2018 Sewing with a Plan
Most of you know all about Sewing with a Plan (SWAP). I have done this Artisans’ Square challenge four times now, although I only finished twice. I hadn’t planned to compete this year as I have too much on my … Continued
Getting closer to Chanel
Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel is one of my style icons. She always knew how to dress, but never more so than in the period before the Second World War. If you copy an outfit she put together or designed in this … Continued
Vogue 1977 Late summer jacket – the pocket challenge
As you may remember I am making a linen jacket, based on this wonderful 1937 Chanel jacket, modeled here by Coco herself. I am using a 1990s Vogue pattern by Ungaro – Vogue 1977 – which is not a perfect … Continued
Late summer jacket; adapting Vogue 1977
When I decided to make a version of a 1937 Chanel jacket I covet, I chose a “modern” (1997) pattern as my starting point. The best thing would have been to draft a pattern from scratch, using my personal blocks … Continued
Late summer jacket – getting to the right shade of pink
I am looking for a medium weight pure linen, in pink that is both very light in shade, and cool (blue undertones). For a summer jacket. I have found lots of nice smokey pinks, shell pinks and bright pinks. And … Continued
Late Summer Jacket – finding a suitable pattern!
It’s nice to be sewing again. I enjoy the whole process – the planning, the selection of materials, altering patterns, getting a good fit, and the sewing process, although my construction skills are a bit mediocre I must admit. But … Continued
Thinking about a late summer jacket
One of the books I recently read was Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’urbervilles. In the book there are many descriptions of the clothes worn by farm workers in the 1880s. I was taken with the description of young women … Continued
Winning a prize from William Gee
I frequently fill in forms that promise an opportunity to win a holiday, or something to do with sewing. But I do so knowingly – the company’s main aim is to promote their product and collect email addresses. I was … Continued
A “business casual” trip to France
Every year there is a conference in the South of France for the property industry. Even though I have worked about 26 years in this industry I have never attended the event. It just seemed a little inappropriate to go … Continued
Vogue 1522 1985 Perry Ellis dress
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a love letter to Perry Ellis, saying what great clothes he designed for Vogue in the 1980s. This pattern, Vogue 1522, was one I picked out as being useful and beautiful. Lisa (who, … Continued
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