we spoke. The coat is from an old Vogue Basic Design 1266, probably out of print now.
Thank you for your sample service too: it made shopping for fabric at a distance a whole lot easier.
Iâll be back!
Thank you Penny. You are an extremely clever, stylish and fabulous lady!
Angela sent us this for our and we love it, the fabric is 12360, you can see more by searching âseersucker cottonâ in our search box.
Here’s what she says:
Finally, I have completed my blouse in the check seersucker! It has turned out really well. I havenât worked with seersucker before and found this fabric really easy to use – its soft, light, very forgiving and a pleasure to sew with. The natural stretch is an added bonus. I think it will be great for warm summer days. I was going to use light grey shirt buttons but didnât have enough as I made the cuffs longer so I used some vintage real shell buttons I have been hoarding for years!
The Pattern is The Friday Pattern Co Patina Blouse, it has a huge selection of sizes which made it a little complicated but I used the extra small all over in the end and it fits really well. Â The only changes I made were to raise the neckline a bit (that did involve altering the collar as well) to make the cuffs longer and to sew french seams on the side and sleeve seams.
Thank you Angela, you have done a grand job. All we need now is the weather gods to swap shifts so you can wear it!
Lizzy made this exquisite silk georgette dress for a gala dinner in Trentham Gardens, the pattern is from the Butda magazines – November 2019 design 133, the fabric is a sheer silk georgette 12340 on our website, lined in silk dupion for the bodice, and our premium breathable Venezia lining for the skirt. The skirts are a full circle which made the hems 8.2m, and there’s three of them so needless to say the hemming took a while!
The sash is double sided velvet ribbon
Lucy did that dressmaker superpower thing of combining two patterns to make something greater than the sum of its parts. The top of this fabulous worsted wool pinafore is Vogue V7975 pattern with Simplicity 2247 for the skirt. The top was also modified so the middle of the front part of the top consist of two pieces which overlap. Itâs like âdouble breastedâ. It’s fully lined. She spent some time to make it right. For the skirt Lucy needed to make adjustments to match up the seams of the panels to the top. Â
This worsted wool is super fine and has a wonderful drape, making a pinafore dress is perfect as it means it spends far less time at the cleaners.
Teresa made this fabulous flared jersey dress with a digitally printed lightweight viscose jersey and we adore it. Such a lovely cut and drape. Tencel Jersey and Modal Jersey would work in a similar way for this dress.
Gillian made this brilliant and bright chartreuse yellow boiled wool jacket using the Tessuti patterns Lyon Jacket Pattern, she’s done a fabulous job, will you just look at those covered poppers!
Suzanne used this designer buttery soft navy check worsted wool for her Maker’s Atelier wide leg trousers, the fit was honed by her tutor Claire Tyler (who does amazing retreats), they are lined in cupro bremsilk and the pockets have been omitted as Suzanne doesn’t like the bulk of the big pockets across the tummy. Suzanne now has the fitted pattern and has made many of these trousers since, it’s worth taking the time to hone a pattern like this as the classic style will not date and the simple lines can easily be adjusted into other styles. Worsted wool is the perfect fabric for a style like this.
Suzanne made this fabulous spotty viscose up in the Sew La di da Stevie Dress pattern for her daughter in law (for Christmas – Shhhh!) – What a fabulous MIL she is! This fine Viscose lawn is perfect for dresses with frills and ruffles and those bell sleeves look perfect â¤ď¸
Carol made this fabulous blouse using Burda 5855 and a drapey poly knit with a sparkly metallic print. This knit is pretty stable so whilst this pattern is designed for lightweight drapey woven fabrics it works well in a jersey too (evidently!).
Carol only learned to sew this year and is having a lot of fun coming back to a hobby she help her mum with 40+ years ago. This faux shearling teddy bear fleece is light as a feather and great for this simple burda jacket.
Jacoba made this fabulous sparkly zigzag printed jersey dress for the orchestra and no one could believe she made it. This is a poly jersey with fabulous drape so putting it on the bias for the skirt makes it super-christmassy drapey. We love.
