Posted on

Bright Green Laminated PVC Peplum Skirt

green PVC peplum skirt

Back when The Great British Sewing Bee were after applicants for the next show (before they went and upset the BBC) Pauline was rather hoping to get on it, and being the kind of person who will happily sew brown tweed and bunny print cotton most of the time she thought she better widen her horizons in case they made her do something evil.

I think it is safe to say this is about as far out of Pauline’s comfort zone as we are going to get but she did an exceptional job. PVC is not easy to sew as it often sticks to the machine and doesn’t feed properly, various things can help like sewing with layers of tissue, using a walking foot or teflon foot, or sprinkling with talcum powder. It is a good idea to lengthen the stitch too.

Posted on

Gold Lamé Jersey Leggings

gold lamé jersey leggings

Jane made these gold lamé leggings for her grandchildren Kitcat and Miaow because every 7 year old and 9 year old needs gold leggings. Of course they do. She was surprised how easy it was to sew – we don’t usually buy this kind of ‘fancy dress’ fabric, but we made an exception for this rather better quality heavy jersey with a foil finish. Sewn with a stretch needle designed for high lycra content and ballpoint twin needle. No skipped stitches!

Abba songs in your head are an unavoidable side effect of seeing these trousers

 

Posted on

Blue Big Spotty Mac

blue spotty proofed poly raincoat

Lucinda made this fun mac for her mum using big spot print proofed polyamide and lined in brushed cotton.

Fabrics and Notions:

Blue spotty proofed polyamide from Boden
Brushed Cotton (lining)
Bias Tape  (detail to cover up where she ripped it then cried)
Stay tape (armholes)
Birdy Buttons (to cheer her up after crying)

We think this coat is all the better for bodged bias decoration.

blue spotty proofed poly raincoat
blue spotty proofed poly raincoat
Posted on

Laminated Cotton Hooded Raincoat with Pink Linen Trousers

spotty laminated cotton raincoat

Jane (the boss lady) wearing her laminated cotton pink spotty raincoat with stripe yoke and contrasting spotty lining with detachable hood, and pink linen fly-front trousers.

Fabrics and Notions:

Jacket:
Pink and turquoise spotty laminated cotton #3021
Pink and turquoise stripe laminated cotton #3022
Anbo spotty American printed cotton.
Separating turquoise chunky zip.
Dyed turquoise shell buttons.
Clear plastic back buttons.

Trousers:
Pink heavy linen
7″ Dress and skirt zip
2 x buttons
Viscose iron-on Interfacing

Patterns:
Jacket: (discontinued) Anna Sui for Vogue #2424
Trousers: Burda 2938

There is no interfacing or stabilising in this jacket as the laminated cotton is very stable. Jane rarely makes things for herself, or in this kind of fabric and has been frequently saying, “I’m really pleased with that jacket!”. It makes all this rain ALMOST bearable.

spotty laminated cotton raincoat
spotty laminated cotton raincoat

 

Posted on

Proofed Linen Quilted Coat

proofed linen panelled zippy coat

Maddison modeling Bess’s proofed linen coat (quilted with wool wadding) with wiggly eye epaulettes. Zipping in the panels and sleeves undo to reveal white proofed linen pleats.

Fabric and Notions:
Chartreuse proofed linen
White proofed linen
Wool wadding
Black continuous zipping
wiggly eye buttons
Black cotton grosgrain
Spot printed viscose acetate lining
Cover buttons
Pocket zips
Eyelets (umbrella pocket)
Viscose iron-on interfacing

Pattern: Bess’s own