Continuing my BHL obsession… an Elisalex mash up. For some reason I’ve been terrified of princess seams ever since I started sewing. I think it’s the fact that it’s a seam – ie, not a dart which you can adjust and move – and therefore seems very permanent. I decided to overcome this fear by… Continue reading Sigmalex love
I’m writing this on my last day in Angola… which feels very strange. I’ve lived in Angola for 14 months – the longest I’ve stayed in one country since 2010. I’ll be going back to Colombia and starting over again – again. It’s been a weird time – good and bad in equal measure –… Continue reading Return to wax print: Papercut Sigma dress
T-shirt and jeans is my standard day-to-day outfit. Comfy and practical with a million potential variations, it just works. But since I’ve started sewing, I’ve come across a problem: while there are a million woven tee patterns out there, none of them is just quite right… Plus, this is where I really feel the limitations… Continue reading Quest for the perfect woven tshirt
I can’t work out if I am terrible at measuring myself, or super weirdly shaped, or the Guise pants have way more ease than they profess to have, or I just got confused. It’s probably the last one to be honest. I LOVE Papercut Patterns – although this is the only thing I’ve made by… Continue reading Papercut Patterns Guise Pants
It took me so long to get around to making this pattern, and I’m not sure why. I love Dolly Clackett, where Emery dresses pop up regularly in various forms, and the fit-and-flare shape is one of my favourites. I’ve even had the PDF sat on my desk, fully glued and cut out, just waiting… Continue reading Christine Haynes Emery dress aka The Allonby Dress
You might recognize this fabric – it’s the fabric I’m using for my mum’s Caroline pajamas (still in the making), and part of my #MakeNine2016. I actually finished this a couple of weeks ago and put a photo on Instagram, but since then I’ve been wandering around some more remote parts of Angola, and haven’t… Continue reading BHL Zeena Dress
Note for non-British people – I’m not sure what Doubledecker means to you – for me it’s a Routemaster (big red London bus) or a slightly disgusting chocolate bar… Anyway, it is a thing of two layers. When I first started sewing, I was obsessed. I bought every indie pattern I could find – I… Continue reading Doubledecker: Hollyburn and Laurel top
There are good things and bad things about this pattern. The number one good thing for me is that this is the first thing I’ve made that I feel looks like I could have bought it from an actual shop. Plus, I know that it is actually better in some ways than an RTW version,… Continue reading By Hand London Sarah Shirt
I had a couple of metres left over from my Tulip skirt, and decided to tackle the Colette Laurel for a second time – this time with a bit more understanding of patterns, fitting, and sewing as a process. This time, I took a good look at the measurements, and cut my pattern a full… Continue reading (Another) Colette Laurel
This was the least planned thing I’ve ever made, and that’s saying something. I’ve got my #makenine going on, and currently working my way through the Carolyn Pajamas for my mum. I don’t want to rush it, or slog through it and get bored, because I know that way I’ll make mistakes. Plus I’m easily distracted. So… Continue reading Sew Over It Tulip Skirt
machineless sewing 