All posts filed under: What I wear

The Capelet of Yay

I’m teaching a course on making the 1930s capelet that Elise gave me at Made Marion starting this Friday (are you signed up?), so of course I’ve been making prototypes of the capelet to make sure that I’ve got every possible bug figured out in different kinds of fabric. And oh my gosh, and I so excited. I love this capelet. The first version I made (shown here) is in silk velvet lined in silk twill – the trickiest, most evilest combination possible. And even so, it whips up so easily and beautifully. And it’s so versatile! I wear it loose and stole-y, or tied in a bow in front. In can also be wrapped around the neck and hooked, forming a very elegant scarf – perfect over a coat in winter, or for dressing up the ubiquitous (and, lets face it – just a little boring) merino tops of NZ winter wear. The elegant part: The gathered cape back. It just looks so beautiful on, and so beautiful in movement and lifts the cape …

The 1950s ‘Mad, Bad & Dangerously Green’ Shorts

Published by The Dreamstress

I love green, and it’s St Patrick’s week, and I’ve been sewing more for me, so of course I have something green to show you this week. And it’s pretty awesomely green. Mad, Bad, and Dangerously Green even. Are you ready? Aren’t they fabulous!?! Do you love them? I love them! OK, the story: The Mad: Have you seen the print? I can’t believe I have grass green and mustard and vermillion and aqua and mint and white shorts covered with bright spots and birds. I’m usually pretty restrained in my fabric and clothes. And, despite all this, I like them. Actually, I love them! (Have I mentioned that before?) The Bad: OK, so the fabric was ridiculously expensive. Very, very naughty of me. I saw this fabric, along with the fabric I used in my “Love at First Flight” Dress while in Australia, and I had to have it. But what on earth could I make with bright grass green birdie and spottie fabric? How about the least likely thing possible: shorts? …

The ‘Deco Echo’ blouse

Published by The Dreamstress

I’m madly sewing something new and exciting, and working on the tutorial for this blouse, so instead of spending a lot of time on writing a post for today, I’m concentrating on those, and instead you are getting (a slightly better and updated) version of my post for the Sew Weekly on my ‘Deco Echo’ blouse (I want to have a version on my blog…just in case): ______________ Planning my wardrobe for Art Deco Weekend in Napier, top of my list of things I really wanted to make was a pair or beach pajama pants made from fantastic Art Deco inspired fabric. Problem. The fabric is maroon and dark teal on white. And maroon and dark teal are not colours I usually buy — it’s just so hard to find fabrics in them that don’t look cheap (why is that that some colours always look cheap in most fabrics?). I don’t own any maroon and dark teal fabrics! What on earth was I going to do for a top? I completely turned over my stash, …