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Leaf Print Linen and Viscose Maxi Shift Dress

leaf print linen and viscose blend maxi shift dress for tall women

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).

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Orange Stripe Jacquard Organza Cielo Top

orange stripe jacquard organza closet core Cielo top

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 . 
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 didn’t 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 ❤️

orange stripe jacquard organza closet core Cielo top
orange stripe jacquard organza closet core Cielo top -hung to show sheerness
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Orange Stripe Linen Kalle Hack Dress

Orange stripe lightweight linen closet core Kalle shirt hacked into a dress

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 don’t 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. 
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. 
Perfect for swishing around in our June heat wave”. 

This stripe linen has sold out but you can find others HERE

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Blah Blah Blah Tea Towel

blah blah blah tea towel

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!)

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Watercolour Print Linen Butterick Dress

watercolour designer print linen butterick 6784 maxi dress

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.

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Italian Linen with Tufts Designer Fabric Jacket

Italian linen gauze with tufts designer fabric jacket

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! 😍 😍 😍

Italian linen gauze with tufts designer fabric jacket
Italian linen gauze with tufts designer fabric jacket
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Big Graphic Floral Print Linen Tessuti Ruby Dress

big graphic floral print linen mix tessuti ruby dress

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 “style is flared at the hemline & makes a perfect floaty garment”  Anne says she will practice floating down her local high street looking tres chic 😂😂😂😉

big graphic floral print linen mix tessuti ruby dress
big graphic floral print linen mix tessuti ruby dress
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Cotton Lawn Shell Top & Linen Mix A-Line Skirt

floral print cotton lawn shell top and tencel feel linen viscose mix A-Line skirt

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.

floral print cotton lawn shell top and tencel feel linen viscose mix A-Line skirt
floral print cotton lawn shell top and tencel feel linen viscose mix A-Line skirt
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Peacock Sorona Mix Linen Zadie Jumpsuit

peacock linen sorona mix zadie jumpsuit

Anyone who follows Tina on Instagram (@sewimpatient) will know everything she makes is divine, this Zadie Jumpsuit by Paper Theory Patterns is no exception. The linen is mixed with cotton, viscose and sorona – sorona adds a superb softness and elasticity to the fibre and makes a super comfortable and stylish fabric. It’s made from corn!.

peacock linen sorona mix zadie jumpsuit
peacock linen sorona mix zadie jumpsuit
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Navy Linen Parachute Skirt Dungarees

navy linen parachute skirt dungaree dress

Fiona (lovely as it seams) made this absolutely fabulous heavy washed navy linen parachute skirt dungaree dress – self drafted. Isn’t it fabulous? Perfect eyelets! Perfect everything. She’s a very clever girl and I want her skillzzzz.

navy enzyme washed linen parachute skirt dungaree dress
navy enzyme washed linen parachute skirt dungaree dress
buckle detail with eyelet rivets
buckle detail with eyelet rivets
navy linen parachute skirt dungaree dress
navy linen parachute skirt dungaree dress (back view)
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Peacock Blue Linen and Sorona Shirt

peacock linen and sorona mix shirt

Bess made this shirt a couple of years ago for her much worse half using a Burda magazine pattern – it was a surprise for the Linen wedding anniversary and it took him a few months to actually wear it because the bib bit (according to Rob) “is a girl’s blouse” (🙄). Anyone else have this trouble with their spouses?! Bess swore she would never make anything for him ever again but then he started wearing it (it takes these boys a while to come round to the idea that we are right) and now it’s his favourite -along with another shirt in the same pattern.

Sorona mixed with linen is a lovely combo as it softens the linen and reduces the creasing -which is a good thing because Rob is scared of Bess’s gravity fed iron and Bess isn’t about to do his ironing 😉 . The colour has held true after many, many washes and unlike pure linen it doesn’t wear at the cuffs so quickly.

Sorona fibre is a new fibre made from Corn, it is a supple and stretchy filament that is mainly being marketed at performance wear.

The buttons (barely seen) are upside down abalone shell buttons, the interfacing (not seen!) is the H0023 lightweight knit which stabilises the linen enough for a button hole and collar but allows it to stay soft and floppy.

peacock linen and sorona mix shirt
peacock linen and sorona mix shirt
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Leaping Leopards Print Kalle Shirt

yellow leaping leopard print Japanese Linen Closet Core Kalle Shirt

This superb leopard print Japanese linen shirt was made by the lovely AND talented Jennifer, she gets lots of compliments when wearing it (of course she does – it’s brilliant!). The Pattern is the Kalle Shirt by Closet Core patterns. She left us to pick the buttons and was pleased with our choice. (we went with bright blue to pick out the accented colour).

yellow leaping leopard print Japanese Linen Closet Core Kalle Shirt
yellow leaping leopard print Japanese Linen Closet Core Kalle Shirt
Mid Blue 10mm 4 hole shirt button with engraved black rim
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nani IRO Print Linen Sleeveless Shirt

nani IRO printed Linen sleeveless shirt - front and back view

All the love going out to this Katherine Tilton for Butterick (b5891) sleeveless shirt made out of nani IRO for Kokka Japanese printed linen by the fabulous Lesley (@mawlesley on instagram)

She left the choosing of buttons to us which is a nerve-wracking experience for us but you can always return buttons if they are not right. Buttons are such a personal thing. We went with the nautilus shell buttons which are an artwork all to themselves.

