THE DRAPERY BLOG

  It's (relatively) really, stupidly, biblically chilly here at the moment. We need layers, and lots of them. Fortunately, this winter we started to stock this fantastic Japanese wool blend fabric, and I was keen to whip up something toasty - fast. Enter the Liesl+Co Woodland Stroll Cape . Three main pieces for each outer shell and lining - stitch them together, add some buttons and you're done. It's a really stright-forward sew, and it comes together fast. If you're tentative about sewing warm outerwear because of the complicated nature of most coat patterns, then this cape would be a great place to start. It also uses a modest amount of fabric - another plus if you are dipping your toe into sewing with (sometimes more pricey) wools for the first time. The pattern is download only, but with so few pieces it takes less than an hour to complete all the necessary sticky taping and cutting. Even though it's a beginner's pattern, because it is a Lies...

Winter shorts. They're a Thing.  I've been looking for an alternative to my denim Grainline Moss Skirt that I wear so much, I don't even want to admit quite how much. (Let's just say it's a testament to the strength of hemp in the denim how well it's holding up.) Enter the Deer and Doe Chataigne Shorts. In, um, exactly the same denim .   Hello, new winter staple. Deer and Doe patterns are designed and printed in France on recycled paper. They are drafted for an average height woman of 168cm (5'5") with a C-D cup bust and larger hips . I find their patterns very true-to-size and so far, they fit me right out-of-the-box. If you are a similar shape, you might love Deer and Doe as much as I do! (See Aubepine dress here , Datura blouse here , Plantain top here .) I made Chataigne View A, which has a low waist and cuffs. There's a side zip, for which I used the regular kind rather than invisible as suggested. Due to the thickness of th...

Mmm, the feeling of wearing velour on a cold day. So soft. So snuggly. You know you want to. This is another Grainline Hemlock (my first here ) and I've barely taken it off since finishing it two nights ago. It's made in this splendid Japanese velour in 'Smoke Grey' . Not much more to say about it except I shortened the bottom by about 4cm/1.5". And even if velour totally evokes my 70s childhood, or perhaps because of this, I love it very much. Trying to get a good photo of dark velour is a bit like photographing a black dog, except without eyes for a reference point!  The whole top, with awkward hand pose (I think I was telling my son to move the camera down a bit to capture more than just the waist up). Worn with Grainline Moss Skirt in hemp/organic cotton denim , because it goes with everything . Also, while I had black thread in the overlocker, I gave my bagged-out grey leggings a quick overhaul (i.e. trim down inside leg). Much better. Anyw...

First of all, this post wouldn't have happened without inspiration from one of our fab customers, who was buying the grey colourway of the pink French Terry ( find both here ) to make the Grainline Hemlock tee. I totally stole her idea. Sorry/thanks!! Left: Linden. Right: Hemlock. The Grainline Linden Sweatshirt pattern has been a big seller for us lately, and it's no surprise. In the Grainline style, it's a well-drafted pattern for a wardrobe staple. We ordered a whole bunch of French Terry fabrics with the Linden specifically in mind. The minute they arrived Fiona and I were both cutting, pre-washing and whipping up a Linden each, both of which have been in heavy rotation for casual winter wear ever since. (This is mine after a lot of wash & wear.) And in action at the shop: I added a kangaroo pocket because I had a similar RTW top with one that I'd pretty much 'worn to death'. (The pocket openings are stabilised with a small strip of fusib...