Notions Of Fabric

I had a vision in my head in early spring of what I thought would be my perfect Summer 2020 look. It was black Landers (in a previous post), a white tank, and a breezy cover-up in some kind of sheer material. I knew it would be perfect for me in summer - the sheer nature of it would make sure I didn't overheat, but the sleeves would make sure I didn't get sunburnt. Despite the fact I'm Australian, I have one very English quality - my skin is so pale I can get sunburnt on a cloudy day! Literally has happened several times. So I set out to make the Sew Over It Sylvia Robe for the summer. I picked a lovely sheer black crinkle chiffon from Minerva with a vintage-style floral print on it. I figured the black base would mean it went with other things if I wore it outside of the one outfit in my head! I picked the short length for outdoors, and made it a size down from my measurements (M). I feel like this is just pleasantly oversized, and the sleeves are the perfect length for no...

I have recently taken a bunch more blog photos - I think that makes me almost up to date with my makes? Certainly the 16 garments I took today means I have photos of every garment I made in 2020 (which is the most in a year ever, I think). This will be the first of this batch I've posted! When the Shelby dress by True Bias came out, I think almost everyone fell in love with it, including me. I was talking to some of my sewing friends, and Chloe sent me a picture of New Look 6567... This pattern was so close to the Shelby and very hackable to make it the same. It had the (lack of) waist seam, the overall shape - and I was feeling adventurous! So I picked a fabric which I was happy to use as a muslin fabric - a maroon rayon with a ditsy floral print I picked from the Birmingham rag market during Sew Brum 2019. Now, it conspires that I haven't actually made the proper version yet, but it is on the (long) list of things to sew in 2021, and now I know that it will work. I made the ...

This pattern is the Deer and Doe Belladone. Those who are long time readers of my blog will recognise my love for this pattern company. I have made Belladones, Daturas, Chardons, and of course a Luzerne! I actually also am planning to make Sirocco and Magnolia at some point soon - they're both on my Make Nine for 2020. (Since writing this post originally, I have made the Sirocco once, with plans for a second, and I changed my mind on Magnolia, buying the Myosotis pattern instead!) I have made quite a few Belladone's in my time, it must have been 4 or 5, although not many are still surviving. This is mostly due to moving interstate, across the world, and also my fluctuating weight. But I do like the silhouette and I always really loved the cross over element at the back (to the point where I've never made it with the plain back!) This fabric was, I believe, one of my earliest purchases from TMOS (the Man outside Sainsbury's) in Walthamstow? It's a lig...

This dress we actually took photos of once before, last year. We were in the gorgeous town of Zell am See in Austria for the Husband to do his first half ironman race, and we stopped one evening under the picturesque town church for photos. Unfortunately, it was a bit too late in the evening and the photos turned out unsalvageable due to the dimming light, so you get photos in my sewing room against the blank wall again. Sorry? This pattern is one of my favourites - New Look 6048. One of the reasons I like this pattern is that it is a great canvas for making a dress when you only have a small piece. The bodice fabric I used for this dress I picked up at my favourite fabric store in Sydney - Achieve Australia. I had just enough for the bodice (and remnants which will make lovely pockets in something else!) and used a matching light cotton for the straps and the skirt. It is quite a light cotton so the dress is fully lined using the matching lawn for the bodice and a sligh...

This is the first new blog post that I have done since... Well, for a while. I had a very productive few months during lockdown/working from home. This project is then how I spent pretty much the whole of my summer holidays (aside from one pair of Carolyn PJ shorts in double gauze, hopefully soon to have a matching top!) Since going back to work however, I have had so little time to do anything but work that I have sewed something crazy like 7 seams total. But anyway, that is how I have been feeling and that is what it is. I try not to dwell on it. I have to start by saying that this was a PROCESS. That being said, it is totally possible without being overwhelmed if you break it up and take your time! If you include all the planning time, I have had this project in the works since before October 2019, which was when I bought the fabric for the outer from Guthrie and Ghani during SewBrum 2019. Then I got the following: Outer fabric from Guthrie and Ghani (navy blue Softshell fabric, now...