To celebrate the release of Deer and Doe's newest sewing pattern, the Passiflore dress, I've collaborated with them to review it on my blog. You know I can't say no to a shirt dress or a wrap dress and this pattern is a great mix of the two.

As soon as I saw this pattern I knew it would be something I'd love to wear and it's different from anything I already own. The Passiflore pattern is a belted coat dress with a relaxed fit, with a double breasted style button detail. I've made option B, a knee length, long sleeve version of the dress.

Here's a peek at the pattern:


Before I get into the pattern, let's just take a moment to appreciate this truly stunning fabric! My favourite fabric to sew with and wear are rayon/viscose types. So when I saw that THIS beautiful print was rayon, I fell in love. I think it has a bit of a 60s vibe and I couldn't get over the colour palette. It's so unlike anything I own but I just thought it would make the loveliest shirt dress and would work well with my hair colour and skin tone. You can tell I may have leaned in to the 1960s secretary vibes I was feeling (and loving!).


Lets get into the pattern... Passiflore has quite a lot of pattern pieces which when printing the PDF at home I regretted pretty quickly (I'd recommend copy shop printing this one)! For the long sleeve version I was sewing, you'll also be making plackets so look out for those, coming from someone who almost binned the pattern piece. There's also a lot of small interfacing pieces you need to trace off of the main pattern so bare that in mind as it's a pretty time consuming step.


When I cut out my pattern and had finally sat down to sew, it wasn't long before I was scratching my head, as I hadn't noticed that the centre back yolk piece is cut out twice, one for a lining. By that point I had used up every inch of my fabric so had to raid my stash. Luckily I found some light weight, pale pink cotton fabric which ended up working well. Phew!

Thanks, I Made It! woven label from my shop

The sewing is reasonably straight forward if you have experience sewing collars. When I was in the zone, it all came together quite quickly. I wasn't looking forward to sewing the sleeve cuff plackets and when I got to that step I even considered abandoning them in favour of the short sleeves, but I knew it would be sacrificing the overall look I wanted for the dress so decided to buckle up and deal with it. Honestly sleeve cuff plackets aren't too difficult but I think they always look like they're going to be a headache. It actually all went quite smoothly and I was just being a drama queen!


Fit wise, I went by my bust measurement like I usually do. But because the dress is designed to have a relaxed fit, with simple princess seams and no buttons on the actual bust (for the dress version), so the fit for this is actually surprisingly simple. I could have sized down, but with the belt in place, I'm really happy with it.

I think the double breasted style button detail is an interesting design choice. Its something you're used to seeing on trench coats and I didn't know if I was going to like it for a dress. But now I've seen a few more versions on Instagram, it's grown on me. For mine, I raided my stash for buttons and as I'd chosen gold for my D rings on the belt, when I came across these vintage plastic and gold glitter buttons I knew it was meant to be. The perfect combo! As the fabric is so busy, they aren't too noticeable but when they do catch your eye it's a nice surprise.


In hindsight, I would have used a heavier weight interfacing for my belt selection as with just light weight interfacing, the belt feels more like a tie because it doesn't hold it's shape very well or sit flat against my body. Next time I sew a belt I'll be sure to use something sturdier. And yes, I did have to watch a tutorial on how to tie a D ring belt...

Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Deer and Doe 'Passiflore' Dress pattern

Fabric: Art Gallery Fabrics - Blue Bank Flora Rayon / Viscose from Catch and Release

Notions: 8 buttons

Sewing time: Best part of a day.

Modifications: None.

Fit: A little loose, but good.

Difficulty: Confident seamstresses.

Watch out for: Getting a neat collar and sleeve plackets. Lots of pressing!

Make Again?: Yes. I think this is a great pattern and an unusual mix of styles.


Overall, I'm really proud of this dress. I think it showcases a great range of sewing skills including collars, plackets, cuffs and button holes. For that reason I would recommend it for sewists with a little more experience. But the pattern's instructions are great and well illustrated if you do want to tackle it.