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Olive Linen Stripe Trousers and Top

Paula stood under tree in garden wearing olive stripe linen matching trousers and top

Paula is such a regular with us we know her telephone number and address off by heart but it took a Pandemic to eventually get a photo of her! This photo was taken on the week she should have been in Milan then Lake Como, and here is one of the planned outfits for shopping in Milan, guess it will have to wait until next year now 😞

The fabric is an olive green wide chalk stripe linen and viscose mix, it’s a light to medium weight linen with reasonable drape whilst remaining stable enough for those stripes to stay straight.

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Socially Distant Cropped Linen Trousers

socially distanced hand embroidered message cropped linen trousers

Lock down sewing with a topical message “if you can read this you are too close!” hand embroidered down the leg in glow in the dark thread. The Linen is our perennially popular washed Damiel linen which has a heavy but drapey handle and works brilliantly for this style trouser. The pattern is self drafted from a basic straight leg long trouser pattern – Bess added fabric to the side seams and then darted the legs in at the bottom and on the knee. They are super comfy to wear and work on both hot and cold days (ie any British Summer day).

socially distanced hand embroidered message cropped linen trousers
socially distanced hand embroidered message cropped linen trousers “if you can read this you are too close!”
socially distanced hand embroidered message cropped linen trousers
socially distanced hand embroidered message cropped linen trousers
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Bell Sleeve Black Linen Tunic

bell sleeve linen smock top

This is the  @theassemblylineshop #talpuffshirt using a buttery soft black lightweight black linen. It so soft it almost feels like very fine wool. Susie is really pleased with it. The Assembly Line are so clever with their classic and slightly unusual designs. Susie is not one to usually see herself in a puff sleeve blouse but it’s not too puffy and loves the hidden cuff idea, and the envelope neck reminds her of all the easy to put on baby clothes her five children wore.

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Supersoft Lightweight Linen Peasant Shirt with Contrast Stitching

Supersoft lightweight linen Peasant shirt made by Alexa

We love this fabulous peasant shirt made by Alexa using a supersoft washed lightweight white linen and embroidered with navy contrast zigzag stitching. It is the  #roscoeblouseanddress pattern by @truebias . As well as the stitching being aesthetically pleasing it helps to keep this very lightweight woven fabric stabilised without using facings (like a heavy duty stay-stitch). Beautiful.

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Tartan Check Cropped Trousers and Clear TPU Leopard Print Jacket

TPU clear leopard print raincoat with linen and wool tartan worsted cropped trousers

Bess made the pattern from her block for these trousers, but it is very similar to the Marcy Tilton for Vogue V8499 trousers. She added extra width below the hip and then darted them back in at the bottom. The fabric is a wool, linen and silk blend worsted suiting that is a delight to sew with (even when matching checks!) and is not at all itchy to wear so was made unlined. -With the thought it *might* be itchy Bess used a contrast cotton cartoon print on the inside of the waistband.

green and blue tartan linen wool and silk worsted suiting cropped trousers
green and blue tartan linen wool and silk worsted suiting cropped trousers - detailed fly view
green and blue tartan linen wool and silk worsted suiting cropped trousers- back view

The Jacket is a leopard print TPU clear plastic that Bess sewed with bias binding so as not to be unstuck by the fabric not feeding properly through the machine (you can stop this happening also by using a teflon foot, or sewing with strips of tissue which are then torn off). The pattern is the Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns (simplified a little). Bess made it for a festival (it looks brilliant at night with lights inside), but actually it’s fab to wear on the many rainy days we suffer in Devon. She didn’t bond the seams or do any special waterproofing, but finds it hold up exceptionally well- even to a downpour on a Welsh mountain!

TPU clear waterproof kelly anorak jacket with leopard print - side view
TPU clear waterproof kelly anorak jacket with leopard print - front view
The jacket zips up with a clear chunky tooth separating zipper
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Black and White Mary Quant Dress with Daisy Pocket

mary quant black and white dress with daisy shaped pocket

Bess downloaded the free pattern from Alice and Co at the V&A Museum in a flash and made up this Mary Quant dress with little to no alterations (unheard of for her- she nearly died of shock), the pocket took the longest and this was the second go as the first one looked like a fried egg! She used bondaweb to applique the daisy and slowed down her normal sewing speed in the hope she could sew accurately (more or less!). The black is a fabulous piqué weave viscose (very similar to a viscose twill) and the collar and daisy is a lightweight linen (probably not the ideal fabric as it frays like the devil but the colours were right and it more-or-less worked so don’t knock it!

mary quant dress collar detail
mary quant dress with daisy pocket (detail)
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Navy and Multicolour floral Linen Mix Wrap Tunic

navy floral viscose and linen wrap tunic

The wonderful Pamela here in her wrap front tunic top made out of a light – medium weight linen and viscose mix – a great blend that gets its drape from the viscose and the coolness and structure from the linen, it’s perfect for this top. We love the proportions of this tunic- the length, the little sleeves, the way Pam has used plain navy to define the wrap neckline. Superb!

