Waxed canvas bag | Niizo bag kit review

I am definitely not a bag person. By that, I mean someone who has a massive bag collection and rotates them all the time, the right bag for the right shoes and so on. In fact, I am quite the opposite. The function is more important than anything else, and when I find that one perfect bag that I can use every day, I pretty much stick to it until it falls apart. I usually try to buy leather bags that I know will last a very long time, quite big totes with loads of pockets that in a pinch…

Oversized colour block coat | I Am Patterns Artemis

Without a doubt, this autumn has been the season of coat making. They say that you can never escape that which you most fear and the coat curse has hit me with a vengeance. But no worries, it was all for the best. I do feel that two (albeit imperfect) attempts later, I have now conquered this fear and I am almost ready for new challenges. However, there are only so many coats a girl can have in her wardrobe, so I might just have to curb my enthusiasm and save some coat-making mojo for spring and such!

DIY tailored wool and pleather vest with ties | Simplicity 8217

Last week I was telling you about my epic fail coat making attempt, that ended up as a cardigan and vest instead. I was also advising everyone to acknowledge their sewing fails and stop brushing the less than perfect garments under the carpet. Well, the time has come to put my blog posts where my mouth is and take my own advice. So, I am posting about the very same project that made me pull my hair out, but which I made myself finally complete, with debatable results. Having said that, it’s kinda growing on me, having worn it a few…

Early September is still summer | Marimekko(-ish) t-shirt maxi dress

Can I squeeze one more summer make before we all move to coats, scarves and jumpers? Well, like it or not, here it is. I actually wore this dress yesterday, so clearly it’s not doom and gloom just yet. (T-shirt ) Maxi dresses really do make me feel like it’s still warm and sunny, and as long as my toes are not freezing in sandals just yet, I will wear what I like, when I like it. Especially since someone stopped me on the street the other day to ask me where I bought the dress from, because it’s amazing! *sewing pride bust*

Why everybody needs a white silk camisole in their life | Just Patterns Kate bias top

I have been craving a white silk camisole since forever.

Ok, at least since May this year.

My red silky Diana cami was in heavy rotation in 2018. So I felt there is definitely room for more such tops in my life and my wardrobe. I love my burgundy Diana, but it’s 100% polyester and felt I should treat myself to the real thing, i.e. some luscious, wonderful silk.

But what pattern to choose this time?

Summer robe | Seamwork Almada review

I never imagined I would sew a kimono, I’m just not a kimono kind of girl. I never even had a RTW one in my wardrobe. And yet, I’ve now made two Seamwork Almada robes in less than a month as gifts. Maybe one day I will actually end up making one for myself…
All sewers have a go-to handmade present that they pull out of the bag for birthdays and Christmases and such. It used to be tote bags when I first started sewing, then infinity scarves, then asymmetric clutch bags. And now I have a new favourite, you guessed it, kimonos!

PLEATED MIDI SKIRT | BUTTERICK B6556

I was starting to get a bit worried I might be losing my sewing friends over the abundance of capsuling and style related posts lately. But fear not, handmade lovers, this post will actually talk about a project I made with my own two hands, and well, my sewing machine. I have been dreaming about a pleated midi skirt for ages, and I have loads of Pinterest images saved for inspiration, but somehow I never really got around to making one. I kept looking for patterns and none seemed to hit the mark. Until I asked my friend and sewing…

Me-Made-May 2018 | The pledge and a new challenge

I have definitely left this Me-Made-May 2018 pledge to the very last minute. I’m in Chicago at the moment with work, speaking at a sustainability conference (sorry, just had to brag a bit) and it’s 6 PM here, but in the UK is already midnight and therefore already May.

It’s been a super extra early start today, up since 5am and a 9 hours flight, so do pardon me if I am slightly incoherent. It’s been a bit mad lately so I did not have the time to prepare and shoot for this post in time at home, but I did pack the lot with me, so took the pics in my hotel room in Chicago just now. I do feel a bit chuffed with my jet-setting ways, I must confess.

So, to make things official, here is my pledge.

GEOMETRIC PRINT SHIFT DRESS | BURDA 04-2016 #115

Well, you can’t say I didn’t give this whole print thing an honest go! I used to think that it’s because I just hadn’t found the right print but when I did, I’ll fall in love. So what better way to find that perfect print than a print on demand service, right? You might already be familiar with Spoonflower, as many people in the sewing community use them. I never tried them, but recently I was contacted by a company called Cotton Bee to give their print on demand service a go. This little number was the result of this…

Chiffon tie top | Pm-Patterns Mademoiselle Gus

I am taking part in my second ever blog tour (the activewear one a few weeks ago was the first) for a new to me French pattern company, called Pm-Patterns. I have waxed lyrical about how much I love Indie French patterns and so when I saw the call for the blog tour, I jumped right on it. I was very pleased to be chosen! So here I am sharing my top made using a pattern called Mademoiselle Gus. So let me tell you more about Pm-patterns… (and make sure you read until the end for a Giveaway!!)