I think this pattern and fabric are a match made in sewing heaven. I love the 60s vibes and it feels like it could be a true vintage piece. It's so comfortable to wear and will be perfect for warmer months and but I can definitely see myself pairing this with black tights and a leather jacket for Autumn.

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

Let me provide you with some Spring/Summer sewing inspiration with my latest haul vlog. I don't often do hauls as I'm not a big shopper and I have a small fabric stash, but I have been stocking up for Spring.

Check out the video below:


There was one fabric in particular that had a pretty quick turnaround...


I couldn't wait to use this fabric and it was at the top of my list to wear. Once I had the By Hand London Jenna dress pattern in mind, I needed to make it ASAP. I'll be back soon with some proper photos and a review maybe, but in short, I love it!

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Thanks for watching!
Abi xo

After the response to these on my Instagram Stories, I had to whip up a blog post ASAP to share how I did my mid century inspired gold star and nude gel nails with my Cricut Joy machine.

In my early twenties I went through an intense nail art phase, I painted leopard print, Aztec patterns, stars, dots, flowers - you name it. I had books on nail art design and all the tools, in hindsight, it feels a little cringe. But honestly I've impressed myself with how nice these gold stars look. Much better than using those old nail art pens...

I invested in an at home gel nail kit a couple of months ago, I've been getting my nails done in the salon for a few years now, so I feel confident in the process and that it could be something I could tackle myself.

I've seen Cricut machines used for nail art a couple of times, and wondered how well it worked. I figured combined with setting it under the UV light with gel nail varnish it would make the vinyl nail art more durable. In this post I'm going to tell you all the supplies you need and include my step by step process to achieve this look for yourself.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's hands are suffering with the excessive hand washing - please excuse the dryness!

Like I've mentioned, for this tutorial I'm using gel nails. You could do this will regular nail polish, it just probably won't last as long.

Firstly, you need all the gel nail equipment:
- I have THIS exact gel nail kit, which includes everything you need (minus polish).
- There are some extra tools I would recommend for doing your own gel nails, like THIS cuticle tool and THIS buffer.
- A polish base colour. I used THIS shade of light pink.

To create my nail art I used:
- Photoshop
- Cricut Design Space
- Cricut Joy Machine
- Cricut Removable Smart Vinyl in gold
- Cricut tools and tweezers


Step 1:
Prep Cricut nail art.

I found a mid century star template and put it through photoshop. I deleted the background and saved it as a PNG. I transferred this over to the Cricut design space. I judged the size by eye and made sure to place plenty, in various sizes, so there would be room for mistakes as I knew it would be very fiddly.

My Cricut Joy then cut them out on removable Smart Vinyl in gold. I was worried it might be too small and fiddly, but Joy handled it perfectly! I made sure to gather up the Cricut tools and set up a space to work at with my gel nail kit and vinyls.

Step 2:
Nail prep & base.

After you've done the normal gel nail prep; cuticle removal, buffing, shaping etc - apply your gel nail base coat as normal. I then applied TWO coats of my chosen polish which provides a semi-nude pink base to work on.

Do this one hand at a time, or one nail at a time. Which ever you find easier. I did my left hand entirely first, then my right.

Step 3:
Apply vinyls.

Gel nails remain tacky until the final step in the gel nail application process, so don't think you can start pressing your finger on your nail etc and remember to work quite quickly to avoid fluff and dust build up.

Use the Cricut tools or tweezers to pick up a star from the vinyl, it can be quite tricky to get the hang of it, but you'll find your flow. Carefully place the nail art where you want it and smooth the vinyl down with the tools being careful not to scrape the polish. Make sure all the fiddly star points are smoothed down. Repeat across your nails.

Step 4:
Top Coat.

Check your art is in place as you want it and no bits are poking out. Carefully apply a generous layer of clear top coat and seal under the UV light. Be careful not to pick up any of the star points with your brush as you don't want the top coat to go under the vinyl as it will lift up.

Repeat. I applied TWO clear top coats (I'd recommend this as a minimum) but I may add a 3rd to make sure none of the points of the stars can be caught and pulled up.

