Fabric:  Check Wool (see similar HERE & HERE) & Black Lining Fabric

Notions: None.

Sewing time: I made this over a couple of days.

Modifications: Added a waist tie belt and front pockets.

Fit: Oversized but cosy.

Difficulty: Simple! Beginners should check out this pattern.

Watch out for: The collar points are the trickiest part, but the instructions are clear.

Make Again?: YES! I love this pattern and can see myself making another. 
Overall, I'm so glad I waited until this pattern came along, I think we were meant to be! It's exactly the style I wanted; oversized, big collar, waist belt, big pockets and simple to make. I've worn this coat every day since I made it and it's going straight to the top of my proudest make list! Coats always feel like such an achievement to make, but this pattern was far simpler than some of the dresses I've made, plus I didn't have to worry about fit. Although I did try to put my sensible seamstress head on and attempted a bit of pattern matching!

Ana from CocoWawa has started a new hashtag to end the year #myproudestmake - join in on Instagram with yours!

Are you making a coat this season?

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Hi pinups! What a crazy couple of months it's been with the opening of my new Crafty Pinup shop and coping with the madness of the festive shopping season. Whilst it's all been a bit of a whirlwind over here, I'm still finding some peace and quiet amongst all the madness, and trying to squeeze in a couple of sewing projects that are quick and satisfying along the way too. My December Spoonflower project certainly ticks my boxes for a comfy and cute make, with an perhaps an unlikely fabric choice too..

If you're a long time follower, you may recognise the pattern in this blog post. I made the Burda 7109 babydoll nightie and shorts set in 2017. See the original post and my full sewing pattern review HERE.

Here's a peek at the pattern:



The Burda 7109 pattern wasn't actually what I had picked for this fabric, but when it came to cutting my project out last week, I realised I didn't have quite enough for the pjs bottoms and shirt set I had planned. As the fabric is so bold, I didn't think it would look right to only make a pair of pj bottoms or a top, so I turned to one of my favourite nightwear patterns to sew a vintage style nightdress instead! I've sewn option B, the mid length babydoll nightie with a ruffle neck edge.

The fabric:

Novelty print fabric isn't usually something on my fabric shopping radar at all. But it would be such a waste to shop on Spoonflower and not get a fun print for some colourful pjs eventually. Whilst I think I've exhausted the search options on Spoonflower for anchors, leopard print, polka dots and lemons... I turned to another favourite; tattoo prints! As soon as I saw this 'Vintage Ink' print I knew it had to be mine. I love the softer colour palette and all the motifs, especially the 'Mom' one. As someone who loves traditional tattoos and has a couple herself, this fabric and me and meant to be.




The Burda 7109 pattern is a 1960s reproduction pattern and it really is one of my faves. It's such a simple sew with so many possibilities. I do love the look of the longer nightgown with the waist pull. I think that version would be amazing in something sheer with some ruffles for some full 60s vibes. But the shorter styles really lend themselves nicely to cotton fabrics. The cotton poplin I chose for this project is the perfect weight. It's not too stiff and washes well, along with sewing nicely and creating perfect pleats for the neckline detail. Like I did on my previous version of this babydoll nightie, I used a satin binding detail for the neckline instead of making and sewing bias binding (I'm such sewing cheat).

What I love about projects like this is that you know they're going to fit! The loose free fitting style takes all the usual fitting stress out and I know the outcome of the project with be comfy. I spent far too long in this set up on Sunday taking my photos for this post, and if it wasn't so cold I'm not sure I would have bothered getting dressed! Come Summer, I think this will be my weekend look...


As for the festive madness, I think I'm just about catching up! Balancing businesses and life in general, it sometimes seems like Christmas just totally passes me by. This season I've tried to focus more on what makes me happy, not taking on too much work and setting realistic expectations for myself.

Learning to knit this year has also had a huge impact on me. It's the cosy me-time I needed away from my office and sewing machine. I try to do a little bit each day and I love my new ritual of setting up my knitting corner on the sofa with a cup of tea, wearing my favourite pjs. So no matter how stressful the day has been or the work that's buzzing around my head for the next day, I can spend a moment thinking solely about my knitting and nothing else. Bliss!


