Even though it's not quite autumn yet, I'm already thinking about my winter wardrobe. I suffer from seasonal depression no matter how much I try to convince myself I don't. I tend to become a true homebody in winter and barely leave the house so although I dream of a cute vintage winter wardrobe, I … Continue reading Vintage and Retro Style Sewing Patterns for A Dapper Wardrobe
Category: Sewing & Crafts
Sewing an Aussie Easter Bilby Dress
Most people know the Easter bunny as a magical bunny that delivers chocolate eggs this time of year, but here in Australia, we have a magical marsupial known as the Easter Bilby. A bilby is a desert dwelling marsupial with long bunny-like ears that's nocturnal, adorable and very much loved by all Aussies. Come Easter … Continue reading Sewing an Aussie Easter Bilby Dress
Sewing a Vintage Dress for High Tea at The Raffles Hotel Singapore
A lady's High Tea is a wonderful occasion to get all dressed up and spend time with friends whilst sipping tea, chatting and enjoying deliciously delicate treats. On a recent girls trip to Singapore, I wanted to treat my friend and I to the ultimate High Tea experience at the Raffles Hotel, one of the … Continue reading Sewing a Vintage Dress for High Tea at The Raffles Hotel Singapore
Sewing a Feyre / ACOTAR Inspired-Vintage Night Court Dress
I've always been an avid reader; it's a chance for me to just switch off, escape and self-care in a quiet corner, drink tea and be left alone (for the most part). As a working adult, it's not always easy to find time to read, especially something new where I really need to pay attention … Continue reading Sewing a Feyre / ACOTAR Inspired-Vintage Night Court Dress
Sewing a ‘Pushing Daisies’ Inspired Dress
Vintage Sewing Adventures; Recreating Chuck's Yellow Dress from Pushing Daisies Remember that crazy time when we were all trapped in our houses and couldn't embrace our friends or family? Yeah, wild times I know but it got me back into one of my favourite shows, Pushing Daisies as I found many of the themes in … Continue reading Sewing a ‘Pushing Daisies’ Inspired Dress
My Bali Fabric Haul
Whilst travelling, people bring back souvenirs of shot glasses, spoons or keychains, the souvenir I bring back is fabric. In January, I was lucky enough to spend a week at a women's retreat in Bali and then a few days exploring the gorgeous island after. During my free days, of course I went fabric shopping … Continue reading My Bali Fabric Haul
Vintage Valentine’s Inspired Sewing Patterns
I always like to dress up around Valentine's day as it gives me a chance to embrace all the red and pink clothing colour combinations in my wardrobe. For those of us to love to sew, Valentine's day is a wonderful excuse to sew up some garments a little more romantic or heart inspired. If … Continue reading Vintage Valentine’s Inspired Sewing Patterns
Sewing a Valentine’s Dress using Vintage Simplicity 3845
For the past two years, I've sewn myself a new Valentine's Day dress which I love wearing no matter what the hubby and I have planned that year. So far we've drawn inspiration from vintage greeting cards and Katy Keene comic books but this year, Valentine's Day is a little different. This year I'm embracing … Continue reading Sewing a Valentine’s Dress using Vintage Simplicity 3845
Sewing Pattern Review: Simplicity 8654 (and Butterick 6354)
It's the start of a new year, which means new and exciting swing projects! I always have delusions of all the sewing projects I will complete in time for a holiday and then become grossly stressed when I can't complete them all. In early January, I was heading to Bali and before I knew it, … Continue reading Sewing Pattern Review: Simplicity 8654 (and Butterick 6354)
Sewing a Vintage Dress Replica – Recreating The Vintage That Got Away
Vintage Sewing Adventures Nothing haunts us like the vintage we didn't buy. For those that shop vintage, you know the sadness you feel when you find a stunning vintage piece only to realise it's too small, too expensive, far away or already sold. This is the vintage that haunts us and I am certainly haunted … Continue reading Sewing a Vintage Dress Replica – Recreating The Vintage That Got Away
My MASSIVE KL Fabric Haul
If you've been around for any of last year's sewing projects, you may have noticed that I kept "shopping my stash" and trying to avoid buying fabric. The fabric buying ban (self-imposed I should add) was at times annoying but I really got to appreciate the fabric that I had and it posed certain challenges … Continue reading My MASSIVE KL Fabric Haul
Sewing Goals for 2023
I made 30 dresses in 2022 and although I definitely pushed myself in my sewing skills and learnt lots of new things, I'm ready to grow and learn even more in 2023. Although this is not a sewing blog exclusively, right now, my sewing is making me really happy. I feel like it keeps me … Continue reading Sewing Goals for 2023
All The Dresses I Made in 2022
During the original lockdown, I really struggled and although I wanted to take part in the #StayHomeAndSew movement, it was more #StayHomeAndStress on my end. When this year started, it had been a while since I had sewn for myself; not for a project or a video, but just for the joy of sewing. Last … Continue reading All The Dresses I Made in 2022
How to Read a Vintage Sewing Pattern Envelope
When you first start sewing with vintage sewing patterns, the pattern envelope may seem a little odd, confusing and pretty strange to read. Don't let vintage sewing envelopes put you off, once you learn the basics, they are informative and easy to understand. After sewing for a few years and learning how to read vintage … Continue reading How to Read a Vintage Sewing Pattern Envelope
Sewing Pattern Review: Butterick 6682
Fashion comes and go and sure enough, if you bag up all the clothes you have in your wardrobe right now and put them away for a few years, they will eventually come back into fashion. When I was first learning to sew many years ago, I wanted to make a babydoll dress but make … Continue reading Sewing Pattern Review: Butterick 6682
Sewing Pattern Redo Review: Butterick 5982
Well here we are again, tackling pattern Butterick 5982 for the second time. Back in April, I made Butterick 5982 using an Indian embroidered cotton and although I loved the pattern and the fabric, the darts ruined it for me, they looked like sad, flat saggy nipples and I just can't stop being bothered by … Continue reading Sewing Pattern Redo Review: Butterick 5982
How to Get Out of a Sewing Block
We've all heard of writers block but as any creative knows, there are many different types of creative blocks including sewing block. If you love a certain type of craft, you might suddenly find that one day, nothing inspires you to create and anything you do create just isn't as good as you'd like it … Continue reading How to Get Out of a Sewing Block
Sewing Pattern Review: New Look 6508
Whenever I go op shopping, I always make an effort to look for sewing patterns. There's a plethora of cheap 80s patterns (with questionable garments all of which look shapeless and way too big), loads of children's patterns, some modern patterns and on the rare occasion, 50s patterns. I treasure any vintage pattern (not from … Continue reading Sewing Pattern Review: New Look 6508