I have been disgracefully lax in my blogging in the last few months; it has been unavoidable but I am going to try and catch up on what has been happening in my sewing room over the last couple of months. Viola Dress I tested the new pattern from Schulz Apparel, the Viola dress, a […]
All Posts By: Mary-Ellen
Jennifer Lauren Handmade Isla Dress
I recently pattern tested the Isla Dress Jennifer Lauren Handmade. I very rarely participate in pattern testing because of the time constraints that are usually imposed. With sewing being my hobby, I resist the idea of sewing to a deadline. Pattern testing is usually time consuming, too. There is always at least one toile that […]
April 2022 Sew Diary
Sewing has taken a bit of a back seat at the moment between work amping up – I’ve had a promotion which comes with a lot more work and will take some getting used to – and have been working through a few weeks illness as well. Nevertheless, when I have had some energy, I’ve […]
Sew Diary – What I Made in March (2022)
Admittedly, I had to look back at my Instagram grid to find out what I made in March – life has been so packed and busy my days, weeks, and months all seem to roll into one… I started with a Charm Patterns Stanwyck Skirt as I have been trying to add a few more […]
Seamwork Brooklyn Skirt: A Comedy of Errors
I have been in need of a plain black skirt in my wardrobe for ages; I really detest plain black, though, and tend to go for black fabrics which have a texture so when I saw this deadstock fabric, I thought it would be perfect for a Charm Patterns Stanwyck Skirt (the full circle version). […]
Sewing with Tencel
I am a big fan of Tencel™ (otherwise known as lyocell – the difference is merely a case of copyright; Tencel is a brand owned by the Lenzing corporation). Tencel™ is a rayon substrate—a semi-synthetic textile composed of cellulosic regenerated fibres; it is produced using non-toxic NMMO instead of the highly toxic carbon disulfide that […]
February 2022 Sew Diary
It’s been the longest of months, ironically, given that it is the shortest month. Honestly, though, it has felt as if it was 8 weeks long. Work has started to take its toll (so too has the winter, I feel) and I’ve had less time than ever to sew. That’s not to say I have […]
My Valentine’s Look Book
I considered doing some fabric shopping for Valentine’s Day until it suddenly hit me – I have an array of items in my handmade wardrobe that are perfect for the occasion. Whether it’s for date night or to go for a few cocktails with the girls, it’s always nice to make the effort on Valentine’s […]
January 2022 Sew Diary
The second week into February and I have not done a lot of sewing this month yet, let alone take account of what I made in the month of January. Saying that, I did launch a YouTube channel where I made a couple of videos showing off my makes in January (of which there were […]
My five top tips for making professionally finished garments
I have had a lot of people tell me they are surprised I have been sewing for less than two years because my clothes look so professionally made – it’s such a beautiful compliment to receive and if you’re reading this and you’ve been one of those people, know you have made my day. I’m […]