THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS

Back in May I wanted to buy linen for the Impala Shirt pattern and went into Woolcrest Textiles in Hackney because they have a great range and even better prices. Amongst the purchases was a length of linen chambray, blue on the weft and white on the warp threads. With my current outlook of only buying what I need for a project, I asked for 2.5m. On measuring though, the assi...

Buying fabric from a destash is always fun, scooping the piece you’ve spotted before someone else decides it’s their perfect thing. However, buying fabric from a destash online has other issues. They’re not always very well described, and it’s so much easier to hide flaws. Guess what happened to me??

I’d seen a piece of pale blue linen on a destash and thought it wa...

Over the last 10 years, I have been I search of the right trousers for the allotment. A pair that’s sturdy, that’s warm in the winter and early spring, and long enough to stay tucked into my wellies. One with enough pockets for string, a weeder, a pair of secateurs and a glove or two. And packets of seeds and a pen and a handful of plant markers, of course. Then there’s a nee...

One way to remedy that, and an especially good way if you happen to be one of those poor people who is allergic to cats, is to make your own! My house is blessed these days, I have a fluffy, nosey terrorist of a British Shorthair called Tari, and now these two! I haven’t named them yet, suggestions open! (Bonus points for something Tolkien related.)