Simple Style

I think one of the most effective routes in dressmaking is to sew a simple design in a special fabric. I bought this gorgeous green cut-out cotton fabric for half price in the John Lewis sale last year, but had not got around to making something. With the prospect of going out for a special meal as an incentive, I finally wielded the scissors. I chose a very simple shift dress – McCalls 5875 (out of print but still available). This pattern has the bonus of coming in individual cup sizes, making the fitting that much easier. It was an easy make, but I’m delighted with the finished result. The uncluttered style allows the fabric to take centre stage. I will now be on the lookout for other interesting fabrics to use the pattern again. A lace or velvet version would be ideal for Christmas parties.

I Love Crochet

 

My grandma first taught me to crochet as a child, and I happily proceeded to make a few granny squares. Yet alongside many other childhood passions I soon lost interest, and never gave crochet another thought for about thirty years. Then about five years ago, I chanced upon the wonderful “The Happy Hooker” by Debbie Stoller. Under her clear guidance I made my first ever crochet garment. From that moment I was totally addicted. I now can’t bear not to have some kind of crochet project on the go. I do intersperse this with knitting, but crochet remains closest to my heart. It is so portable, there is no risk of dropped stitches, mistakes are easy to rectify, and you can stop in the middle of a row. It is also just about instant gratification, as you can make something lovely to wear within a couple of weeks. I like to crochet in front of the TV – it justifies my watching guilty pleasure programmes like X Factor, American Idol and The Apprentice. These kind of programmes don’t require 100% attention so I can happily crochet away, and have created something pretty at the end. I find crochet almost meditative, and after completing a couple of rows, any stress I feel will have magically dissolved away. Perhaps crochet classes should be provided on the national health.

Knit Picking

I was on the lookout for a red cropped cardi when I spotted this little number in one of my local charity shops. The shop label had been snipped off, but a quick check of the fibre content revealed a good quality cotton cashmere mix - very soft to the touch. Unfortunately it was a shade on the large side. I debated wearing it loose, but decided I'd never feel comfortable with the fit. I'd not normally risk cutting up knitwear, but as a cheap buy, there was not a lot to lose. I used a narrow zig zag stitch on the sleeves, then overlocked the raw edges. A much better fit and a cute cover up for my summer dresses.



Patience Pays Off

I was in the beautiful Spa town of Harrogate last weekend. It must be a wonderful place to live with its eclectic selection of restaurants and individual shops. From a more economical perspective, it also boasts a high number of charity shops. I must have visited about eight or nine in the course of an afternoon. It brought home to me how much time and patience you need to invest in second hand shopping. My expedition netted just one purchase – though one I love. I found this dress which originates from on-line clothing company Wrap. It’s a very easy to wear style in a timeless navy and ivory combination that will be my go-to everyday dress for the summer.

Turning Around A Mistake

I recently made a stripe jersey top with a handkerchief hemline – similar styles are very popular in the shops at the moment. It was a very easy pattern (Vogue 8651) but I wasn’t used to working with jersey fabrics. I hadn’t realised how much sewing can stretch them if they are not handled properly. I ended up with a badly gaping neckline. I considered using some elastic to rectify the problem, but spotted a more creative solution in the wonderful Sew Stylish magazine. The Spring 2011 edition features the how-to for creating pin tucks on a T.shirt. I used exactly the same process on my baggy neckline. And voila – it achieved the dual effect of solving my mistake, and adding a decorative detail.

Incidentally I love wearing the finished garment – jersey is so comfortable and drapes so beautifully. It’s definitely a fabric I’d like to use again so will be swotting up on how to sew it correctly in the future.

Making It My Own

In his book “Appetite” cookery writer Nigel Slater explains how he adapted a chocolate cake recipe to create something that had a connection to the original recipe but he truly felt was his. I’ve just had the same feeling with a crochet pattern. This pattern appeared as Esmee in the January edition of “Inside Crochet” magazine. It was extremely badly written and full of errors, so I was constantly adjusting and tweaking as I went along. I completely changed the sleeve shape to something more flattering. Despite the difficulties along the way I’m happy with the finished result. It is suitably inspired by the original pattern but feels completely my own. I’m now intending to make another version as a sweater using cotton wool so the metamorphosis will be even further removed from the starting point.

Henley: Checking Out The Charity Shops

Experts advise charity shopping in wealthy catchment areas where residents are hopefully motivated to generously donate their designer cast-offs to a good cause. I decided to test the theory out in Henley, the Oxfordshire town, beautifully situated on the Thames. I was lucky enough to be there on market day which added even more vitality to the already vibrant and stylish ambience.

There are four charity shops in the town (one is a books only Oxfam), and they didn’t disappoint. I spotted many top end high street names on the rails – Reiss, Jaeger, M & S Autograph and Jigsaw. I did learn one thing whilst I was shopping – do not go with a friend the same size as you. There are bound to find the good things first!

I didn’t find any designer bargains along the rails. I reckon the best stuff is probably creamed off by Henley’s de-luxe second hand shop “Revolution”. This has the feel of a luxury boutique with a great mix of labels. When I am next looking for a special dress, this will be my first stop. There is a four week window in which to buy an item, with the possibility of a further reduction in the final week. Prices are about three or four times higher than a charity shop, but it is well-edited stock, nothing older than two years.

Did I buy anything on my Henley jaunt? Yes, one thing - a slightly flared oatmeal cardigan by Part Two. I didn’t recognise the label but the fibre content was a wool/silk mix, so I guessed it was good quality. It’s probably a size too big, but as fit doesn’t need to be exact with knitwear, I can probably get away without making any alterations. As it’s an interesting shape, I will have to put some thought in what I can wear with it, though the neutral colour makes it very versatile.

So I reckon my Henley shopping experiment was a success and will definitely be returning before too long – though probably alone!