THE DRAPERY BLOG

We'll be open our usual trading hours right up to 4pm, December 23rd before closing for a break until Saturday January 13th (12-4pm). Our  online shop never closes, and we'll be shipping orders throughout the Christmas/New Year break.  Wishing you all good times and a spot of festive cheer - Fiona & Jane xx

I love learning new sewing skills. I love a challenging project that pushes me to conquer a new technique and achieve professional looking detail in a complex garment. But. There are times I also long for simplicity. That effortless chic of a design market stallholder-type (you know what I mean don't you?) with her minimalist jewellery. Pure, simple lines that are obviously handmade, but with thoughtfulness, not fuss. Garments you can pull on time and again and never tire of. Garments you can dress up, or down. Jo of Frankie and Ray has that aesthetic down to a fine art. Based in seaside Victoria, she designs, makes and sells beautifully simple garments in gorgeous fabrics (lots of Liberty and linen!). And she's begun releasing patterns so we can all join in the fun. The West Coast Skirt is just that kind of effortless style I have in mind. Pull-on, pockets, elastic and drawstring waist. Below the knee, just a little bit A-line. Extremely achievable for beginners and ...

I’m a bit of a one trick pony at the moment. I have a favourite skirt - it’s a slightly modified, midi length Colette Ginger , made from a heavy black stretch denim. I want to wear this skirt every single day, preferably with an In the Folds/Peppermint Peplum top . Problem is, even for this lover of a personal uniform, this combo may be getting a little too  predictable.  So I’ve been searching for another top to wear with my basic black skirt, and the Tessuti Leni top looked to be just the thing. The Leni pattern is a v-necked sleeveless top with some nice top stitched facing details. I love a stitched down neckline facing, and this a proper big feature one. There’s also a topstitched yoke at the back. Leni is very wide and boxy so it’s perfect for something with a decent amount of drape. I wanted a plain fabric to show the topstitching so chose our lightweight washed natural linen . If you’re happy to really emphasise the wonderful boxiness of this patter...

Did someone say jumpsuit? Free pattern? By fantastic Australian designer In The Folds ? I was onto it like a shot! Pattern promo pic: I certainly hope Emily of In The Folds is paid quite well by Peppermint Magazine for the patterns she designs for them, because she's a thorough professional. This is a great pattern, a really well-constructed blank slate for individual interpretation or just a really clean, simple silhouette. So thanks Peppermint Magazine , for making this available to sewists everywhere (and for encouraging sewing in general)! And thanks Emily for the fab designs (more online here ). I made a muslin, which we always recommend and is particularly wise for a fabric-hungry pattern like this. You really don't want to use your 'good' fabric until you're sure of what you're doing. Muslin legs not full length because that was not necessary to check fit The pattern states that it's designed for a height of 5'7" which is a good f...

The  Hadley  is the new offering by Grainline Studio . It's a loose fitting top with both sleeved and sleeveless variations, plus the choice between a round/jewel and v-neckline, with back pleat or without. I opted for view A, the sleeved top with the round neck and the billowy back. If I was a jeans wearer I would be all over this pattern. Late last year I decided to give jeans the flick. I just didn’t feel any good in them any more, and, frankly, with the short hair, I felt like a bit of a boy wearing them. (I know, I know. It's a can of worms). So I made this top as a shop sample, thinking that it’s really not something I’d wear much during this jeans-free phase. However, this top has me questioning my no-jeans policy because a couple of Hadleys plus a reliable pair of jeans could really be a useful sort of Spring uniform. (I’m wearing another Grainline make in these photos, the Moss Skirt ).     There’s a lot of detail in this top that...

The Merchant & Mills 101 Trouser pattern states: "A gentle drawstring trouser with side pockets and a false fly, cut to sit right on the waist. Features 3 versions - cropped & tapered trouser, wide straight trouser or shorts." I made these trousers as a shop sample and I put them on for blog photos to demonstrate the fit. They're not really my style or fit (explained below!) but we hope this review is helpful if you're considering the pattern for yourself. I used one of our washed 100% linens - this one in ' Tapenade ' - since the pattern calls for something soft and drapey (washed linen suits just about every Merchant & Mills pattern, and we have a lovely new shipment due any day!). SIZING Merchant & Mills patterns tend to run on the generous size, and a size 12 in their dresses has always been plenty roomy on me. My measurements, and the finished garment measurements (provided) for the 101 Trousers however put me in the size 1...

When New Zealand designer Jennifer Lauren put out a call for pattern reviewers to help spread the word about her designs, I shot up my hand.  I've admired many of her patterns but had not yet sewn one. And I'd recently purchased her latest, the Laneway Dress , on first sight. I'd even had it printed already, so this was the perfect incentive to make it happen. What I loved about the Laneway Dress pattern before I even made it: inclusive sizing from 6 - 24 separate bodices for B, C and D cups (yayyy!) that fabulous asymmetrical collar, plus two other options pockets flared, hip-skimming skirt without gathers bust shaping with tucks at centre front. I had some precious Gertrude Made 'Outback Wife' cotton barkcloth stashed for a summer frock. The retro floral was the perfect match for the Laneway. But first, using some old fabric from out the back of the shop, I made a muslin of the bodice and sleeves. Here's a (thankfully) very poor quality pho...

We're revisiting the Grainline Tamarack Jacket pattern on the blog today, because after trying on Jane's excellent version  I knew I wanted some warm, quilty goodness of my own. I also had a very specific hole in my wardrobe to fill. I needed something in the form of a jacket or cardigan, hip length and (somewhat predictably) black. Something I could get away with wearing both inside and out. I'd been admiring the gorgeous Bernadette Jackets made by Kate and Klarissa at Bombazine , and thought I could crop the Tamarack to a similar length. Three cheers for sewing, hey? After choosing the outer fabric (a basic black top-dyed Japanese cotton, not online), and inner (100% Australian wool batting, also in store) I kept returning to this gloriously pretty and slinky Rifle Paper Co. for Cotton and Steel rayon for the lining.  I’ve done a bit of quilting before but I was worried if I was up to quilting with rayon - I was worried it's slinkiness might...

I'm an overalls fan from way back... from 70s toddler style, through 80s black denim with badges all over the bib, some late 90s op-shop classics, a roomy maternity version and more recently, the overalls' close relatives the jumpsuit and pinafore. I've been very tempted by the Pauline Alice Turia Dungarees but never quite taken the plunge. And then, just recently, Sew House Seven (of the gorgeous Tea House Dress and popular Toaster Sweater) released the 'Burnside Bibs' pattern. I was smitten. (Just a little aside for non-Adelaide people, the name Burnside Bibs sounds kinda funny to our ears because Burnside is renowned as a rather toffy area with a rather toffy shopping centre; a not very overalls-ish place at all .) I digress. The wide legs and fabulous back strap/belt loop detailing on this pattern elevates it from workwear to stylish casual, and it works in a wide variety of fabrics. This is well demonstrated in the samples shown on the Sew House Seven ...