After the final step of setting your gel nails you'll be able to run your fingers over the nails and see how well the vinyls are set in. You might feel they are poking up a little bit, if so add another top coat and seal. Whilst your nails won't feel completely smooth as if they had no vinyl on them, you should still be able to run through your nails through your hair or over fabric and not have them catch.


I have surprised myself with how well these have appeared to have worked and this has unleashed a whole world of possibilities for me and my Cricut Joy now! What a cool thing to be able to use this little machine for. With so may colours of vinyl on offer from Cricut, my mind is whiring away with thousands of nail art designs! So this might not be the last you see of my Cricut nail art!

If you've found yourself looking to do your own gel nails at home with a kit, regardless of nail art, I would really recommend THE KIT I bought. I've used it a few times now and have been really impressed with the products. My first manicure lasted about 2 weeks (but that was before I realised the importance of cuticle removal and nail buffing), my second manicure was much better and the 2 week mark was this week, and whilst they were lasting well (only one chip), I wanted to try this nail art. My toes lasted about 3 weeks, again though it was my first attempt and a bit dodgy, my second looks much better and I hope it'll last a month at least.

You do need quite a bit of patience with this project and a steady hand will help. But practise makes perfect and have fun with it!

Let me know if you're going to try this, it's going to be my new obsession for sure!

Thanks for reading.
Abi xo

Hello! Last week I had one of those days where the sun was shining, new fabric arrived and I had a wave of positivity and creativity. Combined it made for the perfect sew-day, so I decided to film it and take you along with me as I made the Safiya dungarees/jumpsuit from Tilly and the Buttons newest book Make It Simple.

The vlog starts with my plans for the day, then moves into the cutting out and my sewing set up, and I've filmed my first try on and my final review. I really enjoyed this one and it's super casual. I hope it'll provide some light relief and inspire you to crack on with your own perfect sew-day.

Check out the video below:

Hello! Fear not, the only 'C' word you'll be hearing about in this blog post is crafts! A lot of people all over the world are spending more time indoors due to the pandemic. As somebody who works from home anyway but who has also tried her hand at lots of different kinds of crafts, I thought I'd use my crafty experience to put together a blog post featuring my favourite at home crafts you can do without investing a great deal.

Not only will learning a new craft hopefully ease any boredom you might have, crafting is also great for your mental health (check out THIS blog post I wrote about sewing and mental health). During this anxious time, spending some time learning something new refocuses your mind and calms you. Whilst you also set yourself a goal to finish a project and are still being productive.

So if you're able to, why not check out some of my favourite crafts to get stuck into, without investing a lot of money or buying tonnes of supplies...

Firstly, I just want to shout out Skillshare:

I'm a Skillshare ambassador and have got a lot out of the platform myself, so I'd like to start by mentioning it, not as part of my list, but as a general introduction to online creative learning. There are THOUSANDS of classes on there, some really short and some with longer projects. From calligraphy and knitting to photography and editing, you'll find something for you.

GET 2 MONTHS OF SKILLSHARE FREE HERE

You don't have to put in any payment details to sign up, so there's zero commitment. Why not just sign up and make the most of your two free months?

Lets get into my list...

1. Knitting


I could ramble on about how knitting has changed my life, but I want to keep this post relatively less wordy and I don't want to repeat myself here. But I wrote a blog post all about learning to knit HERE - it includes all the basic supplies you need, patterns to start with and what I've made.

Get £10 off your first order at We Are Knitters with my referral code: MGM9VDFLT 

2. Weaving/Woven Wall Hangings


Creating a woven wall hanging was one of the first classes I took on Skillshare and I've got plans to make a second soon (knitters end up with a lot of random yarns!). You don't have to spend a lot of money on supplies and I found this craft really therapeutic.

You'll need:
- A weaving loom
- A selection of yarn - it doesn't matter what kind, you can mix & match what you like!
- A wooden dowel and string to hang your project with

Pinterest is FULL of woven wall hanging inspiration if you want some colour palette and pattern ideas. I've got a board full of my faves HERE.

