New Forest camping in the rain

June 3, 2013, 5:46 am

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In a spirit of optimism last February I booked a May half-term school holiday camping trip to the New Forest and even persuaded friends (first time campers, also non-drivers) to come along too. We'd had so much rain during the winter I reckoned that surely we'd have a dry, sunny spring. Of course I was wrong and after one of the coldest wettest months of May in living memory (and with night times still chilly) we packed tents and too many bags, and set off to catch the train to Ashurst in New Forest.

We lasted only three days (and two nights) of the planned four, fearing deepening puddles around our tents would soon see us swimming in the middle of the pitch. The damp air brought plentiful midges (and bites) at night, but we had wonderful times during the day nevertheless. 

We took walks through the lush green forest with leaves fluorescent shades of green under rapidly changing cloudy skies; had free roaming ponies visit our tent; listened to owls hooting in the middle of the night and heard an amazing dawn chorus. At our wettest we took refuge in nearby family-friendly pubs – the huge New Forest pub was just a short wet walk (paddle?) across the field outside our campsite and The Happy Cheese five minutes further away.

I'd love to go camping in the forest again (my daughter loved it apart from the midges) but will perhaps wait for warmer sunnier weather next time...

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Worthing Children's Parade 2013

June 16, 2013, 10:43 am

≫ Next: Hotchpotch ukulele tote bags by Ivy Arch

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Every term-time Thursday afternoon for the past five weeks (and the odd Sunday) has been spent making costumes, props or decorating an enormous woolly mammoth for Whytemead First School's entry to Worthing Children's Parade. The Children's Parade is the most heartwarming of all events in our town's annual social calendar and is a real showcase for the community spirit and creative talents of residents of Worthing.

Traditionally held on what seems to be the windiest Saturday morning every summer (I assume by accident rather than design) the theme for this year's parade was Sussex Through The Ages, with each participating school illustrating a different era. Our school chose the Stone Age - hence the mammoth mascot and sixty-five hand painted caveman costumes.

We were lucky enough to have a sunny (if blustery) morning and dressing up for the occasion put everyone in high spirits. Canny parents carried sweets or flapjacks to encourage those with the shortest legs to walk the entire length of the seafront, up in to town and back - quite a distance for the youngest - and the cheers, applause and delighted comments of crowds of Saturday shoppers in the town centre gave us all a boost. It's my daughter's last year at Whytemead before moving up to middle school, so a lovely way to mark the end of a wonderful chapter in our lives – though of course we hope to take part again with her new school next year.

Hotchpotch ukulele tote bags by Ivy Arch

June 21, 2013, 4:31 am

≫ Next: Glad to be grey

≪ Previous: Worthing Children's Parade 2013

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I dithered over what to call these new appliqué tote bags. Each bag is made from a medley of vintage fabrics. Hotchpotch is my favourite word for them but the dictionary also suggested melange (I think not), salmagundi (a new word for me, apparently also the name of a 17th century salad dish), gallimaufry (which I like but sounds as clunky as Gargiulo) and plain old mishmash - a lovely word but doesn't do these gorgeous fabrics justice.

So hotchpotch it is. These beautiful ukulele tote bags in exquisite vintage fabrics will be making an appearance in my Etsy shop over the next few days, starting with four of them listed today.

Glad to be grey

June 23, 2013, 2:16 pm

≫ Next: Feminine Wardrobe sewing book: The Capelet Shift Dress

≪ Previous: Hotchpotch ukulele tote bags by Ivy Arch

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I have the same pattern of greying hair as comedian Stewart Lee. It's whitening at the sides and slowly feathering into grey round the back while remaining mostly dark brown on top.  Without the right haircut it can be reminiscent of a balding radio DJ's hairstyle (toupée or not toupée?) - all dark brown wig sat on top of visibly greying temples. The bowl and bob haircuts I've been wearing for the past year have left me feeling a tad Terry Wogan at times, especially in gusts of high wind on Worthing seafront.

