Design Notebook Blog

Finally I have started filming the sew along for this very popular pattern. I have been looking forward to opening this package. It contains bubble wash corduroy from Croft Mill. I'm excited as I'm matching it with a length of devoure fabric I have had for many years which goes perfectly. I just hope I have enough to make a shirt! To be continued ......

January 2025

Another great all year round sewing pattern. I have made this pattern up in a medium weight denim to start with. How can you beat denim for trying things out? It's cheap and so very wearable. I say to myself, no more denim but it's more popular than ever in the fashion press. What do I reach for first thing in the morning? Invariably it's something in denim - it's comfortable, it goes with nearly everything in the way of accessories - shirts, t-shirts, woollen jumpers, sweatshirts, waistcoats. The list is endless. You can throw it in the wash and often it doesn't even need a press. What other fabric improves the more you wear and wash it? I'm not sure if I can think of any.

For the construction I am using classic seams - neatened edges and pressed open but you could just as well top-stitch everything, jeans style or use felled seams.

My intention was to half line the front section. I like to do this whenever there are front pleats to stop them spreading and the lining keeps everything in check. On trying on halfway through and thinking about how I would wear these trousers, more than llkely over tights, I concluded that a full lining to just below the knee would be a great benefit. Silky tights are fine but matt and cosy winter tights hinder the nice cut of these trousers. You want them to be free moving. You can make them unlined if you prefer of course, especially when it comes to making them up for summer.

Not everyone wants to tackle welt pockets, especially if you a running these up for perhaps beachwear, so you can make them without the back pockets or add easy patch pockets - I have included them in the pattern.

We all need to keep active these days and I feel the palazzo trousers fits that lifestyle. More femine than wearing jeans everyday and yet practical enough to wear for fitness and exercise. I hate having to change clothes to keep fit! See the Palazzo Trousers Pattern Page

December 2024

Watch the video series I released during the designing and making up of this popular pattern. Follow the progress over the eight days of making this very wearable jacket.

Four years ago I made plans to use up fabric I had stored away for far too long. What a wasted resource. I made the Frock Coat from the furnishing brocade. I made the Boxy Jacket from my scant 1 metre of Harris Tweed. But I never got around to this lovely loose weave bold check. I was thinking at the time of a big coat or jacket with a generous shawl collar but after looking at this fabric again, I decided it would be too overwhelming. So to bring you up to date, I developed this Raglan Sleeve Jacket. It has a Storm Collar which buttons up high to keep you cosy.

I made it three quarter length with deep raglan sleeves for comfort. It has welt pockets at the hip line. I left the cuff plain or you could add a button but a cuff vent would have been too difficult on this looses weave. I found perfect buttons. They are bold and wooden. I'm so pleased to have made good use of this gorgeous yardage.

The storm collar converts to a nice open style that looks good with a polo neck. A jacket like this goes really well with jeans or a pencil skirt and especially well with the Cropped Palazzo Trousers. In the 60s we used to call this car coat length. I bought this fabric very many years ago and now I am loving wearing it. Cutting this bold weave on the cross was a stroke of genius as it adds extra interest. I was pleased that the pattern did in fact fit diagonally across the width. I already had lining that matches and fits in with my use it up policy. I used light weight non woven interfacing and only interfaced the collar, button band, cuffs and the pocket welts. I wanted the jacket itself to remain soft.

Once I was ready to start, I had to decide whether to use the right side or the wrong side? Both equally interesting. Watch the series to see the work flow from rough sketch to the final photos. See The Raglan Sleeve Jacket Pattern Page

November 2024