One of my genuine pet hates in winter is wearing one of my usual circle skirts and then having it smooshed under my narrow-cut, single-breasted coat. I just hate it! I hate how the skirt …
Read up on the items I have made using McCalls patterns
McCalls
LADY MCELROY AMBASSADOR #1: DEEP IN THOUGHT PASTEL COTTON LAWN & MCCALLS 7351
I am kicking off my first post of 2023 with a review of my final make of 2022, which features a gifted fabric from Lady McElroy! I have made many garments from Lady McElroy fabrics …
MINERVA MAKES #14: SILK CRÊPE DE CHINE CHINE & MCCALLS 8083
For their #SewnWithMcCalls challenge this March, Minerva sent me 2.5m of this beautiful floral silk and a copy of McCalls 8083 , and I knew this combination would make a delightful little tea dress — …
MINERVA MAKES #13: LADY MCELROY VISCOSE LINEN & MCCALLS 7974
In Summer 2020, I made a dress that feels like an Italian summer every time I wear it and I knew that I would want to remake the pattern. Instead of hacking the design again …
SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE: MCCALLS 7981
This blog post has been a long time coming; I finished this skirt back in early June and then promptly lived in it for most of summer, so never got around to taking some photos! […]
MINERVA MAKES #9: COTTON SATEEN & MCCALLS 7971 (HACKED)
I have got quite a few weddings to attend next month, so I decided that my #MinervaMake for July should both tick the wedding-guest-worthy attire box and the summer-heatwave-appropriate box ☀️ Minerva gifted me 3.5m …
SHADES OF COOL: MCCALLS 6044
My boyfriend Simon lives across the pond in sunny California — after these endless days of May downpours, I am even more envious of that fact than I usually am — and is the recipient …
MINERVA MAKES #1: POLKA HEART POPLIN & MCCALLS 6696
I recently joined the #MinervaMakers team in September and was gifted this gorgeous printed cotton poplin! I paired it with my tried and true McCalls 6696, opting for the fitted straight skirt and sleeveless bodice. […]
CREATURE COMFORTS: MCCALLS 8067
And just like that, it truly feels like autumn here in Oxford! We have had quite a few days of non-stop rain and grey skies, so I have packed away my summer sandals and started …
CIAO, AMORE: MCCALLS 7974 (HACKED)
For me, this sundress feels like an Italian summer; I can just picture myself wearing it in the sparkling sunshine in Palermo, eating gelato and people-watching… oh well, perhaps next year! In the meantime, this …
EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES: MCCALLS 8161
One of my favourite parts of sewing is feeling inspired by ready-to-wear fashion, and then thinking how I will make it ‘mine’. Perhaps I will see a dress with an interesting skirt style, but the back bodice is not bra-friendly; no matter, because I can change that to something that works for me when I create my own version. Being able to pick and choose design elements is incredibly freeing. […]