It seemed necessary then to get a haircut that makes it evident that my grey hair is a deliberate choice and a fabulous statement. My favourite hairdresser at Cuttlefish, Brighton was happy to oblige and I now have a super asymmetric haircut that makes the most of the bold white at the sides and the grey flecks throughout. I love it!

Feminine Wardrobe sewing book: The Capelet Shift Dress

June 25, 2013, 1:49 am

≫ Next: Retro telephone lavender bags in the Ivy Arch Etsy shop

≪ Previous: Glad to be grey

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In an idle moment of internet browsing Japanese couture the capelet shift dress in Jinko Matsumoto's Feminine Wardrobe caught my eye. What could be more charming than a dress with a cape attached? I ordered a copy (English translation) and was excited when it arrived within days.

Feminine Wardrobe has the same easy-to-follow instructions and trace out patterns as the Stylish Dress Book series but the clothes are perhaps a bit more commercial – more like the sort of garments you'd find in mainstream high street fashion shops than the smock-tastic creations in Stylish Dress Books. However, the capelet shift dress is avant-garde enough for my taste (I also covet the ruffle shoulder A-line dress and the giant bow-tie tunic). Matsumoto encourages you to add as many of the decorative elements (bows, ribbon ties, frills) to the designs as you like.

The book has beautifully styled photographs and there's a helpful double-page illustrated guide showing how all twenty-one dress designs come from seven basic patterns. The sewing guides are straightforward with fully detailed instructions as well as a shorter list for each design.

Pleased as Punch with my finished frock, I decided to wear it for a walk down to the seafront thinking I'd get some good photos in the soft afternoon light with the sea at low tide. I hadn't factored on it being quite such a blustery grey start to summer though. The capelet on my dress flapped around so much in the wind it's a wonder I didn't take off and join Worthing's daredevil kite surferswith a maiden flight over Worthing Pier. Photo shoot abandoned I headed to Macaris for a hot chocolate Snowcap feeling invincible with my capelet billowing out behind me.

Retro telephone lavender bags in the Ivy Arch Etsy shop

July 9, 2013, 3:29 am

≫ Next: July Butterfly Smock: Stylish Dress Book - Y (again)

≪ Previous: Feminine Wardrobe sewing book: The Capelet Shift Dress

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These red and pink old-fashioned telephone lavender bags would make perfect end of year gifts for hard-working teachers. Plumply stuffed with fragrant French lavender, they're made using 'Phones Go With Me' fabric from Melody Miller's Ruby Star Sparkle collection for Kokka.

Also making an appearance in the Ivy Arch Etsy shoptoday are some more Typewriter Love lavender bags– these ones in a delicious turquoise and blue colourway with green hearts. Both sets of handmade lavender bags are available to buy from my online shop now and are ready to ship straightaway. 

July Butterfly Smock: Stylish Dress Book - Y (again)

July 15, 2013, 4:08 pm

≫ Next: Eduardo Paolozzi's hands: Collaging Culture at Pallant House

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A trip to Brighton's budget dressmaking emporium Fabric Land harvested this beautiful butterfly and bird print cotton. I chose a ditzy beige and pink floral to contrast, having Stylish Dress Book's smock dress Y in mind as the perfect garment for this fabric. 

I've made dresses using this sewing pattern a few times now (see my first effort here) and haven't had a result I'm unhappy with yet. Dress Y seems to work in all fabrics from lightweight gauzy cottons to a textured barkcloth as long as the contrasting material for the bodice panel trim is the same weight as fabric used for the body of the smock. 

At £3.49 a metre for both gorgeous printed cottons, the dress cost £10.47 in total and took me just under three hours to make. I plan to wear it to waft into my daughter's infant school leavers' concert on Thursday.

