Despite my determination that I would no longer be sewing for anybody but myself, my friend Joolz managed to convince me that she really needed a new velvet skirt. It’s about three years since I last made one of these, and I didn’t really need very much convincing to make another.
These simple elasticated skirts go [...]
Tag Archive 'patterns'
Young Designer - Mary Quant
Posted in inspiration, sewing, shopping on Jul 29th, 2010
During the 1960s, the big pattern companies enlisted the help of the hottest young designers to bring the latest fashions to their catalogues. This is Butterick 5912, designed by Mary Quant, whose patterns were licensed by Butterick well into the 1970s. I have a sneaking suspicion that this design is about as old as me.
I’ve [...]
This is Burda 7808.
(Information now only available in German, since the English site has merged with Burda Style and all the patterns are gone. *sigh*)
I bought the pattern yesterday because the weather’s gone mad, and I’m going to need some kind of loose summer dress so that I don’t inadvertently boil inside my own skin. Now [...]
This week’s been a pretty hot one, as far as weather goes in the UK. I’m sure most people are thrilled to bits (in fact I can hear them all outside, laughing and enjoying their barbecues in their gardens), but unfortunately for me, I’m really not very good at hot. I get sunstroke very easily, [...]
Andrea Katz Objects
Posted in inspiration, sewing on Apr 4th, 2010
This afternoon I went and had a little look at the Vogue Patterns website, to see whether they had any patterns I could modify for a dress idea I was thinking about. Before I’d even got that far I discovered that the new season’s patterns have been released, and this is one of them.
It’s a [...]
Vintage treasures.
Posted in inspiration, shopping on Jul 19th, 2009
Over the years I’ve collected and been given quite a few vintage clothing patterns - most of them from the 1950s. Unfortunately most of them were too small for me to actually sew and wear, and although I have an abiding love of 1950s clothing, I’m really not a 1950s shape.
It’s taken me a long [...]
A new summer dress?
Posted in inspiration, sewing on Jul 18th, 2009
I can’t even begin to count how many patterns I’ve bought in search of the Perfect Dress. Some of them I’ve made and then hardly worn; others are in the process of being cleared out on Ebay, completely unused.
Having recently discovered that an empire line dress is apparently the most flattering style for me to [...]
Finished jumper, and a free pattern!
Posted in knitting on Feb 9th, 2009
I finished the Colourscape jumper yesterday, deciding that a big polo neck was just the thing to use up every last inch of this lovely wool.
I’ve written up the pattern, which is now available for free in the shop!
I’ve only written the pattern out in the one size for now - it fits up to [...]
Thinking about trousers
Posted in inspiration, shopping, trousers on Jan 6th, 2009
I’ve also been thinking about trousers for a good long while.
I’m in desperate need of some new jeans, as my current ones are both slightly threadbare and much too small. I did try on a few pairs in the sales, but the fit was so terrible that I didn’t feel terribly inclined to buy any.
I’ve [...]
This weekend I finally got around to sewing the zip into my green cardigan, and I spent several hours yesterday putting the finishing touches to the knitting pattern for it. It’s available in sizes from 30″ to 54″ chest, and you can make it from any chunky yarn that you fancy.
I’ve added the pattern to [...]