Portia Lawrie

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FO: Aztec Kimono Knit Jacket

I’m off gallivanting elsewhere again today. This time I’m guest posting over at Girl Charlee with a full step by step tutorial for this Kimono Knit Jacket…GIRL CHARLEE AZTEC KIMONO JACKET

This one is kind of an evolution of the one I did before. You can’t really tell in these pics because my pattern matching is too good, ha ha! But there are big 4″ , grown on, fold over cuffs on this baby which is my favourite feature…GIRL CHARLEE AZTEC KIMONO JACKET

That and the way the pattern shapes across the shoulders…GIRL CHARLEE AZTEC KIMONO JACKET

Oh, and the yummy fabric…

GIRL CHARLEE AZTEC KIMONO JACKET

 

GIRL CHARLEE AZTEC KIMONO JACKET

 

Anyhow, if you like the look of this and fancy making your own AND winning 2m of fabric to do it with, then head over to Girl Charlee for the full tutorial and giveaway!

Sewing Gods willing, I’ll be back on Friday with my completed BV Sewalong contribution to share!!

Me Elsewhere, Uncategorized

FO: MIY Brightside Shrug Hack

Just a quickie from me today! I’m deeply absorbed in finishing off an exciting project that I need to have ready to share with you by Friday. From March to October, sewists from across the UK are sewing one of 20 featured vintage dressmaking patterns, ranging from the 1930’s to the 1960’s, as part of The McCall Pattern Company’s Big Vintage Sewalong. Yeah I know, right?! TOTALLY out of my comfort zone! But as is often the case when we push ourselves, interesting things can happen 😉 Anyway, I’m up for the blogger contingent on Friday, and proud to be taking part in the event in support of the Eve Appeal. You can find out more about the event, the charity, and how you can take part here. Look out for my contribution on Friday!

In the meantime, and much more in my comfort zone, I’m indulging in a little pattern hackery and guest posting at Wendy Ward’s MIY Collection blog, with this hack on her Brightside Shrug….MIY BRIGHTSIDE SHRUG HACK (

MIY BRIGHTSIDE SHRUG HACK (

girl charlee french terry

Yep, I turned it from a little cropped number into a “bootay and muffin top covering” longline version in this French Terry from Girl Charlee!

Hop over to Wendy’s blog for the full deets AND an exclusive Makery discount code! Wendy doesn’t often do discounts, so grab it while you can!!

In the meantime, wish me luck with my BV Sewalong project! I’ll be finishing it up today and tomorrow. At the moment it’s looking REALLY promising. Eeep! Fingers crossed!

Me Elsewhere, refashioning, simply sewing, Simply Sewing Magazine, Uncategorized

Simply Sewing Magazine – Issue 14

Just a quickie today to share my contribution to this month’s issue of Simply Sewing magazine. A quick and easy sweater update…press - issue 14 - simply sewing

 

Despite popular belief I don’t dislike colour! I just don’t like it on me, lol 😉 So sometimes it’s nice to have an excuse to bust out the colour for someone else.  And SS being the colourful publication that it is often means that they will ask me for something “punchier” than my usual palette of greys and neutrals, lol! Don’t think you can go wrong with this colour combo. So striking. The use of guipure lace (how DO you pronounce that?) was designed to add a touch of luxe and the cropped proportions designed to lend an edgier feel to the silhouette.  The original jumper came from Tesco of all places! This was my inspiration…

mustard and black

source

I also did a sweater revamp for the last issue (issue 13) of the magazine….first time I have done cross stitch since childhood!!press - issue 13 - simply sewing

I’m done with sweater revamps for now.  But the NEXT project I’ve done for Simply Sewing? I’m really excited for you to see that one! Think you guys are gonna freak!!! But that’s next month 😉

Issue 14 is on sale now. Back issues also available. Click on the link in the sidebar for deets or take a peek at a sampler of this month’s issue here.

Me Elsewhere

Simply Sewing – Issue 11 – I made the cover again!

