This week...

I thought I'd try something a bit different today and share some things that I've been doing or have caught my eye this week.

First up, on Saturday just gone I completed the second part of my skirt block pattern cutting class at Fabric HQ.

It was a brilliant class, run by a lovely lady called Lydia.  There were 4 of us on the class, the perfect number I think, and we all managed to make not only a basic skirt block but also an A-line skirt block. 

Here's my basic block (slightly curly as the card was on a roll - it should flatten out!)

Lydia also showed us how to add panels to the basic block and basic dart manipulation so I also have a pattern for a dartless straight skirt.  That looks a bit strange, and to me doesn't look as if it will fit that well, but I'll reserve judgement until I've made it up in muslin.

Hopefully Lydia will be running another class in a few months time so we can learn how to properly design my own skirt.  I have an idea of one I'd like to do - a RTW skirt I'd like to recreate - so I'm very excited.


I received some gorgeous fabric through the post this week.  It's embroidered organza I spotted in the window at Ditto Fabrics a couple of weeks ago when I was in Brighton for work. 

How gorgeous is this?!


It's very unlike anything I normally buy, but it was so pretty I went in and enquired about it.  It was the last piece they had, so they reserved it for me for when the window display got changed.  I now have three metres of it, and have no idea what I'm going to do with it... but it is gorgeous!


My husband and I are always saying we should do different things, so today I've booked tickets for a show for my birthday, which is in a few weeks time.  It's called "What's It All About?", features the songs of Burt Bacharach and is on at a tiny theatre in London.



I hope the show is as good as the reviews lead me to believe it will be!  I found out about it via a Tweet from Ricky Wilson of Kaiser Chiefs (who I have to say I have a slightly inappropriate crush on!) so if it's rubbish I will know who to blame!  In all seriousness though, the reviews are fantastic, and we have front row seats - that's slightly scary!



This week I discovered The Cutting Class website and I can see that I'll be spending far too much time going back and reading the articles. 



This article about bust shaping with panel lines at Dior caught my eye straight away.   I just need to learn how to draft myself a bodice block first!


Finally, I'm lusting after this Alexander McQueen leather jacket, worn here by Cate Blanchett. 



Sadly I don't have a spare £7,500 nor is it likely to come in my size even if I did!





6 comments

  1. Loved your post but not quite as much as that embroidered organza! I can see it layered over a cotton or white linen shift dress but then I would probably be too scared to sit down in it! It would make beautiful net curtains, if you were into net curtains. Then at least you would get to admire it every day. Just frame it!

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    1. Thanks Lucie. I did think about net curtains but I don't think I'd get them past my hubby... to floral for him!

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  2. A straight skirt without darts? Sounds fascinating. How did it turn out? That organza is gorgeous. So glad you got it and can't wait to see what you make from it.

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    1. I haven't actually made the dartless skirt yet. It's on my list for this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

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  3. I love those Dior bodices too; interesting seaming, although they do not look complicated but potentially quite easy to copy! Thanks for the inspiration :)

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    1. They do look quite straightforward don't they?

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