Fabric shoppin in Brighton

Brighton has to be one of my favourite places in England. So when I heard that Sewmance was on I thought that it would be great to time it with a trip to see some family.

We started out at Sewmance which was held in a bar on the seafront. This was the first year it was held so it was small but there was some nice fabric there. It was great to see Village Haberdashery (who are based in Hove) because I wouldn't have seen them otherwise.

I only bought one fabric from Sewmance, this rather pretty cotton voile.

After Sewmance we headed into the city to Fabricland which was absolutely amazing! So many pretty prints at brilliant prices! I wish there was one closer to where I live. My fabric stash is lacking cottons so I bought quite a few! Perhaps it was being at the seaside but I seem to have been drawn to birds...

A cotton stretch sateen which I'm imagining will be a pencil skirt.

A viscose print which I'm thinking will be a Tilly and the Buttons Marigold.

Another two cotton prints. I'm not sure what to do with these yet!

Next we headed to Brighton Sewing Centre where there were lots of pretty prints on quilting weight cotton.

Then it was straight to Ditto which is such a pretty shop! Everywhere we looked there were gorgeous roles of fabric.

I was very restrained and only bought one fabric a pretty sweatshirt fleece which I'm sure will become yet another Grainline Linden...

Fabric shopping in Brighton certainly was not a disappointment and I have no doubt that I will be going back to fabric shop again.

Happy stitching x

Another Deer and Doe datura...

There are very few patterns I make more than once. So far the only patterns I have bestowed this approval onto is the camber and the datura! I have made two daturas a liberty one and a white boarder version.

This time I decided to make the cut out version which meant I had to make my own bias binding (fiddly, but totally worth it!).

I made it using a metre of Liberty fabric which I bought about a year ago. I always thought it would be a datura it just took me a while to get round to making it! I absolutely love this print...how could you not love a fabric covered in dodos!

I constructed it following the instructions and I didn't make any alterations to the pattern. The only tricky part was the bias binding. The pattern said to pull it tightly across the cut out triangles. I wasn't sure how tight I could pull it without distorting the cut out design so I didn't pull it too much. I definitely could have pulled it a bit tighter though.

I finished the top using clear plastic flower buttons which I really like the effect of.

Are there any patterns which you make over and over again?

Happy stitching x

Malvorosa take two...

I loved by original Malvorosa but I bought it with a hack in mind. I wanted to use it to recreate a dress similar to the one below...

I wasn't able to get my hands a green fabric but I did find a similar black drapey fabric at Walthamstow Market. Whilst it's not as close as I would like it to be, I'm pleased with the dress.

I played around with the skirt pattern, using a pattern master to draw a new curve. I started the curve from the side seams but I should have definitely started it from the front and graduated it in more. I think that this would have showed the back detail off more. The skirt is lined in a bright pink drapey fabric.

The new curve of the skirt creates a pretty shape for the side and back of the dress.

I decided to keep the sleeve the same as the Malvorosa as it's one of my favoutite features of the pattern.

Overall I'm pleased with the hack but if I decide to make another, I would definitely continue to play around with the shape of the skirt.

Happy stitching x

Me Made May...hooray

Horray! We have made it through Me Made May! This was my first Me Made May and I'm really pleased that I took part. Although at times, especially after a long day, I couldn't stand to take another picture overall I have loved it!

Here is an overview of my four weeks worth of outfits...

Most of all, I'm pleased about how it's encouraged me reflect on my wardrobe and it has definitely given me some new sewing goals!

-I need to make some more casual clothes (planning some Hudson pants!)

-More plains than patterns.

-More tops/t-shirts!

-I also need to develop more of a summer wardrobe (most of my sewing has taken place in the winter thus far).

Happy stitching!