Style Arc’s Adeline African wax print dress

I really, really love this dress and I am wearing it, again, right now as I press publish on this post. I’m surprised to have arrived at the end of summer without having made at least one more version. Four Lodos and then distraction in the form of lovely yellow roses fabric might be the

Liberty lawn robe: BurdaStyle 01/2012 #134

I’ve made myself a summer robe with Liberty lawn and I love it. It seems indulgent to use such delightful fabric for clothing I don’t wear in public but I do wear it most days a week, even if only briefly I have a large stash of lovely fabric this is not my only piece

Flag Lodo

I‘m up to my fourth Lodo dress this summer. And I don’t think summer coming to an end will stop me sewing this pattern a fifth time. How good would a winter Lodo look with a turtleneck and tights? This version might be my current favourite – partly because of the fun I had deciding

Pink linen shirt dress: Burda 07/2004 #135

I’ve really gone back to the archives of my Burda magazine collection for this one. Moving up into the Plus size range will do that to you! I’d learnt from my mistakes about sizing and this time I traced a size 46 with a 2 cm petite adjustment above the bust and out to size

NYC in the snow and rain dress: 04/2010 #108

I still haven’t cut into my yellow roses fabric…. I am often but not always this indecisive – I do sometimes sew up other fabrics from my stash that are irreplaceable or have a back story. This fabric is the partner to the Paris street scenes fabric. Both were bought on a bit of a

Zero Waste sewing: Liz Haywood’s Ursa dress

It was impossible to resist Liz Haywood’s zero waste Ursa dress pattern when it was released – zero waste and a cowl neck? In a sack dress style perfect for a hot summer day? Exactly what I love! The hard part was working out which of the several drapey fabrics in my stash I should

Jenny Shorts

This is another winner pattern from Closet Core Patterns! And I’ve only just scratched the surface by making the shorts. The first version was a trial using an unloved fabric from the stash. Bright happy colours but not on my good list for showing some dye run during prewashing. You know how this turns out

Paris street scenes dress: Burda 06/2013 #138

Burda 06/2013 #138 is another potential dress pattern for my delightful yellow roses fabric. My trial version is in a souvenir fabric featuring street scenes from Paris. It’s a light weight ponte, so a good match in terms of drapiness and body to my yellow roses fabric. It’s a lovely pattern and I like the

Dark green dress: Burda 08/2012 #143

I acquired this very lovely piece of fabric from an etsy seller (JannsFabrics). Jann is a dear friend IRL and an inspirational sewist with an enviable fabric collection. She’s rehoming some of that fabric and I’m very pleased to have a few of her pieces. It’s a linen silk jacquard and a delight. So delightful

Lodo dress times three

The Lodo dress from True Bias is my new favourite summer dress pattern. Three so far! So much to love about this pattern. It has a nicely shaped V neck, it’s loose through the waist, has excellent shoulder coverage, is designed for a stable knit, a woven fabric is used for the facings and (bonus

Flippy skirts for Felicity: #108burda02/2020

Simple pattern. Cute skirt. Gorgeous daughter. Stash fabrics. These are some of my favourite things. This is Burda 02/2020 #108. In size 40 waist and size 42 hips. The first version was in a poly cotton tartan cotton for spotlight. Horrid fabric to sew – the weave is too loose. It turned out well as

Orange and blue top: #128burda02/2015

A colour blocked top in ponte is an idea that has been percolating in my head for a while. It all came together this winter because I made a simple pencil skirt in an orange and cobalt plaid and I had ponte in matching colours in my fabric stash. I love my stash! The project

Grief control. Knitting, cakes and chicken tray bakes

Grief. It’s a strange thing. Different very time. Why did I think I’d feel the same after my dad died as I would after my mum did? I guess it is (blessed) inexperience. But it has been so much harder. Anyway. I’m out the other side of (most of) it now. And I have a

My almost zero waste Lillypilly dress

Before I launch into a post about the latest thing I made, I want to say: Black Lives Matter I’m a white woman of privilege. Black makers like Renee, Elaine and Carolyn have said it so much better than me and written eloquently about murder, injustice, civil unrest, pain and anguish in a way I

Still sewing Wilder gowns

This last week I’ve been reminded again of the restorative power of sewing. My father is in the late stages of terminal cancer. A few moments here and there working on this project among all the busy-ness of end of life care has been a tonic. Is there anything better that having lovely fabric between