The Louvre Beret, Behind the Scenes
How does a pattern end up in a magazine? The Louvre Beret is a pattern of mine in the newest issue of Tauko magazine, with the theme of architecture. I gave a show and tell on this blog last week. I thought you might be interested in the process leading up to publication, which covered…
Read MoreNew Pattern: Louvre Beret
Hello All, I’m thrilled to introduce a new pattern: a zero waste beret. It’s in Tauko magazine, which came out last week. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about this pattern – this is the pattern I’ve been most happy to nail, ever. There are seven sizes, to fit a 52-54-56-58-60-62-64cm…
Read More6 Ways to Wear a Bias Shift Top
The Bias Shift top, a new pattern by Emily Klug of Goldfinch Textile Studios, got finished off during the week, all ready to…put aside until warmer weather. But, I had a lot of fun working it into some outfits. It’s as comfy as a t-shirt, but smarter-looking. I reviewed this pattern last week. 1. With…
Read MoreMaking the Bias Shift Top
The Bias Shift top is a new pattern by Emily Klug of Goldfinch Textile Studio. It’s a minimal waste top with two options for the hem, round neckline and cap sleeves. View a selection of tops made by the pattern testers, made in a huge variety of fabrics including stripes, checks and prints. The pattern…
Read MoreIn the Shop Window
Something very nice happened to me lately. Our local bookshop, Miss Gracie Taylors Pre-loved Books, has a sewing-themed window display this month, with my books in them. You might recognise Nigelle-ann, the shop’s owner, from some of my patterns. She was the cover girl for the Xanthea top, culottes, and most of the things from…
Read MoreMaking Nicole Akong’s Beach Kaftan
Last year I did a collaboration with Nicole Akong for a kaftan cut from beach towels (read about it here, order the pattern here, and here are three ways to style it). Nicole had gone on holidays and whipped up a kaftan to take. When she got home, people asked for the pattern and she…
Read MoreOn Designing Toy Faces
Do you like sewing soft toys? If so, how do you choose a project? I would bet the toy’s face is the main decider. If the face isn’t right, it’s a pass. I quite like making toys. I liked making them when my children were little and enjoyed doing a pattern for a cloth doll…
Read MoreTwo Crowns of Splendour
The final part of my Me Made May pledge has been fulfilled. It was to finish 3 UFOs (UnFinished Objects). One (pinafore) was finished and worn during May, and for the others I’ve just finished off two sunhats. We’re now into winter but I’m sure they’ll get worn. Both the sunhats were crownless, and both…
Read MoreWrapping Up Me Made May 2025
May is over, and another Me Made May is finished. This was the ninth time I’ve done this wardrobe challenge, and to my surprise it was the most fun one yet. It’s easy to get a bit jaded if you do this every year, especially if you wear me-mades every day. My pledge was: 1.…
Read MoreThe Re-Styled Smith Pinafore
Thank you for the excellent comments on the Smith Pinafore in last week’s UFO post (A Catalogue of UnFinished Objects, new edition). I got all enthused and determined to do that one first. This is the first sample I made of the popular Smith pinafore pattern. The red stripe hides the fact that I didn’t…
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