Easy Shift Dress + FREE Sewing Pattern
FREE shift dress sewing pattern + tutorial This dress is - hands down - the number one visited post on my blog. I get more letters about this dress than any of the others. What pleases me most is hearing that people are happy with their...
Easy Summer Dress + FREE Sewing Pattern
Summer dress tutorial This dress came out particularly well. Amazing how a different fabric can completely change the look of a dress? See the exact same dress pattern in black cotton - on this link. Summer sundress My photos aren't all that. I'm still using an...
DIY Sarong
How to make a beach wrap I mentioned in a previous blog post that a kind friend gave me a big fat bag of fabric a good few months back. My purpose with this blog is primarily to re-use as much as I can. Some of the fabric had marks. She told me her cat used to sleep...
Origami Dress + FREE Sewing Pattern
Folded Neckline Dress The inspiration for this dress came from a black red ombre Diesel shift I saw in a fashion magazine. Origami dress Edun also do a similar dress in a check print. I was wary to try and make my own pattern, but luckily it worked well. The first...
How to make a Tube Dress + FREE Sewing Pattern
Tube dress come maxi skirt tutorial Tube dress I know I always say many of my tutorials are easy. But seriously, this is beyond easy. It requires TWO seams. That's it! The trick with this dress come maxi skirt is in the choice of fabric. I was given a huge bag of...
How to make and A Line Sundress + FREE Sewing Pattern
DIY summer sundress with free sewing pattern Summer sundress I've made a similar dress to this before. See - this link - and - this link. And using the same pattern idea, but shorter, I made a camisole top. Find that - here. Both Burda and Martha Stewart have similar...
Easy Shift Dress + FREE Pattern Instructions
How to make a loose shift dress Sew a shift dress in just over an hour It's been hot in Cape Town. And . . . I can't stop eating. I have wanted a shift dress just like this one for a while. You know how life gets in the way. Finally I got around to making one. And you...
Asymmetrical Hemlines
How to cut a hi-lo or asymmetrical hem in a dress or skirt Asymmetrical hem Asymmetrical hems are turning up on dresses, skirts, T-shirts and shirts. They are also called high low skirts, fishtail skirts or mullet skirts. Although these hemlines are typically...
Shift Dress, Necklace and Charm Bracelet
Green fashions Black shift, chain necklace and charm bracelets My model gets a 100% eco score today. Everything she is wearing is home-made. The shift dress goes back to earlier posts. I showed the original H and M dress that was the inspiration and how I cut a...
Easy Summer Dress
Make your own summer dress Following on from the - the last post - here is another version of the easy triangle dress. To re-state what I have probably said a few times in this blog, the variations when you make your own clothes are endless. This dress would make...
DIY Triangle Sun Dress
Sun dress from an old table cloth This triangle shaped sun dress is so easy to make. I will admit I downloaded this particular pattern for free but I wish I hadn't. This download version has four pattern pieces. Hence the seam in the front of this dress in the...
Simple Shift Dress, Snow Agate Long Necklace, Vintage Scarf
DIY clothing outfit I was wondering if the need to make things out of nothing could be classed as a form of OCD? If so, then I must be well and truly afflicted with it. The shift dress should be familiar. I showed how I made the pattern, and other versions of it, a...
Easy White Cotton Shift Dress, Long Length Multi Gem Stone Necklace
How to make a shift dress Here is one last version of the shift dress. I ran out of fabric and had to stitch two pieces of fabric together to get the full length of the dress, hence the interesting effect at the bottom. Actually I quite like the addition. The...
Sewing Instructions for Green Satin Shift Dress, Nipping, Cutting Curved Edges, Plastic Clip Necklace
Home made shift dress In the picture is another version of my favourite shift dress. Recognise a similar necklace? A few posts back I showed it in black with one of the slip tops I made. The bits come from a craft shop and you clip them together. And recognise the -...
Making a Pattern, White and Black Spotted Shift Dress
Making a shift dress pattern Here is the shift dress. There are only two pieces to the pattern, the dress part and the neck facing. No zips or buttons to worry about. It is dead easy to make. I made this particular one a bit longer. All you do is cut the dress...
Skinny Scarf as a Waist Tie with Shift Dress and Malachite Beads
Fabric waist tie Here is another way to wear these skinny scarves. In the picture is a shift dress I made for hot summer evenings. I made the pattern too but I wouldn't recommend making your own patterns if you have limited sewing skills. I did it because I couldn't...
No Sew Scarf, White Denim Box Jacket with Green Satin Shift Dress
DIY fashion outfit You cannot possibly get an easier item than this to make. I wanted an aqua come mint green scarf to go with a jacket I have. I could not find one. So I decided to make my own. There is no sewing or hemming involved. There is nothing to do other than...
Kaftan from an Old Tablecloth
Made a kaftan from a table cloth No tutorial here. Am showing some recycling I did. This shift is made from the Vogue Easy pattern shown yesterday. The fabric is, well was, a tablecloth that got stained. The nice thing about these easy shift dress patterns is...