Debbie chose lockdown to make up a silk satin back crepe dress to die for. The pattern is an ancient Vogue pattern and she used the superweight satin back crepe to greatest effect by switching the right side on a panel. She said it wasn’t easy to work with and found an AO cutting mat and lots of wonder clips helped, and she did it! Sew beautiful!
The fabulous Jo made this shirt out of uber luxurious leopard print emerald green stretch silk satin backed crepe, the pattern was an amalgamation of a few patterns she had in store from years of sewing (which is a great defence for those accused of hoarding patterns). Jo is a brilliant dressmaker and this shirt in such a tricky slippery fabric is testament to her skill.
Corinne used McCall’s M7324 pattern to make up this superfine digitally printed floral silk satin blouse – the repeat on this fabric was 90cm so was fun for placing the print in a waterfall / ombre effect. Fabulous.
The lovely thing about crepe backed satin is you get two fabrics in one – a matt side and a shiny side – both are the ‘right’ side so you can combine the two to great effect. It matches! The crepe satin used in this dress is a heavy satin and acetate blend that has a fabulous weight and drape. Perfect for a posh frock.
Bess wanted a lightweight but warm jacket so used grey herringbone cotton poly and elastane -it’s a medium weight, the sort that would make lightweight chino type trousers, then she quilted silk crepe de chine (in the brightest coral colour possible) to wool wadding. The results are a super snuggly jacket that feels like you are putting on a duvet (if you ever wondered what the definition of hygge is, this jacket is it)
Whilst the outer fabric is not waterproof it is a tight enough weave to not get wet through in a brief shower.
The pattern is the Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns, the instructions and drafting is simply brilliant. Bess shortened it and hacked the collar and hood pieces to enable both (the hood folds away into the collar)
The lovely Celia sent us this pic of her wearing her p blouse using a spotty print silk chiffon blouse, the pattern is Vogue 1385, and she says was technically straightforward as it consisted of only 5 pattern pieces. However, the neckline tucks were very time consuming as the dart markings were on the facings as well as the main pattern pieces and the two had to be aligned exactly. Very fiddly!
Worth the effort Celia- beautiful Blouse, thanks for sharing!
Jayne made this fantastic self drafted top using our super slinky navy blue crepe de chine silk and the grey and navy cotton and elastane ribbing for cuffs and neck opening.
Prue made this amazing Vera Wang wedding dress in silk brocade. The pattern is discontinued #2118 but sometimes you can find them on Etsy and such like. There are 32 tiny little fiddly buttons down the back which for that alone Prue should get a medal, but how stunning is this dress? (the answer is VERY).
She also made the little bridesmaids dresses out of the same silk. Altogether now, Awwwwwwww!
GORGEOUS.
Petra sent us this pic of her dress made up using spotty silk twill from LG. You will notice the spots are arranged inline rather than offset which makes them a super finnickity to match but she did it really well.
She said: A week ago I googled dress fabric shops in the uk and came across an article in The Guardian titled 10 best fabric shops in the uk[]. I looked at your website and found exactly the fabric I wanted. It came on the Monday and now I have a dress to wear for a wedding! Thank you for you friendly and professional service. I will definitely look at your shop for other fabric.
Jacoba matching her kitchen fabulously in her red silk tweed skirt that was interlined to save getting a ‘bum’, and lined. Fabric stashed from years ago which just goes to reiterate our mantra -buy fabric when you see it – it won’t go off in the cupboard 😉
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!
Kerry wearing her green lace print silk crepe de chine princess line dress using Simplicity 2247, which she said she would not make again in such a delicate fabric but we think it looks fabulous. Hems were hand rolled.
Daiga wearing her beautifully fitted short sleeved denim blue wool silk and linen mix shift dress with lovely seam detailing and hem flounce. She made it using Burda 6640 and lined it in Venezia.
Rowena being a very glam Mother of the Groom in her black and magenta abstract print silk satin flared dress and matching dupion silk fitted jacket. She was a busy bee as she also made her hat and bag plus grooms men’s cravats and hankies. Also her daughter in law’s lace gown (which she beaded!) her veil and headdress.
Blimey! Now she is off to do some gardening.
Bess enjoying a glass of bubbly wearing her black guipure lace dress which was lined in cream silk rep suiting. The pattern is her very basic dress block that only has bust darts and a centre back seam for shape. It’s tricky to tell in this photo but the lining is 3″ shorter leaving the scalloped edge unlined. Also unseen is the perfectly matched centre back seam (You’ll have to trust me on this one).