The Pattern is Vogue 1907 version B
Jenny used our ex-designer jumbo cord to make up the Deer and Doe Opium Coat and it is fabulous. Due to the thickness of the cord Jenny swapped the origami welt pockets for regular welt pockets -we all agree these look just as good in this funky wide wale corduroy.
I must say, I do like Jenny’s organisation on her pattern envelopes – I can only dream of such efficiency!
Suzanne chose this digital print floral cotton jersey for her Maker’s Atelier wrap dress and she says it’s a dream to sew (music to our ears!).
Lynn looking fabulous in her green and brown leaf print linen and viscose blend maxi shift dress. The pattern has been adjusted to account for Lynn’s tall (6’+) frame. This is an ace pattern that will work well in medium weight fabrics like linen and linen mixes. There is a centre front seam in this dress so choose patterns with no obvious repeat or geometry to them (or buy extra to match).
Lis put this amazing double sided coating to its best by making this Viki Sews Ingrid coat.
See her full post in Instagram (and do follow her-she’s an inspiration) She said, “A rare sunny day this winter was the perfect opportunity to wear my latest and favourite make for a long time. I have been sewing, mainly for others but couldnât resist using this wonderful double faced wool fabric to take my first foray into the @vikisews.patterns range. This is their Ingrid jacket and I love everything about it.Â
The jacket is beautifully drafted with excellent instructions and throughout the tailoring techniques are first class.Â
The only draw back I would say is that these are sold as single size patterns so there is no opportunity to size up or grade the pattern if you do not fit their measurements.Â
The pattern is for a lined jacket but this fabric doesnât need lining and it was easy enough to bind the facings and the hem in order to make it tidy inside.Â
I might still add hip pockets which are not on the pattern but will wait to see if I miss them”
Fabric has sold out but you can find other fabulous reversible coatings HERE
Superb use of a structured semi sheer designer jacquard organza by Lis, she said “Who can resist the drama of a big sleeve?
When I saw this beautiful jacquard organza from @stonefabrics I was planning to use it for big sleeves perhaps with a contrasting body but when I actually received my 1m of fabric I realised I had enough to make a top and of course it had to be the #closetcorecielo
Despite the fact that the white stripes are sheer, I can get away without lining it .Â
I used mainly French seams and bound the neckline and hems with matching linen bias binding. To that end I removed the seam allowance and then added the binding which I didnât try to hide as it matches so well”.
You can find her original Instagram post HERE – do follow her because she is an inspirational sewing extraordinaire â¤ď¸
Lis has outdone herself with this fabulous Closet Core Kalle Shirt that she has altered into a dress.
You can find her post on Instagram : “The photos donât do justice to the beautiful striped orange linen I used for this #kalleshirtdress hack. I simply made the button placket version, cut it at the hips (62cm in my case) and added a gathered skirt at a ratio of 2:1. The skirt section is 70cm and allows for an extra deep hem to give it some weight.Â
The only other minor changes were to gather the back yoke and I also slightly deepened the armhole and widened the sleeve so that the oversized look was balanced there as well.Â
Perfect for swishing around in our June heat wave”.Â
This stripe linen has sold out but you can find others HERE
Not all suiting makes suits! Angela sent us these pics of her lovely dungarees using our stretch poly viscose elastane suiting and they are a great success – She sent us these words of wisdom to share:
“I am very pleased with them. It is a super fabric and my machine and overlocker loved it. It doesnât crease and is comfortable to wear. I used a Simplicity pattern but changed it considerably so they are nothing like the original and I lined the bibs and pockets with a light cotton fabric scrap to reduce the seam bulk.”
Hats off to Angela for a fabulous make
Teresa made this dress using our viscose and elastane lightweight jersey and it is beautiful.
She sent us this message: Really pleased with this comfortable, useful dress. Â Made with another of your gorgeous fabrics.
