In Bed with Fran

 Dear Points of View, 

 Why oh why have I waited so long to make the Close Core Fran Pjs?

 It's a good question! With a fairly basic answer....

I couldn't see that they were that different to the Carolyn PJs on first reflection. They just looked bigger.  

Having made the Carolyn PJs a few times - they are beautiful but quite labour intensive, which is what has prevented me from whizzing up lots of beautiful bed wear.  Here are some from 2023. I love them but I find you have to be in the mood for piping and a revere collar. 

This year I have been trying to clear a bit of my stash fabric and I had about 3 meters of cotton rayon from Cloud 9 called ' Celestial Transit'. This had been set aside for a dress but I just went off the idea, and fabric. As the length was quite voluminous I figured it would make lovely pajamas. The print definitely lends itself to the 'night' vibe. 

After chatting with fellow sewing group ladies on Sew Virtual, the Fran PJs were getting absolutely rave reviews. It being January, pajamas seemed the perfect project for this month of hibernation and living that 'indoor life'. 

Sizing - I cut a 16/18. This was what the pattern suggested and I went with it. I had been told that most people size down 1 or 2 sizes however I am always a little reluctant to do that as I'm a broad beast and sizing down alters the back measurement for me. The top as a 16 worked fantastically and I think fits as it is supposed to. The bottoms at a 16/18 were a little too big around the waist and so I did take some fullness out of the waistband. They are probably more like a 14 waist and 16 hip. Whilst still a bit fabric gathered at the waist, they are PJs so I don't think it really matters too much. 

The Fran PJs are like the Carolyn's slightly cooler cousin. Being a fan of Closet Core I should have realized there would be some excellent but subtle details that elevated the pattern from basic to beautiful. 

 Exhibit A: this little additional button under the collar! Designed to wrap the top right around you when you are cold!

 Exhibit B: lovely side vents giving movement and a gentle shape to the front and back.

Exhibit C: The massive pleat at the back, perfect for movement and comfort. An exaggerated version of a shirt, with purpose. (The yoke should be 1 piece however I had to play pattern Tetris to fit it all in). 

The pattern comes with a multitude of pockets for the bottoms, which I completely omitted as I didn't feel it necessary to have my keys and wallet on me at all times. The pockets are vast and therefore very fabric hungry, taking the full requirements to over 4 meters. The bottoms are therefore just basic (in the best sense) elasticated waist pajama pants. Nothing wrong with that!

For my own dabbling about and pleasure I added some contrast binding to the cuffs of both the top and bottoms. The stash provided as I had this bias binding left over from another project and the colour went together so well it almost looks like part of the fabric.

The fact that there is a top and bottom to this make was fabulous as it meant I could use both sides of my Cosy Club Handmade labels. 

 

How cute are they!? This was a really enjoyable sew to start the year as I put time and effort into making them without trying to rush myself to finish. I think that paid off in the end as they feel quite well made.

I think both the Fran and Carolyn PJs have their place. These definitely feel more wintery and have that Scandi vibe for some reason. The Carolyn look great in lighter brighter prints perhaps? Certainly both a pattern I would remake again!

More Closet Core is on the horizon at the moment if I can get myself psyched up for a more complicated make.  I have my eyes on the Rika Pants and Blanca Flightsuit!

Wishing you all well - to the next time x

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Copy those Clothes! (and Discount Codes!)

 Happy New Year 🎉

As usual running a bit late, but I'm here - still alive and still sewing! I hope you are all well.

Sliding into this year I wanted to share a little project that was made with Norwich Sewcials. Plus some discount codes for you!! 

We recently had a Clone Your Clothes weekend workshop in Norfolk, and I took the opportunity to use the techniques to draft myself a copy of a great dress I have from Finery. 

I love the fit and flare style, the top pockets and it is really comfortable so I thought it would be a great place to start.

This is the original denim dress:

Throughout the weekend we learnt how to copy and draft from the grain line outwards, including darts, pleats and loads of other details! (If you fancy a retreat or sewing weekend please do check out our pages).

I had a couple of fabrics with me that I used to make a 'test' to see if I had done the copying correctly - and voila - 2 copies of a great dress!!

First up is this Lady McElroy cotton lawn in print 'Sacred Symbol'. It's very autumnal and not my usual colours but I loved the print. 

