Tag Archive for 'Liberty of London'

MATHILDE : POPPY & HONESTY

Published on May 6, 2013 in clothing, stitchery and textiles. 11 Comments Tags: Liberty of London, mathilde, poppy & honesty, Tana Lawn, the great british sewing bee, tilly & the buttons.

Mathilde Blouse by Tilly Walnes
Liberty of London Tana Lawn : Poppy & Honesty
Photos taken at the High Park Cherry Blossom Hill

I’ve been working on my Mathilde blouse for a few weeks now and finally finished it up last night. To celebrate, I woke up super early this morning (6:30am!) and rode my bike over to High Park for a special photo shoot of this lovely top. What a gorgeous way to start the day.

I’ve been wanting to make the blouse for a while and finally got to buying the pdf pattern. This happened to coincide with my discovery of The Great British Sewing Bee (courtesy of some nudging from Guy). First off. Have you watched this amazing series?? You MUST. What a triumphant piece of television that had me on the edge of my seat, cheering and crying over a brilliant group of people SEWING their way through challenges. I won’t give anything away, in case you haven’t seen it. But please do give it a watch! There are just 4 episodes and it is delightful. Through the first episode, I was wondering why one girl seemed familiar and then I realized it was Tilly from Tilly & the Buttons! This got me very inspired to work on my Mathilde while watching each episode.

I’ve been saving this piece of Liberty from our last delivery at the shop. The Poppy & Honesty print was my favourite and in blue & grey, no less!

The blouse fits me perfectly and I love all the details, like the tucks running down the sides of the front and the full, gathered sleeves. Instead of buttons, I chose to do silver snaps down the back and I love how they look with this Liberty print! I’m a sucker right now for snaps. I followed the pattern, almost to the letter. Tilly has the most thorough instructions on her blog that walk you through each part of the process. It really couldn’t be more clear. I will definitely be making more. There are so many easy variations you can make on this pattern.

This is actually the first new clothing pattern that I’ve made in a while (so many Wiksten Tovas & Tanks!), so it was such a treat to finish this project, try it on and be delighted that it all worked out beautifully. At times, I did imagine myself as a contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee while I was making this along with the videos, but I don’t think I’d do well with a timer on my sewing. I really do a lot of dilly dallying while I’m working!

Thanks for the inspiration and fantastic pattern, Tilly!

Also – Congratulations to Lauren, one of the other contestants on the GBSB, she just opened up her own sewing shop, Guthrie & Ghani! Clearly, it’s time to take a trip to the UK!

DARLING RANGES DRESS : HOWELL’S LADDERS

Published on April 22, 2013 in clothing, stitchery and textiles. 16 Comments Tags: Darling Ranges, Howell's Ladders, Italy, Liberty of London, megan nielsen.

Darling Ranges Dress by Megan Nielsen
Liberty of London Tana Lawn Cotton in Grey Howell’s Ladders|
Photographed at the Hotel Alexandria, Rome, Italy

Somehow I have STILL not posted my Italy photos from September! I wore this particular dress on the weekend at the Spring City of Craft Show and it’s a good one, so I wanted to finally share it here.

Also – I’m going to blame jet lag for my serious look in the first photo. This was just our second day in Italy, so surely I was both tired and overwhelmed.

There are lots of things that I love about this dress besides the wonderful Liberty print that I used for it. I especially love the v-neck, since I don’t really have any other dresses, except my City Limits wrap dress with this neckline. I used Mother of Pearl snaps instead of buttons which I also love. Next time I make this dress, I’ll still use snaps, but just regular coloured snaps that are not as heavy as the Mother of Pearl ones. Since there are so many, they are a bit heavy on the lighter Tana Lawn cotton.

I made one alteration on the pattern, which was to move & change the bust dart. This was something that I also did with the Banksia Top. Megan Nielsen has included lots of helpful tutorials on her blog about different alterations you can make to her patterns. Very helpful! Other than that, the pattern is pretty straightforward and I’m quite sure I’ll be making another one.

LIBERTY OF LONDON : BLOOMSBURY GARDENS

Published on November 1, 2012 in textiles and the workroom. 6 Comments Tags: Bloomsbury Gardens, Liberty of London.

Just thought I would break up this grey week with a little fabric love from Liberty. The new quilting weight collection that arrived last week is so pretty & cheery.

WIKSTEN TOVA IN PAMELA JUDITH

Published on August 30, 2012 in clothing and stitchery. 3 Comments Tags: Liberty of London, Pamela Judith, Tana Lawn, Tova, Wiksten.

