At home in clothes I've made
It has been a couple of months since I wrote my last blog post. It's quite hard to know where to pick up from how I left off but I really want to try. Writing this blog has helped me process everything that fizzes around my head when I'm sewing in the studio. Since publishing my last blog post in January, Made My Wardrobe has travelled further than I could have possibly imagined so I've added a new press section to my website, feel free to have a browse if you would like to see some of the places I've been sharing my journey.
The highlights have included being interviewed for Elle UK, guest blogging for Fashion Revolution, writing a feature for The Sunday Times Style magazine, being interviewed for Stance podcast, writing a story for Oh Comely magazine, being interviewed for Broadly, being interviewed for Culturised and writing a feature for Typical Girls magazine.
This project has meant the world to me and every time I write about why, it helps me understand it a little deeper. When I started this blog, it was really just a way to share what I had been making with my friends and family, so that they could see why I was spending such a crazy amount of time sewing in my studio. Realising that this project has also resonated with total strangers has made me feel incredibly supported and inspired to keep at it. So thank you for finding me here, when I needed you most.
The last few months has also seen the launch of my workshops. Teaching them has filled my little heart with joy. Before each workshops starts, I always have that nervous feeling you get before throwing a party, wondering if anyone will turn up. Then suddenly the whole studio is buzzing with new faces driving sewing machines like there's no tomorrow. To all of you who have joined me on these workshops, thank you for giving me the honour of sharing the thing I love most in the world with your heads, hearts and hands. I am planning to have lots more dates in the diary soon, so watch this space and give me a follow on Instagram if you would like to be the first to know. So far I have taught lingerie, bomber jackets, dressmaking and corsets because they are four of my favourite processes, but I'm always keen to hear what you guys dream of sewing? I would also love to know where in the world you are because I'm planning a teaching tour, so if you let me know, I can come to you!
In the mean time here are a few things I have been making in the last few months, does learning to make any of these take your fancy?
Every woman needs a black silk jumpsuit in their wardrobe. Amiright? It's the ultimate ladyboss garment.
This next dress I made in London whilst on an awesome workshop with the lovely folk from Offset Warehouse. They sell beautiful ethical and sustainable fabrics and Charlie their founder designed this gorgeous zero-waste dress. When we cut it out not a single scrap was left on the cutting room floor, we used every last bit in the dress...
...even if it did mean I had to add double pockets, but who doesn't love double pockets?
I have literally been dreaming about making this next shirt for about 5 years. A friend gave me whole heap of beautiful vintage bed linen and table cloths which have been waiting patiently in my fabric stash for all this time. Sometimes I just need a little time to let an idea brew. I've been wearing the shirt from bed to work and back since I made it. I'm trying to get a suntan through the holes on the back to give me a big beautiful back tattoo.
My buttonhole machine broke down so I decided to used the holes in this beautiful heavy lace to thread my buttons through, which has worked a dream! I'm never going back to buttonholes again, this way is so much prettier.
I think now felt like the right time to make this shirt because the motif on the back makes me think of my two year old nephew and I dancing around the kitchen. I've been looking after Solomon two days a week for the last year. I've just had to give it up because I have so many sewing commissions on, but this shirt is a celebration of the ridiculous amount of time we spent just the two of us, being best buddies.
This shirt dress has no deeper meaning, I just thought the colour of the silk was beautiful.
That's all the new creations I have to share for now, thanks for stopping by. Writing for this blog again, feels like coming home after a long adventure. I promise I won't leave it so long next time x