The pattern is an old one but maybe there is another similar out there. (Simplicity 8070)
With the patterned fabric it is difficult to see the overlay on the front skirt but in wear it shows with movement. I underlined the body of the dress with one of your tricot knit linings.
Burda 6602 pattern strikes again! This versatile pattern is sooo good. This latest version is in the finest silkiest cotton jersey (11313) known to (wo)man- and itâs a double jersey so it doesnât curl when you cut it (Yayy!). Highly Recommended!
Bess fabric painted âBE STRONG I whispered to my coffeeâ -a quote she saw outside a NYC coffee shop and so whilst she didnât come home with a sweatshop made âI ❤️ NYCâ T-shirt she has (finally!) got her holiday souvenir 💪
Bess altered the neck in this version – if you alter your neck hole and wonder what size the binding should now be itâs fairly safe to go with 2/3 the circumference measurement of the neck. Hems and neck binding were topstitched with the maraflex stretchy thread 👍
Having a good opaque fabric paint in the stash is a great thing to have on hand for impromptu presents – it’s easy to use and will instantly personalise / add meaning to what otherwise could be quite plain or ordinary.
Fun fact: The first time Bess painted the slogan she painted it on the wrong grainline… so the slogan went vertical instead of horizontal, rather than wasting the fabric she also made a vest top:
Chrissie made this beautiful Vogue 8903 shirt dress using our gingko leaf print pima cotton lawn. This lawn is super silky weave similar to a Liberty tana lawn and the prints are of an excellent quality. The only modification Chrissie made was adding in-seam pockets (who doesn’t want pockets?). It’s a super dress that is belted in for extra shape.
Gary made this fab tropical /Hawaiian shirt using our marlin print cotton and linen mix that came from Ralph Lauren. It’s a lovely weight of cotton- a kind of lightweight canvas weave that’s heavy enough for trousers but still lots of drape.
He mixed it with a remnant of polkadot cotton for the under collar and collar stand.
Bess made this superb Liberty print cotton poplin shirt for her husband’s birthday, the pattern is Burda 6874 – whilst Burda’s instructions leave a lot to be desired their cut is superb and Bess finds they fit Rob without any major alterations.
As always with mens shirts the devil is in the details and Bess took her time adding contrast lining the the placket and cuffs, and adding grosgrain braids. The odd buttons are due to Bess wanting to finish the project and not having a full set of anything to hand – but they look fab.
Bess made a number of these BLAH BLAH BLAH tea towels for Christmas presents following Greta Thunberg climate emergency speech. It’s hard to think of things to make for people that isn’t adding to a mounting pile of unwanted/unnecessary gifts but tea-towels always go down well with Bess’s loved ones, and other than the bondaweb used to glue the letters down before sewing all the fabrics came from her stash.
On another year Bess used linen duck interlining and embroidered reflective robots on the corner.
It’s lovely when you visit the houses years down the line and they are still using the tea-towels (if a little stained/worn!)
Brigid grabbed this superbly popular watercolour print lightweight linen for this Butterick 6784 maxi dress and it works BEAUTIFULLY. The linen works really well with this balloon skirt as it holds the shape without being stiff. Buying the right fabric for the right pattern is half the skill and we will always advise if you are unsure about the suitability of a particular fabric for a project. This dress oozes such wonderfully summery goodness it’s impossible not to love.
Annie made up this fabulous wool mix brown bouclĂŠ bobble jersey using New Look 6636 pattern, being made in a heavy jersey it is both warm, comfortable and super stylish – ticking ALL the boxes of a No1 make.
The jersey knit is a mix of wool, cotton and viscose, it doesn’t have a great deal of stretch to it so works very well for this style of untailored blazer, it also means the button holes and pockets go on without stretching out (they are interfaced), and the whole thing just oozes effortless style.
Anne made this fabulous statement abstract print designer linen dress using Vogue 9112 pattern – the collar and loose cut is just PERFECT for a fun summery dress for all occasions. WE love. We want. Prints like this don’t come along often but we buy them whenever we can.
