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.

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.

Square neck pinafore dress in grey wool

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.

Oversized tent dress with dagger collar from 1970’s pattern
Working from a 1970’s Style pattern, my reflections on making a very loose fitting maxi dress complete with dagger collar and original 1970’s contrast orange buttons. Main lesson: oversized is still a fit.

Herringbone wool dress from 1970’s Givenchy pattern
Working with a 1970’s Givenchy Vogue Paris Original pattern, my journal post of my sewing a dress in herringbone wool. Details on total make time, adjustments and seam finishes, and lessons learnt.