3. Watercolour Painting

This is something I've only started doing this year, again taking online classes and I've really enjoyed learning water colour techniques to paint florals.

You'll need:
- A watercolour paint set
- Paint brushes
- A sketch book

4. Cross Stitch


Cross stitch is one of the first crafty things I tried growing up as it was something that I saw my mum doing. I couldn't count the number of cross stitch projects I've started (and stopped!) over the years, but I do have a few finished projects I love.

You'll need:
- A pattern - you can find lots for free too!
- A hoop
- Needle
- Aida count fabric
- Threads

Please excuse the plug, but if you like sewing and want to try cross stitch I've designed a sewing machine pattern which you can buy as a PDF pattern download OR I've put everything you need together for a handy kit - delivered straight to your door!

5. Sewing


I wasn't sure whether to include sewing in this post, or write a separate one (which I think I'll still do), but I know lots of people have basic sewing machines they bought a while back but then packed away again.

There's plenty of very simple but satisfying sewing projects out there, that don't require loads of supplies or skill.

- Scrunchies - the internet is overflowing with DIY scrunchies tutorials at the mo. Check out THIS one from one of my faves.
- Cushions - why not make your home extra cosy if you're going to be spending more time there.
- Tea Towels - another way to add a touch of colour or pattern to your kitchen.
- Cosmetic Bags - learn how to sew a basic zip with a simple project like zip pouches.

Or perhaps now is the time to mend those clothes you've been avoiding? I've got a small pile of alterations, including a skirt that's too big and a cardigan that needs a shoulder repair.

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FOR MORE COLOURFUL CRAFT IDEAS, CHECK THIS OUT!

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I hope this post has inspired you to get crafty and try your hand at something new. And if you're reeeeally bored, I've got a bunch of vlogs on YouTube you can catch up on haha.

Are you getting crafty during isolation?

Thanks for reading!
Abi

It's been a little while since my last Makers Style File, but I'm back and feeling all inspired for some Spring sewing. I always say Autumn is my fave time of year, but by the time March comes around, I'm definitely ready for a bit of sun.

This week I had a big wardrobe sort out. I'm definitely accepting that midi length, flowy dresses are my preference over 1950s style fit and flare styles I used to like. I feel much more relaxed in my style and I feel like I'm in a good place with what I have and what makes me feel confident. Shedding my old blog name was a big part of finding my style.

They came out a little late in the year for me, but soon I hope to try some of the McCalls patterns that caught my eye a few months back. Theres lots of lovely midi length styles, but this button up dress is a must have. Luckily there's no shortage of beautiful floral viscose fabrics going - groundbreaking, I know...

Please excuse the self promo, but I'm so happy with my new woven label designs for Crafty Pinup, I had to sneak one in here. My 'Thanks, I Made It!' design is the best seller so far!

I recently finished my latest knitting project and it was my first time knitting with mohair. I'd been putting it off for a while as I'm so used to knitting with chunky, but I got the hang of it eventually. Now I'm lusting after this dreamy pink shade to make another fluffy cardigan.

As soon I spotted a couple of my Instagram faves wearing this powder blue Glossier eyeshadow, I was well and truly #influenced! I've only got a small collection of Glossier products but I like everything I've purchased so far and would love to treat myself to some of their skincare next. Get 10% off your Glossier purchase with my referral link HERE.

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

I'm kicking off the new month with a new Sew & Tell vlog, showing you what I've been making over the past couple of months. It includes possibly my favourite dress ever and a project I never thought I'd sew. Check it out below:


Thanks for watching!
Abi xo

Well here's a post I never thought I'd be writing! I'll start with a little of my history with sewing bras, as I think it's in context to this make. I studied Contour Fashion at uni, which is lingerie, swimwear and corsetry design. So I'm no stranger to sewing bras (of many kinds) and I am very familiar with all the supplies that go into the bra, the kind of pattern pieces to expect and what a good fit means.

