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OVERSIZED SLOUCHY CARDIGAN WITH TIES | Simplicity 8217 Review
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OVERSIZED SLOUCHY CARDIGAN WITH TIES | Simplicity 8217 Review

Having a plan B is always my way of dealing with difficult situations. What’s the worse that can happen and how can I deal with it? Sure helps to take care of anxiety. And I have to say I was getting a bit anxious about making this Simplicity 8217 pattern already. This is part of a collaboration with Simplicity, who kindly sent me a few patterns to review. No pressure, Alex! When I chose the patterns, I thought I’d be clever and choose a coat, to give me the impetus I needed to stop procrastinating and make a darn coat…

20 February 2018
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WINTER BASE LAYER | Sew Your Own Activewear Book
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WINTER BASE LAYER | Sew Your Own Activewear Book

Readers, last week I started running! And I made my own activewear. Now there are two things you would not have caught me dead saying – or attempting, for that matter. In both cases, it was easier than I thought. It was just a question of finding the right person to hold my hand while doing it. And in both cases, I found just that. For running, it’s this lady called Laura (not even sure it’s her real name), who is the voice behind NHS’s Couch to 5k programme. No idea who she is, but she must be some sort…

13 February 2018
5 Comments
COWL-NECK OPEN-BACK COCKTAIL DRESS | Vogue 1531
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COWL-NECK OPEN-BACK COCKTAIL DRESS | Vogue 1531

I almost called this the killer dress, but I realised I have said this before very recently! What is it with me choosing maddening projects when I really don’t have the time to faff around, when I have about one hundred other deadlines and I honestly rather be sewing something else? Because I’m a sewing masochist, that’s why!! I have read the reviews on Pattern Review about this one, so I knew people said it was hard. It’s Vogue Designer, right, so what else can it be, it comes with the territory, of course it does. But we all get…

8 February 2018
23 Comments
FAUX FUR CROP TOP | Wearologie Nivis
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FAUX FUR CROP TOP | Wearologie Nivis

My dad told me that when I was a child, I used to walk up to ladies on the street and pet their fury coats. It was the 80s, so there were a lot of those going around, and I was 5, so it was cute, not creepy, but the point of the story is that pretty much all my life I have been attracted to soft, pettable materials. And that is still the case, many many years later. I love soft fake fur, fleece, minky, that thing that fluffy dressing gowns are made of,  you name it, I want…

12 January 2018
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VINTAGE INSPIRED WIGGLE DRESS| Burda Vintage Special Sofia Dress
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VINTAGE INSPIRED WIGGLE DRESS| Burda Vintage Special Sofia Dress

This does sound a bit overdramatic, doesn’t it? Well, maybe a tad. But no other dress I ever sewed, except my wedding dress, put me through the wringer quite as much as this Sofia dress from Burda Style Magazine Vintage Special. It took a long time, a lot of head scratching and a lot of swearing to turn from pattern+fabric into a dress I can slip into. And all for just one wear… Was it worth it? Well, read on and tell me what do you think…

10 December 2017
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COLOUR BLOCK BOXY TOP | Burda 08-2017 #112
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COLOUR BLOCK BOXY TOP | Burda 08-2017 #112

A few years ago, in a moment of insanity, I ordered a big lot of scuba remnants off eBay. Now, all seasoned sewists know that a remnant lot will most likely be random pieces of fabric, that most of the time cannot actually be used for anything useful. Well, somehow, I forgot this little details. And I clicked ‘Buy now’ without thinking anything of it. And, surprise, surprise, when my order arrived, there were indeed random pieces of scuba, in various colours, none bigger than about 40×30 cm and some even smaller. I am definitely of the ‘waste not, want…

6 November 2017
13 Comments
Kimono sleeve dress with tulip skirt & pleather trims | RTW COPY
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Kimono sleeve dress with tulip skirt & pleather trims | RTW COPY

I don’t know about you guys, but I find it quite hard to define my style in a few words. I try to go for modern minimalist, but not sure if that always comes across. However, I can easily tell you what my signature look is. Anything with a little bit of pleather on it.  Man, I love faux leather and I could literally add it on to anything! Case in point, the pleather sleeves here and here, the pleather chiffon dress here, more pleather inserts here and more sleeves here. So you would have thought that I got this…

23 October 2017
18 Comments
Embracing the autumn palette | Burda Style Oversized V-Neck Jumper
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Embracing the autumn palette | Burda Style Oversized V-Neck Jumper

My train arrives in Manchester at 12.30 on a very cold, but sunny Saturday in January 2017. I am literally chomping at the bit to get off the train. With a brief, absent-minded kiss to my husband, I rush as if hypnotised out of the train station. Never mind pedestrians, traffic, Saturday tourists. I am dragging my minuscule suitcase after me at an incredible speed. I almost run, filled with giddy excitement. It feels almost like a date, my heart rate is up, my cheeks are flushed. And finally, I arrive…

16 October 2017
16 Comments
Simple make for when everything else is chaos | Seamwork Astoria
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Simple make for when everything else is chaos | Seamwork Astoria

My living room floor is currently covered with the ENTIRE content of my sewing room! It’s complete CHAOS! (Psst, don’t tell my husband, he’s away for a few days and I hope to have it all back to perfection before he gets back). And it all started with getting my eyes checked and having pupil dilation drops put it. Wait, what? Lately, I have been thinking about overhauling my sewing room more than I do about new sewing projects. I am really grateful to have a sewing room – our spare bedroom – but that leaves us with the issue…

3 October 2017
14 Comments
Black & White Triangle Back Blouse | Burda Style Magazine 04-2016 #114
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Black & White Triangle Back Blouse | Burda Style Magazine 04-2016 #114

Sometimes you just need a short and sweet little make in your (sewing) life. Something that sews up quickly and it’s also satisfying, and if it happens to be a wardrobe filler, well, then, that’s a Brucie bonus. You would not believe that this little top ticks all those boxes, buy my oh my, it so does.  I had a completely different idea when I first picked up this pattern but in the end, I just left it as it was and super happy with it.

18 September 2017
8 Comments