well-suited blog - fashion design, illustration, pattern making.

The Patent Blouse Sewing Pattern

Monday, July 08, 2019

This unusual sewing pattern has been featured on my blog for a very long time. As early as December, 2013. Right from the very beginning it's been a favourite. I've made myself at least eight of these tops in a great variety of fabrics: merino/lycra, viscose/elastane, cotton/elastane and rayon/elastane. It's really important to understand that all fabrics for my samples are two-way stretch jersey (four-way in the US) with some elastane content (lycra/spandex). My favourites are the merino/elastane, with a soft, draped handle in both red and black. You can get yourself a copy of this amazing sewing pattern, here on my website: The Patent Blouse Sizes XS-XXL. Keep Reading...

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Morticia Skirt Pattern

Thursday, June 27, 2019

It's been a long time in the making, the Morticia Skirt pattern. Finally it's available as a PDF download in 9 sizes (Sizes 6-22) in the one document download. It's been designed for woven fabric with a minimum of 2cm (¾") garment ease. When you print the A0 pattern, you'll find all sorts of information on the sheet to help you select the right size and lay-up and cut your skirt pattern. There is also a set of sewing instructions. Very soon I'll be adding a post to the Members Blog with those sewing instructions, along with photos and more detail. Keep Reading...

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Pattern Puzzle - Three Colour Wrap Dress

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Originally posted in June 2013, it was quite a challenge for my Facebook fans to solve this Pattern Puzzle. This is the original puzzle, the sketch and pattern plan are pasted below with all the pattern making detail. I have updated the graphics and the instructions in line with more recent pattern puzzles.

Keep Reading...

Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

My Fitted Dress Block for Pattern Puzzles

Thursday, August 02, 2018

This has to be my favourite block! It's the start place for so many of the garments you'll find in your wardrobe. It's the base for woven garments that cover the torso - dresses, corsets, shirts & jackets. Keep Reading...

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Pattern Puzzle - Triple Twist Jersey Dress

Monday, May 07, 2018

Here we have another re-issue of my very early Pattern Puzzle posts. I've up-dated the images and improved the instructions. I'm really enjoyed the regular Saturday morning Pattern Puzzles on my facebook page and hope to return to them sometime soon. Here is the sketch, pattern plan and pattern pieces for the front of the Triple Twist Jersey dress. Please note this style only works with my knit block and two-way stretch jersey fabric.

Keep Reading...

Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Pattern Puzzle - Transparent Tuck Dress

Monday, April 30, 2018

Congrats to Mioara and Gemma solving the Pattern Puzzle in just one comment! I think I am going to have to up my game to give you all a bit more of a challenge. This creative design is just the kind of pattern we make in my Draped Dresses workshop at Studio Faro. Below is recent design development I have decided to use for the Pattern Puzzle this week. The inspiration comes from Comme de Garcon frock I saw in the late nineties. The image has always stayed with me. I so love their work. This post was originally published 17 June 2013 and is one of my earliest Pattern Puzzle posts. In this post I have updated the graphics and improved the pattern making instructions for this release.

Keep Reading...

Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

My Drape Pattern Making Method

Tuesday, February 06, 2018

The origins of my passion for creative pattern making start way back in 1980 when I first went to fashion college. It was at this time that I was introduced to an amazing pattern making book that just lit up my brain. Natalie Bray's technical diagrams leapt off the page and made immediate sense to me. I could hardly contain my excitement at the potential of pattern making. To this end I believe I was quite the pesky student in our pattern making classes. The student with 20 questions every session, that drove the pattern making teacher crazy. You'll find Natalie's books on all the usual book selling sites and the prices vary dramatically, so do your research. Keep Reading...

Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Vintage Inspired Round-Up

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Trawling through my blog post archive I've come to realise that many of my posts have vintage content, and I discover there are at least twenty vintage posts! So this Vintage Inspired Round-Up is to refresh your memory of some of my earlier Pattern Puzzle posts and to share a few points in history where vintage style has influenced my work. Where does it all start?

Keep Reading...

Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Pattern Puzzle - Rectangle Drape Skirt

Saturday, April 23, 2016

For this #PatternPuzzle post you have an elegant Drape Skirt that can be cut from a basic skirt block or any pencil skirt pattern. My Skirt Block is now available here as a PDF download. I've included some interesting seaming that works well with the drape feature that's included in the front left skirt.

Keep Reading...

Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Pattern Puzzle - Issey Miyake Single Twist

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Does anyone remember this little pattern puzzle from last year? It's been a long time waiting in the wings for posting. An innovation on an existing theme, this single twist is ingenious in that a cowl is built as part of the twist pattern. The final effect being a more subtle twist with a relaxed fit. If you'd like to learn my method for creating Twist Drape Patterns I have a detailed worksheet for making Jersey Twist Patterns. For just a few dollars you'll get the same training you'd get if you came to the workshop in my studio. My Knit Block is also available as a PDF download.