The lining and the lace are made up separately and joined at the neck with a vibrant turquoise satin bias binding. There’s no zip- it just chucks over the head.
Christina showing off her navy and lilac silk dupion flared skirt made for Burn’s night. Silk dupion is a very papery fabric which holds it’s shape well for skirts like this. Kudos for matching those checks!
Pauline made this bow tie out of gold twill silk for her son (Magnus) to match his father’s at a wedding.
Altogether now! Awwwwwwwww!
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. It took her a while but it was very much worth it.
We love this photo. Such fun.
Ruscha sporting her hand sewn silk chiffon shirt, which we at the Stone Fabrics headquarters are in awe of. She insists that it didn’t take that long to make and is a more enjoyable way to sew (she can sit in the garden and tinker away without noise). However it was made it is amazing. We love the mix of the two colour ways.
Also seen: linen and lycra stripey jersey skirt
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 dress took about 3 months; a lot of evenings and weekends, and never more than a few hours on the trot due to a broken elbow- and concern for her own sanity. Jessie helped with the beading and Bess was responsible for constructing the tail (Jessie insisted on a tail, Jane was appalled at the idea but the Bride gets what the Bride wants).
Silk Moroccain is a double crepe that drapes well and has a subtle lustre to it. We try, but don’t always have it in stock, but can order it (next day delivery) in around 40 colours.
The tail hooks on to the back with corset hooks and was stuffed with Polyfil.
Well you wouldn’t have a normal dress for getting married in Vegas by Johnny Cash, would you?
Martine being fitted in her bow printed Thai Silk dress.
Felted silk scarf made using off cuts of various fine silks. Made by Anna.
Kitcat and Miaow wearing their coordinating princess dresses made using viscose satin coat lining and nylon shot organza.
Fabrics and Notions
Pink viscose satin coat lining
Shot pink and orange nylon organza
Orange silk dupion
Pink silk dupion
Remnant of Sari
Flower buds
Satin bias binding
Concealed zips.
Yellow and multi printed viscose shift dress made by Angie (fabric given to her for her birthday), and black silk dupion bolero with frill made by Angie for Francesca.
Fabrics and Notions:
Dress:
Multi printed yellow and multi viscose.
Venezia lining
Invisible zip
Piping
Pattern: Burda 8133
Bolero:
Black silk dupion
Black Venezia lining
Pattern: Butterick 3345
Pink silk dupion pleated dress made by Angie for Abi
Fabrics and Notions:
Pink silk dupion
Orange Venezia lining
Medium weight knitted interfacing
Invisible zip
Pattern: Simplicity 1873
Silk dupion is a great fabric for party dresses, and these pleats work well as it accentuates the shot (two colour) weave.
Abi wearing her fitted bodice with gathered skirt dress made in white silk and sheer black spotty tulle, made by Angie.
Fabrics and Notions:
White silk habotai
Black spotty nylon tulle
Invisible zip
Lightweight knitted interfacing
Pattern Vogue V8443 (bodice) and V2962 (skirt).
It can be a bit of a fiddle, but amalgamating two patterns into one can solve the problem of never finding exactly what you are after. It’s a good idea to make a toile first to check there are no nasty surprises (you should ALWAYS do this, but it is especially important when you are tinkering).
Tulles and nets do not fray or unravel so you can leave the hem with the cut edge, so cut it straight! Alternatively, especially if you would like to add volume to the skirt, you can bind the hem with bias binding (this is often seen on the yards and yards of underskirts that go under meringue wedding dresses)
Jessie wearing her red viscose and elastane polka dot t-shirt made by Bess, and Bess wearing her wool and silk tweed pinafore dress with Birdy pockets and circle jersey inserts.
(They were trying to move faster than the camera flash- clearly not fast enough)
Fabrics and Notions:
Jessie wears:
Red polka dot printed viscose elastane jersey
Lightweight knitted iron-on interfacing
Stay tape
Reinforced iron-on stay tape
Bess wears:
Wool and silk tweed pinafore dress
Red polka dot viscose and elastane jersey (pockets and inserts)
Medium weight knitted iron-on interfacing
That T-shirt again, in slight slower motion:
Dress made for Bess’s graduation made out of charcoal silk and wool lightweight English tweed with charcoal jersey back and red spotty jersey circle inserts and pockets.
