We have been looking at this stretch cotton sateen multicolour stripe for a while thinking “something FANTASTIC could be made out of this”, and here we have the proof. Marion, with her dress made and designed by the clever stick Dawn Hooper of Hardy and Hooper (Maidenhead). We love the chevron detailing on the back, and […]
Pamela sent us this photo after a season of wearing this self proclaimed favourite dress made up from her stash of heavy linen. Aside from the generally pleasing aesthetics of a colour block dress you get to do some quality stash busting. Win/Win! For the best results use like fabrics (weight/drape) and make sure they […]
Pauline made this delicious summery watermelon print cotton up into this great a-line dress from McCall’s (M2401). The cotton is pretty lightweight (somewhere between a lawn and a poplin) and could have got away with no lining but Pauline went for the smarter option and lined it in cotton voile.
Wendy visited the shop all the way from Welsh Wales to check us out ‘in the flesh’ (we don’t think she was disappointed). We couldn’t resist getting a photo as she was wearing this fab tunic Katherine Tilton for Vogue patterns. We love the combination of the two prints which just look spectacular together. Thumbs […]
To suggest lemon curds can’t go on the catwalk would be discrimination against lemons, and these hats in yellow and multicolour underwater print cotton are fabulous.
Miaow wearing the proofed linen raincoat made for her by Jane using #32 Ottobre pattern from the winter 6/12 catalogue. It is lined in pixel daisy print quilting weight organic cotton (which adds a reasonable amount of weight). It has been top stitched with pink thread (two standard threads through the same eye of the needle), Also […]
Pauline made this sweet bunny print shirt with printed quilting weight cotton. It is a Butterick pattern (6324) that has minimal/confusing instructions (it is clearly the instructions at fault and not the readers!), so Pauline came a bit unstuck working out how to do the concealed buttonhole band, but she got there in the end […]
Rachel made this fabulous cotton shirt for her son Luke. Rachel is applying for title ‘Queen of shirt making’. This fabric is quilting weight which is great for a slightly heavier warmer shirt (and also happens to have the wackiest prints). Thank you Luke for modelling for us, much appreciated!
Bess made this skirt on a bit of a whim – the wool challis had been in her stash for some time (if you have ever worn wool challis you will understand why she stashes it). The petals mysteriously turned up in her handbag the morning after a somewhat riotous wedding and have been hoarded […]
Bess was supposed to be making a princess dress for her niece Eloise but it kind of mutated into a Wonder Woman dress instead. This is what happens when you sew with no real idea of what you are making! The skirt is made up of many layers of tulle with a Venezia lining, the bodice […]
Bess made this pink tutu for her niece Amélie (who is 16 months) for Christmas, numerous layers of tulle were gathered and pleated (there is a few layers of cream underneath), and then fitted to a silk dupion waistband and drawn in with elastic. Then, Christmas being Christmas and the bling level needing to be […]
Bess made these two tutus for her nieces Kitcat and Miaow with a loose brief of Nutcracker in mind. There are a gazillion layers of tulle gathered and pleated and sewn onto a silk dupion elasticated waistband and embellished with feathers and sequins. 3 colours of tulle were used to get a greater depth to the […]
Jane made these fabulous porcupine faux fur gilets for Kitcat and Miaow (grandchildren). Lined in Leopard/Jaguar Print Liberty Tana Lawn. Because they are such squinges Jane managed to cut all pieces out of the width of the fabric (just 40cm). Hoorah for squinges!
Rudi is a Siamese boy who has a healthy obsession with tulle and netting. He says he wants to be a ballet dancer when he grows up (except he’s so heavy he can’t jump). Here he is hanging out with the Action Man fairy and not looking remotely suspicious.
Kitcat wearing her terribly kitsch cat digital print cotton and elastane jersey long sleeved dress (made by Jane). The pattern is Burda 8455 but Jane pieced together the yoke and hem so as not to cut up the print. Kitcat is such a squinge it is cut to age 6 but lengthened in sleeve and […]
Lesley made this fabulous chartreuse and camel stripey proofed cotton cape. This was a cape pattern picked up at a Quilt Show in France which she embellished with flowers cut with a Sizzix machine attached using the Bernini Eyelet accessory and printed with Thermofax screens. It was fun to make!
