PatsyPoo Makes

You know when you pass up on a pattern, end up making it eventually and then kick yourself for not making it sooner because you love it so much? Yeah... That. This is how I feel about the True Bias   Yari Jumpsuit . What a marvellous pattern! It is slightly loose-fitting, has big  angled patch pockets set into the seams, a V-neck and front button closure. I made view C, which is the sleeveless trousers version. I also opted for the d-rings on the waist to help with definition. My measurements span 3 sizes so I cut the 4 at the top and graded out to an 8 on the hips. It took about 2.5m of 150cm wide fabric for my size, I believe. The fabric is a medium to heavyweight dark green drill I got from Barry's in Birmingham last year when I visited the shop with Mel. Man, I miss going fabric shopping with her! 😭😭 It has some stretch to it and it's really soft and smooth. It feels sand washed to me, almost velvety. I can't stop rubbing my hands up and down it when I wear it.  It ...

This one was a bit of a journey... So let me start at the beginning. When I had to cancel my trip to visit Mel a couple of weeks ago because of this bloody virus, we decided we'd have a buddy sewing session to make up for it. The most socially distant of activities, over 200 miles away from each other, sadly. Anyway, after a little bit of deliberation as to what we should sew we landed on the  Fleetwood Dress  by French Navy. We both fell in love with it as soon as it came out a few weeks ago so it was a pretty easy decision to make. The dress is gorgeous, with lots of details I love, like a princess-seamed bodice and front yokes. The fit is really good as well. Very much in keeping with my Lockdown Style, consisting of anything that isn't fitted but looks cute. It is missing pockets actually 😁 but that will be remedied when I make it again. The fabric I chose is a chambray that was a joy to sew and press. It came from  Hometown  in Rochester, which is where Mel wor...

It seems I am feeling motivated enough to keep on blogging, doesn't it? I'll keep riding this wave for as long as I can but I'm not making any promises... Today I have another shirt to share. Yes, another shirt. No, no one is surprised. But wait... What? Maybe you will be a little bit surprised if I say it's a pattern I haven't made before! Whut? 🤯 Yep, it's the Hey June Handmade Cheyenne Tunic . Hey June Handmade Cheyenne Shirt That's right. I've finally moved on to a different shirt and I think it is now my favourite casual, loose-fitting shirt pattern. I will tell you why. Reason number 1: there are several variations. Different sleeves, neckline, length and all sorts of smaller details as well. I'm already planning a v-neck option soon. Reason number 2: the instructions and drafting are outstanding. I've made a few Hey June patterns and they are consistently good and informative. Reason 3: maybe I just needed a change? I mean, I still love t...

When we were in Cambridge last year - not that one, the Massachusetts one! - we visited Harvard University, as you do. And it just so happens that the amazing gather here  is just around the corner! I have to admit that the thought of visiting it had completely escaped me at the time, and it was sheer coincidence that I found the shop in Google maps while we were on the train to Cambridge.  It turned out to be one of the loveliest shops I've ever been to. I was complimented on the dress I was wearing  by the 2 ladies in the shop and, among other things, this gorgeous turquoise Nani Iro double gauze came home with me. It was originally intended to be a Stevie  but, in my excitement, I only bought 1.5m and it is a narrow bolt. No Stevie for me. So I added it to the stash and there it stayed until a couple of weeks ago. I had no idea what to make with it! I then decided an  Ashton top  would be perfect out of this; and a good project to take to the Se...

When the True Bias  Shelby  launched a few months ago, I bought the pattern on the day. I absolutely loved everything about it and couldn't wait to get it made. Having been a teenager in the 90s, I have great memories of that time period and my playlists are largely populated by the hits of that decade. The Shelby is a huge throw back to that and I love it for it.  The pattern has short and maxi lengths, jumpsuit or dress options and also 2 types of sleeves: regular or cap. I made the playsuit/romper version with cap sleeves. My bust measurement (33.5in/85cm) put me in between sizes 2 and 4 so I went with 4. My waist and hips would have comfortably fitted into the 2 but I didn't want to risk the sleeves being tight. I was a rebel and went straight in without making a toile first, so I wanted all the insurance I could get. Minus the toile. I know. 🙄😆 I made the playsuit out of 2m of fabric - pattern calls for 2.3m. I had nothing left but didn't have to struggle ...

A couple of months ago I was contacted by Jen from  Sew by the Sea  in Margate. She asked if I was interested in working with one of her fabrics and then sharing a post about my experience. Not being one to say no to gorgeous fabric I agreed and off I went to their website to pick something. I hadn't decided what I wanted to make yet and they have a great choice of fabrics, so it took me a while. When I saw this  Pink Floral Ravishing Rayon  by Dashwood Studio, I thought I would probably come back to it in the end. And I did. I'm a huge lover of coral. Unlike most people, I really like grey. And yellow is another favourite of mine. How could I not? I went backwards and forwards on my pattern choice for a long time. This post is actually more delayed than I would've liked, due to summer holiday disruptions. However, that turned out to be a blessing because the pattern I ultimately went with was released while we were away. I chose the newly-released  ...

This post should've been up days ago but as soon as I was ready to take some photos, the glorious weather turned to crap and the light was gone... Typical! I finally managed to take so me photos this weekend a nd here is my shiny new Rosa dress!

As some of you may know, we've been having a bit of a hard time with Johnnie, our old boy. He can't move his hind legs because we think a disc has slipped and is pressing on his spinal cord. He's in no pain, which is the most important thing, but he needs constant care, assistance to go to the loo, eat, drink, etc. I've not done a lot of sewing recently but finishing this baby has got me motivated to get back to it properly. 

Now that I proved to myself that I can sew a decent collar, it looks like I've developed a shirtdress addiction. Which this time around is being fuelled by  McCall's M6885 .

Isn't wonderful when a plan comes together? Isn't it even better when a plan you weren't expecting to come together comes together anyway? I give you McCall's 6696!

Earlier this year, I was leafing through my Boden catalogue and I fell in love with one of their linen shirts. It was a raspberry pink colour with *I think* white ring poppers, but it could've been white buttons. It was very loose fitting and looked really comfortable. I almost bought it, but with a price tag of over 50 quid, I left it alone. A few days later, I went into my local fabric shop and found a linen and cotton blend in the same colour at only £6/m. I bought it. Then, I decided to bite the bullet, buy the Archer  pattern and make myself a Boden rip off for less than half the price. The only other shirt I'd tried making before was the Sewaholic Granville . It was not a 100% success story but I don't give up easily. This time around, it turned out *exactly*  as I had envisioned it. Isn't it great when that happens? A Boden rip off for around 20 quid. Yes, please! The fit is spot on. I cut a size 2 and didn't make any changes. I love the way it fits...

Yellow is the happiest colour. Fact. Case in point, my  Rosa dress  by Tilly and the Buttons. See?