Notions Of Fabric

This was one of those pattern and fabric combinations that changed as I made it up. I spotted this fabric in Fabworks Mill Shop outside Sheffield when I travelled there in early September for the Anorak August meetup. Having selected 4 fabrics in the shop, this is only the second I've made up (after my plaid Moneta dress) - that being said at the time of writing, I am 2/3rds the way done with another fabric and it'll probably be done by the time this is up! I had really wanted to try a version of the Linden sweater inspired by the Megan Neilsen Jarrah sweater, of which one of the views has a really lovely tie front. I thought this lovely sweat-shirting fabric would be perfect, however after I got it home and it was washed, I realised that the fabric for this would bee too heavy. It was a shame, because while it was washing and drying (a process which takes a few days in the UK in colder weather), I drafted the front piece. I've now put it away for a more approriate fabric. ...

This has been a surprising make for me. I have worn it much more than expected and it is actually a true interseasonal piece. Most of my wardrobe isn't really made of pieces which go from season to season - I tend to make the majority of things as summer makes (dresses, skirts, etc.) and simply accessorise with tights and layers. But this fits well in the in between, and in the UK there is lots of in between! This is my second View B Linden, with the short sleeves. I've also made both in fabrics which I won in the SewBrum 2019 raffle. I'm almost out of fabrics from that prize! This rose knit is not usually in my colour palette, but I actually don't mind it on me. I made my usual size 8, although I found the neckband a bit short. This knit doesn't have the same amount of stretch as others I've used, so I ended up recutting the neckband longer so that I could stretch it to fit. One thing I didn't have was matching thread. I made this during May 2020 during the...

 In the lead up to last summer, I made 2 pairs of what I considered 'essential' summer shorts. This is the second pair I made (the Landers have already been blogged!). And of course, they have become essential. I wore them all summer long and once it got too cold I popped a pair of tights on and a warm jumper on my top and kept wearing them! Both of these pairs will be looking after my wardrobe for years to come. This is the Maritime pattern by Grainline. I have made these shorts twice before, once in star print stretch denim, and once in heavy blue linen. They are my favourite shorts pattern so why mess with a classic? I think this also officially makes it a TNT (3 makes does that, right?)For fabric, I used a perwinkle twill I bought from the Village Haberdashery which I dyed black and added to some black remnants I already had from a (very old) Chardon skirt. That made sure I had enough fabric for both these Maritimes and also the Landers I made too. I cut a size 8 same as la...

Here is a real wardrobe workhorse - these Maritime Shorts must have been worn hundreds of times since I made them! These shorts were made before our trip home to Australia for Christmas 2018. It turns out that it was perfect timing - I had already made the Ogden which I am wearing in these pics, and I knew that a navy pair of shorts would be perfect for my wardrobe. This linen  is a fabric I picked up from Guthrie and Ghani, and the lining in the pockets is the scraps of Liberty lawn from the dress I made for the bbq the day after my wedding. I actually still have enough to make another set of pockets out of it, so I will be keeping it and making it last as long as humanly possible. It's such a nice lining and of course compliments the linen perfectly. These were the 'real' shorts that my starry print ones were the test for. Making those, they came out a little bit big so for this pair I went down a size and they were perfect! They fit really well, and I got ...

This is my first ever pair of bottoms that wasn't a skirt! My first shorts. These were definitely a test of this pattern, a wearable muslin as it were. And they are still hanging around years later... I bought this fabric in Paris (oh, I am planning a stash filling trip to Paris once things go back to normal!) from one of the coupon shops at the base of Montmatre. I don't remember which store it was as I had that fabric for a few years. I think I bought it on my first trip to Paris after arriving long term in the UK? That would make it 2017, I guess. I snapped up a 3m coupon for a great price, and I still remember at the time being really really pleased with my purchase The original plan for this fabric was to make a dress with it, but I released as soon as it was washed that it was too heavy for that purpose. So instead I made shorts! It does mean I have a lot left as I had 3m to start with (shorts don't take much!) These are the Maritime shorts by Grainlin...

After I made the two Moneta dresses back to back very quickly, I moved on to a pattern I've made lots before, but using a new variation. I have been doing a reasonable amount of sewing since schools have been closed - I am still working, but doing distance education stuff from home. Working from home has been a bit of a strange adjustment, which does have some perks, but I have been finding it hard stopping work, when it's right there on my laptop all the time. So I made a schedule, which includes a few hours sewing time each afternoon. This has actually been really great for my sewing productivity and for my mental health as well. I made another Linden! I already own 4, just not View B. I had wanted to try it though, but I don't have many drapey knits. What I do have in my stash is a set of 5 lengths of knit fabric from Girl Charlee which I won in the SewBrum raffle last year. So this is my chance to sew more knits, as this is not something I usually do and I'm st...

Now that we've covered what happened in 2019, let's look forward to 2020! Last year, I didn't reach my #makenine goals, but I think it's still good to have something to aim for. This year, a lot of these patterns are ones I would have like to make in 2019 but didn't get a chance to! In the end, what I really want to do in 2020 is to sew from my stash, using both existing patterns and fabrics. So what I have done is created two linked lists, one of patterns, and one of fabrics I want to use. Because I have a lot of plans already in my head, of the two lists 6 patterns are already linked to fabrics on the corresponding list. So, let's discuss, shall we? 2020 MAKE NINE - PATTERNS 1: Cottesloe swimsuit (Megan Nielsen Patterns) Having made a bikini already, and having bought swimsuit fabric I haven't used yet (see fabric #4) I decided to add to my me-made swimsuit collection soon by making the one piece Cottesloe with the tie. I think I have everyt...