Fabricaholic

Well, I have been fabric stashing HARD the last few months, busily gathering an array of beautiful fabrics and fine prints to add to my collection. In case you don't know 'my name is Polly and I'm a fabric stash-aholic'! It doesn't help that I have loads of amazing fabric shops right on my doorstep Simply Fabrics, Sew Over It, Fabrics Galore and a host of African wax print fabric shops just down the road in Brixton. Not to mention the online shops like Fabric Godmother and Middlesex Textiles. Yes this band of drapers have all been aiding and abetting my ever increasing fabric addiction ... and I couldn't be happier! I've stocked up on pattern paper and card and have a list of projects as long as my arm to crack on with. All will be revealed on the blog but here are some of the fabrics I've added to my stash recently...

Fabrics Galore

(Left - Polyester Satin, Right - Abstract Print 100% cotton)

Possible projects:
Kimono Dressing gown, Playsuit, Shirt Dress, Blouse

African prints

(Left to right - Vlisco Java,  African Java print x 2, African print voile)

Jumpsuit Marjorelle

So you've probably all seen this on Instagram already but if not ...tada! Here it is... my homemade African Print Jumpsuit.

Sew what's new?

Happy New Year everyone!

Well I think it's clear from my limited number of posts over the last year that I am most definitely a 'sometime' blogger, rather than someone willing to blog on a regular basis. Mainly because I'm busy conceiving and sewing the projects I post on here (and eating mince pies!), and rather than constant updates on my slow stop-and-start progress I think I'm happier to only post finished projects. That way this blog is more like a log of my achievements... much more exciting than hearing about the behind-the-scenes, like the week I spent comparing the merits of slipstitching by hand vs the 'stitch in the ditch' technique when it comes to attaching a lining. Or reading about the weekend I spent drafting and redrafting the fit of a jacket sleeve... yawn! 

*The yawn is for your benefit, I could write about the sewing geek stuff all day but would probably be a bit boring for you to read!

Although I've begun quite a few projects lately, very few of them are finished yet, which is why things have been a bit quiet on the blog, I'm mainly been concentrating on ideas for new projects and working on designing a few of my own patterns. But as a post is way overdue I thought I'd let you know what I've been up to the last few months.

I made some 'Ava' dresses for a charity craft fair at work...
Not only did I get my first custom order, but I've also now decided to start selling The Ava dress online!

 £25 each, sizes newborn - 3 years.  I'll post more details once I've got my Etsy page up and running but in the meantime if anyone would like a custom dress just get in touch!

Fabric Stash

This year I also went on my first ever New York fabric shopping trip. It. Was. INCREDIBLE! I spent an entire morning in Mood fabrics and B and J Fabrics in the Garment District and came back with these amazing finds to stock up my stash.... The purple fabric is Silk Faille and the rest of the fabric is scuba. Not sure what I'll be making with it all yet but that's the whole point of a fabric stash!

Mood Fabrics in the Garment District ... my spiritual home... sigh...

Ava's Homemade Dress

 This was a really exciting project! I've never made anything for a little person before, so I'm really proud of how the dress turned out...

2015 so far...

What can I say? There are no words to explain how poor I am at maintaining a blog! In my defense I have been fairly busy this year, sewing, pattern drafting, fabric shopping in New York etc... oh and making my first ever baby sewing project! So it's been a busy 2015 even if I haven't got around to broadcasting it on the internet!

Tibi inspired midi skirt

So what have I been up to sewing project-wise? Well first up there's the Tibi inspired pleated midi skirt I'd been meaning to make for absolutely YEARS! To be honest this took a huge chunk of 2015 on account of me being far too precious about every aspect of this project. The fabric is a beautiful, vibrant African print by Vlisco and I was terrified of doing something wrong and wasting it.  Also I wanted it tohave a professional finish (you know so I could indulge my dream of being an actual fashion designer/seamstress!), so I spent weeks labouring intensively on this project. Ironing, measuring, realigning pleats, overlocking, checking the stitch quality blah blah blah... I think I spent about a week on the invisible zip alone! But I'm happy to say I think the results are worth it. And it was even ready in time for my trip to the States in the summer...
(photo courtesy of Sally Oliphant!) xxx