Monthly Archives: March 2014

Birthday makes for a 3 year old

My nephew recently turned 3, and I made him some things. First was a Fort Kit (as seen here on the interweb) using thrift store sheets and a pillowcase modded into a drawstring storage bag.   He loves to ‘cook’ … Read More

Not your typical embroidery gig…

Last spring, I was asked if I could create a piece of needlework for a local theatre company. The image was to be used was promotion for a play. And that’s how I ended up hand embroidering a pot leaf. … Read More

1930s Wedding Dress

I can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since I first started thinking about this project. A friend and theatre colleague was getting hitched to her long term sweetheart and she needed a dress. She tried to find one the … Read More

Darts, the HLB Way

Whilst putting together one of my recent garments, I started thinking about how different sewists have different methods for common sewing techniques. It all depends where you learned to sew, and what works best for you. I’ve seen a number of … Read More

1970s Maxi Skirt: McCall’s 5113

As part of my ongoing use my stash goals, I’ve made up view D of McCall’s 5113 from 1976. Details: ~ Made from a vintage curtain panel (thrifted). ~ Used modified view F pockets to match the zig-zag pattern of … Read More

Mods on Mods

Lately I’ve been making myself things like pencil skirts and wiggle dresses, but I decided I’d like to try some more ‘youthful’ Mod looks. Looking through my pattern stash I decided to try making a ‘muslin’ (a taffeta?) of Simplicity … Read More

Pattern Inventory: Part Three

In which I catalogue my collection of men’s and kid’s patterns. Menswear-wise, it’s a very limited handful of patterns. I just don’t come across that many, and they tend to be similar styles when I do. Usually bathrobes for some … Read More

Pattern Inventory Adventures: Part Two

In which we catalogue and pack all of the 1970s patterns in my collection (plus some errant 50s/60s ones that somehow escaped my notice in the first part). The 1970s is often not taken seriously in terms of fashion eras. … Read More