Julie made up this fabulous Amy Butler print laminated cotton raincoat using Burda 7047. We love the spotty cotton lining and the drawstring waist which gives it just enough shape. Sewing laminated cotton can be a bit of a challenge, if you find it sticking to your feed dogs and not feeding through the sewing […]
Annabelle in her fabulous orange sequinned silk georgette coat trimmed with pink diamanté buttons. ED. It is normal for me to have sewing envy when posting up pics of your makes but this is at a whole new level. I need an orange sparkly semi sheer coat! I need it!
Kitcat came up with the bright idea that when Jane makes her an outfit her dolly, Ayla should get one too. This concept is like a red rag to the bull to Jane so here we have a matching pink denim jacket and mini skirt to match her life size one; even down to the […]
Cammie came to the shop with a sewing bug after making up this fabulous cotton voile dress. She used Simplicity 1873 and lined it in cotton lawn. Well done Cammie! It looks ace!
Miaow modelling her school dress made by Jane using green cotton gingham and the Burda 9717 pattern.
Mia casting spells in the bathroom wearing her Harry Potter costume made by Jane for World Book Day. The cape was made to directions found on Burdastyle.com in Black poly viscose elastane suiting and lined in burgundy heavy poly satin lining. (We bought the wand and the badge on Ebay).
Jane came to the shop wearing her fabulous Wool tartan ruched skirt. It is lined in cotton and has a pair of box pleats front and back. It has a really good Swish!
Kitcat singing us all Christmas carols in her sequinned dress made by Jane. It is lined in heavy tricot and the armholes and neck are bound with jersey binding. You get fabulous movement with this sequinned fabric as each sequin is black on one side and silver on the other, so every move is exaggerated […]
Sarah looking pleased as punch in her poly chiffon circular skirt dress made exquisitely by Joan, her Grandma. The pattern is Vogue 9141. We’re a bit speechless with how well this dress is made, Joan must have the patience of a saint, chiffon is not easy!
Clair made this sooo sweeeet baby satin dress and tutu using viscose satin coat lining (much too good to hide inside a coat) and light pink tulle tutu.
Kitcat all wrapped up in her faux fur Burda 9501 jacket. It is lined with aubergine satin coat lining (oh-so grown up!). She’s a bit fed up with us cuddling her now, but that jacket is sooo snuggly!
Kitcat and Miaow visiting Granny (Jane) at the shop wearing their matching Liberty tana lawn Alice in Wonderland print dress and shirt. The pattern is Burda 9417 (as seen already for school shirts), they tie in at the back. Jane didn’t use any interfacing for the collars, the sleeves puff with elastic in the hem. […]
Pauline saw this green PVC and had to make a top for her friend, Davinia in it. 🙂 So she did! There was a certain amount of swearing involved –she now knows what a teflon foot is and when you want to use it –but anyway she did it so Hoorah!
Jane and Elwen made this sooo sweeet fur coat using Burda 9501 pattern, They lined it in bunny rabbit print quilting cotton and used toning toggle buttons. There is no interfacing -not even on the button holes which Jane insists is fine and they didn’t need it. She can break the rules because she has […]
Bess used her 5 and 8 year old niece’s fabulous drawings as inspiration for the embellishment on this wool tweed A-Line skirt. First she used white fabric paint and then embroidered using a heavy thread and added beads and sequins. It was all done by hand as the tweed is quite a loose weave and […]
Holly made this tangerine orange cotton wool and viscose mix bouclé heavy knit from LG as part of a Plymouth College of Art Fashion project to make a ‘skirt’ and cape as part of her university project. The not so practical skirt has large pockets – the entire front and back panels, braces to hold it up and […]
Suzanne from Cyprus celebrating her son’s wedding (he’s the one holding the flowers) wearing Silk Damask made up in a v-neck flared dress by Ralph Rucci for Vogue (V1381). This pattern is not simple – there are quilted yokes and bands, an attached belt with some tricky rouleau to tie it together —all in a fabric that doesn’t easily yield. […]
Bess made this turquoise cotton piqué coat for a wedding, wanting something very plain that would go with all her dresses. All the best laid plans and all that – Bess HATED it plain (felt like a doctor’s coat), so cut up some daisy trim and sewed them all over, and couched some yellow vintage […]
Jane made this silver grey Silk Moroccain crepe cowl neck wedding dress for her eldest daughter, Jessie. It is beaded with thousands of moonstone chips (Jane has the patience of a saint). To ensure the fabric had enough strength the silk was blocked onto Venezia lining (those chips are very heavy). All in all the […]
Kitcat wearing her Lime Green cotton seersucker playsuit using McCall’s pattern M6733. Kitcat is a proper little squinge so we found the straps too long, but found if we crossed them over at the back they fitted just perfect. It’s not bodging, honest. You can find some more cotton seersuckers HERE
Bess wearing her pussycat sweatshirt made using red brushed back cotton sweatshirting and appliqued glow in the dark cotton eyes with remnants of jersey for the whiskers and nose. Bess might have a bit of a pussycat (particularly with glowey eyes) obsession at the moment. (Inspired by a sleeveless top bought from Uniqlo earlier in […]
Denim dresses (Butterick B5876) made using medium weight denim with appliqued glow in the dark eyes (LOVE LOVE LOVE this glow in the dark fabric). Made by Bess for her 4 and 6 year old nieces. Used bondaweb to fix the appliques (then machined round with a small stitch). The skirt is lined and faced […]
Miaow (age 4; not staying still for the camera) wearing her reversible wrap dress made using Liberty Lantana (80% Wool 20% Cotton) animals in the forest print with a spotty cotton lawn on reverse. Made by Bess.
