Category Archives: sewing and knitting

A blog about my journey making things with sewing needles and knitting needles.

Dragonfly Fabrics Giveaway Winner

Posted on September 17, 2017 by

Just a bit of housekeeping this sleepy Sunday morning. The Random Number Generator picked the 72nd person (out of a massive 475 – thank you!) to sign up to my newsletter – and that’s Emma Martindale. Emma wins 2.5 metres … Continue reading →

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What To Expect From The Handmade Fair, Hampton Court

Posted on September 15, 2017 by

The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court opened today and I popped along. Here are my Top Five Things To Expect. To bump into friends. Even better, arrange to meet them at the prosecco tent.

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A Fabric Buyer’s Guide To Walthamstow Market

Posted on September 14, 2017 by

Feeling the fabric – when markets trump interwebs I first wrote a guide to Walthamstow market years ago, and it felt time to update it. Did you know?

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A Simple Guide To Tailoring A Coat

Posted on September 9, 2017 by

We need to talk about the innards of this beast. How do you sew a coat or jacket and avoid failure? Start with the details. This coat pattern has 76 – count ’em – steps. Ignore the running order of … Continue reading →

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The Cocktail Hour Sewalong – V1537

Posted on September 1, 2017 by

How long does it take to sew a coat from scratch? Three weeks. What’s the best fabric to use? Keep reading… When it comes to sewalongs, The Cocktail Hour is a marathon not a sprint. In aid of The Eve … Continue reading →

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How To Sew A Back Stay

Posted on August 27, 2017 by

If sewing a coat or jacket, it’s a good idea to add a back stay. This: Stops fabric from stretching out across the shoulders Stabilizes the back of the coat Increases the longevity of the make Improves the line of … Continue reading →

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The Village Haberdashery & Hampstead Heath

Posted on August 12, 2017 by

Yesterday was Ella’s 5th birthday – so what better way to celebrate than with a trip to see Annie at The Village Haberdashery, with Ella wearing her High Five Kerchief? Sounded like a good idea to me! This was my first … Continue reading →

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Practising bound buttonholes

Posted on August 9, 2017 by

I’m working on a project that requires four bound buttonholes. Bound buttonholes seem scary because you slice your scissors through a pattern piece. If you mess up, you mess up – and you’d better have spare fabric to hand. So, … Continue reading →

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Summer Holidays – How To Still Make

Posted on August 1, 2017 by

The schools have broken up and everyone is off on their holibobs! But how do you squeeze making into the back of the car, along with everything else? This is why I love knitting. It’s so transportable. This was me … Continue reading →

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Ogden Cami Sewing Tips

Posted on July 25, 2017 by

Fabric Choice Affects Sizing Take note of how tight the weave of your fabric is. A light, fluid viscose with a bit of spandex (my first version) is going to fit differently to a tightly woven silk (my second version). … Continue reading →

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