Clik here to view.
Looking Ahead
January's nearly over: one month closer to summer! This is a good time to remind all our readers that it's not too late to enter our pattern giveaway: you've got till the end of this month.We are also...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Revealed: January's completed sew-along and this month's winners.
After copious amounts of top and edge stitching Vogue 1239 is finally finished. I've loved working on this dress, despite all the amendments that the instructions required, and can't wait to wear it....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Photographs as Promised.
Here are the final photographs of our January sewalong. If you'd like to make this dress all the notes you need can be found in 'Completed Sewalongs'. If you'd rather start spring in vintage style then...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Truly Talented
As a teacher I’m so often humbled by the talent of people so much younger than myself. Recently I’ve discovered the work of one amazing young lady: Esther Boller who has won a National Gold Medal in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Shortening Darts
This is probably our final post on darts for now as we have covered the main techniques required for moving, manipulating and multiplying darts. If you come across darts being used in an interesting or...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sew-along Planner
I’m telling myself that creating a sew-along planner will be really helpful so you know what’s coming up, but really I’m doing it to keep myself on track! The plan is just a suggested route through the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tailor's Chalk Vs Thread Tracing
This week I have been doing quite a lot of thread tracing as part of our sew-along and, if I’m honest, there have been many late nights when I’ve been tempted to get the tailor’s chalk out. I’d really...
View ArticleClik here to view.
That's the worst bit done!
Not an inspiring title for the post I know but at least honest: what a busy week! Well, here is where I'm up to with our current sew-along. As usual I've taken rather a lot of photographs as it's...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Seams: How do you sew yours?
Those of you following our sew-along will know we have been constructing the bodice and lining so lots of seams. We all have our preferred way of sewing seams; here's mine: red: thread tracing, green:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Vintage Design Features: Seams
As it's the end of the month it is time to reveal our pattern and CD book winners:Pattern winners: Jodie and JoCongratulations ladies, if you could email me your address, along with your choice of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Marking and sew-along update
Here's our weekly sew-along update; the focus this week is lining. Having only used tailor's chalk to mark the lining's seams, as opposed to thread tracing, I have been pleasantly surprised! I have...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why doesn't it look like the picture?
Haven't we all been here? We find a fantastic pattern, we have cut, constructed and finished the garment well but our dress doesn't look as good as the one on the pattern envelop. I'm in the middle of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sew-along: Side opening and collar
Today's sew-along update focuses on side openings and collars. I am strangely excited by side openings in dresses; bizarre I know. In contemporary clothing you don't often find side openings in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Easter projects?
Happy Easter! Do you have any projects you're working on over the Easter break that you'd be happy to share? If so please email them in; it would be great to hear from you. Later this week I'll be...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Summer Bag
As it's the end of the month it is time to reveal our pattern and CD book winners:Pattern winners: Patricia L and Lucia BCongratulations ladies, if you could email me your address, along with your...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Summer Bag Tutorial
Well my bag has survived a trip to the British Museum and a few trips to church. Having used the bag and been happy with its construction I can now post the tutorial as promised.This post comes with a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Butterick 5813: Finished! Introducing: Vogue 1233
Here's my finished sew-along dress; not sure why I look so glum in the pictures, I really enjoyed making this dress and can't wait to wear it again. Apologies for the delay in posting the pictures: I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Vintage Dressmaking Tutorial Series
Follow Grace DressmakingDuring April and May I'll be running an exciting new series of posts: Vintage Dressmaking Tutorials. These posts will cover all the fundamentals of home dressmaking as used by...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Vintage Dressmaking Tutorial Series: Marking
Follow Grace DressmakingThis week's vintage tutorial is on marking your fabric and comes from Clothing Construction by Evelyn Mansfield. Clothing Construction is a book I refer to again and again; it...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Vintage Design Inspiration
I thought I'd share some dresses that have been inspiring me recently. I am in the process of designing my 'perfect' summer dress pattern, with this in mind I have been scouring my old source books and...
View Article
