After just a couple of evenings I have a new necklace! Yes, it’s over the top, but exactly what I had in mind. I love it. Read more
I was lucky enough to get a surprise thank-you cheque for making the wedding dress. Rather than put it towards a new sewing machine (as I think was intended) I decided to treat myself and… Read more
This is what went into the dress: Main fabric 3.5 m of heavy silk crepe in ‘natural’ It’s fair to say that I had probably chosen the main fabric in my head as soon as… Read more
14 April I’m half way through the Custom Pattern Cutting course at LCF, Zoe asks me if I’d make her dress, I say of course yes. 11 May – 14 May Zoe has tried on… Read more
By the time you read this Zoe will have walked down the isle, so it’s safe to reveal our design ideas. Zoe tried on a few dresses, she really liked vintage style lace and found… Read more
Last night Zoe drove down for the final fitting and to take the wedding dress away, ready for the big day on Saturday. I finally got the dress into a wearable state on Monday evening… Read more
Lace is a key aspect of the wedding dress I am making for my friend Zoe as it covers the entire dress, sewn into the bodice but hanging as a separate layer for the full length skirt.… Read more
There were a lot of things I’d always wondered about the practical task of pattern cutting: How do you draw a smooth armhole curve? How do you make a straight hem? How do you add… Read more
The next phase of Zoe’s wedding dress was to take the and trace it as pattern pieces, add seam allowance, cut it in calico and sew it into a toile. Calico is used because of… Read more
I’m not one to go in for expensive knitting accessories when cheap, home-made alternatives are perfectly good. When it comes to stitch markers, loops of left-over yarn in a contrasting shade normally suite me perfectly… Read more
I’ve almost forgotten the anguish of now that the sweater-dress is finished and worn. Once I’d found the motivation, it didn’t take too long to re-knit the sleeves and finish it off. I made a… Read more
With the detailed set of measurements I took in day one of Custom Pattern Cutting and Fitting, day two was spent drafting a bodice block from those measurements. The block is a representation of the… Read more