Anne bought this unusual chevron knit for her amazing (accidental) faux jumpsuit, It’s actually a bodysuit and seperate cropped trousers. Anne adapted the bodysuit was adapted from an ancient pattern for a polo-neck sweater and the cropped trousers were copied from a bought pair. She says “It took quite a while to copy the dimensions, but I really like the wide flare and the angled hem, so I persevered. It was worth the effort because this is the third pair of trousers I have made from the pattern”.
The waistband was from a scrap of black scuba â very comfortable! Though she says the outfit looks more flattering with a wide belt.
This is just simply fabulous ❤️
Anne and her husband visited the shop in the summer, he was wearing these brilliantly bright and cheerful trousers and they bought the parrot digital print jersey to go with them – such a fun and cheerful outfit!
I am not sure which pattern Anne used but it looks like the Burda pattern I make up frequently -Burda 6602 (highly recommended). Anne used a small piece of turquoise cotton rib for the neck binding and pocket. We stock this pattern.
Petra did a fabulous job making this fitted shirt using the Katherine Tilton for Butterick pattern 6026 in her sewing classes, she loves it so much she is making another in the lilac colour way. Oxford Cotton is a lovely substantial cotton shirting that is great for these type of fitted style shirts. We LOVE the fanning out waist darts – such a flattering design ❤️
Michelle couldn’t stop herself from buying this unusual boiled wool from LG that has a fabulous laminated layer in the design, it lends itself perfectly to this kind of unstructured coatigan especially as the edges do not fray and can be left unfinished. Michelle makes these to sell -if you would rather someone else does the hard work for you!
The pattern is Michelle’s own but there are plenty of similar options out there. There is no lining and very little tailoring so it truly is a super quick make.
Claire made this fabulous Marfy patterns skirt using our worsted wool suiting 11907 and she said it was a joy to work with (music to our ears!). This unusual asymmetrical skirt has a nifty pocket hidden in the pleat seam. Yayy! We love pockets! Marfy patterns are Italian and aimed at experienced sewists – your pattern arrives with no seam allowances, in one size only and with no instructions, for those of us who love a puzzle this will be a fun project, if that’s not your thing then avoid!
Claire sent us an email telling us what she planned to do and asked if this fabric would be suitable (the answer was an enthusiastic YES!), we love our customers to contact us and discuss options for a project first – it’s always a pleasure -never a chore, it’s what we are here for.
The fabric is a lovely hand washable worsted wool, linen and polyester blend, it’s the perfect medium weight for such a skirt with enough stability to mean it doesn’t need to be lined.
Dawn (_thedawnaurora) finally got to wear her tailored jacket that she made in a Zoom sew-along during the first lockdown in 2020
Dawn says: Mum and I both made the jasika blazer using the speed tailoring tutorial from closet core patterns. Having never done this method before I was super impressed! Itâs got a beautiful gold lining, but guess what..? I didnât get a photo of that 🙄🤷🏼♀️
This gorgeous brocade I bought from Stone Fabrics and had just enough left over to make a matching skirt. A bit too short for my liking, but itâs the longest I could get it with what I had left!
🖤🌟🖤🌟🖤
It’s a fabulous make (and the skirt isn’t too short!) -dawn did a fabulous job, this pattern is a great pattern to be used with all manner of medium weight fabrics. We love this ❤️
Wendy had never made a jacket before – with the expert help of Make@140 in Plymouth she worked this beautiful shocking pink kid mohair and wool blend worsted suiting into the Jasika Blazer by Closet Core Patterns. We love it so much!
A blazer needs various interfacings to make it lie correctly, this pattern is great for detailing what you need and where, it utilises a speed tailoring method (using iron-on interfacings) which makes it super accessible for adventurous novices and creates impressive results.
This jacket uses weft interfacing along with hair canvas and 1/2″ thick tailored shoulder pads. Just to truly pop the colours Wendy chose to line this jacket in a fabulous pink and orange viscose satin lining
Wendy was super pleased with the help we gave her to choose the right fabrics and notions for this project, We are always here to help you get the right materials for your project, when you are out of your depth with a pattern just talk to us and we will always help.