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Nani IRO printed Linen Karl Lagerfield for Vogue Dress

nani IRO print linen from Kokka made up using Vogue 1412 Karl Lagerfield sewing pattern

Jane made up this old Karl Lagerfield pattern FINALLY after it lurking in the pattern drawer for nearly 20 years. The Linen is the Japanese designer nani IRO for Kokka. Jane had a bit of tweaking to get it right – too small on the bust but massive everywhere else – such as life goes with a pattern for the first time, but having been altered it is now PERFECT 😊

It’s got pockets!

It is lined in Venezia faced with extra light interfacing and there is a concealed zip up the back. The pattern is Vogue 1412 (long since discontinued but possibly available second hand).

Rudi the Siamese cat has to be in the photo too. Even if he didn’t get his ‘best side’.

nani IRO print linen from Kokka made up using Vogue 1412 Karl Lagerfield sewing pattern

 

 

 

 

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Mustard and Silver nani IRO Printed Linen Sleeveless Shirt

mustard and silver nani iro printed linen sleeveless shirt

It certainly helps to be small when sewing with designer fabrics – this is the beautiful Nicola who squeezed this linen shirt out of less than a metre of cult poplularity Japanese nani IRO printed linen -good going when it’s so narrow and has a border to fathom placement. Nicola credits rookie luck but we think she has the eye for detail that makes for a superbly skilled dressmaker.

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Navy Linen and Sorona Mix Kalle Shirt

Sorona and Linen mix closet case patterns Kalle Shirt

Sue (from French France) made this fabulous linen and Sorona mix shirt using the Closet Case Patterns ‘Kalle Shirt’, Sorona is a new fibre made from corn starch that we hope will take off because added to linen it adds a fabulous softness and suppleness (less creases! Yayy!!). Sue used a bias maker to make the spotty inside collar.

 

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Colour Block Shift Dress

linen colour block shift dress

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 are colour fast for the cleaning. It’s a good idea to use those colour catcher sheets you put in the machine as a precaution.

She made it up again in Green (which we love) but the yellow remains the favourite.

green linen colour block dress

 

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Green Linen Coat with Grosgrain Trim

washed heavy linen green coat

Bess made this heavy washed green linen coat on a weekend retreat by staying up practically all night for two nights and not skiving at all. She had even come prepared with her two grosgrain trims sewn to each other already and the pattern fully adjusted to fit and toile tweaked.

The linen had been pre-washed 5 times to eliminate excess dye that could leach onto the cotton grosgrain, and the dry clean only Liberty crepe de chine silk lining is also pre-washed (it’s okay).

There are no shoulder pads but a bit of semi-tailored interfacing around the chest area is used to improve the structure (along with cuffs, facings and pockets), all the trimmings were hand sewn so as not to change the drape.

washed heavy linen green coat washed heavy linen green coat washed heavy linen green coat washed heavy linen green coat washed heavy linen green coat

 

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Raspberry Heavy Washed Linen for Mother-of-the-Groom Dress

Raspberry Heavy Washed Linen for Mother-of-the-Groom Dress

Here is Andy (the Mother of the Groom) wearing a fabulous raspberry heavy washed linen dress made for her by Anna Ash of  I ❤️ Sewing .

raspberry heavy washed linen Lynn Mizono dress

The pattern is Vogue V1410 which has a wrap front rather than a front opening. The whole point of dressmaking is making exactly what you want* so of course these details are for us to alter!Vogue V1410 Lynn Mizono dress pattern

*when I say we dressmake to get exactly what we want I mean within reason. We cannot alter patterns to remove a middle-age spread, or dropped shoulders, or [enter personal body hang-up here]. But we can dressmake to disguise these things.

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Brown Floral Linen Mix Shirt

Shirley made this floral print linen and cotton shirt after a long hiatus in sewing (I’m wondering if this is Shirley’s sewing after a break how good was it before?!). Cut with a v-neck band and 3/4 sleeves, this shirt is a great Summer wardrobe staple.

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Aqua and Black Frigate Bird Dress

Bess made this super fine linen dress with black bird print for her holiday in Tobago, it’s made using her basic block with just the shaping from bust darts and a centre back seam. Nicknamed the frigate bird dress as the print is similar to the ubiquitous birds of the Caribbean.

It is unlined and the neck is bound with super lightweight satin bias binding.