A Journal
A personal journal that invites readers to design their own journeys through the world - with travel, dress and taste.
My work is shaped by seasonal rhythms, cultural, sensory and historical awareness, and expressions of independence. Language is my first love.
A-line skirt in bright red serge wool twill
Using a 1990’s pattern, details on total make time, adjustments and seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
Man’s shirt in grey wool flannel from Simplicity 8753
Fine wool flannel, from a modern Simplicity pattern. Beautiful shirting fabric, even though few use it this way.
Button-up box-pleat skirt from McCalls 7906
Lessons learnt from making a box-pleated midi skirt, in a midweight twill, using a Y2K pattern.
A-line skirt in electric blue cotton twill from Vogue 7210
Midi skirt with contour waistband, using a Y2K Style pattern. Experimenting with a robust and stiff fabric for this design.
Princess seamed dress with short puff-sleeves from 1980’s Style 4603 pattern
First time sewing princess seams, first time sewing with proper shirting fabric.
A floral needlecord dress from 1970’s Style 1169 pattern
Third make with this pattern, following several refinements on fit and pattern instructions.
Cotton lawn dress from Givenchy 1970’s Vogue Paris Original 1950 pattern
Shortening a 1970’s Givenchy pattern I have worked with before, turning midi into mini, my journal on making this dress in Pima cotton lawn in a busy print.
A spring coat in moss green cotton-linen twill from 1960’s Simplicity 5984 pattern
There’s an 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, with cotton flannel interlining for warmth.
An 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 Vogue 1275 pattern
Journal of my total make time, lessons learnt and pattern adjustments.
Square neck pinafore dress in navy blue needlecord
Made as a gift. Details on total make time, adjustments and lessons learnt.
A cropped jacket in cotton twill from 1980’s New Look 6007 pattern
Using a 1980’s cropped suit jacket pattern as the starting point. Details on total make time, adjustments, seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
High-waisted trousers in linen-rayon blend
Working with a 1970’s Vogue Basic Design pattern, sewing a pair of single pleated trousers in loosely-woven rayon.
A drop-waist skirt from 1990’s Style 4987 pattern
Making a drop-waist skirt for a petite frame with high waist-to-hip ratio. Lessons learnt.