I was hoping I could put a roll neck and tights under to wear in winter however the cotton sticks to EVERYTHING! It was even clinging pretty badly to the undies so not sure how to resolve this one. Suggestions gratefully received as I don't want this going unworn. 

The buttons for this shirt dress were a little gem of a find on Etsy - little bronze bees!

The second version I made is less autumnal and more wearable but I didn't have enough fabric for the full length. Excuse the fuzzy indoor pic but I was freezing and it was pouring with rain outside.

The fabric is Eglantine et Zoe viscose crepe and so beautiful to work with! I've hoarded this for years but it needed to get cut. 

I don't recall where the original came from but Minerva now sell it here. Which leads me to some great news - use code STARSCLYDE and get 10% off any purchase you make with them! (This is now a permanent code so there should be no issues with expiry etc).  

 The second discount code I can now offer you is 10% off at Sapphire Frills with code CRAFTYCLYDE

Sapphire (yes that's her name) is a local maker to me who I've supported since she set up over Covid. Now a full scale business its great to see her succeed - go and treat yourself she had some really fun designs!

Thanks so much for being here :)

Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Bloglovin too xxx   
 

Jazzy Jackets for Festive Feels

So apparently Christmas time brings out the Elvis in me... (Exhibit A) 

Well that appears to have continued into 2025 and I am pleased to report that my dream jazzy jacket was born into creation!

 

For an absolute age I was a bit obsessed with a blazer from 'Any Old Iron' which was about £1300 and well out of any kind of reality. Pretty to look at but that was about it. Until I realized I could probably make it..... This was the inspiration pic that had been haunting my StashHub app:

Pic credit: Any Old Iron

 

I set about finding the ingredients one at a time. I was very luck to go to Julian Lopez in Barcelona this year, and wow they have good service. After about 20 minutes of searching for my criteria of  'the blackest black you have' the gentleman did indeed bring out the most luxurious black wool viscose. (P.S. The place is ENOURMOUS - do have a look if you are in the area). 

 A piece of fiery sequin fabric had been lurking in the stash since last year - bought from Jenny Stitches for my previous festive Elvis ensemble. Perfect for my little side stripe plans. 

 The pattern was a no-brainer. 100% the Nina Lee Richmond Blazer. That girl can draft.

 To top it off, of course we need a fabulous lining, in which case bright cherry red viscose was to finish this jacket off nicely. I found the perfect shade of 'cerise' from Beyond the Pink Door. 

I love how from the front it looks just like a regular black blazer - fairy sensible - until BOOM, you point for something and disco breaks out.  

Welt pockets on a partially sequin jacket were no joke - I did slide them slightly to the wool side of matters for ease of sewing which is potentially why they are a bit wonky - but who cares they are on and my machine still works which is the main thing. 

There jacket is incredibly heavy! A combo of the viscose wool, woven interfacing, shoulder pads and all that bling. I'm so pleased with how it turned out - there was only one label for it:

 Wishing you all well, until the next time!

 Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Bloglovin too xxx      

Ever Herd of Moonotone?

Oh yes, already with the cow puns - fine, bovine and very amoosing. Yes I will be milking this throughout. 

A fun and udderly lighthearted share on the blog today!  

We've all seen that cow print is having a moment in fashion - but obviously I went a little rogue.  

Do you know your Holsteins from your Friesians? I do not, but I do know I love this soft cosy brushed-back cow French Terry. Bravo, Little Legs Fabrics.

 In case it went pasturise too fast here it is again... 

 Sometimes you make something and it feels like it's been in your wardrobe forever as a much loved piece - this is it for me. It's so snuggly and cosy I have won it so many times since making it. 

The pattern is nothing new - you may have herd, it is my much loved and FREE pattern from Closet Core - the Core T-shirt. Definitely a pattern outstanding in its field. 

For the colour blocking I just added a band of cows under the short-sleeve cut line. The cuffs and neckline are some ribbing I had in my stash. (Just because I cud). 

What better to wear with cow print? Cows being beamed up by UFO earrings.   

 I added a Cosyclub Handmade label in as it matched those little pink noses. On a recent trip out I also went the whole hog (no wait wrong creature!) and found these amazing boot socks that I had to get to match. 

Incidentally why do cows have hooves? Because they lactose.... 

Moooving on. 

 All in all a simple but loveable make that needed a little space on my blog. Just a bit of fun, no beef.