Absolutely brilliant trench coat made by Vineta using our wool and cotton mix Gaberdine 11778 (also available in camel 11777). This fabric was originally labelled as dry clean but Vineta test washed it and proved it was washable (with minimal shrinkage) so âŚ💃🕺👏
The pattern is the Grasser Trench Coat No 155 – Iâve not come across these patterns before but am impressed with the amount of detail you get in the info, and Vineta said whilst there were some iffy translations the instructions were very, very thorough.
She slimmed it down a bit but it would be fine if you like a more gathered look, she did no other adjustments. The sleeves went in a dream – only a tiny amount of sleeve cap ease so no puckers or collapsing sleeve heads. Yes! 🥳
These patterns come with four different height options so whether you are Amazonian tall or elfin proportions there will be a pattern for you.
Lesley came all the way south from the Scottish Borders to buy this beautiful & FUNKY Italian tufted linen (I’m sure she had other things to do down here in sunny Devon too!) -bought way back in the early 2000’s this fabulous jacket has survived various wardrobe culls primarily because the timeless loose draped cut (Vogue Marcy Tilton 8088) means it always fits and… that fabric! 😍 😍 😍
Wendy has made up this Simplicity 1252 Jiffy pattern many times before and it looks fantastic in this teal cotton jumbo cord. Wendy lined it in Venezia which is a lovely lightweight lining that aids the dress to drape nicely over other garments without making it hot and sticky
Gary is self taught and uses the garments in his wardrobe to learn from along with a wealth of old sheets and charity shop discards to practice on. This wool tweed jacket was made for his daughter and Gary needs to be congratulated on a fantastic job. Lined in paisley jacket and coat lining. Will you just look at those beautiful welted pockets?!
Daiga has been our beacon for notifying us of all good Burda Style patterns for a long time (Bess generally runs down to the newsagent’s as soon as Daiga sends a new post to her Instagram), this camisole from July 2022 edition is no exception. Beautifully made using the brushstroke print tencel and linen voile, this super drapey lightweight fabric is perfect for this style top.
Daiga Widened the straps and did her usual full bust adjustment. If you cannot fathom how anyone can trace off those crazy Burda overlaid sheets there are lots of good camisole patterns available from other companies, but if you’ve never tried it we would urge you to have a go – where else can you get hundreds of patterns in multiple sizes for the princely sum of ÂŁ7.95?
This pattern is long enough to stay tucked in (and looks lovely worn that way), or can equally looks good worn loose.
Fiona did a stellar job on this beautiful wedding dress using our silk-feel tulle combined with guipure lace and beaded cuffs. Would you just look at that delicate drape!
Fiona can make your wedding dress – you can find her on Instagram @lovelyasitseams
Anne used the funkiest of funky prints in a simple and fun A-Line dress by Tessuti patterns called Ruby. The Linen and cotton blend is a lovely medium weight cloth which is lovely to wear in the summer months. The pattern says the âstyle is flared at the hemline & makes a perfect floaty garmentâ Â Anne says she will practice floating down her local high street looking tres chic 😂😂😂😉
Bess tried out this new Sorona fibre (made from corn) as a spring duffle type coat (or that was the intention – she went a bit off-piste). The fabric is velvety soft with a smooth pile and (hoorah!) is washable 👏👏👏, the pattern is the Closet Core Kelly Anorak hacked to take buttons down the front.
There was no fixed idea about colours, length or fastening whilst this jacket was being made, Bess’s husband was away and she took over the kitchen table with her box of tricks and had a good old play. The trimming is a polyester grosgrain that she pinned and repositioned until she had a look that pleased her.
