Diary of a Chain Stitcher

This project is the one thing from my handmade holiday wardrobe wish list that I regret not getting finished back in January. I had the pieces all cut out but just ran out of time before we flew to South Africa. The pattern is the basic bikini Well's Bay from Halfmoon Atelier and I absolutely adore the clean and minimal aesthetic of it. The most exciting thing about the pattern is that it is completely reversible so you are effectively getting two bikinis in one! There are no fiddly fastenings to contend with as it simply ties at the back. The minimalist design is perfect for showcasing a special swimwear print which is exactly what I chose with this Argyll print swim fabric from the Liberty range at The Fabric Store . There are some amazing prints on their website and I have at least one more squirrelled away! What I love about them is the quality of the fabric base, which is dense and matte and also that the print retains it's vibrancy and clarity when stretched. I...

We are definitely moving into winter here in London. The clocks have changed and I can see my breath in the evenings. But I'm still going to go ahead and post the last couple of projects from my summer wardrobe! It'll be weather appropriate for any of you reading in the southern hemisphere anyhow! I absolutely loved making my bombshell swimsuits a couple of years back and every swimwear pattern release catches my eye as the designs are so much more inventive than what you can find for a reasonable price in the UK shops. But there's a reason for the lack of exciting bathers here, the London lifestyle doesn't exactly call for a wardrobe full and is exactly why I haven't made any more. When I realised I was going to need swimsuits for a couple of reasons over the summer I jumped at the chance to make my own again. Top of the wish list was the Beverley Twisted Bikini from Named Patterns . Like all of their designs I liked this for it's contemporary feel and un...