Contemporary Sewing Patterns for the Modern Maker
It’s always really fun to me to look back and see how a pattern has evolved throughout the development process. Today I thought I would share with you the first draft of the Olive sewing pattern! I really hope you enjoy this dive into the little details that changed whilst we were testing this pattern.
These are my favourite sandals of all time. I bought them from Country Road 6 years ago, and have absolutely worn them to death every summer since. I am a great believer in caring for the pieces I own, so every year I have taken them back to the cobbler for repairs. But this year he told me he didn’t think he would be able to do any more for them. The insole had become so compressed that it was difficult to attach a new outer sole, and the straps were one by one snapping, and no amount of glue was going to be able to fix snapped leather. Beyond the gorgeous design of these sandals, the comfort level is next level and they literally go with everything. I was more upset about a broken pair of shoes than i reasonably should be, and just couldn’t say goodbye. So it was time for a plan. Today I bring you Part 1 of my attempts at replicating my favourite sandals!
So recently I just finished off a gorgeous pair of Opal shorts and they are everything I’ve been needing this summer and more! They’re made from this gorgeous thick linen twill that’s to die for and that I had been in love with since the moment I laid eyes on it. That tends to happen to me a lot. The falling in love with fabric thing. My fabric addiction is fully fledged and I know a lot of people can relate to that – but to make it worse, I also happen to work in a fabric store.
I have become obsessed with the Dress Like a Crayon movement (can we call it a movement? trend? challenge? way of life?) which I believe was started by What Katie Sews. If you aren’t familiar with the #dresslikeacrayon hashtag I encourage you to have a quick scroll, it’s just so enjoyable! It seems to me that the idea is simple – wear a monochromatic outfit, simplify getting dressed and have fun! I have loved seeing the sewing community get on board with this concept, and I wanted IN! So today I bring you my first attempt at dressing like a crayon, you know… two years late.
The Nora dress has been in my dreams for something like 20 years, ever since my Granny told me stories of living through the second World War, shortages and rationing, and how that impacted her sewing. These were my favourite chats with her. I could have listened for hours about how she coped and made do in such trying times. Of all the stories she told me the one that rolled around in my brain constantly was about how when she could no longer buy them, she made herself bra’s from two handkerchiefs folded into triangles, with darts sewn in the middle of each, crossed over at the front and with a ribbon or rope threaded through the folds to tie at the back. The ingenuity of that solution impressed me so much that I wanted to try it myself.