Spot the dog

One of my goals for 2016 is to make time to post my finished work, so here is the first of many (I hope!).  I've been absent from the blogosphere for so long I'm not sure if anyone is still following.  

My first garment of 2016 is exactly what I needed - walking the dog weekend wear-  but it is not a favourite.  The fabric is fabulous navy and white Japanese (?) linen purchased at my spiritual home Tessuti Fabrics.  

Unfortunately Rachel Coomey's design (Vogue 1247 OOP) doesn't exactly thrill me. 

My point of comparison is the Sutton Blouse by True Bias.  Kelly's pattern is beautifully put together and the cut is more flattering falling softly against the body.  Will post wearing photos and more details shortly.

I've had a great start to 2016 with two other completed projects to show you.  My new dress is being worn tomorrow, I guess you'll see that next.

Don't be strangers - stop by my blog and say hello!

The Studio Faro Dinner Shirt

Anita at Studio Faro is working to expand her range of patterns.  I was thrilled to test her dinner shirt pattern which I started back in July before I went overseas.

I'm ashamed to say this sat finished but without buttonholes for nearly a month. Last night I dragged myself to the machine and did the deed.

Anita's pattern isn't available on her website yet, but look out for it.  She describes it as a "production-ready women's shirt pattern in nine sizes 6-22".  The instructions and seam allowances are geared to commercial construction, but not beyond the home sewer.

My vintage John Kaldor fabric worked really well with the pattern but tends to hard the design lines.  This traditional tailored shirt features a dinner shirt bib panel with princess seams, double layer back yoke and full gathered sleeves with continuous placket.  

I made a size 12 with adjustments only to the length which is suited to someone around 5 ft 7 in.  Next time I make this shirt - and there will be a next time - I'll add about a cm to the bust for wearing ease, but otherwise I'm very happy with the fit and practicality of the design. I'll also make more of a feature of the bib, perhaps with pleating or fabric variation.

I've finished a few other garments so will make the effort to post.  Love to hear your comments, meanwhile happy sewing!

Sparkly business

Couldn't let lack of a willing photographer get in the way of showing off my latest business wear.  It's all a little bit sparkly with a subtle metallic back thread.

I love the 70's vibe of the jacket.  It is begging for a button down A-line skirt, but for the time being I've teamed it with a flip skirt, Burda September 2014, no.104.

The pattern for the jacket is from January 2008 Burda magazine (no.117).  The details are great, especially the extra large cuffs with an extra decorative band.  The leather trim was the result a "happy accident".  I cut the garment and forgot to trace the collar stand.  There wasn't enough of the brocade left to cut the piece.  The Fabric Store had run out of the original fabric but did have an unusually small skin of soft lambskin in the perfect collar.  My old friend Mick from Mick's Buttonholes at Alexandria did the studs.  May he never shut his doors!

I've also completed two blouses and a striped skirt since my last post.  I've been promoted recently and I'm spending more of my free time sewing than my blogging about it.  Not sure what is coming up next, so until my next catch up happy sewing!

The magic of the colour wheel

Emerald green has been described as the most magical, refined and elegant shade in the color wheel. 

I'm not sure I'd go that far in praise of the colour, but it does look amazing with so many other colours and suits every shade of skin and hair.  I bought 2 metres of this rich emerald/teal green ponte from Tessuti in 2013 when emerald was the major Spring colour trend.  The black ponte is also from Tessuti - a more recent purchase.

I missed the boat for being exactly on trend, pondering over loads of ideas for this piece of cloth over the years.  But the colour hasn't exactly gone away.  I must confess that the end product is the outcome of pattern laziness. Rather than trying to fit something new I reworked a recently made dress pattern Burda 10/2014 101 coupled with my standard simple ponte pencil skirt. These skirts are becoming staples in my business wardrobe.  I'm loving the A-Grade comfort and pop of colour they add.

My black ponte skirt works just as well under the peplum top.  Overall, I'm very happy with the outfit and feel that it is more versatile than the dress.  Pop by and let me know what you think.

Meanwhile happy sewing!

Home and back in action

My absence from Blogland has been conspicuous (to me at any rate).  I've spent the last few months preparing to go away, going away and coming back again to a mountain of work!  

While ostensibly it was a business trip, with the opportunity to speak at conferences, work with colleagues in London and have a brief holiday in Portugal, I did spend a lot of time talking and thinking about sewing. 