My main piece of advice for anyone wanting to sew a bra is that you need to know your size. You can't expect to sew a bra that will fit you if you've been wearing the same two bras for five years. Go and get refitted (Marks and Spencer, Bravissimo, Boux Avenue and Debenhams among others offer the service) or try fitting yourself (check THIS, THIS & THIS guide on how), you might be surprised. Even if you think you're fine, its a free service, just check and try on! A woman's breast size changes throughout her lifetime. I refit myself last year after I noticed I was wearing the few same bras on rotation because they were my 'comfy' ones. I refit myself and went to go try on that bra size in a shop and voila! It fit like a dream and I felt like a right plonker for avoiding it.

It is SO important to wear good fitting bras, especially when you're not the standard size like me. Essentially, I went into this bra project knowing what my size is and knowing what a good fit means, so hoped that this pattern's specifications would match up (much like clothing, there is no size standardisation in the bra industry).

Anyway, bra size lecture over, lets get into this pattern review... Towards the end of my degree, the life was sucked out of me a bit and I would have sworn I'd never sew an underwired bra again, let alone one to fit myself. But I've been seeing the Black Beauty Bra pattern by Emerald Erin pop up a lot on Instagram and I love the look of it SO much. It's a style if I'd see in a shop, I'd buy and I just thought 'to hell with it' and bought the pattern.

Here's a peek at the pattern:


For reference, I'm sewing version A (the top one) in a 34F. I've used THIS beautiful red lace as the main component of my bra. I find it quite hard to take a decent flat-lay photo of a bra when you're making a larger size, but hopefully you can see all the details...



Well after a few years away from bra sewing, it all came back to me! It all felt so familiar cutting out these bra pieces and lining up all the elastics and findings and honestly I kind of loved it. I kept my expectations low and had in my head this would be a toile. But damn, that first try on floored me!

I didn't expect to enjoy the sewing process as much as I did and coming out of it with a wearable bra I feel good in is amazing. There are certainly a couple of bumpy sewing spots, but now I'm familiar with the pattern and how it goes together (and that it fits me), I know my next one will be a higher standard in terms of sewing.


I thought to review this pattern I would share my usually Sewing Summary I include in all my pattern reviews, but I'll answer in more detail to break down each aspect...

Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Black Beauty Bra pattern by Emerald Erin (PDF download)

Fabrics:
Lace (gifted)
Satin from my stash
Powernet

Notions:
Fold Over Elastic  (gifted)
Everything else I found at Sewing Chest

Sewing time: A couple of hours. But I'm very used to sewing bras and I'm a speedy sewist anyway.

Modifications: As the lace I used was a little hole-y and I needed some stabilisation, I used a firm satin fabric I had in my stash to back the bottom cups and the cradle. To do this I just cut out the pattern pieces in the satin and tacked them in place with a long stitch on my machine.

Fit:
Cups: Really good. I like a full coverage cup and this fits really well. My underwires sit round my breast root and feel comfortable and supportive. Under the arm has regular coverage and when I compare this bra overall to my favourite shop bought ones, they are very similar.

Straps: I like a firm strap and I was worried I wouldn't like these are they are mostly made from fold over elastic which isn't the firmest elastic. You do use a stay tape in the FOE, but I'm on the fence as to whether it's enough for me. I think the elastic and hoops and sliders I used at the back of the bra perhaps don't work well with each other. Next time I would get a firmer elastic for this strap section and shorten them in general as I have a short body.

Under band: This fit here is really good. But I'm not happy with my under band elastic as a style. It's firmer than I expected it to be and would be better suited to straps. I couldn't find a red picot edge under band elastic in the wider width so used what I thought was closet. Next time I would work around whatever colour I can find in the specific elastic type. But its still super comfy and fits.

Difficulty: I think anyone could have a go at this bra if you know your way around a sewing machine. You never know unless you try after all! What I like about bra sewing is that the pattern pieces are nice and small and manageable, and the stages for sewing are very broken down. Like with anything, take it step by step and you'll get there!

Making yourself familiar with all the components that go into a bra will be helpful and make sure to pay attention to stretch lines and the types of supplies you need as there are no short cuts in bra sewing.

Watch out for: There's a lot to look out for when bra sewing as there is so little room for error. But don't be intimidated. I know I have experience with bras but I'd much rather sew a bra that do an invisible zip or cuff plackets!