Eduardo Paolozzi's hands: Collaging Culture at Pallant House

July 19, 2013, 1:17 am

≫ Next: Summer sale: 20% off at Ivy Arch Etsy shop

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Cycling back from playing a ukulele gig at Lancing Royal British Legion club (they fed us tea and biscuits) with Wukulele's Harriet Booth, she told me that she had once met Eduardo Paolozzi. Harriet remarked on his charming manner and the size of his incredibly large, chunky hands. A photograph of Paolozzi's hands hangs outside the doors to the Level 2 rooms at Pallant House Gallery and it's hard to believe that these jumbo fingers created such intricate Pop Art collages, finely detailed drawings and textile print designs as well as his famous large scale sculptures.

Collaging Culture is a compelling and thorough retrospective of Paolozzi's work. The breadth of media he worked (and excelled) in and the diversity of his art is mind boggling. Exhibits include sculpture, screenprinted fabrics, drawings, prints, ceramics and film, as well as his collages - the main theme of the exhibition.

Postcards from Collaging Culture exhibition and superb free Pallant House Gallery Paolozzi bookmark!

It's difficult to say which parts of the show excited me most as I really loved it all. His printed textiles produced with Nigel Henderson for their Hammer Prints Ltdcompany are amazing. The fabrics feature pen and ink drawings of junk, fob clocks, toy trains and stuff found at Portobello Road flea market. There's a beautiful barkcloth top coffee table – a collaboration with Terence Conran – and a wonderful mustard furnishing fabric printed with fossils and organic forms produced by David Whitehead (you can still buy pieces of this for a pretty penny on Ebay).

I bought a copy Nigel Henderson & Eduardo Paolozzi: Hammer Prints Ltd 1954-75 at Pallant House Gallery bookshop. An excellent book.

I found it absorbing watching the changing patterns and textures in Paolozzi's black and white film The History of Nothing. It's acollage of sounds and textural images (found photographs, prints, specially created collages). My scrawled notes read back as a fairly accurate description of the film: domino, tower blocks, cogs, scratching music, huge macrame, sound of bells, clocks, Victorian girl doll in long knitted cape, sound of dog yapping, the word 'progress', hideous monkey grinning, skull with teeth, static din, engine starting, man/machine/robot, plinky plonk piano sounds... It's witty and whimsical and I loved the soundtrack of seemingly random bursts of noise.

With a head full of monochrome the next part of the exhibition took me by surprise as I stepped into the themed room Language Games: Prints and Sculpture in the 1960s. This is a riot of colour. Eduardo Paolozzi's art had a huge impact on the international art scene of the 60s and continues to influence artists and designers today – contemporary print designers owe much to his work. Melody Miller's fabulous Ephemera fabric reminds me of his Moonstrips Empire Newsseries, Cilla Ramnek's glorious modern psychedelic patterns recall Paolozzi's As Is Now screenprints and Alison Milner's exquisite decal designs for ceramics reference Paolozzi's Sea Beasts collection of 19th century engravings of marine subjects which were printed onto ceramics, fabric and furniture.

I urge anyone with an eye for pattern, print and design to go and see this beautifully curated and inspirational exhibition. 

Eduardo Paolozzi Collaging Cultureis at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester until 13 October 2013. 

Left: Pallant House Gallery from the outside Right: Jonas Ranson's Paolozzi inspired wallpaper hangs in the foyer Garden Gallery

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Summer sale: 20% off at Ivy Arch Etsy shop

July 20, 2013, 2:10 am

≫ Next: Dare to be Square: Easy Cute Straight Sewing

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I'm having a super summer sale in my Etsy shop - 20% off everything for 5 days using the coupon code IVYSUMMER20. Go to IvyArch Etsy shop here.

♥ ♥ ♥ Take advantage of this super soaraway special offer before the shop closes for the school summer holidays!  Enter the discount code at checkout using the 'apply coupon code' tab on the right hand side of your shopping cart page. ♥ ♥ ♥

Dare to be Square: Easy Cute Straight Sewing

July 22, 2013, 2:19 pm

≫ Next: School's out for summer (and so is my shop)!

