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What Abi Makes

Minerva Craft Blogger Network: Christine Haynes 'Emery' Dress

The tights are off and my Spring sewing has officially begun! The Christine Haynes 'Emery' dress was a pattern that caught my eye as soon as I saw it, which was probably over a year ago. I snapped it up straight away but it got bumped back by other projects and I suppose I forgot I had it. But after stalking #emerydress on Instagram recently, I decided it was time I finally cracked on with this retro pattern.



Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Christine Haynes 'Emery' Dress Pattern

Fabric: 1/4" Check Corded Gingham Dress Fabric

Notions: 22" invisable zip

Sewing time: A couple of hours/half a day

Modifications: Nothing this time.

Fit: A little roomy, but great on the bust!

Difficulty: A make for adventurous beginners and beyond.

Watch out for: Even gathers for the skirt and tidy darts - there's a lot!

Make Again?: Yes!

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For my full sewing pattern review, CLICK HERE! 

If you'd like to see everything I've made so far for the Minerva Craft Blogger Network, you can view my profile HERE.

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo
4/19/2018 1 comments
McCalls M6659 - Spring Robe with Spoonflower Fabrics


Hi pinups! It's time for my second Spoonflower project (if you missed my first post featuring some stunning constellation print jersey fabric, check it out HERE), and I'm sewing with Summer in mind! For April's Spoonflower make I wanted to shake off my tights and jeans and sew something which would hopefully bring out some Spring Sunshine.

I work from home and it's no secret my uniform consists of lounge wear and pjs. So after coming out of my Winter sewing cocoon, I wanted to sew a garment which felt light and colourful which I could get lots of wear out of, without making a dress (there's a few in the sewing queue). So I decided to sew myself a comfy cotton dressing gown to wear around the house, over whatever my work uniform is that day!

Here's a peek at the pattern:


I've made option A from the McCalls M6659 pattern which is a short robe. The pattern is almost kimono like with flared sleeves and who doesn't love a pattern when it says's 'easy' on the front! After an initial Google for pattern reviews, the M6659 seems to be a popular pattern and I hoped I would enjoy it too. 

The Fabric:

Once I had settled on sewing a light weight dressing gown, I thought Spoonflower's classic Basic Cotton Ultra would be perfect. The weight of the fabric compliments the shape of the robe, and whilst it isn't super flowy, it still holds the shape of the robe without being stiff or feeling rough against the skin. As well as being easy to wash & care for as this garment will be getting lots of wear.

Cactus prints have started filtering in to fabric shops and it seems to be a popular trend on the high-street from fashion to interiors. But succulents AND polka dots? A match made in print heaven for me. I love the colour palette of the fabric, it's bright and colourful with hints of mint and pink.

Get the fabric: Cactus Obsession in Basic Cotton Ultra



Check out my top tips for shopping at Spoonflower in my first post HERE.


After so many great versions of the M6659 pattern online, I hoped it was going to be nice and easy to sew with minimal fit issues. I wanted a garment with a simple shape to really show off the pattern of the fabric. I'm really pleased I opted for this pattern and option A, as I think the fabric and pattern are a great match. I added a touch of plain baby pink piping I had in my stash to highlight the neck band and break up the print.

The whole sewing process for this robe was enjoyable and simple and I really enjoyed taking the time to sew this one to a high standard. It was one of those rare sewing projects that was a breeze from start to finish and I love the final garment.



Sewing Summary:

Pattern: McCalls Ladies Easy Sewing Pattern 6659 Pyjamas & Dressing Gown

Fabric: 4" Cactus Obsession /Black & White / Polka Dots

Notions: Baby Pink flat cotton piping.

Sewing time: A hour or two.

Modifications: Nothing.

Fit: Great.

Difficulty: Very easy!

Watch out for: I took extra care sewing the piping for a neat finish.

Make Again?: I'd love to make the other options on this pattern.


The McCalls M6659 pjs pattern will be my new go-to pattern for cute lounge-wear. I think this pattern will work well in a variety of fabrics from luxurious satin to cosy jersey, but I'm very pleased with my first take on this pattern in classic cotton. Whilst Spoonflower's Basic Cotton Ultra might not work for all your dressmaking projects (I personally like sewing with cotton for dresses with fitted bodices and full skirts as I like the shape they hold), it works really well for this robe and is comfortable to wear. I only wish I had enough left to sew a matching pj top and shorts! But I do have enough (I think) for a small square cushion...

Overall, I couldn't be happier with my new cotton dressing gown and I've worn it every morning since I made it. The print never fails to cheer me up and I just need the weather to warm up so I can spend my evenings lounging in it too!

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Don't forget to visit Spoonflower to make your own fabric dreams come true! I can't wait to show you my next project and my favourite fabric of all the ones I've selected. I know I shouldn't have a favourite, but you guys are going to LOVE it!