Make Again?: Yes. I thought that this project would be a 'oh well I tried' experience, but I already got some fabric to make another! I think me and this pattern will be seeing a lot of each other...


Overall, I surprised myself with this one! I didn't expect to come out of this project excited to sew myself more bras. I am over the moon with the fit and will absolutely wear this bra. There are some things I would tweak for next time, for example I would have overlocked or used seam tape on the bust seams and I would buy a stronger elastic/smaller sliders for the straps to make that bit firmer. But there's nothing that won't stop me from enjoying this awesome bra!

Would you ever sew a bra? If you're thinking about sewing this one, I would definitely check out the Instagram hashtag #blackbeautybra to see some amazing versions, in a whole host of sizes. I saved so many photos for inspiration.

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

Check out the description on the video for a list of all the patterns mentioned.

I'd like to use the other half of this blog post to tell you all about this dress. I made it the day before we went to the Mary Quant exhibition, because obviously I needed to make a new dress last minute? And what better than to sew the pattern designed especially for the exhibition!


Firstly, just what a flipping cool pattern. If you like 60s style you NEED to download this. It's a very basic sewing pattern with heaps of options for customisation. Including various collar and pocket options. I chose the key hole neck with the pointed collar, cuffed long sleeves and no pockets. I wasn't going to do a contrast collar, but then I wondered 'what would Sabrina do?' (my current TV obsession) so I figured, go big or go home.


Sewing Summary:

Pattern: We Want Quant - Mary Quant Mini Dress Pattern

Fabric: Medium weight viscose (bought in store) & cotton for the collar.

Notions: A self covered button for the neck.

Sewing time: Half a day.

Modifications: None.

Fit: Good. Surprisingly good. I didn't make any alterations and it fits me well around the bust and the length is just the right 'mini' length on my 5"4 frame.

Difficulty: Simple. There are no fastenings so that makes the sewing very simple. The trickiest bit is making sure the collar is stitched properly.

Watch out for: The collar requires lots of pinning and pressing to get it to look neat and sharp.

Make Again?: Yes! Absolutely. I can definitely see myself grabbing this pattern for lots of spontaneous sewing in the future. With so many options for the pattern, I don't think I'll be getting bored of it.


Overall, my love for 1960s fashion is stronger than ever and the #WeWantQuant pattern is my favourite thing I've made in a long time. It's super simple, comfy and gives an instant 60s look. I've worn this a bunch already and I love how on the verge of fancy dress it is, right up my style street!

I hope you enjoy the vlog, I'm really enjoying YouTube at the moment and I hope you guys can see that and will find the vlog inspiring.

Thanks for reading and watching!
Abi xo

A new sewing pattern review during the week of the launch of the pattern? Who am I? A sewing blogger? Well not entirely. But I was on the pattern testing team for the newest pattern launch from my faves at Tilly and the Buttons and I wanted to share my thoughts ASAP.

The Bobbi pattern is going to be a massive hit. It's a versatile, simple pattern, which if you so wish, shows off your stitching skills through top stitching, pockets and buttons. For my tester version I made the skirt in a medium weight, classic blue denim which has a slight amount of stretch.

Here's a peek at the pattern:


You can see how much potential this pattern has. I know I'm going to use this pattern multiple times. Way back when, I hacked the Tilly Cleo dungarees to add buttons up the front. But this version does that all for you and it's great to see a dungaree dress pattern which has a waist band. On my shape I don't like wearing dungaree dresses that are just straight up and down, so having this pattern in my stash is going to be a lot of fun.


Continuing on from my previous post about my most worn makes of 2019, I'm conscious about sewing garments that I know will get lots of every day wear and can be worn in multiple seasons. So when I went about testing Bobbi, I went to my wardrobe to see what would be most useful to me right now. I don't have a denim skirt and after looking at some high street inspiration online, I figured this would be my first version. Plus I have a similar RTW dungaree dress so felt it a bit unnecessary to make another one right now.