Wiksten Tova Sewing Pattern by Jenny Gordy
Pink Pamela Judith Liberty of London Tana Lawn Cotton

A couple months ago, Angela posted a sleeveless Tova in Pink Feathers. What a brilliant idea. I just had to make one for myself. I chose this pretty pink Liberty print.

I didn’t make any alterations to the pattern, besides just leaving off the sleeves and doing a bias binding for the armholes. I already loved this pattern, but now I’ve got another version that’s perfect for summer weather.

You know the drill, there will be more versions posted. These Wiksten patterns just seem to sew themselves. Here’s Tova #1 & Tova #2.

SIMPLICITY 2472 : WIDDAS WALTZ

Published on May 30, 2012 in clothing, stitchery and the workroom. 5 Comments Tags: Liberty of London, Simplicity 2472, Tana Lawn, Widdas Waltz.

Simplicity Pattern by Cynthia Rowley #2472
Liberty of London : Widdas Waltz Tana Lawn Cotton
Photographed at the Black Walnut Chalet, Mount Horeb, WI

We’re out in the Madison area for about a month. That’s a long time to be cooped up in a hotel room, even an extended stay one. Even though it was all very last minute, I was able to find a log cabin that we’re renting for two of the weeks that we’re here. It’s the exact opposite of the one room hotel that will make up the other half of our trip. It’s an absolute treat to have a bit of room to stretch out and there are lots of great places around here to take photographs.

This top is SUPER easy. There is literally a front piece, a back piece and three pieces of binding for the neck and two sleeves. I can’t really say much more about it. It takes no time at all to make. I used a Liberty of London fabric called Widdas Waltz. It’s like a flowery sunset, with so many layers of pattern. So pretty. Speaking of Liberty. Our next shipment should be arriving in about two weeks!!!!

I’ve discovered Ciao Bello Sorbet. YUM. I finished off that blood orange tub and I’m about to crack open a raspberry one tonight.

WIKSTEN TANK IN KERRY’S FLOCK

Published on May 27, 2012 in clothing, spotted, stitchery and the workroom. 7 Comments Tags: Kerry's Flock, Liberty of London, Madison, tank top, The Grid, Wiksten.

Tank Top Sewing Pattern by Wiksten
Liberty of London : Kerry’s Flock print Tana Lawn Cotton
Photographed at the Extended Stay Deluxe in Madison, WI

Hello from Madison, Wisconsin!

I haven’t been here for ages, so we have lots to catch up on. I’m going to focus on the little things first and work up to the bigger things, if that’s okay. It feels easier to talk about this new tank top rather than the life changing things that have happened in 2012. We’ll get to that stuff.

It’s true though – Andrew, Maisy & I are living out in Madison, Wisonsin for a month. I prefer to tell that story with photos right now, so you can visit my personal flickr site which is updated everyday. In particular, the Madison photo set starts right at the beginning.

I have quite a few sewing projects that I’ve completed in the last little while. I brought a bunch of them along on this trip to photograph in Madison and share with you. Plus, I have my sewing machine with me! Having my Bernina with me is the best and I’m working on several new projects.

Being on the road, my Wiksten tank tops have been in constant rotation. With jeans or shorts, they are the perfect thing to wear in any situation. This Liberty version using the Kerry’s Flock print is the newest addition to the collection. The lightweight tana lawn cotton is heaven to sew with and wear.

By now, it seems like everyone has tried this pattern. If not, you should! We have both of Jenny Gordy’s Wiksten patterns available at the workroom now (both online and in our shop on Queen Street). We can hardly keep them in stock, they sell so quickly. The patterns were just mentioned in this week’s THE GRID article on the workroom and some of our most favourite items.

My growing collection of Wiksten tanks includes this Paris Map version and this Martha Negley version. Many, many more to come.

LIBERTY OF LONDON SCHOOLHOUSE TUNIC

Published on March 15, 2012 in clothing, stitchery, textiles and the workroom. 9 Comments Tags: Kate Ada, Liberty of London, schoolhouse tunic, Wiksten.

I stitched up this Schoolhouse Tunic a little while ago, but didn’t get to taking proper photographs until the other day. It’s my second version of this great pattern. I made the first one out of voile from the Greenfield Hills collection. I knew my second version would be done with Liberty of London and I’m so happy that I chose this spring-y Kate Ada print.

I tried out the gathered elastic sleeve for this version and I really like it!

I’ve had a busy start to the year with an unexpected project. I’ll finally be sharing some photos here very soon to show you what I’ve been up to for the last few months.