The outfit photographed was self made for travel.  A self drafted black ponte pencil skirt, a Rigel bomber jacket made from a fabulous linen synthetic blend that doesn't crush and doesn't need ironing, and a black jersey cowl neck t-shirt.  I love this outfit and wish I had a photo that showed more garment and less of the Savoy.

I travelled to Paris for weekend (as you do!) and found stunning antique buttons at the Marché aux puces de la Porte de Vanves on the outskirts of central Paris.  I bought four lots for 20 euros and much haggling.  There is lace to be found at this flea market but the quality is variable. Expect to pay for the good stuff. I also went to my favourite fabric stores on Montmartre and was slightly disappointed.  But I did find 3 metres of interesting cotton blend for 10 euros. And am kicking myself for not buying the 3 metre 'coupon' of burnt orange faux leather indistinguishable from real leather.  I was worried about excess baggage.

Back in London I met up with the lovely Kate from Fabrikated.  We shared dinner at her house and I felt privileged to see her hand made clothes, sewing area, cloth stash.  Kate is wonderfully creative and has been dabbling in fabric printing and painting.  She is also a skilled pattern-maker and was finishing an amazing cotton maxi at the time of my visit. 

Another trip highlight was meeting Tany from Tricot et Couture.  Tany is utterly charming and amazingly generous and talented.  We spent time touring her home town in Portugal with her husband and son.  We clicked and talked about all sorts of things, including cloth...how could we not?  Seeing her work close up was really very special. Tany led me to her favourite fabric store Feira dos Tecidos which has branches all over Portugal.  A sample of my purchases is pictured below.  

 Tany also directed me to a very special supplier of trims and buttons.  I bought buttons for a Chanel jacket and the red and black braids on the counter. 

 I've just finished my first garment since my return, a tuxedo shirt which I'm pattern testing for my friend Anita McAdam at Studio Faro.  I have hundreds of buttons, but do you think I have 8 small black shirt buttons?  Fraid not!

I promise not to be a stranger again.  Please pop by and say hello.

No boring business

 Clearly April's dress was not a winner in the popularity stakes, but what do you think of my Rigel bomber with a simple tube pencil skirt?  I am huge fan of Papercut patterns for fit, skillful pattern design and easy to follow instructions.

I bought the floral fabric on a whim from a designer fabric website Kristy recommended.  The piece was very small - enough for a pencil skirt (an obvious choice) or for a colour blocked jacket.  I did have a more structured jacket in mind until I saw just how well it blended with the mustard wool ponte that lived deep in my stash.

In theory I love this suit -particularly the back view- which I made as an antidote to boring grey business suits.  In practice I'm a little shy to wear it.  The feeling of needing to hide away wasn't helped by husband's comment to my daughter "Have you seen Mum's vomit jacket?"..."Bomber jacket!"..."Oh I thought you said vomit" (look of sheer innocence upon his face).  

I made it and some other items at an our annual Sewing Guild sewcation at Stanwell Tops.  I was joined by other bloggers; Sharon, Kristy and Beverley and 30 other talented soulmates.  Beverley posted some great photos on her blog.  If you don't get together with sewers in the real world, I recommend it.  We learn a lot and inspire each other.

Autumnal tones for April dress

You could be forgiven for thinking that I spend more time musing about sewing than actually sewing.  My rate of blogging does suggest that! April is a strange month with holidays disrupting the normal week, taxes falling due, and the month seems to fly by.   But there has been plenty of action here, just no so much inclination to sit down and write about.  

In the ages since my last post I have completed my April dress; a wild suit (see my next post); a white wadder; and a flippy skirt that is waiting on a Bellatrix Papercut jacket to match. 


Let's talk about the April dress.  The pattern is Burda 10-2014 101 made from patterned ponte I bought in Barcelona at a store that I was taken to by the charming Spanish designer Paco Peralta.  I paired it with plain ponte from Lindcraft.

The pattern is well constructed and quite easy to sew.  The centre front panel replaces bust darts and does sit quite high, but I like this effect. I added an exposed zip to modernise the look.  The only suggestion I make is to interface the corners especially if your fabrics are different weights.  


This would have helped April as the Spanish wool ponte is lighter than the denser Lindcraft variety. Overall I'm very happy with my dress and have worn it a few times already.

I love the way the fabric matches my vintage Oroton earrings.

While I am persisting with my calendar dress challenge it is a bit of a distraction. I looked into my closet and it is crying out for separates, and solid colours.  Not giving up just yet!