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An image from Yoshiko Tsukiori's Easy, Cute, Straight Sewing appeared on my Pinterest home page. It was the cover photo of the book and exactly the sort of garment I love to wear - a roomy square shaped tunic with elbow length sleeves. Simply beautiful. I searched in vain for an English translation and realised I'd have to bite the bullet and order the book in Japanese, or these boxy garments would remain forever out of reach. Encouraged by the Japanese Sewing Books blog I thought I should be able to muddle through. I ordered a copy from Pompadour24's Craft Cafe Etsy shop and it arrived 11 days later in a cute package sent all the way from Japan.

The layout is similar to Tsukiori's Stylish Dress Book series with stylised photographs of an elfin model wearing the designs in the front half of the book followed by a simple list of instructions for each pattern with numbered diagrams at the back.

I decided to make the cover dress "square one-piece" and used inexpensive large checked blue gingham reckoning that this would be a less painful waste if I made a mess of it.

The illustrations were very easy to follow and to my amazement I drafted the pattern, cut and sewed the dress in two and a half hours. The only part I wasn't sure of was how to finish the neckline. The cutting diagram shows bias strips, so I think the neckline is probably meant to be finished with a bias binding. I wasn't too confident about this working out so drafted and cut a neck facing instead (which worked well). The dress pattern has two pockets which I think are meant to be stitched one on the front and one on the back. Instead I put both pockets on the front and cut one of them from a contrasting pink gingham for fun.

I'm wearing the dress today, it hangs beautifully and feels loose and airy to move around in - perfect for the current heatwave!

Twirling around in my new square one-piece in front of an imaginary Vogue photographer (camera set to self-timer, balanced on top of a biscuit tin on the ironing board as usual) the serious business of posing was interrupted by a mischievous child creeping up on me. 

School's out for summer (and so is my shop)!

July 24, 2013, 8:54 am

≫ Next: Mood Indigo: Gather One-Piece

≪ Previous: Dare to be Square: Easy Cute Straight Sewing

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The Ivy Arch Etsy shop is closed for the school summer holidays and will reopen on 6th September 2013. While the shop's shut you can see my creations (and inspiration) at the Ivy Arch Pinterest page.

During the summer break I'll still be sewing (making new items for sale in the autumn) and blogging, as well as taking spontaneous short trips with my family (including a spot of camping) and of course swimming in the sea – whatever the weather. Happy holidays!

Mood Indigo: Gather One-Piece

July 26, 2013, 2:05 am

≫ Next: The People's Park: not just swings and roundabouts

≪ Previous: School's out for summer (and so is my shop)!

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The Gather One-Piece is the second dress I've made from Yoshiko Tsukiori's Easy Cute Straight Stitch Sewing book. It's a very simple, straightforward make - in fact you probably don't really even need to draft a paper pattern (though I cautiously did) and could instead just mark the measurements out onto a piece of fabric. The dress is basically three rectangles of material, one for the body and sleeves which is folded over with a hole cut into it for your head, and two more rectangles to form the front and back. 

I made a neck facing instead of using a bias trim and added a practical front pocket but apart from that the design is just as it says in the book (or as I think it says - the written instructions are in Japanese). It seemed apt to use these two Japanese indigo cotton fabrics, one with a scalloped waves design and the other has a star grid pattern, both from The Eternal Maker in Chichester.

I'm really happy with how it turned out - another success from this book! It's made me less wary of buying other untranslated Japanese sewing books in the future, but there are several more garments I'm itching to make from this one first...

