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.
Leeds to Quimper, Brittany: an active itinerary for Spring
Itinerary for a springtime 7-night holiday in Brittany, with medieval Quimper as the base. Cider, cycling, springtime walks, crepes and art.
Swedish Semlor buns
Recipe for Easter treat, Swedish Semlor buns. Adapted from a recipe by patisserie-owner, Angeelika Kang.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spring coat in moss Green cotton linen twill from 1960’s pattern
Inspired by the absense of outerwear for spring that actually offers warmth but isn’t made from wool, my journal on making my first fully lined spring coat, working from a 1960’s Simplicity pattern, complete with back vent and gorgeous topstitching throughout, made up in moss green and blush pink twill, cotton flannel interlining for warmth, and rayon-acetete lining.
A-line skirt in Designer’s Guild cotton duck
Experimenting with Designer’s Guild upholstery fabric………..I asked myself: ”how well can cotton duck be applied to dressmaking?”……..what I learnt
High-waisted trousers in sage green twill from a 1970’s pattern
Journal of my total make time, lessons learnt and pattern adjustments on a high-waist wide-leg trouser made from sage green cotton twill.
Square neck pinafore dress in navy needlecord from 1970’s pattern
Journal post on making a square-neck, tiered midi dress in navy blue corduroy from a 1970’s Style pattern. Fully lined in rayon acetate and made as a gift. Details on total make time, adjustments and lessons learnt.
Leeds to Bergen: an active city break itinerary for Spring
My imagined travel itinerary for 4-5 days in Bergen and the surrounding fjords. Ideas for biking, hiking and nordic dining
Cropped jacket in cotton twill from 1980’s pattern
My journal post of my sewing a cropped jacket in sage green cotton twill, using a 1980’s cropped suit jacket pattern as the starting point. Details on total make time, adjustments and seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
Leeds to Central-Eastern Cornwall - 4 nights in Spring
Itinerary journal of my springtime holiday in Cornwall. Where we ate, what we saw and how we enjoyed biking around the countryside
Drop-waist skirt from 1990’s pattern
Working with a 1980’s Style pattern, my journal on making a drop-waist skirt for a petite frame with high waist-to-hip ratio. Details on total make time, adjustments and seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
Leeds to Hanover & The Harz Mountains: a Spring travel itinerary with mountain biking & city break
Travelling in spring, departing from Leeds, my imagined itinerary for 7 nights in Hanover and the Harz Mountains. Ideas for an active city break and leisurely exploring in Lower Saxony…
Manchester to Noto Valley, Sicily - 10 nights in Spring
Travelling in spring, journal and itinerary of my 10 night stay in the Noto Valley
Leeds to Avignon, France - 7 nights in Spring
Using historic Avignon as a base for exploring the Luberon and the Alpilles, an itinerary with time for biking, river kayaking and soaking up the provencal atmosphere. Our experience and verdict