Are we still Cool?

Once upon a time, there was a posse of girls legendary for their Coolness. They walked around like they were starring in a music video, whispers of 'Where did she get those clothes?!' in their wake. They smirked to themselves, they exchanged knowing glances with other Cool Girls. For they made these clothes themselves, based on their very own measurements. Time passed, everyone languished in their static level of Cool. But then they started to wonder, 'WTF, Amanda? Weren't we supposed to work our way through the book?'


I made this pictorial representation of The Cool Girl Sewalong resurrecting like a phoenix from the flames. Feel free to print it out and bring it along to your tattoo artist. You're welcome. So, who's game? With the skirts under our belt and the t-shirts chalked down to experience, there are two distinct paths in front of us.

Option one: The Basic Blouse.


Those of us busty girls will need to add some shaping beyond the side seams (i.e. darts, gathers, princess seams) but with strength in numbers it could actually be a very educational experience. Or a complete freaking shower of sh*te that makes us cry tears of blood, commit hari-kari and smash our sewing machines with an axe.

Option two: The basic trousers


I understand that some people are intimidated (and quite possibly squicked out) by trousers with all their rises and front crotch this and back crotch that.

I vote for the trousers, but being a munificent and magnanimous leader I'll go with the blouse if out-voted. Who wants to play?

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My name is Amanda and I am an addict

Amanda: 1, Willpower: Nil.

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If the Tabula Rasa was made of Polkadot fabric

As I've mentioned at least a hundred billion times, I'm struggling with what to make with my new fabrics. Skirts and dresses are out because we're back in Scotland the Arctic tundra and it's raining at least 36 inches every single day. Some of my favourite fabrics (I'm looking at you, Tufted Tweets) have such lovely prints that I don't want the design of the garment to obstruct or compete with the appreciation of the fabric.

So I set off today to design a blank slate, something simple without gathers or pleats or ruffles (basically the antithesis of the Jet Lag dress). Something would be all about the fabric. But not this fabric, it's just my muslin.

Raglan sleeves, I love sewing you. Raglan sleeves, I do not love drafting you.


I have a few adjustments to make now I've seen it modelled but as a general concept is simpler sometimes better? Would you be attacted by this design in a delicious fabric or is it not enough of a special snowflake design wise?

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Rationing the lovely for a Netbook Sleeve

I might have excruitiatingly lovely new fabric and an aversion to actually cutting it, but I can bring myself to use tiny little scraps. Baby steps, Amanda, baby steps....


If magic skinny shoes weren't enough self-indulgence, I also bought a Netbook on holiday. Go, me. But it needed a sleeve if I was ever to put it within the pestilence and detritus that is the interior of my handbag.


There it is, my shiny new Netbook. The sleeve has a magnetic snap and light orange linen lining.


Let's go round back and see what's going on here. A zippered pocket with white and red polkadots!


You know, for my notebooks and pen.

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Wordless Wednesday: Pure joy

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The post you've all been waiting for...

If you thought I wouldn't buy any fabric on my trip then when we get married you're going to make us lose The Newlywed Game / All Star Mr and Mrs by one question. Of course I bought fabric, it's in my nature. I did some restocking of old favourites, but I got some brand new stuff too! Here goes...


Alexander Henry's Willow range:

1. willow wren red, 2. willow wren green, 3. willow shroom green, 4. willow shroom orange, 5. willow wren brown

Laurie Wisbrun Tufted Tweets: I love these so hard, but what am I going to make with them?!

1.itty bitty chair red 2.avian therapy grass, , 3. itty bitty chair purple

Riley Blake Rainy Days:

1. rainy days white, 2. rainy days pink, 3. rainy days green

Riley Blake Wheels:

1. wheels brown map, 2. wheels brown, 3. wheels green, 4. wheels green map

A whole lot of randoms (some more than others):

1. bangle dot, 2. castle town, 3. russian flora, 4. gnomeville, 5. kleo, 6. ugly duckling, 7. novo blossom, 8. on a whim pistachio

Japanese Kokka / Echino for appliques:

1. bicycle turquoise, 2. helicoptor blue, 3. Lets play, 4. bus purple, 5. helicoptor green, 6. bus black, 7. bus brown, 8. helicoptor orange

Anyone want to throw out some ideas of things to make with the more random ones? And what does everyone love the most?

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The Robot Spacesuit dress

When Maia came home from her grandparents on Thursday with some shiny silver shoes I had to rethink my dress strategy. Maybe I wouldn't make her look like an extra from a period film... Maybe I'd dress her like a space age robot.


I picked this silver fabric up on Friday afternoon, and the darker silver lining that you can see on the underside of the skirt. That everyone saw on the underside of the skirt, because all day long she bunched her skirt up around her waist.


This is her cheeky face. She has it on 98% of the time. If I'd had more time, I would have tracked down a silver fabric that doesn't unravel if you so much as look as it. If was a glass half full type of girl, I'd say that we'll have plenty to do this week picking silver filaments out of the carpet.


Jamie looked the business. We traipsed all over Edinburgh looking for a childsized cravat before I admitted defeat, bought an adult one, and cut it up to make a pint-sized one.


If you'd told me fifteen years ago I'd have a son who wore a kilt I'd have called Social Services and tried to have you sectioned.


He is probably running from all the girls who wanted to kiss him.



I wore the pink dress.

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