THE DRAPERY BLOG

  When we first started stocking Merchant & Mills patterns, they told us that the Trapeze Dress was their biggest seller. Blinded by the goodness of some of the other M&M dresses like the Factory and Dress Shirt, we were resistant to the allure of the Trapeze until a customer came in wearing one she made out of a heavy, drapey denim. It looked fantastic. Finally, the pen ny dropped - we got it! I've since made this pattern up twice. The first version, in black washed linen (above, b lack linen currently out of stock ), has become one of my most reached-for handmades. It's easy to wear and layers up well on cooler days. The Trapeze is also a great one to wear out for dinner: there's a lot of volume in that there skirt - second helping s are no problem! I could smuggle my smallest child under there if the need ever arose.  Hence my second version , a party Trapeze, made from Tsumiki black & metallic gold linen. ( Black also sold out, but nat...

Merchant & Mills, who produce some of our best-selling women's patterns, have recently released three patterns for men . The Merchant & Mills style of casual elegance - understated and slightly rumpled yet distinctly tailored - translates well into these garments. I was quietly excited when I saw the All State shirt . My husband has a chequered history of wearing my handmades. He's very particular. But could this be the breakthrough? What's not to like? My cunning plan was to make a 'sample for the shop' that just happened to be in Andy's size and choice of fabric. So here I present, The (no pressure at all, really) Shop's Shirt.  And, maybe not The Shop's Shirt after all.  I'm not sure if I've ever made a garment so true to the pattern cover image.   There's lots of nice topstitching, although in matching thread it is quite subtle on this substantial linen. The pattern came together nicely, with som...

This year we're turning the gift-giving attention to the sewists. Perfect for sewing friends and relations, or for you to use as gentle hints to your nearest and dearest! Just in is this beautiful new book, Boundless Style by Canadian Kristiann Boos of Victory Patterns. It's a treasure trove of patterns and sewing information. At its heart is a collection of bodice and skirt patterns that can be combined to make a practically endless variety of women's garments. But more than that, this book has a wealth of information set out with excellent clear diagrams and photos. It's a fabulous resource for the beginner or intermediate sewist. More experienced garment makers will appreciate the creative freedom to create the dresses, skirts and tops of their dreams. On the Victory Patterns website there's brilliant little mix'n'match style creator where you can swap around Boundless Style's sleeve, bodice and skirt line drawings to create your own...

Summer is certainly here and like us you may be looking for clothing that is loose and cool. Allow us to introduce (if you haven't already met), the Roberts Collection by UK designer Marilla Walker . It's only available as a pdf downloadable pattern at the moment (follow link above to her Etsy shop), which means a lot of printing and stickytaping together. But I'm here to tell you it's well worth it! What's more you get four distinctly different versions, and one not-so-different which is just a longer version of the dress. I want to make them all! But first up was View A. Yes, a jumpsuit... gasp. This is actually my wearable muslin. Since the pattern takes 2.5m of 150cm wide fabric, it was a lot to risk on something that may not fit or even suit me. So I made up a straight size 4, which best met my measurements, in ordinary calico. And then since it fit so well I went ahead with the second part of my plan which was to dye it into something wearable. I lov...