Cobalt blue stretch crepe dress with wiggly eyes made by Bess. Confession: Dress was made the day before going to a swanky wedding (when realisation struck that there was NOTHING to wear), it was much too big but rather than taking it in Bess just sewed a couple of wiggly eye buttons on the back […]
Kitcat and Miaow wearing their heart quilted dresses with chiffon wings. All made by Bess Fabrics and Notions: Kitcat: (sugar plum fairy) Pink heart quilted polyester #3330 Pink polyester georgette #3104 (wings) Pale pink nylon tulle (underskirt) Dusky pink grey nylon tulle (underskirt) White satin (lining) Pale pink satin elastic (to attach wings to wrists) […]
Kitcat and Miaow at Chatsworth house wearing their matching red velour and pink spotty soft net dresses, with yeti fur waistcoats. Made by Jane. Fabrics and Notions: Dresses: Red stretch velour. Pink and Orange spotty print soft dress net. Pink, orange and red dress net. Cotton voile (lining). Spotty Bias Binding. Red Satin Ribbon (Sash). […]
Wrap-over bodice printed cotton dress made for four-day-old Daisy by Lucinda, with pussy cat embroidered pocket. (all pockets should be pussycats) Fabrics and Notions: Boden floral print cotton Cream cotton lawn (lining) Cream satin ribbon Pink polka dot bias binding Embroidery threads
Abi sporting her ace retro print poly jersey 3/4 sleeve top Fabrics and Notions: Black and White swirly printed poly jersey Lightweight knitted interfacing Pattern: Vogue V8371
Soosee wearing black cotton oversized scarf. Fabrics and Notions: Black cotton rib jersey
Miaow at a festival wearing her whit rabbit costume (ears in hands) made with organic cotton, pale pink tulle, pink viscose satin and microfleece (ears)
Katy and her husband dressed up as ABBA for a party using cream viscose satin and purple cotton trousers.
Kyra modelling the felted jersey cardigan designed by Bess with integral glove puppets. Fabrics and Notions: Turquoise wool and polyamide felted jersey Red viscose elastane jersey (binding and waist yoke lining) Cover buttons Wool wadding (collar interlining) Viscose iron-on interfacing
Bess made this hoody with ears for her father (modelled here by her husband, Rob) out of white cotton sweat shirting which she dyed blue with Dylon machine dye. Fabrics and Notions: White cotton sweatshirting Navy Dylon dye Stay tape Wool wadding (for ears) Bess believed that EVERYONE should have a hoody with ears in […]
Bess made this sleeveless hoody with ears for Lulu using the lightest, softest jersey and interlined with wool wadding (sold in bed sized sheets). Fabrics and Notions: Stripe viscose elastane jersey Charcoal Marl Viscose Elastane Jersey Wool wadding Binding
Or is it a leopard? Kitcat wearing leopard print velour mouse costume ready to meet Father Christmas (who is very scary). Fabrics and Notions: Leopard print stretch velour Wadding (to stuff tail and ears) Elastic All made by Clair.
Fenton wearing his red cotton jersey squid costume made by his clever granny, Anna Every child should have a squid costume!
