Almost without realising it, I’ve started adding little neckties whenever I wear shirts (and that’s quite often). They just create the perfect finishing touch. I shared a photo of myself wearing one on Instagram and received loads of questions about it, so here’s a quick tutorial so you can sew your own. I’ve given three options so you can create the shape that’s right for you.
I love a big-volume skirt but an elasticated waistband does me no favours, so I drafted this one with all the comfort of elastic, but a more flattering waistband. With an elasticated back and a flat front waistband, this has come to be called the FFS. The Flat Front Skirt (what else?!).
All this involves is drawing rectangles, so if the sound of drafting a pattern terrifies you, this is the perfect project to try. Also, this has no fastenings, so it’s a quick and easy sewing project!
This article was written as part of a paid partnership with LDH Scissors.
Also, apologies for the terrible pun in the title, I couldn’t resist.
I have a tendency to ‘make do’ with what I have. Whether it’s a pair of trainers that are literally falling apart, a towel that’s gone all scratchy, or tights that have had endless holes repaired, if something does the job, I’ll carry on using it. My fabric shears had definitely fallen into this category, I just didn’t know it.
I bought my scissors when I went to study fashion at uni back in 2006. I don’t know how you were when it came to spending your student loan, but I definitely didn’t invest in the best pair of scissors that I could have. And yet, that pair of scissors saw me through my degree and onto many happy years of crafting and sewing since. They did the job. I just didn’t realise they were doing a bit of a substandard job that whole time.
Continue reading “A cut above the rest: LDH Scissors Review”Ask someone to imagine a shirt and they’ll no doubt picture a white button down work shirt. On the surface, they can seem a bit ‘samey’. But delve just a tiny bit deeper and we can see the shirt holds so much potential. I’ve sewn a fair few shirts and shirt dresses from independent sewing pattern brands, so here’s a round up of my top tried and tested patterns…
Saraste Shirt and Shirt Dress from Named Clothing
This pattern is from Named’s book Breaking the Pattern. The book includes 10 patterns and each one has a number of variations. It’s a stonker of a book, well worth investing in.
I’ve made a couple of versions of the Saraste shirt dress, and used the collar on a different shirt dress (the Honeycomb from CocoWawa Crafts). The construction is so clever, with continuous pieces right the way down the front of the dress, with gathered skirt sections either side. A totally unique way to reimagine the classic shirt dress.
I have always professed to have little to no interest in pyjamas or loungewear, so although they look great, those comfy hoodie, jogger and pyjama sewing patterns have never been on my sewing list. It took an almighty convergence of circumstances (and fabric) to bring handmade PJs into my life, but I’m sold, friends. Fully sold. Who knew pyjamas were so awesome?
aliceinthepolkadotpalace.com 