Simple Summer Dress

Simple Summer Dress

Simple Summer Dress Simple Summer Dress This Simple Summer Dress can multi task as a dress or a maxi skirt. Have made this style a good few times in different fabrics. See a version - here. You can make it more or less gathered. And in a lighter or heavier fabric....

Brocade Shift Dress

Brocade Shift Dress

Brocade Shift Dress I've made a good few simple loose shift dresses like this brocade dress. You can head to the Dresses section at the top of this blog to see two I made in different fabrics and colours. Am not going to re-write all the instructions but rather put...

Beach Kaftan

Beach Kaftan

Beach Kaftan Beach Kaftan I made this beach kaftan for a summer holiday in the south of France this year. Am not really a sun bunny. Nor do I care do get it all out with regards to my body. Just No! So this was great to wear over my swimming costume. It's sheer but...

Long Green Shift Dress

Long Green Shift Dress

Long Green Shift Dress   This Long Green Shift Dress is my new go-to style. It's a light, forgiving and an easy to wear summer dress. I like that there are no fastenings, no sleeves to set and no collars. It's ridiculously easy to make and quite difficult to go...

Shoulder Tie Dress

Shoulder Tie Dress

Shoulder Tie Dress This shoulder tie dress is the ultimate summer dress. It's not much more than a big square of fabric, sewn together to make a tube. A bit of shirring at the top. And some shoulder ties. Tick. Done. You need: - fabric matching colour thread sewing...

Long Black Shiftdress

Long Black Shiftdress

Long Black Shiftdress This long black shiftdress is really nothing more than an extra long T-shirt. I used a shiftdress from my wardrobe to cut the pattern. It's made from what they called golf shirt fabric at the fabric shop. Came in a long wide tube. Have to say it...

Balloon Sleeve Dress

Balloon Sleeve Dress

Balloon Sleeve Dress I've made a bunch of shift dresses including this balloon sleeve dress which I will post over the next few weeks. They are beyond easy to make as I use no closures i.e. zips or button holes. The difference between a normal shift dress and this one...

DIY Summer Sundress

DIY Summer Sundress

DIY Summer Sundress This DIY Summer Sundress is made from an old sheet. Yip, that's how things roll on this blog. Upcycle, recycle and make it yourself. I took the measurements from around my chest, just above my bust for the top piece - plus 6 - 8 centimetres for...

Green Tunic Dress

Green Tunic Dress OK there's no pattern for this green tunic dress from me. For a change. It's a commercial pattern that I've made before and I love it. Am not going to do the whole deal with what you need or how to make it as that is included in the pattern...

DIY Strapless Dress

DIY Strapless Dress

DIY Strapless Dress This DIY Strapless Dress was actually made as a maxi skirt. I love, love, love this dress. So easy to wear. Nice and cool. And goes from day to night. It doesn't crease so it travels well. What's not to love? I wear it with a skinny scarf which I...

Frill Bottom Dress

Frill Bottom Dress

Frill Bottom Dress This frill bottom dress came about as I had a piece of fabric I couldn't quite work with. It was 150 centimeres wide and 107 centimetres long. Too short for a dress. If I made a top would have left-over fabric I couldn't use. I'm loving all the...

Black Shirt Dress

Black Shirt Dress

Black Shirt Dress This black shirt dress is exactly same as the one I made in a tutorial posted a few weeks back. You can find the tutorial - here. I made both these dresses at the same time. It should be warmer in Cape Town, but we've been hovering around 20'C which...

DIY Dresses – FREE Sewing Patterns

DIY Dresses – FREE Sewing Patterns

DIY Dresses - FREE Sewing Patterns I'm on the move for almost three months. Not going to be able to do much sewing or crafting. So I will do a recap of my favourite DIY's with links to the FREE tutorials or FREE sewing patterns. Click on the coloured text right below...

Shirt Dress

Shirt Dress

Shirt Dress The cold shoulder trend or off shoulder trend is showing no signs of abating. Frankly I love it. Am not shy about my shoulders. Not so keen to flaunt my belly, bum or legs. The inspiration for this shirt dress was from a blog called A Pair and a Spare. Her...

Easy Summer Sundress

Easy Summer Sundress

Easy Summer Sundress Variations of this easy summer sundress are all over Pinterest. The patterns are more or less the same. You can also look up - Moldes Moda Medida - for free patterns. Might need to translate them though. Here in Cape Town global warming is most...

DIY Ruffle Shoulder Dress

DIY Ruffle Shoulder Dress

DIY Ruffle Shoulder Dress I love, love, love this diy ruffle shoulder brocade dress. Made an emerald green diy ruffle shoulder dress a few weeks back and love that one just as much. So easy to wear. So easy to make. Get compliments when I wear them. People ask me to...

Ruffle Dress

Ruffle Dress Let me start by saying this ruffle dress is not my pattern. I found it on a blog called Megan Nielsen. She calls it a - ruffle off the shoulder dress. And she has lovely step by step photos so do check out her blog. You need: - the pattern - print from...

DIY Dress

DIY Dress

DIY Dress This DIY shift dress pattern is based on my best ever dress pattern. See that pattern - on this link. I love, love that dress and was trying to make it with fewer pattern pieces. This is the last of the curtain fabric that has been upcycled. To see what I...

Spiral Sundress Sewing Pattern

Spiral Sundress Sewing Pattern

Anthony Kwok spiral sundress I've been wanting to make this dress forever! My mother is great at bagging bargains and books at charity sales. She found the book Creative Dressing by Kaori O'Connor and gave it to me years ago. Creative Dressing has a mix of sewing and...

Meet Greenie

My name is Karen. I live in Cape Town, South Africa. This blog is about how to make your own, how to recycle, restyle and up-cycle.

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