If you can't tell already, I'm going through my seasonal 1960s phase. I love this look for Autumn/Winter and I'm definitely gravitating to sewing patterns at the moment which I can put a 60s spin on. In the end, I'm pretty glad I didn't have enough fabric for the pj shirt and bottoms set I planned, as I had far more fun in this!


Overall, this project definitely cleared my head this December. It was quick, colourful & fun and I got to spend the morning dressing up a little and taking nice photos and generally taking a moment out of the festive chaos to focus on this. I also nursed that cup of tea a little longer than I should have and did a few rows of my knitting! From now on, that's how I want all my Sunday mornings to be!

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Don't forget to visit Spoonflower today for thousands of unique designs! I might just start a new fabric stash for novelty print pjs...

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Hi pinups! Just a quick one to tell you about the launch of my brand new Love Knitting enamel pin and a new limited time Christmas bundle offer! It seems a bit late to introduce you to my mini shop now, but here it is! My Crafty Pinup mini online shop is now open for business. I'm starting with some cute sewing & knitting themed accessories, with some sewing kits round the corner.

My first batch of Sewing Machine pins and 'I'd Rather Be Sewing' tote bags were a sell out (amazingly!), but they're both back in stock along with my new Love Knitting design. To celebrate my shop being fully restocked and with Christmas on the way, I thought I'd pop my two pins together for a 20% off bundle offer for a limited time only!



Crafty Pinup Sewing Machine Flower enamel pin badge!

Featuring my tattoo inspired sewing machine flower design, wear your seamstress pin with pride! Perhaps you'll be pinning it onto your latest handmade coat? The 2 black rubber clutches will keep this pin extra secure. I'm wearing mine on the pocket of my new handmade denim jacket!



Crafty Pinup Love Knitting enamel pin badge!

Featuring my tattoo inspired heart shaped ball of pink wool with crossed chunky needles, 15mm bamboo needles are my weapon of choice... I'm wearing mine on red beret! 

Polka Dot Seamwork 'Audrey' Denim Jacket with Spoonflower Fabrics

Hi pinups, I've been so excited to share this make with you! This is a project I've been wanting to create for such a long time now and I can't quite believe it's finally finished. I've wanted to make a polka dot denim jacket for over a year but never came across a suitable fabric until now. I used the opportunity working with Spoonflower to finally create one of my dream sewing projects!

Here's a peek at the pattern:


The Seamwork 'Audrey' denim jacket seems to be a really popular pattern. Like I always do, I trawl through the Instagram hashtags for inspiration and for any fitting or technical issues to look out for. But luckily the Audrey denim jacket seemed like a pretty solid pattern with lots of people loving it. I thought it would be the perfect classic denim jacket pattern for my polka dot denim dream make.

The Fabric:

I've been searching for a decent black and white polka dot denim fabric for quite some time but never found one I liked enough. I had a sample of Spoonflower's Dogwood denim and it's a great weight for a denim jacket. After a quick search of 'polka dots' on Spoonflower, I settled on one I liked. I knew I wanted a classic black and white colour and I love the random spots instead of uniform spots. It was exactly what I wanted!



When the fabric arrived I was worried the fabric might be a little stiff but after a wash the fabric was perfect and armed with a denim needle on my machine, I was ready to go! My sturdy Janome Atelier 5 sewed this like a dream. I really enjoy topstitching and luckily there's lots on this pattern which I absolutely loved.

I was a bit intimidated by the pattern as I haven't sewn anything too technical recently but the reviews I went through online reassured me it was straight forward. Having sewn my fair share of shirt styles and a couple of coats the pattern was reasonably similar design wise. I made sure to have a good read through of the instructions first, something I'm guilty of not always doing, and made sure to take my time and not rush.


Whilst I found the instructions of the pattern pretty straight forward to follow overall, I still can't get my head around welt pockets! I struggled on this step and didn't find the pattern's instructions too helpful here. It was much clearer when I looked for tutorials online instead, but luckily there's loads out there. My first attempt was a bit of a mess, but luckily you can't see my struggles from the outside! My second pocket was far better and I had a better understanding of the whole process then.

