THE DRAPERY BLOG

These pyjama pants were cut out across the width of the fabric, to make the most of the beautiful Nani Iro 'Painting Check' design ( available in store or online here ), which changes colours as it nears the selvedge.  The brushed cotton is extremely soft and supremely comfortable. And these didn't even need hemming because the bottom edge is the little fluffy selvedge itself. They were made for my husband, on his request. I unpicked an old pair of his PJs to use as a pattern. They're mostly a very simple design, being mass-produced cheapies from many moons ago, yet somewhat bizarrely they featured a full button fly. In elastic-waisted pyjama pants. Didn't think I'd copy that part. Yes, the Nani Iro is a slightly more sophisticated look for the grown man than these elephants Instead I opted for a faux fly opening and full elastic waistband, with functional self-fabric drawstrings in the front.  Adding patch pockets to the sides allowed more de...

Number six in our series of Twelve (non-consecutive) Days of Handmade Christmas from The Drapery. Handmade Christmas gifts are thoughtful, cost-effective and kind to the earth. And they're just as rewarding to give as they are to receive. Today's idea is one you may choose to give, or make for your own home. Felt Ball Garland So simple. Spend a relaxing time threading these felt balls or get the kids on the job! Materials: Pure wool felt balls from The Drapery Valdani perle cotton Needle with large enough eye for the perle cotton Cut a piece of perle cotton up to around 2m in length and thread it on your needle. Any longer will become unwieldy to work with. Leave a bit of thread 'tail' for tying at the end, and make a single knot where you would like your first felt ball to be. Push the needle through a felt ball (it's easy) and slide it down to the knot. Make another knot on the other side of the felt ball to hold it in place. Then leave ...

Christmas is approaching and we are thrilled that many of you are thinking about sewing gifts for your loved ones. Here's a couple of real stories from The Drapery that show how much handmade can really mean to people. cushion: Hearts in Persimmon by Umbrella prints, natural linen backing, Innergreen 100% recycled insert One day a gentleman called in and asked if we would like some fabrics that belonged to his wife. We started to explain that at the moment we don't deal in secondhand fabrics, but he said he simply wished to give them to us. He explained that his wife had recently passed away. He said she had loved sewing and was very clever at it, and that he just wanted her fabrics to go to a good home. His grief and love were obvious. Of course we would take the fabrics! (And we had a little sob after he had left.) He returned a few days later with a couple of boxes. (And after he left again we had another little sob!) One of the fabrics was this sturdy blue-and-white...