The coat is lined with a super slinky cotton lawn – so slinky Bess thought she’d get away with it on the sleeves but that was a mistake, sooner or later those sleeve linings are going to have to come out and be replaced by regular Venezia so wearing a jumper + wearing the coat does not incur a 10 minute battle of the wills. Cotton, no matter how slinky, is not slinky enough for a coat sleeve. Bess knew this but she tried it anyway. 🙄
At the risk of looking ‘like a girl’ Bess added grosgrain trim to funky it up somewhat, and used a mix of vintage and new half ball buttons. The only interfacing she used was down the front facing (H0026 viscose), normally the hood facing would be interfaced on the kelly anorak but in this heavy fabric it was not necessary.
The jury is out if this fibre is perfect for outerwear, we are always looking out for alternatives to wool for coats and whilst the softness and washability is an absolute boon it is not as warm as wool, not by a long shot. If you can’t wear wool then this would be the next favourite as is far kinder to the environment than any synthetic polyester or acrylic type coating, but to make this a proper coat (to wear in cold weather) you would want to add some interlining to help with the insulation. The bonus of it not being terribly warm is it’s not too hot either – so a great coat to wear when in and out of shops and galleries without having to take off and carry.
Maria made this fabulous classic navy blue duffle coat to fit her tall frame using coating weight wool tweed and it is perfect for the chilly Scottish weather, love the comment about it reaching her hands – I’ve been making clothes so long I’d forgotten that’s a thing. How do tall people ever put up with ready to wear clothes? Much better idea to make it. 👍
She posted on instagram:
Finally itâs finished!! And just in time for the snow ❄️
I got the fabric for this coat as a Christmas present almost 2 years ago and progress has been sloooow. Lots of new techniques, first time sewing with wool, first time bagging out a lining and I wanted to really take time and get it as good as I could. Itâs not perfect but I just love wearing this coat! Iâve wanted a good duffle coat for ages but I struggle with finding one to fit with my height- itâs so nice to have sleeves that actually reach my hands finally! The coat pattern is the #cascadedufflecoat from @grainlinestudio
Ann used the slightly felted jumper knit to make up this Maker’s Atelier ‘flared top’ – she made the short version and didnât sew the neckband as instructed- joined the neck seam and then attached neckband (which is more logical). Well done Ann- this jumper is fun and happy and we love it.
Do not adjust your screen! Shockingly bright neon moss crepe made up beautifully as a ruffle dress by Malin who initially planned it to be a skirt lining – but all best laid plans and all that – It turned into this. Made over the duration of two evenings as a last minute party dress. It’s fabulous. Malin had lots of lovely comments. And she definitely stood out!
Another joyous shirt from Sue- this time hot air balloon print lightweight linen for her husband. The pattern is Kwik Sew K3422 – a lovely simple pattern sewn beautifully – just look at those perfectly turned collar points. 👍
Not sure if there could be a more glorious shirt than this? Goldfish print Spanish lightweight linen made by sue for her brother, Alex. The pattern is Kwik Sew K3422 which Sue said was lovely and straightforward (that’s what we like!).
Bess used up her last precious remnant of her favourite robot print french terry jersey on this Jalie Patterns Charlie Bomber jacket for her niece, it is amazing how little main fabric you need for a bomber jacket as the cuffing, pocket contrasts, sleeves and lining are all other remnants. This pattern may just be the ultimate in stash busting!
Bess used printed french terry sweatshirting jersey and a variety of other sweatshirtings and ribbing to make this Jolie Patterns Charlie Bomber Jacket.. It was a success and Amelie declared she was never going to take it off (YES!)
The pattern has really clear instructions and goes from teeny tiny toddler size all the way up to adults, itâs highly recommended
Bomber jackets are excellent stash busters as all the pieces are quite small (especially for the kids!) and you can mix and match, bomber jackets are an easy fit so good to make âin secretâ without the need to try on.
There was a bit of drama with the making of this one as Bess needed to shorten the zip – usually a simple process of pulling off the teeth at the top and sewing over to stop the puller falling off -except she pulled off the puller before she had it secured and then spent as long trying to get it back on as she did making the entire jacket. 🙄
Kitcat here wearing the sequinned bomber jacket @bessworks made for her (sheâs very pleased 😀).