However I still haven't fallen in love with welt pockets yet (this is my second garment trying them), but going forward I think I understand them a little better to try again with more confidence.


The fit of the jacket is exactly what I wanted. After looking on the highstreet earlier this year for a denim jacket, trying to find a women's one which isn't cropped was a flipping nightmare! So the boxy, full length style of the Audrey pattern was a relief. I wanted a size that would be big enough to layer up with a jumper underneath in colder months, but not look too oversized in Spring. I think my one is a good balance.



Pattern: Seamwork 'Audrey' Denim Jacket Pattern

Fabric:  Polka Dot on Dogwood Denim

Notions: Hemline Jeans Buttons

Sewing time: I made this over a couple of days.

Modifications: Nothing.

Fit: Spot on.

Difficulty: I'd recommend this pattern for seamstresses with a bit more experience. Some denim and shirt construction knowledge would help.

Watch out for: Those tricky welt pockets.

Make Again?: I don't know how many denim jackets my wardrobe needs, but I would 100% recommend this pattern and if I wanted another (baby pink perhaps?) this would be my go-to.


Overall, I love my new polka dot denim jacket! Even though my post for this jacket wasn't due until November, as soon as the fabric arrived on my door step a couple of months ago I couldn't wait to sew it up. So this fabric has now had over a month of wear and I am obsessed with it! I don't think I've ever worn a handmade garment so much so quickly after sewing it and the fabric has softened up really nicely. It's been such a great addition to my wardrobe and I'm so pleased the dream project I've had in my head for over a year was actually successful. Especially as I've been trying to be more conscious of my sewing choices recently to sew more sustainably. 

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Don't forget to visit Spoonflower today for thousands of unique designs! The possibilities for prints on their dogwood denim fabric is endless. Imagine this in a floral or classic gingham.... love!

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

P.S. Did you notice the cute little sewing machine pin on my jacket pocket?? It's my own design and available to buy in my new online mini shop! As I'm typing this, the pin is currently sold out, but there's a big batch on the way to me and it'll be back in stock by the end of November.

Hi pinups! Here's a blog post that's come totally out of the blue... I had literally no intention of sewing anything for myself this week, let along taking photos and writing a blog post, yet here we are! Sometimes the spontaneous ones are the best ones and this mash up of patterns fits in quite nicely with the #stitchedwithatwist Instagram sewing challenge too.

So this Coco-Francoise mashup is my entry for the #stitchedwithatwist Instagram challenge which the lovely ladies @I_seam_sew_happy and @oh_liverpool_lou asked me to be a part of. Find out all the info on the competition HERE - there's some amazing prizes to win and they need your entries by 24th November.

Whilst this make and blog post was totally out of the blue, it's all worked out quite nicely for me! I don't have too many sewing plans at the moment because of my work commitments (I can't believe my mini shop sold out in a week!!), but my fabric stash is looking pretty healthy at the moment and I'm sure another random make won't be too far away!

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Hi pinups, what a week! I did have a couple of blog posts lined up to share my exciting news with you, but in the space of a week I've sold out of my initial stock! But in short, I've opened a mini online shop Crafty Pinup featuring a sewing themed pin & tote bag with sewing kits just around the corner. It's something I've wanted to do for over a year now but kept finding excuses to push back my plans, but this summer I finally got the ball rolling...
         
Creating a collection of sewing kits has been a long time in the making for me, but when Lil Packaging contacted me earlier this year and introduced me to their range of eco-friendly packaging, I took it as the sign I needed to finally crack on with designing my kits and opening a shop!

I wanted my sewing kit supplies to fit into a small square box, which could be easily customised with my branding. I chose Lil Packaging's SL180 Letterbox Boxes in White, the box perfectly suited my needs and the one style means I can apply my different front covers and they still look professional and uniform (when I applied my first front cover to a box I did a little happy dance, the fit was perfect!). The boxes are easy to put together with their patented pop up style assembly and the adhesive seal means the kits are great for giving as gifts!

