I’ve finally got round to be customary drawings for this year’s plan. I have five spots to fill in the plan and this meant I have quite a few options to consider. I took a slightly different approach this year and created lists under four broad titles; Home, Stash, Mending or refashion and Requiring new fabric or yarn. I then prioritised the items in each list. Here’s my scruffy list: I suppose some of the items don’t make too much sense so, perhaps a bit of description is required about those that I chose. 1. Tablecloth We’ve had the same wipe-clean tablecloth on our dining room table since ..read more

We’re into February and I’m slow off the mark this year. But before I get into what I think I might make over the come twelve (actually now eleven months) I thought I would recap on last year’s attempt. Finished 5/9 My first make of the year was this zero-waste skirt by Liz Haywood. I love this skirt. It is made of wool, and therefore very warm and yet it is elegant. I can’t tell you how many times I have been complemented on this skirt. I can’t claim that I feel that comfortable with sewing zero-waste patterns yet, but the techniques used were interesting and the instructions guided me throu ..read more

In this post, I’m going to describe how I have been getting along with my waterproof coat project. This project hasn’t been easy at all, see my previous installment here. I’ve encountered lots of challenges including trouble getting hold of all the notions in a matching colour, finding the instructions very challenging (because they are the usual magazine-grade instructions, think Burda) and failing to rein in my ambitions (as ever). I have been using a pattern from the Italian magazine La Mia Boutique. I haven’t introduced my lining fabrics yet. I selected a brushed cotton lining for the body ..read more

I have been wearing the same RTW waterproof coat for some while and over the last few months the zip has got increasingly unreliable. In fact, there have been several occasions when I thought I would need to cut myself out of the coat. While replacing a zip would have been possible, the coat was developing shabbiness around the cuffs and paths that just weren’t waterproof anymore. In short, I decided that I needed a new coat and I thought the time was right to make one rather than buy one. My first hurdle came with buying fabric. The weather is notoriously soggy in South-West England and so th ..read more

I made a pair of turquoise cargo trousers a while back. I had an initial problem with the waist size, which was way too large, but I managed to fix that. Now, they are very much a favourite pair of trousers. Comfortable, practical…but just a bit too much of a statement in such a bright colour at times. I have had in mind to make a black pair of trousers for a while, so I basically repeated these cargo trousers but in a black canvas. Of course, making sure that the waist size was actually right this time! Lekala 5066 cargo trousers in black canvas The pattern is Lekala #5066. As far as I know t ..read more

When it comes to sewing, I am always late to any party. So, I’ve just started to explore the Viki Sews patterns. What can I say about Viki Sews? The women’s patterns come in 10 sizes and 4 height groups, which according to their website means you “will minimise the need for making adjustments and ensure a good fit on a range of individual figures”. When I ordered my pattern I got to choose my size and also my height range. Be prepared to select a size based on European sizes and height in centimetres, though. The PDF of my pattern then becomes available in my account for downloading. The t-shi ..read more

I made some pyjamas a few years ago, using the loungewear set from Peppermint Magazine. The set comprises a three-quarter length trouser and a short-sleeved top. Previously, I made two long length trousers, a pair of shorts and the top (as designed) from this pattern. I used some beautiful Ankara fabric. This time, I specifically wanted some lounge wear for my holiday in Italy. And as it is hot out there at the moment, I needed a pair of shorts. I was in a bit of a rush and picked out some cotton batik fabric from Fabric Land. I only bought 1.5 m, but it did turn out to be sufficient to make t ..read more

I stepped away from my #makenine2023 challenge list to create this fun item. I have had an eye on the Stitch Witch Tudor blouse for a while. My initial thought was that it should be made in a plain linen, but I got distracted and fell in love with this cute hallowe’en print. Stitch Witch Tudor blouse in spooky cat fabric The fabric The fabric is from Like Sew Amazing. It is a Ruby Star Society print and features a medley of spooky cats, some as skulls and others with a third eye. I was also taken with the colour combinations of teals, blues and purples against the black background. The pattern ..read more

I knit so very very slowly. When I buy wool, even Meg in No Frills Knitting says, “See you in six months time”! This means that I like to start my knitting projects in spring, because if all goes well I will finish in the summer, or if it goes pear-spaced I still have six months to sulk and then fully turn things around. This time though, all was well (ish – of more later) I made this without too much swearing (although Mister Steely might testify otherwise). Finished Rowan Madison Hat with pom-pom The yarn and the pom-pom My yarn came from No Frills Knitting and is an alpaca / wool blend. I c ..read more

The first time I took part in this challenge it was 2014 and I had very few me-made items in my wardrobe. I remember standing and taking selfies with my camera perched on a litter bin in the park to record my participation! Roll on 9 years and I feel like a real veteran of this challenge. Since most of my clothes are now me-made I’ve tried to put some thought each year into how to keep this challenge fresh and relevant for me and also to provide interest for my readers. In 2021, I tried a capsule wardrobe type theme. Last year, I started recording the weather alongside my outfits. There is usu ..read more