Malin wearing her blue Thai silk dress with sash that ties in a bow at the back.
Fabrics and Notions:
Blue Thai silk
Venezia lining
Invisible zip
Pattern: McCall’s M6115
Megan (spinning) and Bronte (triptych) modelling angora and wool mix jumper with red viscose jersey circle insert and monster gloves, and charcoal grey dogtooth worsted wool with zipped panels revealing printed silk habotai inserts.
Fabrics and Notions:
Jumper:
Wool and angora stripe rib jersey
Red viscose and elastane jersey (circle insert, covered buttons and glove linings)
Wool wadding (Inside circle insert)
Covered buttons
Bias binding cut from jersey
Stay tape
Viscose iron-on interfacing
Skirt:
Charcoal 80% Wool 20% Poly dogtooth check brushed worsted wool
Digitally printed silk habotai
Red continuous zipping
Black grosgrain fold-over binding
Invisible zip
Backing button
Bias binding
Iron-on stabilising tape
Clair wearing heavy jersey sailor top and pleated wool and silk skirt.
Fabrics and notions:
Heavy wool jersey
White ribbon
Stay tape
Black silk/wool worsted (permanently pleated)
Medium weight knitted interfacing
Venezia lining
Gingham ribbon
Invisible zip
Jacoba wearing her posh shot silk dupion dress.
Fabrics and Notions:
Silk dupion
Silk organza (interlining)
Fluffy iron-on interlining (bodice)
Boning
Venezia lining
Pattern: Bellville Sassoon for Vogue, 2481
Sue with her daughter in her shot red silk dupion posh frock (made in classes).
Fabrics and Notions:
Red shot silk dupion
Venezia lining
Invisible zip
Lightweight iron-on interfacing
Piping
Jacoba wearing Pucci inspired print silk crepe de chine dress.
Fabrics and Notions:
Printed silk crepe de chine
Stay tape
Lightweight iron-0n knitted interfacing
Invisible zip
Luka the siamese cat in cashmere coat (Model’s own). Bess in Laurent Garigue waffle cotton boxy jacket with red silk grosgrain trim (made by Jane)
Fabrics and Notions:
Laurent Garigue waffle cotton
Red silk grosgrain
Large poppas (self covered)
White Bremsilk lining
KitCat sporting Dolly Annabelle’s dress as hat, made using the offcut silk dupion from her party dress and trimmed with ricrac braid (made by Clair)
Fabrics and Notions:
Silk Dupion (remnant)
Ricrac Braid
KitCat posing in her silk dupion party dress for her God-monster’s wedding (Made by Clair)
Fabrics and Notions:
Shot pink silk dupion
Cotton lawn (lining)
Rick-rack braid
Lightweight knitted iron-on interlining
Gemma wears Navy silk dupion wedding dress with embroidered and beaded silk dupion waist panel. (made by Lulu)
Four-month-pregnant-Lulu wears printed viscose jersey wrap dress (Made by Jane)
Fabrics and Notions (Gemma):
Navy silk dupion
Embroidered and beaded navy silk dupion
Medium weight knitted iron-on interfacing
Silk habotai lining
Invisible zip
Fine piping cord and self made bias binding
Fabrics and Notions (Lulu):
Viscose Elastane printed single jersey
Stay tape
By adding a matching plain dupion silk to a much more expensive embellished silk can achieve fantastic results and keep the costs low.
Stretch jersey is the perfect maternity wear and can be worn for a large duration of the pregnancy, as well as after the birth.
Lulu wearing her lovely silk and linen shift wedding dress, holding her daughter, Kitcat, in her printed cotton seersucker ruffled dress and matching headband. Gemma to her right wears an embroidered cotton bridesmaid dress.
Fabrics and Notions (Lulu):
Turquoise silk and linen
Silk habotai lining
Silk organza feather trim
Invisible zip
Iron-on lightweight interfacing
Fabrics and Notions (Gemma):
Embroidered lightweight cotton
Venezia lining
Invisible zip
Lightweight iron-on interfacing
Fabrics and Notions (KitCat)
Printed cotton seersucker
Cotton lawn (lining and collar))
Button
Extra-Lightweight knitted iron-on interfacing
The silk organza trim gave Lulu’s dress just the touch of something special she wanted for her wedding dress without making it too impractical or unsuitable to wear at subsequent posh do’s. A shift is the most flattering of dress, and easy to make fit really well.
