Diary of a Chain Stitcher

I'm slowly working my way through the entire Closet Case Patterns collection as I appear to be able to find a place for all the designs in my life and wardrobe! Each time I make one I realise I like it even more than I expected. The process of making each one reveals just how clever and well thought out the cutting and construction is. I must admit I didn't think the Kalle Shirtdress was my kind of thing when it was first released but I've since seen many versions in person and online that have swayed me to give it a try and now I can't believe I didn't make it sooner. Abolaji in particular has posted a few beautiful versions on her Instagram, especially this lengthened plaid version . I adore how she has really made the pattern her own with fabric choices and styling. I took inspiration from her and decided to go almost maxi length with mine and maximise the glamour! It is quite an oversized style which I was hesitant about (being fairly petite sometimes th...

I've finished my first project for my holiday wardrobe and it is probably the one I was most excited about because of the fabric! For those of you who haven't read my handmade travel wardrobe pos t I'm going on a safari holiday in January so when I spotted this beautiful cotton charting with mini big cat print stocked by The Fabric Store I couldn't resist ordering it. I had in mind a crisp little sleeved shirtdress with breast pockets and all those classic safari chic details and I'm delighted with what I ended up with, although I didn't get there without a bit of a struggle. I've been meaning to try a design from Hot Patterns for quite some time. For a long time I've been eyeing them up on the Sewbox stand at the big craft shows and been intrigued by the big strong envelopes and wearable styles packed with interesting details. Sewbox stock a huge range of these patterns along with a good selection from other independent designers. I was h...

At the start of the month The Fabric Store got in touch to see if I'd be interested in trying out a selection of their fabrics. Of course I jumped at the chance as I've been addicted to this store since I visited their LA branch 18 months ago and was blown away by their carefully curated selection ideal for dressmaking. They are New Zealand based but their online store has been shipping to the UK for about a year now with free speedy delivery over $150. If you're a long time reader of my blog you'll already be aware that I adore their merino wools so this time I tried to branch out a try a wider selection...although I couldn't resist snagging a piece of this merino/polpropylene honeycomb jacquard . I've never seen anything like it and the idea of some merino sportswear was too tempting! I sewed up my new favourite t-shirt over the weekend from this marle rib knit and to get a good variety in my selection I added a couple of metres of rich teal linen which I...

So it would seem this is going to be the summer of wearing shirt dresses for me! A couple of months ago the lovely ladies at Sew Over It asked me to test their latest release, the Vintage Shirt Dress . After falling head over heels for their Ultimate Pencil Skirt pattern (I'm still looking for a big vivid floral print to make my third out of!) I jumped at the chance to try this dress. I was also really happy with the way they responded to the tester feedback and how readily they incorporated suggested changes last time and this occasion was no different. As with all their patterns the design is really classic and wearable and features pleats in both the bodice and skirt to give the dress it's shape. I was a little concerned that this style might feel a little too feminine for me as I was keen to make a casual dress and tend not to dress that girly from day to day; but for me personally the skirt has the perfect amount of flare and fullness to avoid feeling over dressed. ...

I'm so excited to share my latest completed garment with you today! It was one of those projects which seemed to come together without any struggles and just worked. I'm so pleased with the style, fit, fabric, and finishing I managed to achieve. I'm sure many of you will recognise the pattern as the infamous McCalls 6696 shirtdress which has been taking the sewing blogosphere by storm over the last year or so. I can see why everyone has been raving about it; it's a fantastic pattern and is so enjoyable to put together. The cut is beautiful and it has some gorgeous design details. Not only that but it comes with bodice pattern pieces for different cup sizes and the construction method is spot on. I love the way the insides have turned out, especially with the contrast of the right and wrong sides of this lovely denim! I've been thinking about making a denim shirtdress for a while now, they keep popping up all over my Pinterest ! I think they're a great...

This month's Mood Sewing Network project was all about cosy fabrics for me! The temperatures have dropped here in London over the last couple of weeks and all I want to wear is lots of soft and warm layers. I actually ordered this Blue Plaid Soft Cotton Flannel (unfortunately now sold out but there's still a little left in red !) back in February as part of my very first MSN order but haven't found the perfect use for it until now. I spotted the dress below on Pinterest a little while back and knew my plaid was destined to be my own version of it. This discovery also coincided with the release of Grainline Studio's Alder Shirtdress ...match made in heaven! I've wanted to sew something plaid for a while now but have been a bit daunted by the task of matching it. That was my real challenge with this garment, considering there are so many pattern pieces in a shirtdress and I thought a bold check like this (plus no sleeves!) would be a good place to start. I ...