I rarely, well actually never do custom orders, I just don’t have the time , but knowing how much some people want to own a Weekend Doris Dress or Sweater I have decided to release a limited number of custom slots in my Etsy Store . There are five choices of stretch fabrics available including vintage fabrics like this one: You will receive a dress or sweater made to your own measurements, and you can choose the length of the sleeve, to have pockets or not, decorative exposed zip etc. Shipping in the UK as usual is free. Plus if you use code Birthday6 you get £2.50 off your complete order. ...

When I was first contacted by Funkifabrics to see if I’d like to have a play with some of their fabrics I was overwhelmed by the massive choice on offer, Eden however was not. She knew exactly what she wanted and what she wanted me to make…Gym Shorts! This girl is constantly in gym gear, and gym shorts are her favourite attire, when at gymnastics and at home. ...

It was two summers ago that I moved into my little sewing shed at the bottom of the garden. I love my space, it’s changed a little from that first summer, it’s much more cluttered now, although everything has a home. I now have a hotch potch of tables running around the edge with enough space for my overlocker, sewing machine and all my other bits and pieces. ...

Summer hols are here, and Florence’s birthday approaches. It is hard some days to imagine an almost 6 year old little girl getting excited for her birthday, maybe by now she’d have a gappy grin. I don’t know. To celebrate my youngest daughter’s all too brief life, I’m offering a fixed discount on any order in the Etsy store of £2.50, just use code Birthday6 and the discount will be applied at the checkout. That means instant digital downloads work out at only £5…..top tip, if you want more than one buy seperately to get the full £2.50 off each pattern. ...

I have a few friends who are turning 40 this year, last Saturday I was invited to celebrate with my friend and fellow La Leche League colleague, Fiona, so of course I needed a new frock! This is self drafted, and using some gorgeous cotton from The Textile Centre on Ebay.Of course wearing this can’t feel anything but super summery. Don’t forget you can start some summer stitching at a discount price if you use code Birthday6 in my Etsy store.

A few weeks ago I had an email inviting me to take part in a craft competition run by Hilary’s Blinds. I was given a choice of four of the fab prints they have in their very extensive range, and I chose Rayna Apple. I was sent one square metre of fabric very promptly and began planning. (And double checking that I could use a co ordinating fabric alongside the Rayna Apple.) So, with an idea of what I wanted to do I started work drafting a pattern. Initially I wanted to make a dress, using my co ordinating fabric as the bodice. So using my personal bodice block I drafted a scoop slightly gathered neck bodice with button front fastening…I was clearly feeling brave because button fronts on my boobs rarely works well! ...

I look forward to Me Made May, I wear me made almost every day anyway, but Me Made May makes me take a fresh look at my wardrobe as a whole. I started off the month in recovery from surgery and was in pyjamas most days, and I’ve missed a few days here and there where I was either having a lazy pyjama day or I just didn’t feel like sharing a photo. One thing I have discovered this month is that since my gallbladder surgery I have lost 3 inches off my waist, which means I can fit into all of my spring/summer dresses from last year. This makes me very happy! (Although my new found post surgery love of food may jeapordise that new waist measurement!) Taking part in previous years I have tried to identify holes in my wardrobe, but this year I’ve been less bothered by that. I realise that actually I’m not that bothered about wearing some RTW clothing. There is a certain high street store that sells the perfect stretch t shirt for me, and another that sells the kind of fine knit cardigan I like, and of course despite my new found love of bra making and rediscovered love of lingerie sewing I still am a sucker for good quality lingerie, especially bras. Never underestimate what a good foundation can do for you, and especially for the look of outerwear. Why would anyone spend time and effort making a dress (or buying one), to put it on over shabby illfitting undies? And speaking of undies, these are my new favourite me made knickers. ...

 My regular readers will know that I am a tutor at Ministry of Craft in Manchester.I love teaching there, and am very pleased to announce two new classes I will be teaching starting September 2015. Clone Your Closet is the class for you if you’ve got that one perfect item of clothing in your wardrobe that you wish you had ten of. Bring it along and I will show you how to copy it using the “rub off " method. You’ll go home with a complete pattern of your favourite garment ready to sew up as many times as you like. You’ll have to be quick though, this class is selling fast! ...

Eden knew exactly what kind of dress she wanted for prom, a short retro styled shift dress with bishop sleeves, so that is what she got! I lengthened, then slashed and spread the sleeve pattern of the Weekend Doris to get a full sleeve, which was gathered at the wrist with elastic. The neck edge and hem were finished with tiny rolled hems.French seams were used throughout. The gorgeous teal coloured silk chiffon Eden chose is beautiful, not easy to sew with, but having a simple pattern helped there. I made an equally simple silk slip to wear under the dress for modesty. Simple, but I hope you agree beautiful. ...

I love daisies, at this time of year lawns are full of them, and they really make me smile. I couldn’t resist using up the last scraps of this gorgeous daisy print from Funkifabrics to whip up some more undies. This time a bra and girdle/suspender belt. Both experiments, but I must say for first drafts I’m pretty pleased with them. ...