Lil Packaging have reduced their prices across their main product line by up to 46% for lower volume orders. Meaning they are far more cost effective for small business owners like myself who don't buy massive quantities at a time. You can order as and when, which is great for me as I run my business from home and don't have a lot of storage room. Postages costs have also been reduced too, so it's a win win situation!

My Crafty Pinup range of sewing kits will be launching very soon. Featuring a cross-stitch kit with my signature sewing machine and flower design with a customisable colour palette to suit your sewing space perfectly. The kits are perfect for beginners and beyond who love a sassy fabric print and a crafty make to boot. So keep your eye on the shop for a big restock of my pin & tote and of course the launch of my sewing kits!

Here's a peek at what's to come...


Get an extra 12% off your first order at Lil Packaging by filling out their short 10 second survey and signing up to Lil Packaging's newsletter and get FREE delivery when you spend over £40.

So whether you're an Etsy or eBay seller and small business owner like me, now's the perfect time to try out some professional, affordable and eco-friendly packaging for your lovely products to elevate your business.

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Hi pinups! Something a little different for you today and a topic I've been thinking a lot about this year, it's also a topic which is certainly in the media at the moment too with the popularity of that Stacy Dooley documentary 'Fashion's Dirty Secrets'. But this doesn't just apply to RTW fashion, but dressmakers too and our demand for fabrics. So I've been thinking about how I can make a change with my dressmaking habits, including restyling old makes.

In general, the amount of dressmaking I've done in 2018 has been a lot less than the previous 2 years of having my sewing blog. When I started dressmaking and blogging, I would sew something every week and blog every week so I could share a new pattern review. I wanted fresh content to share constantly as I felt no one would be interested otherwise. It was something that this year I think finally caught up with me, resulting in a total break from dressmaking over the summer after juggling an unrealistic workload resulting in a wardrobe of half loved me-made clothes I would likely never wear more than twice.

I could feel myself drowning in my handmade clothes that weren't making me happy and it was time for a BIG sort out and a reassessment of my sewing. Whether it's getting carried away with creativity or the fear of not keeping up (I've been guilty of both), it's time to change and to sew more sustainably, not only for the betterment of the environment, but also for my own mental health.


I'm lucky that I work for myself, and sometimes my work projects involve dressmaking, sew alongs and reviews. But I'm making a conscious decision going forward to really assess my style, wardrobe and needs, to only sew new clothes that I know I'll get a lot of wear out of, made with higher quality fabrics and sewn with better finishing techniques for longevity.

I'm definitely guilty of getting carried away with the idea of a project. Of sewing a garment I think will be fun and popular rather then 'when will I actually wear this?'. I'm not someone who's going to get dressed up daily, working from a desk all day I need comfort over style. But that's not to say I don't want cute pjs or stylish casual wear for popping out, I just need to sew realistically instead of frivolously. Something which I think I've been achieving recently. I've also never been one to have a large fabric stash, but I have noticed it growing recently (thanks to a new fabric shop opening in my town) so I'm on a mission to get it down to one space in my Ikea Kallax shelf!


So that's what I'm focusing on going forward, but what about everything I've made so far? Well I've been digging through my wardrobe, having a massive clear out (recycling or donating old makes & RTW clothes) and keeping the things I actually wear. I like the rule that if you haven't worn it in a year, it's out. I'm not sentimental at all and hate clutter so having a good purge always feels so good! I feel like when I started sewing blogging I made a lot very quickly without a lot of thought. Makes that now look a little rushed or ill planned. I think it's a difficult thing to confront, but a good lesson to learn.

I thought the topic of this post would be a great time to style up some old me-made clothes and bring them to the front of my wardrobe again with some new life! This Vogue coat is one of my most worn handmade items of clothing ever, and this Butterick 1940s tea dress definitely hasn't been loved enough since I made it in 2016. I thought it was too low cut to wear in the day time (my personal self consciousness!), but I never thought to actually wear a vest underneath before. Paired with tights and boots, this is a comfy and cute outfit with a little nod to vintage.