 Wishing you all well as usual - thanks for stopping by this udder chaos of a blog post. 

Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Bloglovin too xxx      

Snakes and Snazzy Linings - Richmond Blazer

'ello. Me again - been a while as I lost my sew-jo a minute there. Back today with 'one I made earlier'. 

Repeat after me.....'Linings Must Always Be Jazzy.'

I don't think this particular example fails to fulfill that brief. Behold the INSIDE of my latest make. 

Several months ago back in Spring I embarked upon trying to find a blazer pattern - needless to say it did not go particularly well.

I tried the Friday Pattern Company Heather Blazer - which seems like most people absolutely loved, but I just could not make it work. The size was an absolute mystery as I measured myself and the pattern pieces MANY times before cutting, yet it came out quite small and ill-fitting.

 Tried again with The Blazer - by Avid Seamstress which was far too narrow in the arms for me (I should have learnt this, their block does not suit me). I didn't have the patience to keep making a million alterations so moved on...

Then up popped my gal Nina - of COURSE she had something wonderful!

I think I had initially swerved this as it looked a bit hard and the welt pockets freaked me out as I had never done them. 

What actually happened was that I found a very well drafted, very well instructed and well fitting blazer. 

After having a word with myself about 'hard things' I realized making a jacket isn't one of them anymore. So on we cracked with a jacket. 

I went for a 16/18 and did make a toile (back in January!!!) - adjusting the bicep, shoulder and added a smidge to the side panel.

 The adjustments paid off months later because I could then just get making when the urge took me. Turns out welt pockets are not as hideous as they seem (like most things its the thought of it rather than the doing). 

 

Whilst I initially went for an oversized boxy blazer, this silhouette was much better. It's casual but it has some lovely curved back and side seams giving it gentle shape.  

 It's a fun little number! Made in Cobra Corsage 'candess drill' from Lady McElroy. There's woven interfacing on the upper torso and facings and then of course, some epic lining from Minerva. 

After feeling like I achieved something there was only one label for it...

I wore it with this wonderful pendant from Rock The Panda which matches the fabric so well! Go check her own she makes some incredibly things.  

 Until the next time... don't be put off by hard things :)

 Wishing everyone well and thank you for stopping by - feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Bloglovin too xxx      

Tomato Party on a Pepin Tote

I am so excited to announce that I had my fabrics printed and bought BY AN ACTUAL SHOP!!!!  

The other week I alluded to an exciting project with Beyond The Pink Door - well this is it. I designed a tomato print fabric called 'Tomato Party' a while back. Andrea so kindly took a punt and ordered a load for her shop. (We had to keep it secret for a few months!) 

Here it is! 

There are 3 colour variations - cobalt, aqua and pink. Each of these come in either a lovely viscose or a cotton canvas.  

 If you fancy a piece please do hop over and have a shop! This is not an advert as I get zero money for writing about this or making stuff, Andrea already bought it outright so please support her gamble on me! 

I obviously have saved some for myself and used the canvas to make a really cute tote bag. The pattern is Noodlehead - Pepin Tote. 

This pattern is wonderful. So simple but elegant in its design. It is a big deep tote bag, with side pocket and the best part - choice of zip closure. I hate open bags so having a closure recessed into the tote is perfect. A bit of added security for your stuff. 

 I love that the fabric can really do all the work with this pattern, it's a great one for using a fabric you want to show off. In this case - my own haha! Here is Sammy giving it an inspection.

 I added some very relevant tomato applique from Petra Bose to the front to break up the plain pocket - and even found a mini tomato for the zip tab. I adore tiny barely-there but definitely-intentional details like this. 

 The handles are faux leather and give it that organic vibe. Clyde there also giving it the seal of approval. 

 The Pepin Tote would be a great into into bag making if you have been tempted. Not too many working parts and mostly rectangles! I have been tempted to make these and re-open CraftyClydesEmporium but will think on that. 

I love my tomato bag and it has been used so much this summer. If you have an Christmas presents to sew up - definitely one that would have the wow factor without taking up all your time. 

And if you make one up in Tomato Party canvas - wonderful!!! I think the fabric would also make a great kitchen apron or gardeners belt apron. I may have to see if I have any left for that...

Thanks for listening to my tomato news, and please do consider supporting Andrea who has taken a chance on me - buy yours here!  

Wishing everyone well and thank you for stopping by - feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Bloglovin too xxx