Portia Lawrie

PATTERN HACKS, simply sewing, Simply Sewing Magazine

HACK: OUT OF MY COLOUR COMFORT ZONE

PATTERN HACK for ISSUE 39 - SIMPLY SEWING

Thought I’d share with you today….one of my recent projects for Simply Sewing magazine. It’s a hack on Maven Patterns “French Dart Shift” (which I thoroughy recommend by the way. The drafting is ace. Fabric on this make is from Minerva Crafts.) Available in issue 39 of the mag if you want the tute. You might wonder about the title of this post. Out of my comfort zone…PATTERN HACK for ISSUE 39 - SIMPLY SEWING

Well you probably know I’m hesitant with colour in my own makes. Preferring to stick to a palette of neutrals (ok. ok. Shades of grey.) But the thing about being commissioned by a magazine is that sometimes (most of the time actually) they ask you to make something that you would never in a million years make for yourself. In this instance, it’s a dress (don’t do dresses) AND there’s a punchy, in your face colour combo (I don’t do colour either).PATTERN HACK for ISSUE 39 - SIMPLY SEWING

Aside from the quality of the finish, the thing I am most pleased about is the way all the colours work together. (OK, grey could be considered a non colour. But baby steps!). For someone who, left to their own devices, would not use color in this way, this feels like an achievement. I am calling this my Neopolitan Ice Cream meets 60’s air hostess dress. (Snappy)

PATTERN HACK for ISSUE 39 - SIMPLY SEWING

I’m starting to get more of an eye/instinct for how colours go together and becoming bolder with my ideas for colour (at least for the mag….for now). And that’s entirely down to being pushed out of my comfort zone pretty much every month for the last 3 years I’ve worked with Simply Sewing!

In fact I have another rather colorful creation I’m just finishing up for the mag today which I’m REALLY excited about 😉

 

Modelled images courtesy of Immediate media. If you want to keep up with my contributions/tutorials for the mag,  you can subscribe to the mag here.

 

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.

Simply Sewing Magazine

Simply Sewing Issue 10: My Circle cape (and oops I may have accidentally bought a new book and some more fabric!)

Regular readers will know that I have been on board with Simply Sewing  since issue 1. My remit back then was firmly in the refashioning camp. Which I was more than chuffed about as you all know my desire to “promote the cause” of refashioning and I was delighted that a mainstream print magazine was getting on board with that. They still are of course but…SIMPLY SEWING MAGAZINE - CIRCLE CAPE - ISSUE 10

This issue saw the editorial reigns pass to a new editor. You may know her as The Savvy Crafter 😉 Charlie and I had a little chat when she took over and the general feeling was there was more that I could contribute and that we needn’t restrict my remit soley to refashioning. So going forward I’ll be contributing a mix of refashioning and “from scratch” sewing tutorials. This is the first of those. A tweed circle cape. I LOVE how it turned out and I LOVE how the team at SS have styled it too. Even better it’s patternless and super simple to make. Boom! (Great scrap busting freebie from Sew Crafty in this months issue too btw)

SIMPLY SEWING MAGAZINE - CIRCLE CAPE - ISSUE 10

I think the fabric really makes this cape. It’s this beautiful Edinburgh Check Wool from minervacrafts.com. I’ve just ordered some for myself to make a coat. Ooops! The leather buckle for this piece I purchased on ebay here.Materials

Apart from that there’s oodles of sewing projects and some familiar faces too. Including a classic fascinator tute from Lisa Comfort and an interesting Q&A with Sarai Mitnick…SIMPLY SEWING MAGAZINE - CIRCLE CAPE - ISSUE 10

Also some interesting reading and projects involving the Japanese art of Sashiko embroidery.  I’ve had a dabble with Sashiko and I love it, although I’ve yet to incorporate it in a finished project. I recently bought the Tamarack pattern from Grainline Studio….and it occured to me that substituting the machine quilting element with some Sashiko would be an interesting take don’t you think?? Time consuming, but cool!SIMPLY SEWING MAGAZINE - CIRCLE CAPE - ISSUE 10

Sometimes it’s the little news snippets in a magazine that catch my eye. This little piece about Lotta Jansdotter and her new book prompted me to investigate further. I’d never heard of her but the simplicity of silhouette and line in these pieces appealed to me…(plus as soon as I read the word “Scandanavian” it’s pretty much a done deal that I will like what I see!) turns out she’s quite a prolific author…SIMPLY SEWING MAGAZINE - CIRCLE CAPE - ISSUE 10

This is the book in question…Everyday Style by Lotta Jansdotter…and I erm…..ordered it right there and then! Ooops again! LOTTA JANSDOTTER - EVERYDAY STYLE

Why? Because this lady’s style looks right up my strata…LOTTA JANSDOTTER - EVERYDAY STYLE

And the patterns in the book are simple, unfussy, and versatile shapes ripe for personalisation and look like they would work in a vast array of fabrics. So again…right up my street!LOTTA JANSDOTTER - EVERYDAY STYLE

 

Quite excited for this one to arrive. Will let you know if it’s as yummy as it looks!

Am I the only one with an itchy online trigger finger recently?

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.

Freebies, Me Elsewhere, Simply Sewing Magazine

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.