Can’t believe a month has whizzed by already since the last issue of Simply Sewing came out. I’ve been quietly excited about the big reveal of this one. I’m always a little nervous when I parcel up my contribution and post it off to the magazine for photographing. Will they like it? Will they think it’s up to standard? Will it fit the model right?  Worse still….will it fall apart in the middle of the shoot!! Ok, maybe that last one is major irrational, ha ha! That’s sewist self doubt for ya! In any case, when I sent THIS dress off I had a rare moment of bullishness. “This” I thought “is gonna look awesome!” and sure enough…PRESS - SIMPLY SEWING - ISSUE 11 - INFINITY DRESS

When we were discussing the make for this issue, Charlie and I were clear it had to be a party frock. Then we thought, sod it! Let’s give you several party dresses in one and make an infinity dress! There are oodles of ways to tie these and the magazine features a few examples but there are many many more ways…an infinite number of ways you could say 😉PRESS - SIMPLY SEWING - ISSUE 11 - INFINITY DRESS - INTRO

In my opinion it’s WELL worth going for a more luxury jersey for this make. One because it’s a party frock for heavens sake! Two, because it needs to have not only decent stretch and drape….but decent recovery too. Three, you’re making multiple dresses out of one bolt of fabric making the cost to wear ratio pretty darn awesome! This one is from Fabric Godmother and available in a range of colours here.(If you’re thinking of buying some… Don’t forget to use PORTIAXMAS at checkout for 10% off AND have you entered the giveaway yet?? Closes this Sunday )

These dresses have soooo much potential. This one features a midi circle skirt (hanging then hemming that puppy was fun!) but you could do a more simple gathered skirt in midi or maxi length. Getting married? What better way to coordinate your bridesmaids but still allow them individuality in the way they tie them! We went bold for the magazine. That’s what Simply Sewing like. Me? Well you know I like to wear more muted tones (some might call me a colour phobe, lol!) and I can’t help but think this would make the perfect LBD in some black jersey or some gorgeous muted tones like gunmetal, slate and charcoal grey…or a deep indigo blue! Hey, blue is a colour!! Here’s a little more inspo 😉

infinity dress inspo

Image Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Issue 11 of Simply Sewing is on sale now. (See link in sidebar)

Me Elsewhere, refashion, refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2015, Uncategorized

Simply Sewing: Issue 8

I’m a little more excited than usual about this month’s issue of Simply Sewing Magazine! Not only because I was quite pleased with the way these little neon details elevated this plain sweater for my regular refashion piece…

Press - Simply Sewing - Issue 8

 

But also because there’s a full on 4 page feature on The Refashioners in this issue!!! (A little sneak peak of my new sewing #shedquarters in the background there too 😉 (I will be blogging that eventually but if you follow me on IG you’ll have seen ALOT about the process already!)Simply Sewing Refashioners FeatureSimply Sewing Refashioners Feature

They’ve also featured Erin’s project for The Refashioners and you’ll find a few of our refashioners in the article, contents and contributors pages and a little call to arms for refashioners everywhere on the front cover! Cool right?! Refashioning world dominaton is but a step away, ha ha!!

Apart from us there’s a load of cool stuff in this issue in particular so well worth a look.

Serious gratitude to Simply Sewing for all the support they’ve shown for this series.  Feeling humbly proud today.

Issue 8 on sale now 🙂 Print and digital subscriptions also available.

 

DIY, how to, Me Elsewhere, refashioning, Restyles, sewing publications, Uncategorized

Simply Sewing: Issue 5

So Issue 5 of Simply Sewing has hit the stands with the lovely Lisa Comfort from Sew Over It gracing the cover. First time so far they’ve used an actual sewing industry personality on the cover as opposed to a model and personally, I find it pretty cool to see a familiar face from the sewing community up there….Simply Sewing Magazine

Kinda lends some credibility and legitimacy to the whole affair, ya know?? I like recognising the person on the cover of a magazine. You immediately identify with that magazine as then being part of your community rather than just another generic sewing magazine taking up shelf space. So good shout there Simply Sewing!

Simply Sewing Magazine

Here’s a peek at the contents page…

Simply Sewing Magazine

My contribution this month is this shirt refashion. Super simple! I honestly love the zingy floral contrast here; and the brief for this was “super summery”. Check that then! Having said that, personally I could see this working so well with neutrals/stripes/chambray….that kinda thing. I may have a shirt or two in my refashioning pile somewhere…..

Simply Sewing Magazine

This issue sees the start of a 3 issue sewalong with this month’s cover girl. Here’s a random piece of trivia….that there skirt in the picture? That was made as a sample by our very own Zoe! Small world huh?

Simply Sewing Magazine

I am always intrigued and often in awe of people that manage to carve a living in this emerging sewing community so this interview with Claire Louise Hardie is particularly interesting to me…

Simply Sewing Magazine

Nice little guide to one of my favourite notions….bias binding!

Simply Sewing Magazine

I’ve had this wooden yardstick stashed for a while with plans for doing exactly this!

