Two winters ago I cut out a coat in some beautiful grey wool that I bought in Ditto, but time was not on my side and Spring had sprung (twice) before I’d finished sewing. The coat pieces were relegated to a carrier bag and banished to the piles of denial beneath the cutting table. Although I don’t make New Year’s resolutions I did promise myself that this year I’d try to finish some of my started projects and not leave anything hanging around in bags gathering dust. So it’s been my mission this week to get this coat finished. I’m hoping to wear it tomorrow on our class trip to London, there’s nothing like a deadline! And here’s the finished article, I really rather like it, what do you think? The pattern I used was Burda 7131, option B. As ever, I didn’t quite stick to the pattern (I added a... read more
Well, it’s getting close to that time of year again. Christmas is already in full swing in the supermarkets and department stores and although I won’t allow myself to be sucked into the hype this early in the year, it doesn’t hurt to be a little prepared when it comes to gifts especially if you are planning to give handmade presents. With so much disposable tat in the shops it’s lovely to slow down and make something personal and thoughtful for our loved ones. There is a bit of a theme emerging in the studio this season with students choosing to make vintage style aprons as gifts for friends and family. You could come and make your own vintage style pinny at a weekend course, suitable for everyone from the complete beginner. Or why not treat someone to a course as a gift? I got so carried away with this vintage apron idea that I made... read more
Unpicking is unfortunately an inevitable part of dressmaking. However carefully you’ve placed your pins or even tacked a seam, at some point you’ll need to undo misplaced stitches. If like me you are fond of secondhand clothes and frequent your local charity shops you may also spend a fair amount of time altering factory made garments. Here is my guide to the tools you should have for unpicking and how to undo some of the most common stitches. Essential tools: Unpicker, scalpel or Stanley knife blade, small scissors or snips, good light, very good eyesight or possibly a magnifying glass, and a few pins…. Common stitches: Straight seam To get the best use from our unpicker we must first understand it’s anatomy. You probably think I’ve lost the plot right now, but bear with me. There is a small blade for slicing through stitches, a pointed end to guide the... read more