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Portia Lawrie

PATTERN HACKS, simply sewing, Simply Sewing Magazine

HACK: OUT OF MY COLOUR COMFORT ZONE

03/02/18

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

02/29/16

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, sewing publications, simply sewing

Simply Sewing Magazine: Launches Today!!

02/12/15

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?

 

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