The People's Park: not just swings and roundabouts

August 1, 2013, 4:12 am

≫ Next: The Good, the Fab and the Snuggly: Stylish Dress Book 2 - Dress D

≪ Previous: Mood Indigo: Gather One-Piece

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In 1881 Homefield Park 'The People's Park' opened as the first municipal park in Worthing. There are other great parks in the town; Marine Gardens with its retro cafe and wall of gigantic hydrangeas, Victoria Park with its adventure playground, and beautiful Beach House Gardens which until recently boasted stunning colourful flower beds (inexplicably dug out last month and replaced by floral displays in ugly green crates) as well as a unique pigeon war memorial. However “Homefield Park is the best!” says my daughter, and she's not wrong.

     Homefield has a large central open space edged by majestic mature trees and lush hedged borders. It's got little hills (perfect for sledging down in the snow), a cycle track running round the circumference of the park (where she learnt to ride a bike), a skate park, tennis courts and a Parklife Cafe kiosk serving perfect coffee. Until recently the playground was the only thing that let the park down, though my daughter never complained as there's always someone there to play with. 

Then on 27^th June a sign went up with a futuristic artist's impression of an idealised play area. We curiously watched the workmen's progress on a daily basis and marvelled at how one man armed with a flat piece of board laid the new brightly coloured safety flooring by hand in very hot weather. Four weeks later another sign appeared announcing the playground would be ready sooner than expected and was due to open imminently. A miracle, and in time for the school summer holidays!

The playground has been busy every day since – in all weathers – and I can report that it is brilliant. It's got a zip wire, a trampoline, a spinning astronaut's chair, new climbing frame, rope swings, a musical area with percussion posts, and the good old climbing frames, swings and roundabout have been given a fresh coat of paint. We are thrilled to bits and it's made a great park even better. Well done Adur & Worthing Council, it's a success!

The Good, the Fab and the Snuggly: Stylish Dress Book 2 - Dress D

August 2, 2013, 2:26 pm

≫ Next: Postcard from the Isle of Purbeck

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Design D: Box Dress with Boat Neck from Stylish Dress Book 2 is a contender for my favourite Japanese sewing pattern ever. I like it so much I've made three of these dresses (and counting). It's a simple slightly A-line t-shirt shaped tunic with useful front pockets. The underarm seam is curved and the finished garment is roomy and elegant. When I first saw a picture of it on the book's front cover I wanted to squeal with delight. It's rather Cos but you won't have to wait for one of their sales to afford it (or until next May if you've stopped buying clothes).

The dress takes a couple of hours to make and here it is in three different fabrics. The red one (above) a 'Super Java Print' Hollandis heavy cotton. I hung onto this material after parting with this ukulele tote bag and had enough for a tunic. The bold geometric yellow/blue print (below) is a wax print fine cotton from Worthing's Wednesday market. It's printed slightly off-register and so was reduced to £2 a metre. Intended as a beach cover-up, the finished frock is so spectacular I'll wear it everywhere.

The final blue longer-sleeved fleece version I made to wear when camping. I lengthened the sleeves and cut the neckline higher to keep me warm on a cool summer's evening. It's soft and snuggly and reminds me of a Cornish fisherman's smock.

Postcard from the Isle of Purbeck

August 26, 2013, 1:12 pm

≫ Next: The Berlin Macaroon Dress: Simplicity pattern 2363

≪ Previous: The Good, the Fab and the Snuggly: Stylish Dress Book 2 - Dress D

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The Isle of Purbeck is a peninsula (not an island) and lies on the southern tip of Dorset. We headed by train and taxi to Swanage, destination the lovely family-friendly campsite at Kirkwood Park. Swanage town - just a 10 minute walk from the campsite - is full of old-fashioned British seaside charm. It has a small sandy beach with fine views across the bay, great fish and chip shops, a choice of amusement arcades and a magnificent working steam railway. 

Daytimes we rode the chuffing, puffing steam train through an Enid Blytonlandscape, climbed up to Corfe Castle and took coastal walks along Studland Bay, marvelling at the glory of Old Harry Rocks. By night we wandered through town following the sound of ringing church bells and sat around a campfire toasting marshmallows under star-filled skies.