Issue 5 is out now and available in larger supermarkets and branches of WH Smiths, or you can subscribe via the website 🙂

Me Elsewhere, Simply Sewing Magazine

Simply Sewing Magazine: Issue 3

Simply Sewing Magazine Issue 3

Happy mail day! My subscription of Simply Sewing arrived today….

 

Simply Sewing Magazine Issue 3

Here’s a peek at the contents page complete with the dinkiest Tilly ever!  You can just see my electric blue contribution on the bottom right…

 

Simply Sewing Magazine Issue 3

It runs across 4 pages and shows, as the title suggests (!) how to add a split back design detail to a plain sweater. But the technique has other applications. If you want to turn a sweater into a cardigan for instance. I think I gave the art department a bit of a mare with this one. It was an oversized jumper and I hadn’t taken account that  models are generally pretty slim! Oooops! Fortunately for me they were lovely about it!

 

Simply Sewing Magazine Issue 3

Simply Sewing have a bit of a score with this interview with the inimitable Zandra Rhodes PLUS a competition to win £250 of fabric from her new collection! Whaaaaat?!

 

Simply Sewing Magazine Issue 3

My jaw dropped open when I saw this quilt from Lauren Guthrie’s new book.  Not only because it’s super cute and gorgeously styled but because…

 

Shirts for refashioning at portialawrie.co.uk

…I’d only just posted this picture on my instagram feed this morning and my plans for them are not entirely disimilar, lol!! Not quite the same but not completely different enough either. Ah well! Great minds an’ all that!

Issue 3 is on sale from 24th April in larger supermarkets and WH Smiths OR if you like to get your mitts on your mags before everyone else, you can subscribe here.

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Simply Sewing Magazine – Issue 2

Simply Sewing Magazine - issue 2

Look what plopped onto my doormat this morning! Issue 2 of the newest sewing mag on the block, Simply Sewing Magazine. If you didn’t know already, little ole me has a regular feature each month showcasing refashioning. Not only that, but guess whos project takes centre stage on the front cover this month?!!! Yep, that’s mine! (In fact I’m wearing it as I type!)

 

Simply Sewing Magazine - issue 2

Bit of a double whammy this month as the folks at Simply Sewing have also included my “Easy Peasy Bias Strips” tip in their news section!

 

Simply Sewing Magazine - issue 2

Apart from moi, there’s a whole stack of goodies (and freebies) included in this months issue. Here’s a sneak peak at the contents page to give you an idea. I have to say, I think this issue is even better than the first. There’s a lovely, fresh and modern feel evolving with Simply Sewing that has me pretty excited to be involved….

Issue 2 is on sale from 26th March in larger supermarkets and WH Smiths OR if you like to get your mitts on your mags before everyone else, you can subscribe here.

Me Elsewhere, sewing publications, simply sewing

Simply Sewing Magazine: Launches Today!!

Well hello all! Thought I’d give you a heads up on a little something I’ve been involved in that I’ve had to keep under wraps until today! You may or may not be aware of a new magazine launching today. If you weren’t, then let me spill!  Simply Sewing Magazine is the sister publication of Mollie Makes, and little ole me has been asked to contribute a regular monthly piece about refashioning! I know!! You can read more about the magazine here. Here’s a peak inside the first issue…


This issue includes two free sewing patterns and apart from my good self features other bloggers like Tilly and Lauren of Guthrie & Ghani. You can keep up to date with Simply Sewing Magazine on facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Can’t wait to share some of the projects I have coming up in the next few issues!! Eeep!


Quick question…what sewing publications do you currently read and why those particular publications?

 

Me Elsewhere, refashioning, So Zo..., Zoe

Hop over to So Zo…..

I am a weeee bit late putting this post up because I’ve been a little busy this weekend filming for the TV Pilot. (I’ll have a little more info and sneak peaks on that for you this week. But shhhhh! Don’t tell anyone!) Plus I need to pick a winner for the Elisalex Dress Giveaway. Dammit, you lot are interesting, and quirky, and funny, and cool! (If you want to know what I mean then check out the comments section in the giveaway post. I had so much fun receiving all those interesting bits of info!). It’s making it super hard to pick a winner. But I promise I will sort that out this week too; now that the bulk of the TV stuff is done and dusted.

In the meantime I was totally flattered to be invited by Zoe (darn that girl is too cool for school!) to take part in an interview over on her blog as part of her fab Refashion Friday series….

If you haven’t seen it yet and are at all interested on reading my ramblings on charity shops, recycling and refashioning in general (plus a little peak into the chaos that is my thought process), then hop over to Zoe’s blog and say Hi!

I’ll be back tomorrow with the results of the giveaway and some more on the whole TV thing 😉