A Stitching Odyssey: October 2021

When Josie from Fabric Godmother invited me to become an ambassador for the latest designs in their exclusive range, I immediately gravitated towards this stunning viscose sateen. As an ambassador I was sent the fabric for free and will get paid for my review, but the opinions I'm sharing are 100% honest.

I asked for 1.5m to make a top and it's even more beautiful in person than I could imagine. It's the most vibrant shade of emerald green with the sweetest peachy pink heart print that looks like an animal print from afar. Completely opaque, it's got a lovely drape and weight to it, as well as a satin finish.

Most surprisingly, this fabric holds a press really well, but I'd recommend a cooler setting on your iron. I'd also recommend using a rotary cutter, if you have one, and a fine needle is a must to avoid nasty snags.

I've never been disappointed with the quality of Fabric Godmother's own range and this viscose sateen is absolutely no exception.

After a bit of pondering, inspiration struck and I knew it just had to become a Papercut Sequence Blouse. I made a straight size 4 (disappointingly, this pattern isn't currently available in a more inclusive size range) with no alterations and the fit is great.

The pattern is minimum effort for maximum effect, coming together really quickly and easily. As with any wrap garment, modesty is key. This one has you covered with an internal side seam button and a snap fastening along the neckline.

The coolest thing about the Sequence Blouse is that you can tie and wear it in a number of different ways. I actually think I prefer it with the 'V' at the back on me, but it's great to have such a versatile blouse in my handmade wardrobe.

I've seen people tie it more centrally at the back, with the snap fastening undone for a sexy shoulder reveal, but I can't go braless so I'd have to wear a vest and ruin the look.

It sounds silly reading this back, but the Sequence Blouse really challenges my inexplicable desire for symmetry, so it's a bit out of my comfort zone in that sense. Nevertheless, it's such a pretty design and the fabric is truly sensational.

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

I took full advantage of the last of the sunny weather recently to photograph my Sway Dress, a Papercut Patterns design which doesn't seem to be readily available anymore. If you know why that may be, please do spill the tea.

Despite a major wobble halfway through construction, during which I convinced myself that I was making a frumpy nightie, this dress turned out to be a surprise summer hit. Once I added the waist tie, the silhouette was completely transformed, giving me some rather charming vintage vibes.

I made it in this stunning viscose sateen from Fabric Godmother's own collection and I'm seriously considering buying the green colourway too. It's a slippery little sucker to work with, but a dream to wear. To make sewing with this fabric as smooth as possible, I used a microtex needle and slightly lowered the tension on my presser foot.

The cool thing about this dress, other than having pockets of course, is that your can wear it back-to-front with either a V or rounded neckline. I've been wearing it this way round, but should really try switching it up for a different feel.

I made a straight size small, moving the waist tie loops higher to accommodate my short waist, and I'm really happy with the fit. Next time I think I'll pinch out 1cm from the front and back necklines so they sit as flush as can be. I'm also tempted to raise the armscye by 2-3cm as it sits quite low on me, leaving a fair bit of my bra exposed.

It's a fairly quick and easy sew, definitely satisfying to whip up on a whim. Having never cut/sewn on the bias before, I did find levelling the skirt out after letting it hang overnight to be super tedious. If you have any tips for that, I'd love to read about them in the comments!