March makes

I can’t quite believe how quickly March has flown by and it’s already time to share what I have been up to in my studio this month!

It was finally warm enough for a couple of days to wear the Spring Button Up I made back in January. This pattern is from the new Mix and Match Book by The Matchy Matchy Sewing Club, and it was a lot of fun to put together! The book is full of projects designed to use scrap fabric, and this little shirt caught my eye first as I knew it would be something I would wear a lot. Using up leftovers is SO satisfying, and it was great to be able to include fabrics I love from other projects in a completely different garment. If you’re interested, you can see all of the original makes on Instagram – links below!

Madswick Ginkgo Pinafore
Tilly and the Buttons Samara Top
Paola Workwear Jacket
Sew Liberated Studio Tunic

I have sewn 3 garments this month, but it’s only warm enough to wear one of them! These trousers are the new Emile Barrel Pants from Ready to Sew. The pattern was only released on the 8th of March and I finished sewing them less than 3 weeks later. I had already bought denim to sew some trousers and although I had a few patterns in mind, none of them were exactly right. Emile had everything I was looking for – an elasticated waist, feature pockets, cropped length and defined barrel leg shape. They were a breeze to sew and I love how they have turned out – they might even have surpassed the Bob Pants as my new favourite trouser pattern!

The other two garments I made this month are the Sewing Therapy Tie Dress which has been WILDLY popular with Fold Line customers, and the Sew Bake Make Sourdough Top. The fabric I used for my Tie Dress is really special and I have been saving it for just the right project! I squeezed the Sourdough Top out of a tiny linen remnant from Merchant and Mills, which was a fun opportunity to include a contrasting facing and some coordinating labels. I think it will be a while before it is warm enough to wear either of these, though!

My biggest finish this month was my Petite Knit Eva Cardigan, which I completed in time to wear to The Stitch Festival! I can’t believe how well this turned out considering it is the first cardigan I have ever knitted and only the third garment I have made since I took up knitting again in 2024. It’s just what I had hoped for – substantial enough to be really warm, cropped in length and with a relaxed fit – my dream cardigan! I have been wearing it a lot already, and it’s been fun to style it with other me-made garments.

Another sizeable finish this month was my Repair Quilt! I completed the top at the end of February and it has since been beautifully long-armed by John at Studio Quilting. I have bound it and added a hanging sleeve, so as soon as our building work is finished it will be displayed in our hallway – I can’t wait to see how it changes the space!

Talking of building work, these photos were taken just over 4 weeks apart and although progress has felt slow at times, you can see that we have come a long way! All of the structural work is now finished, the floor has been laid and the decorating has just been completed. Fitting the kitchen units can now start, but our builder is going on holiday on the 9th of April, which means there will be a 2 week break in the project. This is disappointing, but we’ve been managing OK without a kitchen and there’s no point in rushing the final stages and compromising on the finish!

I haven’t quite finished the book I have been reading in March, but I am finding it so interesting! As a creature of habit, it’s been fascinating to learn more about the science behind behaviour change and see why I have been able to develop certain positive habits so successfully. It has also given me lots of ideas and strategies to implement to work on changing habits that are less positive.

April is shaping up to be another busy month, but I’ve got my sewing and knitting plans organised, so I will be back soon with some more finished projects. I hope you all have a lovely Easter!