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.

Vogue September 1978
Striking fashion imagery from a vintage Vogue magazine, September 1978 edition.
Reflections on The Lost Art of Dress, by Linda Przybyszewski
A book about The Dress Doctors, a troop of women operating during the early-to-mid 20th century who advised American women on style and clothing throughout the Great Depression, World Wars and social upheaval. Teachers, writers, designers, and retailers, they were dismissed as backward in the late 60s but much of their theories and teachings still ring true for anyone looking to dress, budget and express themselves authentically, and with grace and personality.
Mavala purple polish, Black Cherry
Maggie Anne yellow polish, Jessy
Leighton Denny pink nude polish, 3 Times A Lady
Zoya green polish, Cece

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

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…

Scoop neck tiered sundress from a 1970’s pattern
Going off-piste, using quilting cotton for a simple summer tiered dress with topstitching.

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.

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

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.

Square neck pinafore dress in grey wool

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.