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Spoonflower.
4/13/2018 No comments
Simplicity 8447 - 1940s Overalls + Sew Along!
Out of all of the patterns I selected for this current batch of Simplicity Stitch by Stitch project this is the pattern I was most apprehensive about. The 8447 pattern came out last year as part of their vintage reproduction collection, originally from the 1940s. The pattern features wide leg trousers, 2 shirt options and the star of the show; the overalls. Dungarees and overalls seem to have crept into the high street recently and it's a trend I haven't tried for myself yet. But the 8447 pattern caught my eye and having seem THIS version from an online retro clothing store, I thought perhaps this vintage pattern could be for me.


I say I was apprehensive about this pattern as it's a style out of my comfort zone and a style of clothing I've not tried. Whilst most clothing looks great on someone with a model body (see the woman on the envelope..), I fear my 5"4 curvier figure might not work with such a style. All the jeans I own are skinny and I haven't sewn a pair of trousers with any success before as I can sometimes feel self conscious of my thighs. Alas, I still tried my hand at this pattern with what I hope is a mild success!

Here's a peek at the pattern:


I was also initially concerned about the sewing, thinking it might be time consuming and tricky to sew. But to my surprise, I would call this pattern simple and would recommend it for beginners. But you can see the sewing process in the video below and watch how the overalls come together.

Stitch by Stitch with Simplicity - 8447 1940s Overalls Sew Along


So in my video it comes across how simple the sewing actually is and how fun they are to wear. I enjoyed dressing up a little to fit the 1940s land girl vibe!


There's a lot more talk about fit in the video, but overall (no pun intended) the fit is pretty good! I think I spent so much time worrying about the fit on my legs and hips that I forgot that my bust can also be a tricky one. So like I discuss in the video above, the fit on the bottom half and waist is great, but the fit is too tight on my bust. Not so much that I wouldn't wear it but enough to be stretching the buttons!



Sewing Summary:

Pattern: Simplicity Pattern 8447 Overalls

Fabric: 8oz Washed Denim Cotton Dress Fabric

Notions: 8 x Buttons

Sewing time: A day.

Modifications: Nothing.

Fit: Okay. Too tight on my bust.

Difficulty: Simple and would recommend to beginners.

Watch out for: Definitely the fit! 

Make Again?: Not this time.


Overall, I enjoyed sewing the 8447 pattern even if it was more of a style experiment for me. I'm not 100% sure they suit me and I don't find them particularly flattering. Whilst I can't see myself getting much wear out of these moving forward, it was fun to try this 1940s style and push my sewing and style boundaries. The pattern is simple to sew and it's a authentic vintage style, but for me it comes down to personal preference about the look and I'm still on the fence.

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Let me know if you'll be trying this pattern and be sure to tag me @craftypinup in your snaps so I can see them too!

Watch all my Simplicity Stitch by Stitch videos in my playlist HERE.

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Simplicity.
4/07/2018 3 comments
What I've Been Loving in March
Hi pinups! It's time for another what I've been loving post, a monthly blog series I am trying my hardest to keep up with! March has been a funny month for me, and when I say funny, I mean stressful as heck. But I'm looking forward to April with a positive mindset hoping to make it productive and creative. Due to March's stresses I've also felt a bit lost when it comes to my blog and YouTube and feel like I haven't been producing content as regularly as I should be. But sometimes you need to take a step back and refresh.

As always, the sewing world has continued to inspire me this month and Spring sewing is at the front of my mind! Here's what I've been lusting after during March...
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

During March I've been thinking a lot about my personal style and what I sew compared with what I wear. Since starting my sewing blog with the emphasis on vintage, I suppose I've felt a pressure to sew vintage styles and style myself in a certain way (especially with 'pinup' in my blog name eeek). when the reality is that I pair these retro dresses with comfy trainers and lazy hair. But more on this another time! I'm currently lusting after 'Old Skool' Vans in classic black to pair with pretty tea dresses for Spring.

Minerva Crafts is always tempting me with their ever evolving range of fabrics, and with the release of Tilly's new book all about sewing with jersey this palm leaf print is at the top of my shopping list. Also in March Lisa Comfort's new range of vintage style floral fabrics have hit the shops and I'm in love with all of them I don't even know where to start. Her new cardigans are also super cute!

Working from home I sometimes find my diet can be a bit all over the place. I recently shared on Instagram Stories that I made a lunch box every day to keep me on track and I got so many DMs about it. So here's the bento box I've got!

I had a total sewing fail in March and was also struggling with my workload, so sometimes you need a total sewing palette cleanser to get things back on track. For me it was the M7381 tie front dress, which I'll share with you soon.

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

Disclaimer: Contains affiliate links.
4/01/2018 No comments
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