 

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The Berlin Macaroon Dress: Simplicity pattern 2363

September 2, 2013, 4:07 pm

≫ Next: Spots, stripes, sunflowers and Gudrun Sjödén

≪ Previous: Postcard from the Isle of Purbeck

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This patisserie design fabric was a surprise find at Brighton's Fabric Land and cost £4.75 a metre. It's a heavy cotton printed with vintage cake recipe illustrations and is available in two colourways: there's a pale pink and cream Paris Macaroon version, and this one, the Berlin version with strong greens and blues on a beige background.

 

Undaunted by the hideous illustration on the cover of Simplicity 2363 sewing pattern, I decided to use the fabric to make dress D. The cut of the bodice reminds me of Anna Maria Horner's gorgeous Painted Portrait Dress– a pattern I've dithered about buying as it's not available for sale in the UK (the price of international postage makes it a very expensive purchase for a single pattern). Simplicity 2363 will have to do for the time being.

The Simplicity pattern was straightforward to follow, I'd say the sizing is generous. The finished frock has a roomy fit, more like a tunic than the fitted dress on the illustrated packet but it's so comfortable to wear I think I'd probably make the same size if I use the pattern again. The fabric has a linen/canvas feel and is a little crumply after wearing it for the day but I've decided this adds to its olde worlde charm!

I intend to wear it to visit Cocoa Patisseriewhich has the most delicious display of macaroons in the window. I hope I won't be mistaken for the menu. 

Spots, stripes, sunflowers and Gudrun Sjödén

September 10, 2013, 1:14 am

≫ Next: Ivy Arch at Mini Moderns REMIX

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On Saturday I excitedly caught the train to London for the premiere of Gudrun Sjödén's new Classics Collection at her Monmouth Streetstore. Gudrun was there in person greeting delighted customers and I joined the queue of eager fans waiting to meet her (we'd travelled from all corners of the country). She graciously made time to answer my questions.

Gudrun Sjödén's colourful Classics Collection

Can you tell me about the Classics Collection?

The Classics Collection comprises stripes, dots, sunflowers and tulips – pattern designs that I have used for many years. I began working as a designer in 1963, at the time of Swinging London! There were a lot of stripes, squares and geometric patterns at that time – simple beautiful designs that never go out of style.

What are your values and ethics when it comes to designing?

It's very important that you consider the environmental impact of production. Nowadays you can't avoid it, you have to understand what you are doing and what you are producing. One of my goals is that I want to make clothes and designs that people will wear for a very long time. I think that this is the most valuable way of having the least environmental impact, that people use and wear their clothes until they are worn out, not just buying and throwing clothes away after a little while.

Which woman in the world would you most like to dress?

Maybe Queen Elizabeth II, but I don't think she will change her style!

Perhaps she wears Gudrun Sjödén at home?

Yes, maybe when takes her dogs for a walk!

Would you consider making a sewing pattern book of your designs for your fans to make their own Gudrun Sjödén clothes at home using your fabrics?

I made one a long time ago. It was called 'Easy Way of Sewing by Yourself' and people are still asking for this book! There are not many books that teach you to easily cut and sew.

Is it still available now?

No, it was published maybe 25 years ago.

Do you still get excited by fabric?

Oh yes. It's still fascinating!

What are you going to visit while you're in London?

This visit I'm mainly at the shop, making sure everyone is working properly and that everything looks as I want it to look. It's very nice to meet the customers and talk to them and get ideas from want they want and what they think.

Gudrun Sjödén's beautiful illustrations hang in the shop

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Gudrun's care and attention to her customers is wonderfully refreshing and was much appreciated by the many happy people in the shop. Some faces I recognised from the store opening last year, many like me had travelled for hours to be there and we were all united in our appreciation of Gudrun's beautiful designs. I spent another joyful hour looking at the collection and chatting to fellow devotees over sunflower cake and elderflower cordial.

