Here’s another of my Minerva projects from last year. It was the usual race against time as I sewed frantically to have something new to take on holiday with me. I’m trying the Minerva Exclusive Linen Viscose Blend. I chose this vibrant eye-poppingly colourful floral print called Beaming Blooms. The tropical flower motif is a […]
Babelone Art Viscose Jersey
This project is so simple that there is not a lot to say about it apart from showing you. This was from last autumn and I have to say not only have I forgotten the process of the make but it was done so rapidly that I have no process photos to remind me or […]
Simple sewing: When you’re not really feeling it.
At the beginning of the year, I said I was going to slow down my makes so that I could concentrate on drafting and fitting. Well, my creative impulses kind of ground to a halt. Not only has my sewing dried up to a dribble, but I did not really achieve any of the planning […]
Designin’ December vs. Little Red Dress Project – Xmas 2022
It’s time for my favourite end-of-year challenge. Linda Maki’s Designin’ December is a sewing challenge to recreate or take inspiration from a designer item that you love. I spent a few years on the sidelines before jumping into this challenge and now this is my third entry. This year I might be able to kill […]
I snoozed and so I had to hack M7969
A while back I kept getting notifications that Minerva was offering a free download of the popular McCall’s M7969 pattern. I thought that’s great, I’ll have to get that. Well, I kept seeing the emails and kept saying I was going to get it, and I finally got ready to download the pattern, only to […]
Black Skinny Jeans from PatternLab Block
My latest jeans project uses the Pattern Lab system to hopefully get a good fit on these trousers. I’m using PatternLab.Ldn skinny jeans block with some black stretch denim from the stash. Here’s my Affinity Designer sketch for these classic-looking jeans. The denim is a lovely deep inky black and I decided to use white […]
Making the Vega dress for Fayma Patterns
I was thrilled to be invited to take part in a collaboration with Fayma Patterns. It turned into a bit of a journey.
More Jeans Making: Calvin Klein Vogue 2850
I’m making jeans using a vintage jeans sewing pattern maybe for the first time.
Waffle Patterns Kaede Utility Apron
Out of the blue just before my Italian holiday, I was contacted by Yuki of Waffle Patterns. She was testing a new pattern. She must have read my mind because the latest pattern was a utility apron/belt. That’s a bit out of the ordinary, you may think but, for the longest time, I had been […]
Soft Suit Combo – the Trousers
For the last few years, I’ve been focused on perfecting the fit of my trousers and last summer I made the first of what is now a few pairs of linen trousers. I’ve had linen trousers in various colours over the years and they all were worn until they fell to bits. I’ve been meaning […]
Sewing Plans update – Half Year recap
At the beginning of the year, I posted some bold sewing plans and a fuzzy #makenine pledge. I’ve made a lot of my proposed makes from earlier in the year but as I expected lots of things have caused the original plans to pivot. Travel of course is a major factor in any of my […]
Boat neck top with full bust adjustment
Stash diving for patterns can unearth some old gems. One from my youth works just as well with some adjustments.