Speaking of Liberty of London, there’s a shipment due to arrive ANY day now (hopefully tomorrow) at the workroom full of Liberty of London Tana Lawn Cotton!!! It will be our biggest shipment of Liberty yet! You can sneak peek the prints that are arriving here. You can expect to see Liberty on our shelves on a regular basis now. Just in time for spring/summer wardrobe making!

One more piece of exciting news!! the workroom will be carrying Wiksten printed sewing patterns! I absolutely adore both the Tank pattern and the Tova pattern, so I’m over the moon that Jenny is making them available to us. Not only can you now buy these patterns locally, but look out for these projects as classes at the workroom very soon. The patterns will arrive in the next few weeks. I’ll let you know when they arrive.

Yay Spring!!

WIKSTEN TOVA IN MIRABELLE

Published on February 14, 2012 in clothing, stitchery and the workroom. 17 Comments Tags: jenny gordy, Liberty of London, Mirabelle, Tova, Wiksten.

Tova Shirt by Wiksten
Liberty of London : Mirabelle print Tana Lawn Cotton

I fell in love with the Tova shirt & dress the first time I saw it. This was years ago, before it was a sewing pattern. It’s perfectly my style. A simple tunic, a gathered yoke and gathered 3/4 length sleeve. I don’t know why I waited so long to order both Jenny Gordy‘s patterns (the Tank & the Tova), but now that I have them, I want to sew a dozen (at least) in each. I’ve made a few of the tanks. (Paris maps & Floral) But I had been taking my time, trying to decide on the perfect fabric for my Tova. I’m so happy that I finally decided to do it in Liberty of London Mirabelle. I’ve used bits of this fabric for other projects, but not yet for a piece of clothing. The soft drape of the Tana Lawn feels amazing with this pattern.

Jenny’s patterns are awesome. I love her details, the way she finishes hems & cuffs and the fit has been perfect for me. Everything about her design feels refined and I always feel like I’m making high quality garment as I work through her instructions. Fingers crossed that she continues to release sewing patterns in the future because they are the best.

I used Swedish Tracing paper to trace out my pattern and it is my new standard for pattern paper. It feels really nice, is lightweight, but sturdy. It is also sew-able, so if you want to baste a pattern to test it out, you can sew the Swedish Tracing paper! The trickiest part of sewing this pattern is attaching the yoke. My corners are more curvy than pointy. For my next version, I think I will hand baste the yoke in place and I’m sure that will help.

I’m getting ready to cut out my next Tova already. I’m just deciding which Liberty print will be next.

Happy Valentine’s Day! xxxxxo

STYLISH DRESS BOOK 2 : DRESS ‘S’ IN EBS

Published on October 30, 2011 in clothing, japanese dress/craft and textiles. 13 Comments Tags: ebs, Liberty of London, sewing summit, shirring, Stylish Dress Book.

Stylish Dress Book 2 : available at the workroom
Liberty of London : Ebs

What can I say, I love this pattern. This is version #3. Version #1 & #2 get tons of use and I was feeling like I should add another version into the rotation. The only change I made was to add side seam pockets to this version.

This Liberty of London print is called ‘Ebs’. This soft colour palette is so incredible and the print looks like it was coloured in with pencil crayon. It has been sitting in my stash for way too long. I’m pretty happy it’s now hanging on my closet and joining me on adventures like the Sewing Summit.

SUNDAY PATCHWORK #5

Published on March 26, 2011 in patchwork. 4 Comments Tags: Liberty of London, mauvey, sunday patchwork, V&A Patchwork Pattern Maker.

Last Sunday, my patchwork was basically the opposite of improv. I’ve been wanting to make some progress on my ‘Mauvey Quilt’. This is a quilt design that was generated from the V&A Patchwork Pattern Maker last year when I uploaded a photo of one of my favourite Liberty of London prints, Mauvey.

I spent a couple weeks assigning colours & fabrics to the colour key, then cutting out squares for both the square pieces and the half square triangle components. Oh yes, this is going to be a Queen-sized quilt. So, that was a heck of a lot of cutting. The final square size is 4.25″. I’m working through the quilt in 36 square increments (6 squares x 6 squares). There are 24 sections. I have now completed 2 sections. Here is the first. This is the second section.

Piecing this pattern requires a lot of attention. I have everything marked out and I am constantly referring to the pattern at every stage, multiple times. This entire quilt is a precision moment.

Though slow going, I love working on it. I’m intrigued by the pixel-y look of it. It’s going to be so fun to watch the sections come together. Luckily I’m feeling very patient with this quilt.