Top row: Finding my way to the fabric section Bottom row: Entrance to the Monmouth Street shop

Ivy Arch at Mini Moderns REMIX

September 13, 2013, 4:59 am

≫ Next: Manga girl's kimono costume: Simplicity 2069

≪ Previous: Spots, stripes, sunflowers and Gudrun Sjödén

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I am thrilled to be taking part in Mini Moderns REMIX at East London Design Store as part of the 2013 London Design Festival. The project sees Mini Moderns working with British based designers and artists who have been invited to reinterpret their iconic designs.

As a huge fan of their work I was delighted to be asked to contribute and have produced lavender bags cut from Mini Moderns C-60 and Stevie fabric as well as a limited edition range of coin purses.

 

I travelled to London for the launch last night and was completely bowled over to see my crafts exhibited alongside the stunning work of Benjamin Boyce, Brume, Leonhard Pfeifer, Rimmington Vian, Matt Sewell, Group Design and Urban Upholstery. Zoe Murphy's gorgeous Buddha of Suburbia Drawers are a real showstopper!

Ivy Arch lavender bags and purses at Mini Moderns REMIX 2013

Mini Moderns REMIXat East London Design Store opens on 14^th September and runs until 22^ndSeptember 2013.

Manga girl's kimono costume: Simplicity 2069

September 23, 2013, 3:08 pm

≫ Next: Worthing's William Blake Mini Protest Banner

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Searching online for manga printables suitable for an 8 year old, we stumbled upon Alexander Henry's anime inspired Thunder Flower fabric. My daughter thought it 'so cool' and loved the heroic karate kicking girls with blue and green hair leaping through cherry blossoms. It's now out of print but I managed to track down a couple of metres in her preferred blue colourway. Red and pink versions of the fabric are still available on Etsy but I think I was lucky to get one of the last pieces of it in blue. 

It seemed the ideal fabric to use to make her a Simplicity 2069 kimono costume to wear to Brighton Japan Festival. We went to The Fabric Shop in Worthing for the rest of the material. She chose mint coloured cotton for the collar, thick green felt and a yellow ribbon for the obi sash and some pistachio lining fabric and green net for the skirt. 

Spoilt from using straightforward Japanese sewing books, it took me so long to cut out the numerous tissue paper pattern pieces for the jacket, obi and two-layer skirt for this Simplicity outfit that it left me feeling completely exasperated and I abandoned the project.

Two weeks later and with the Japan festival looming I decided to finally get round to finishing the thing. I barricaded myself in the lounge one Saturday and with concentration and Novos BaianosAcabou Chorareplaying on repeat managed to sew all the pieces together in the right order. The end result is beautiful and in hindsight was well worth all the effort involved. I even plan to use the sewing pattern a second time...

 

Worthing's William Blake Mini Protest Banner

September 29, 2013, 1:39 pm

≫ Next: Dressmaking by Numbers: Happy Homemade Sew Chic - Dress C

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This afternoon I committed a small act of craftivism.I embroidered and hung a #minifashionprotest banner in Worthing town centre as part of Craftivist Collective's project for War On Want's Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops campaign. 

The Collective has asked people to stitch small banners with messages related to the exploitation of sweatshop workers in Bangladesh and hang them in a location that links to their embroidered message. Regular readers will know that I decided to stop buying clothes following the Rana Plaza clothing factory disaster, so taking part in Craftivist Collective's initiative was something I was keen to do and has strengthened my resolve to say 'no' to fast fashion. 

This week BBC Panorama's investigation into the working lives of factory workers in Bangladesh provided further food for thought and inspired me to make my mini banner in response to the allegations the programme broadcast concerning my mum's favourite clothes shop.A William Blake quote seemed apt. 

Here is my banner in situ! I hung it in the middle of a bench as Worthing has an abundance of poignant memorial plaques on its benches all the way along the seafront. 

I like the idea that someone may sit on this bench and contemplate the meaning of my embroidered message.