Hello, hello! I missed you guys! It’s been crazy busy at Did You Make That Towers with a trip to New York and THEN a trip to North Devon. It’s a tough call to say which was best. Not much to choose between them…
Catch Up And Cushions
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged cushion covers, vintage linen
30 Comments
Sew An Iconic Fashion Item – The Mini Skirt
Do you listen to The High Low Podcast? I really enjoy it. They mentioned that the mini skirt has topped a list of the most iconic female fashion items of the last 50 years. It goes without saying that my mind leapt to sewing patterns!
Dolly and Pandora suggested that not all women feel comfortable in a mini skirt. Personally, I love a short hem. Paired with thick tights and boots or Converse, they’re the perfect combination of cute and easy to wear. Of course, there’s short and there’s short!
All joking aside, if I was on the serious hunt for an interesting mini skirt pattern, I’d definitely go the vintage route. First of all, there are thousands of patterns out there. Second of all, they can be snapped up super cheap. Sewing pattern for £2? Just hit your local friendly online auction site.
But if you prefer contemporary mini skirt sewing patterns, here’s a run down of:
- Tried And Tested Patterns
- New Faces On The Block
- Recommended Fabrics
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged ava skirt, denim, Ditto Fabrics, mini skirt, ness skirt, simplicity 2451, V1247
12 Comments
Can YOU Wear Yellow?
So, who is it who even decided we can’t wear yellow? It’s one of those rules that may make sense for some, but doesn’t seem to work for me.
Is it like other rules we encounter?
- Older women can’t wear black
- Never mix pink and red
- Animal prints aren’t a neutral
I’m clearly not buying it.
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged B6178, culottes, fleece back jersey, nora top, sew me sunshine, Tilly and the Buttons
37 Comments
2018 Christmas Gift Guide
Oh, what fun! We can start planning what we want to buy or be gifted around the seasonal holidays. So, without further ado, here is my round up of fantastic gifts.
First, if you’re in the London area, get yourself down to the Christmas shop at Liberty – this will put you right in the mood. Whilst there, you might want to stop by the haberdashery section… Go on, treat yourself!
If you insist on treating others, Liberty do the most gorgeous gift coins – their equivalent of vouchers. These make a lovely present for a friend.
Each year, I buy myself a Liberty bauble for my Christmas tree, though this year I might order a Vaginament from Felt Melon instead. Oh yes, my friends…
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged christmas gift guide, sewing gifts
16 Comments
Tumble Out Of Bed And Stumble To The Kitchen
Would you take a meeting with this woman? I know, debatable, right?
I’m getting ready for a work trip away, so obviously I had to squeeze in some sewing! I’m wearing:
Burda 7020 Jacket – sewn four years ago
The Maker’s Atelier One Hour Skirt – sewn seven months ago
The Tilly and the Buttons Nora top – sewn this weekend!
This is sooooo going to be an outfit when I’m racing around New York, but in the meantime I guess I should show you the Nora top. Can you see it better now?
Ha, ha! I’m taking lots of photos of Ella as we’re about to be separated for three weeks. SOB.
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged nora top, Tilly and the Buttons
19 Comments
My Top Five Useful Sewing Blog Posts
If you’re new to sewing or to Did You Make That, I thought I’d do a little round-up of my most popular and useful blog posts! Hopefully, these could help you, too.
Viscose is one of the most wearable fabrics to sew with and this blog post is my number one most popular of all time. Clearly, we all love viscose. Brew yourself a cup of tea and take the time to read the 75+ comments as there’s a wealth of reader information and tips.
Don’t forget to check out the full Fabric Focus series here.
Walthamstow Market Downloadable Map
It turns out people love a free downloadable map! Here you can find my guide to fabric shopping on Walthamstow market, along with a map to guide you. Make a day of it!
An Idiot’s Guide To Working With Satin
Stoff & Stil help me sew a bag!
When I first introduced a puppy to my household, I was given loads of advice:
- You are now parent to a toddler that never grows up
- Hide anything you care about
- Always walk into the home before she does
- Give up on keeping her off the sofa or bed
All of these rang true, though I never quite mastered the art of being the first to walk into the house. What no one told me is … you’ll have an excuse to sew a new dog-walking bag once every other year!
Six years on, here’s the latest.
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged ikea, sewing a bag, Stoff & Stil
24 Comments
The Myosotis Dress In Viscose
The last time I sewed this Deer & Doe Myosotis Dress, I announced I’d make a second version in silk. I didn’t. I made it again in viscose bought for £3 a metre from The Bloke Outside Asda. Just kidding! I bought the fabric from TMOS.
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged deer and doe, myosotis dress, viscose fabric
18 Comments
Autumn Sewing Inspiration & Totally Random Question
The season’s are changing. Does nature’s palette influence your sewing and colour choices?
I would never have paired my turquoise earrings with red lace, if I hadn’t spotted a local cottage garden. This stunning cotton lawn from Sew Me Sunshine magnificently combines both colours. As Harriet herself says, ‘perfect for autumn’!
And some hues just make you want to cuddle up in cosy fabrics. Coat sewing, anyone? I’d love to make the Tessuti Oslo coat.
Posted in sewing, sewing and knitting, Uncategorized
Tagged autumn sewing, sew me sunshine
19 Comments
How To Manage Your Fabric Splurges
Goodness knows, we’ve all been there. You’re tired and deserve a reward for a hard week. Lying on the sofa, you browse online fabric stores and hit that Paypal button once too often.
Or you’re out physically shopping and the lure of those patterns and those prices is too much to resist. You carry ten metres of fabric home, wondering if you can stuff this under the bed before anyone notices.
Yup, we’ve all been there.
But I’ve noticed an increasing trend towards anxiety over these impulses and a desire to fabric shop more responsibly. People are starting to question whether or not a large stash is a good thing.
I think a stash can be a very good thing. If I spot a rare-to-find fabric, particularly in a solid colour, I’ll stock up on three metres. And I love holiday shopping – fabric as a reminder of places I’ve visited.
But in the meantime, here are my tips to manage your fabric splurges whilst still enjoying the creative inspiration of all those lovely bolts.