This is the Charlie bomber from Jalie patterns – The pattern has really clear instructions and goes from teeny tiny toddler size all the way up to adults, itâs highly recommended 🥰.
Bomber jackets are also excellent stash busters as all the pieces are quite small (especially for the kids!) and you can mix and match, bomber jackets are an easy fit so good to make âin secretâ without the need to try on.
This multicolour sequined version used only 45cm of the sequin fabric- handy because it is ÂŁ55/m 😭! – itâs a great way of getting a jacket out of a special fabric that you donât have /want to buy much of.
Jill came to the shop (by appointment) and chose this wonderful paisley print needlecord for the Homer & Howells Cissy Dress and YAY! it has pockets!
Gotta love a dress with pockets and this style is such a lovely easy to wear dress that suits Jill well.
Lined in a lovely plummy burgundy Venezia lining which works well with babycord dresses.
This dress looks a million dollars and so well executed Katie is rightly proud of her make (and we are so proud of her).
She used a tried and tested pattern ….vogue 8903 and added a cuff. She said she “had to hand sew the collar stand down as it was too much of a challenge getting all those layers through my domestic machine. Really pleased with this and will wear it to death!”
The fabric is a super soft and washable suedette with a bit of stretch in it ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Janet made up this super shell top and A-line skirt combo for Lucy using our green and pink archive floral print pima cotton lawn and olive green tencel feel medium weight linen and viscose. Both are unlined and perfect for hot summery days (oh I dream of those!), a concealed zipper is in the back of the skirt.
Jacoba used this fun cactus print laminated cotton to make her Vogue V8884 double breasted raincoat and lined it in a joyous yellow Venezia – it almost makes you look forward to the rain when you have a lovely happy raincoat like this!
Absolutely love the juxtaposition of Claire modelling her swanky stretchy red velour in her building site of a house ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
This fabulous raglan sleeve simple top is the much popularised Linden Top pattern by Grainline Studio
Bess made a T-Shirt for her ‘star bellied sneetch’ using black 100% cotton piquĂŠ low stretch jersey with pale grey Sneetch star (also 100% cotton jersey), -attached with bondaweb and then stitched, black cuffing on the neck, the pattern is Burda 6602 size 44 with no alterations and it is indeed super easy 👏👏👏
Did you know we sell patterns? We do! We stock Burda, Butterick, McCall’s and Vogue, we also can have Simplicity sent direct to you. Our patterns are not on the website but you can browse them online HERE
Bess used a heavy 10oz 100% cotton denim to make these jeans using the Deer and Doe ‘Narcisse’ pants which is designed for medium weight fabrics such as linen or worsted suiting. Due to the weight Bess didn’t want darts – the front darts were moved into side and centre front seam, the back darts were turned into a yoke*. She also wasn’t sure about inseam pockets on such a heavy denim so used regular jean pockets and the back welt pockets were swapped for patch pockets.
The pattern was sized down quite a bit as this denim is too heavy to be too big, bias stay tape on the pocket – it works a treat and keeps that pocket opening the size and shape the sewing gods wanted
*Drafting a yoke from the back darts is super easy First, take your back trouser pattern and make a horizontal cut near the top of the pattern piece to make the yoke. When you are cutting, it should kind of yoke-shaped, ie, angled higher at the side seams and lower at the center back. Your cut should touch the tip of the dart(s). Take the yoke that you cut off, slash through the darts and close them. This will change the shape of the pattern piece and if it becomes too ‘pointy’ just smooth off a little to make it a nice curve. Add seam allowances to both yoke and trouser seams. Works every time 👍
All praise this super simple (no pattern) shirred cotton gingham sundress made by RhiannonP. ❤️
Why complicate what is perfectly simple?
A bodice like this is simply a rectangle about 3 times the bust measurement and shirred (elasticated) in to fit. The skirt is approximately twice the hip measurement and gathered in to fit the bodice.
What is harder to achieve (in the UK ) is the sunshine to go with the dress. 🙄
