First project of 2022! DIY pyjama set

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2022 is off to a gentle and happy start for you. Here in Amsterdam the lockdown continues, with hospitality shut but non-essential stores now open by appointment. I have to admit, it's really hard going. Last January and February were quite hard for me mental health wise in…

Autumn Amelia Dress

I was gifted the fabric for this blog post by Oyin at Lush Cloth. All views are as always my own! How do you plan your makes? Since starting my sewing journey, the way I approach projects has really changed. Previously it was very fabric driven - I would fall for a fabric or print…

How to organise your sewing patterns using Google Sheets

While some might say my love for patterns is out of control....I prefer to call myself a pattern connoisseur! We all have an aspect of sewing we can't resist, right? For some it's fabrics, others haberdashery...well for me it's patterns, both printed and PDF. I absolutely love my pattern collection and am perfectly happy in…

Seamwork Madhu top

Summer is teasing us here in Amsterdam - here one moment, gone the next, you really don't know how to dress from one day to the next! With this in mind I'm looking for pieces that will take my wardrobe from season to season in a flash - ie, separates! I recently joined Seamwork after…

Helen’s Closet Jackson Tee

There are some patterns that before you've even finished the first one, you've got another ten planned. This was definitely the case for me and the Helen's Closet Jackson tee! As you might know, I'm not very experienced in sewing with jersey. Don't get me wrong, the projects I've dabbled with have gone really well,…

Aisling blouse

My pledge for Me Made May in 2021 is to identify some of the gaps in my wardrobe. It's not too difficult to tell.....hint, it's separates! As much as I love making dresses they're just not practical for the Dutch rain. Now that outdoor hospitality can open 12-6, we are trying to explore our new…

Pattern Review: Dawn McCall’s

Do you sew with "Big Four" patterns? McCall's are one of the biggest sewing pattern companies, stocked worldwide and you usually find their patterns sold in printed form on the tissue paper you traditionally associate with home sewing. I haven't got too much experience with them but here is my very short summary... Before working…

My Spring Frankendress!

PSA: Organising your sewing stash does wonders for your productivity! Last month I took a Friday off and specifically reserved the day to play with my new toy - a home printer. Now if that isn't the most 2021 activity.... My PDF pattern stash had gotten out of control and the tactic of rolling them…

Fibre Mood Alix skirt

This blog post contains gifted items - as always, all words and views are honest and my own! High on my Make Nine 2021 list was a button down midi skirt. I am most definitely a skirts and dresses person and some of my favourite go to RTW outfits have been a vintage style midi…

Scandi Sewing: Interview with Named

In January 2021 Named are offering 15% discount to Modista newsletter subscribers! From February onwards the discounts will be exclusive to Patreon members - find out more here. This month the Modista world sewing tour is in Scandinavia! Each month I round up some of my favourite sewists and brands from a region so that…

Men’s Tropical Shirt : Wardrobe By Me Pattern

Wardrobe by Me are offering an exclusive discount code to Modista subscribers til 16 Jan! Read about the Modista Newsletter here. This blog post contains gifted fabric. I was under no obligation to use or write about it. All comments as usual my own! Do you like sewing for others? I swing back and forth…

Quick winter sews: Lotta Dress and Wilder Gown

This December, for the first time ever I wasn't able to travel home to the UK and spend Christmas with my mum - ironically I'm probably the closest geographically I've been for many years, having travelled home for Christmas from France, Spain and Thailand in the past! But with lockdown restrictions and more, this year…

Sewing themed gift ideas – global edition

This blog post contains affiliate links that are clearly marked. I have worked with some of these brands previously but not on the basis of this blog post - if they're on here, I really rate their products! Normally, every month in the Modista newsletter I send an introduction to the sewing community in a…

Fibremood Honey Blouse

This blog post contains affiliate links. I was given early access to the Honey pattern in exchange for making the pattern and posting it on launch day. All views are as usual my own! Fibremood 12 is released today and it has some stunning patterns to choose from! I've always really liked Fibremood patterns and…

Interview with Jessica Novianti from Karta Batik

One of the brands featured in this month's Modista newsletter is Karta Batik, run by the lovely Jess who started the business in 2020 and stocks the most incredible fabrics from her home country of Indonesia. Jess lives in Leiden in the Netherlands and we were able to meet up in Amsterdam for a socially…

Homer and Howells Blair Jacket

I was given the Blair jacket pattern as a prize in the Homer & Howells giveaway. There was no obligation to sew or review the pattern. Can you believe it is the end of October already? I feel like October Blairly just started! Ok, I'm sorry. Let's get to sewing. The Blair pattern is intended…

Sewing in the Netherlands round up

It's that time again where the Modista tour takes us to a new country to explore the instagram sewing community there. This month I had to highlight my new home of the Netherlands where I moved about 6 weeks ago. Having done some research in advance I knew there were some great sewists and stores…

On the rise: Ready to Sew Pio

This week I finished one of the first pieces from my autumnal WFH capsule; the Ready to Sew Pio pants and have been really enjoying wearing them! It’s no secret that I really like Ready to Sew patterns -available in French, Spanish and English their patterns always have simple silhouettes with an interesting deisgn feature,…

Introducing the October featured brands

Autumn sewing planning is well underway and I'm really excited for this new season. I've written a post here all about my me-made wardrobe planning for autumn and a personal challenge is to try and face my fear of knits and coats; if I can get to Christmas having made at least one jersey garment…

‘Sia dress’ by Marsha Style

This blog post contains gifted products - all opinions are honest and my own! This week I finally finished my Sia dress and couldn’t wait to show it off! This is my first make from our new home in Amsterdam (!) where we moved just over a week ago. In between flat hunting and exploring…