Projects to Try

Last weekend, I tried my hand at designing an open-backed top - they are clearly back in fashion. It was a total failure. I think I need a mannequin to do draping of any sort. It is impossible trying to pin things to your back. It gaped and looks nothing like my design intent. It's a disaster! 

I will try to re-cut out the back of the top and turn it into a wearable top. I will update you, hopefully with a success story - or a failure - let me be honest - I am a beginner and I am not always successful. This time I do hope to resurrect it, rather than consigning it to the back of my wardrobe (never to see the light of day).

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I love the styling of Ralph Lauren and I would dearly love to be able to sew such great, looking clothes. It's partly why I really want to master a smart shirt.

There is nothing stopping you from sewing what you are confident enough to try and buy the others...

Ralph Lauren Kendall Shirt        Ralph Lauren Blazer   Ralph Lauren Trousers 

Ralph Lauren Shoes   Ralph Lauren Sunglasses  Ted Baker Heart Earrings     Ted Baker Heart Bracelet

I have a very similar shirt pattern to this and I am going to make it in a short sleeve in a Scottie Print Chambray. At some point, I hope to try and sew trousers with a zip fly.

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Slim Fit Shirt Pattern      Blazer Pattern   Trousers Pattern   Ralph Lauren Shoes   Ralph Lauren Sunglasses  Ted Baker Heart Earrings     Ted Baker Heart Bracelet

Scottie Dog Fabric       Red Twill Fabric      Striped Fabric 

This Scottie dog chambray fabric is really lovely and soft and looks very similar to classic men's shirt fabric. It presses beautifully and looks very smart when freshly ironed. I am going to turn it into a smart, slim-fit short-sleeved shirt for work. I will let you know how it goes. I haven't finished it, but it looks as though it could be smart enough to wear for a meeting with a client - depending on my level of skill in finishing it. The pattern that I am using does not have a collar stand in the same way as other shirts. It is also more complicated to fathom the sewing pattern instructions, to be honest. This will be the third proper collar, and the fourth collar I have sewn. I am still learning and I was keen to try a new method.

When I update you, I will show the differences in the way the garments are constructed. I didn't realise just how different they were until I started tracing the paper pattern pieces. It looks, on the face of it, as though it will be simpler, I just have to maybe watch a few YouTube videos.

I will be uploading another YouTube video soon. If you subscribe on YouTube, you will be updated every time I upload. I don't upload every single week, so you won't exactly be spammed.

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