My thoughts on the sewing process on a whole are really positive (but please be aware I was sewing this pattern before it's release so was looking at a bit more detail at everything in the instructions). As always, Tilly's instructions were clear with broken down steps and great pictures.

Even though a pattern like this can look quite intimidating, I think the sewing process is reasonably straight forward when broken down into steps. It's lots of straight stitching and pressing as you go to keep it neat, plus I really enjoy top stitching so I liked watching this skirt come together. I was also able to use up some pretty fabric scraps for the insides of my pockets which I love.


Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Tilly and the Buttons 'Bobbi' Pattern

Fabric: Medium weight blue denim. I found something similar HERE.

Notions: Silver jeans buttons.

Sewing time: A couple of hours to half a day.

Modifications: None.

Fit: Good. I think next time I would make the size down as it can swivel around my waist, but it tucks a jumper in nicely so that works for me too! But with a t shirt/thin top it feels a bit big.

Difficulty: Intermediate, but simple when broken down.

Watch out for: Tidy topstitching!

Make Again?: Yes. This pattern is a wardrobe staple and I can see myself using this pattern a lot.

Overall, I'm a big fan of the Bobbi pattern and it's going to be super popular. I love that the pattern has so many options to make it your own and will work for a variety of fabrics. Personally I can see a few needlecord versions in my future and you can't go wrong with black denim.

I can't wait to see other people's versions of the Bobbi pattern popping up (I'm seeing some already and they look amazing!), I'll be stalking the hashtag for sure! What do you think of Tilly and the Buttons latest pattern release?

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo

For me 2019 was a big turning point in my sewing and knitting. It was the year I switched my blog name and embraced a more relaxed style. I think last year was truly the first time since I started dressmaking that I actually made useful, wearable garments which I love. I'm no longer sewing vintage floral dresses willy nilly, I just don't dress like that enough to justify it, and I dipped my toe into the 70s for the first time and it lead my sewing in a new direction.

So at the risk of trying and failing at YouTube for the 100th time, I've filmed a vlog showing you my most worn makes of last year. It's pretty chatty and relaxed and I hope you enjoy it. Find the video below:



1. Tilly and the Buttons - Coco and Francoise 60s mash up - Fabric bought in store.
Check out this amazing dogtooth fabric I think would work well HERE.

2. Simplicity 8608 - Jersey Jumpsuit - Fabric bought in store.
I've found an alternative HERE

3. Deer and Doe - Myosotis Dress - Fabric now sold out.

4. Simplicity 6301 - Jersey Wrap Dress - Fabric bought in store.

5. All About Ami - Downtown Cardigan - Lilac Yarn
We Are Knitters Simone Cardigan - Blue Yarn

Thanks for watching!
Abi xo

Happy New Year everyone! I'm a little late with the reflection post and planning my Make Nine but I've enjoyed taking some time out over the festive season so I'm only just getting back into the swing of things over here.

I don't know whether it's the time of year, but I've really lacked any kind of sew-jo the past couple of months. I've probably made less than 5 things since Summer (including a very boring ironing board cover), but honestly I'm not too bothered. It means I've been wearing a lot of my favourite older makes and showing them some love. This year I also ditched the crafty pinup blog name (it's just my shop now), so 2019 involved a lot of embracing my true style which is much more casual and I've been trying to work on that.

I wish I was someone who had a super tonal wardrobe and everything worked together but I'm accepting I'll never be that person, just because I like too many things, but I'm trying to find a middle ground. So even though overall 2019 was a weird year for my sewing I hope to roll into 2020 with some inspiration and more direction.

Lets talk Make Nine goals:

I've been putting together a Make Nine for the past couple of years and normally I keep on track and I enjoying the process. But 2019's was an absolute FAIL. You can check it out HERE. My 2019 make nine wasn't crazy or anything, and I still like the makes I included, but I think I gave myself too much. I was never going to complete 5 big knitting projects (what was I thinking?!) and I went off the pink denim jacket idea pretty quick and realised the last thing I needed was another pinafore... I made a couple of things from the list but the lack of sewing projects made it feel like more of a fail overall.

