Hi Everyone! Welcome to the July Newsletter, and welcome to new subscribers.
Alas, I wish I had some actual news to put in this newsletter! Most of the past month has been wiped out by having Covid. I’m too tired and breathless to sit at a sewing machine or draw, or do much.
I do manage one household chore a day, and the ever-obliging Mr H has taken over making dinner and doing the dishes (in part so that germy people like me stay out of the kitchen and don’t touch stuff). Unlike his slatternly wife who lets things build up, he does the dishes seemingly every 5 minutes. His threshold is two items on the sink before he’s turning the taps on and calling for a child to “come and help with the wiping up”.
Meanwhile, I take to my boudoir each afternoon, where I fall asleep or just lie there with my eyes shut, melted into the bed.
I guess I will get better slower than I thought, in the knowledge that there’s plenty of people in worse situations.
Xanthea inspiration
The Specky Seamstress talks about the Xanthea top in this video, including how she turned it into a zip front hoodie for her husband, and made herself a quilted version. (20mins)
By the way, if you ordered an Xanthea pattern prior to March 2022, there’s a little update which you can find here. There’s an update for the Sandie shirt there as well.
Some things you might enjoy
A wonderful article about 3 designs by Charles James, with discussion on the unusual cut and construction.
Controversial? Ultra fast fashion brand Shien has pledged $15m for textile waste workers in Ghana.
Ever tried dressing like a book cover? Vic of Making & Books did it for Me-Made-May.
The largest of its kind in the world, The Consumer Pattern Archive is housed at the University of Rhode Island, US. It contains over 60,000 home sewing patterns dating from 1847.
Watch a pair of 80-100 year old boots being restored (23mins).
Plagarism in the fashion industry has been happening for a long time and still happens. Rachel Faller of Tonlé, a zero waste fashion brand, describes what it’s like to have your designs ripped off.
Remember when Scott and Charlene got married on Neighbours? I do! The wedding dress Kylie Minogue wore will be on display in Tasmania during July.
Delightful watercolours from the sketchbook of Amparo Ortilles, showing everyday scenes (Instagram).
In Aussie news
If you’re in Adelaide, there’s a Knit-O-Rama in Adelaide Arcade on Saturday 9th of July. Looks like a lot of fun. Register here.
Melbournites, the Alexander McQueen exhibition opens on the 11th of December at the NGV.
On the blog lately
Sorry, not much here. Just haven’t had the spare energy.
From the blog archives
5 books that influenced The Dressmaker’s Companion. Surprisingly, they’re not all sewing books. Maybe you have some of them at home?
Many thanks for reading!
Cheers!
Liz