Refining.
Noticing nuance and details improves my making and my choosing. Connecting who I am with what I make, where I do and what I do enriches my memory, my connection, my story, creating an ocean of detail.
Making clothes, travel itineraries and food.
Here, I write about that.
Men’s shirt in grey wool flannel
Journal post of my sewing a men’s shirt, in wool flannel, using a modern Simplicity pattern. Details on total make time, adjustments and seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
Cuccio yellow polish, Seriously Celcius
Button-up box-pleat skirt in electric blue cotton twill
Sewing a box-pleated midi skirt, in electric blue cotton twill, using a Y2K McCall’s pattern. Details on total make time, adjustments and seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
Leighton Denny nude polish, Mirage or Not
A-line skirt in electric blue cotton twill
Sewing a midi skirt with contour waistband, in electric blue cotton twill, using a Y2K Style pattern. Details on total make time, adjustments and seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
Leeds to Alnmouth, Northumberland Coast - 2 nights in Summer
Itinerary for a short weekend break in Alnmouth.
Leeds to Belgian Ardennes and France - 14 nights in Summer
Itinerary journal of my jam-packed summer touring holiday through the Belgian Ardennes and Northern France, starting with a ferry from Hull into Rotterdam.
Leeds to Cotswolds for William Morris - 2 nights in Summer
Itinerary for a short weekend break near Kelmscott Manor in The Cotswolds.
Leeds to Pembrokeshire, South Wales - 4 nights in Winter with mountain biking
Itinerary journal of my winter break in Pembrokeshire. Where we ate, what we saw and how we enjoyed biking around the countryside
Tent dress with dagger collar in Liberty crepe-de-chine
Working from a 1970’s Style pattern, my reflections on making a very loose fitting maxi dress in Liberty crepe-de-chine; the first time working with silk but the second time with this pattern. Main lesson: crepe-de-chine is difficult to cut out…
Leeds to Norfolk - 2 nights in Summer
Itinerary for a short weekend cycling break near the North Norfolk Coast.
Leeds to Suffolk - 2 nights in Summer
Itinerary for a short weekend break with a friend on the Suffolk Coast.
Scoop neck tiered sundress from a 1970’s pattern
Going off-piste, using quilting cotton for a simple summer tiered dress with topstitching.
Leeds to Guernsey: a 4-night travel itinerary for Spring
My travel itinerary for 4 days in Guernsey, Channel Islands. Ideas for hiking, history and dining.
Princess seamed dress with short puff-sleeves and collar
First time sewing princess seams, first time sewing with proper shirting fabric. Starting from a 1980’s Style pattern, how long I took, adjustments made and lessons learn from my sky blue button-up midi dress with contrasting white collar and pearl buttons.
Floral needlecord dress from 1970’s pattern
Third make with this pattern, following several refinements on fit and pattern instructions. Details on total make time, adjustments and seam finished for my square nec, puff sleeve, tiered maxi dress in a delicate blue rose needlecord.
Manchester to San Sebastian - 4 nights in Spring
My itinerary journal for a long weekend spent in San Sebastian, Basque Country, with a friend. Balenciaga, pintxos and bar crawls.
Cotton lawn dress from Givenchy 1970’s pattern
Adjusting a Givenchy pattern I have worked with before, turning a midi into a mini, my journal on making this dress in Pima cotton lawn in a busy print. Details on total make time, pattern adjustments and lessons learnt.
The hardest thing to declutter - the scruff stuff…
I am totally onboard with the Marie Kondo method - but there are some things necessary in a useful wardrobe that neither spark joy nor get used all that frequently: the clothes you keep for scruffy jobs
Leeds to Krakow - 9 nights in Winter
Travelling in winter, my itinerary for 9 nights in Krakow learning Polish.