I'm using my 2020 make nine plans to finish/start some knitting and crochet kits I have already bought, some fabrics I have but haven't used yet and some patterns I keep lusting after or want to try again. I think I've set myself some very realistic goals and nothing requires learning a new skill or feels too daunting so hopefully there won't be anything stopping me from diving into these projects!

So here's my 2020 Make Nine plans:



1. Wool and the Gang 'Malibu' Sweater

Oh jeez, this kit. I bought this kit in the summer thinking I'd make it in a month. Turns out crochet isn't a skill that comes naturally to me and I learned the hard way. I'm determined to get back into it this year and tick crochet off my skill list.

2. Star print viscose fabric

My fave fabric I have in my stash right now! I know the garment I sew with it will be just around the corner, I'm just struggling to find the time at the moment. But I'm torn between a wrap dress (my go to), a button up tea dress or something short and 60s. But luckily I have enough fabric for a couple of garments as I snapped up all that was left when I saw it in store.

3. Wool and the Gang 'Needed Me' Cardigan

I've been lusting after this one for a while and finally bought the kit in the sales. I haven't made a cardigan in mohair yet and I really want one. I think it will be a great piece of knitwear for summer so hopefully this one will be a success (and quick-ish).

4. Powder blue sweatshirt fabric

I've had this fabric stashed for a while, thinking I would make the Tilly and the Button Stella hoodie and joggers set. I still haven't used it. I think maybe the colour is too light and that's putting me off because I know if I had this fabric in black I would have used it by now. But recently Tilly released a Nora cardigan hack and I think that could work very well for me instead of a hoodie in this colour. We'll see! But it takes up too much room in my stash to sit around much longer!

5. Named Clothing 'Lempi' Dress

This pattern has been in my dreams all last year. I've loved every version I've seen. I don't own it yet but I'd definitely love to try it and I think it would be a great transitional piece.

6. Tilly and the Buttons 'Make It Simple' book

This book comes out in February and after watching Tilly's preview of the patterns I don't think there's a pattern in there I don't like! So I'm including the whole damn book on my Make Nine list because I'll probably be making a bunch from it this year (overambitious maybe?).

7. Friday Pattern Company 'Ilford' Jacket

Another pattern I've been lusting after and don't yet own. I love the styling of this floral one pictured but would love to make it in a plain drill because I think that would be super useful in my wardrobe.

8. Tilly and the Buttons 'Martha' Dress

I made this dress once when I first started sewing. It was a bit of a mess technically but I loved it. I've been thinking about this pattern a lot recently and every smart/casual occasion that has come up recently I've thought 'oooh Martha would be nice to wear', but my first one hasn't lasted well. Time to make Martha round 2!

9. Nina Lee London 'Kew' Dress

Oh this pattern. I absolutely disrespected this pattern the first time I tried it and I can't quite bring myself to look at it again. That dress has never seen the light of day, but gosh I love this pattern and long to make a successful one! Mine was all down to a horrible, very lazy fit (all my fault), so I need to have a proper look at this one and make my dream dress.


I hope 2020 will be productive and will lead to me creating a more coordinated wardrobe which suits my style (since shedding the pinup stuff). I feel much more comfortable in my skin and hope to reflect that in my makes.

Have you put together a list of makes for 2020?

Thanks for reading.
Abi xo

P.S. I'm starting the decade with a fiancé, so that's pretty nice too!

• Add waist ties to the bodice to pull the loose fit in at the waist.
• Add a tiered skirt (like me!)
• Add patch pockets instead of in seam ones.
• Add a Peter Pan collar, like I did on THIS dress.

Overall, Indigo is probably my new favourite sewing pattern. I know it's going to be my new go-to when I have a spare afternoon to sew. It's easy to sew and lazy to fit, my kind of sewing for sure!

I hope you enjoyed the post and found it helpful. I really would recommend it to beginners and beyond and think it's a really nice thing to make with lots of possibilities to make it your own. Again thanks for your patience and understanding with my struggle for blog photos!

Thanks for reading!
Abi xo