I just wanted to share my thoughts on the topic of sustainable sewing and how I'm trying to improve my own habits. I also think learning to knit has slowed down my whole thought process on creativity. I'm learning to slow down and appreciate the time and be more mindful, which has then also reflected on my dressmaking.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I'd love to do some more featuring restyling old makes in the future. What do you think about sustainable sewing?

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Designing My Ultimate Jersey Wrap Dress with Spoonflower Fabrics

Hi pinups! It's been a while since my last proper sewing pattern review and vlog, but in this post I'm back with a bang with both! I'm excited to be teaming up with Spoonflower again for another batch of projects using their unique fabric design service. This time around, I've decided to bring to life some of my dream sewing projects, including my ultimate leopard print wrap dress...


I'm a jersey wrap dress addict. I can't get enough of them. After trying out Spoonflower's fabulous Cotton Spandex Jersey in one of my previous posts HERE, I thought this time around I could try one of their other stretch fabric offerings 'Modern Jersey'.

With a jersey wrap dress in mind, I had a browse at some new season patterns and came across the Simplicity 8735 wrap dress pattern. The pattern offers a lot of style variations along with different cup sizes, which is perfect for me. As I've made a few fuller skirt styles recently, I thought this time around, I would try a more fitted style, opting for option A on the pattern.

Here's a peek at the pattern:



The Fabric:

I used to have a leopard print jersey wrap dress in my wardrobe about 5 years ago, but it was a dress I wore as uniform in a retail shop and I didn't like to wear it out of work after that. Ever since I've missed having a sassy leopard print wrap dress in my wardrobe and wanted one back in my life.

Leopard print is such a hit and miss design. Some can be really tacky and cheap looking and some are odd colours and print sizes. I've bought a lot of leopard print jersey over my dressmaking journey and whilst I liked them all enough to want to buy them, I've never come across one as nice as this.

I think that this is a perfect example of what Spoonflower does best. I know I'm not alone in my search for the perfect leopard print fabric and when I searched for it on Spoonflower, there is SO many designs available. I knew I wanted something classic and simple and as soon as I saw this print I knew it was 'the one'.

Get the fabric: Gold Leopard Print in Modern Jersey

I found the pattern very easy to follow and enjoyed the sewing with no headaches to report! I have sewn my fair share of wrap dresses and jumpsuits recently so I have a good understanding of how they go together. This one was nice and straightforward.

This pattern says it's suited to pretty much all fabrics, including jersey and it features a facing around the whole neck edge rather than a neck band. This is where my criticism comes in... I don't think the interfaced facing style of this pattern works the best with jersey. Yes you can do it and there's nothing wrong with it, but personally I don't like to interface stretch fabric and I think a neck band would have suited this more.

I think this pattern would work much better with stable fabrics and I don't think I would use this pattern again for jersey fabric. However none of this will stop me from wearing this dress, I think it just comes down to personal preference, and for me, I'd prefer a stretch neck band.


Pattern: Simplicity 8735 Wrap Dress Pattern

Fabric:  Gold Leopard Print in Modern Jersey

Notions: None.

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

Modifications: Nothing.

Fit: Really good thanks to the cup sizes and stretch fabric.

Difficulty: Simple.

Watch out for: Make sure you use a stretch stitch on your machine.

Make Again?: Yes. Not with jersey, but perfect for viscose.


If you fancy seeing a bit more of my ultimate wrap dress, it's featured in my latest Sew & Tell vlog, along with a quick look at my next Spoonflower project:




So whilst I wouldn't use this pattern again for a jersey make, any leopard print wrap dress is still a winner in my eyes. Overall, I'm very happy with this dress and it's a welcome addition to my wardrobe and I know I'll get a lot of wear out of it over the coming months. Like I say in my Sew & Tell vlog above, I think this dress will look great with tights and heeled boots, layered with my leather jacket.

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What print would make your ultimate wrap dress? Or perhaps you're also searching for the perfect leopard print design? Don't forget to visit Spoonflower today for thousands of unique designs!

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo