Barbara Hulanicki - The patron saint of Sewingthe60s

Oh Barbara Hulanicki! How do I love thee!

In a recent interview with The De-brief, Barbara wisely tells readers, that if they want to achieve the 60's look the best way to do so, other then buying it, is to make it yourself!

"The easiest way to do the look yourself then? Make it. 'I think sewing is coming back like mad,' says Hulinicki. 'The high street is doing some simple pieces that actually look very 60's, so you can very carefully unpick the seams and make a new pattern from a finished garment. Then you can make the look your own.'

The right approach to fabric shopping might not be what you'd expect either. 'We used to use a hell of a lot of fabric for furnishing or curtains, which is actually the kind of look Prada’s just done a lot of,' Hulanicki says. If curtains are a step too far, then she suggests that 'fabric shops in the East End of London are fantastic for the brocades'.

Happiness runs in a circular motion

Hello dearest readers!

I've been working away on some little projects lately. Just small ones that are very simple and only require a couple hours work. Would you like to see? 

First off is this paisley buttoned shirt which I made from Simplicity 8399. The fit isn't great which is sad cause this fabric is so amazing! 

The fit is off around the shoulders. Its a bit tight and the buttons didn't meet at the front properly. Size 12 is usually ok for me, but obviously not on this occasion! Its ok to wear with a pinafore or with the top button undone though

Julie

Hello everyone! I was so ready to show you the photos of this new dress but our internet allowance got gobbled up my the boys new Playstation updates which left us with snail paced internet for a week! Ah but anyway - I now present to you the most recent of my sewn projects - Julie!

Named after Julie Christie for no reason in particular! I just wanted the dear thing to have a name, and because its a darling of a dress! 

Book review - Sixties Fashion - From 'Less is more' to Youthquake

Last year I found this sturdy tome at Pentimento in Newtown and promised myself I would buy it on my next visit. Well it took another 6 months before I bought it and another few months after that before I read it.

In order to read any book I have to read it during my transit to and from work because home time is spent sewing or some such activity, so I had to carry this around with me each day and pull it out for the two 20 minute train rides. I get a lot of funny looks but there's no other way for me to read it! 

And being that its so big and thick I do have to read it quickly so that I'm only carrying it for a week at max, so there are plenty of post-it notes strewn through out which you'll see in the photos.

Cover art brought to you by Microsoft Word basic package

Mid Project in the middle of the week

Hello hello! Just a quick post to let you know what I'm currently working away on cause there's been a lot of sewing going on here and therefore not a lot of blogging or answering emails... sorry about that! 

It's a bit hard to get a good balance going on. The more I sew the less I blog/comment but in turn, you get to see more new things more often! 

Anyway... so this is the lil darlin of a pattern I'm working on - specifically view B

Chrissie

Hey there beautiful people! How have you been?

We've been having some mightily good weather and my garden has gone bananas! Nasturtiums, snapdragons, daisies, jasmine and more to come! Hopefully we can have a night stretch of this weather before the reliable spring rain comes in a few weeks

I also have 3 new dresses to show you! Oh yes 3! Two of them were made a few months ago, but I saved them for this article feature on The Makes Society. 

I much prefer to collaborate and share with fellow Aussie bloggers and peeps and bring them too the wider world, so any chance to support my fellow countryman I'll jump at the chance! 

I've also been trying to power through my massive pile of books - So far I've read The BIBA experience (which is if course amazing) and I'm currently reading through "Sixties Fashion" which I'll give you a review of when I'm done.

So lets take a look now at this sugary sweet number shall we? 

Chrissie is named after the lovely Chrissie Shrimpton. Sister of Jean Shrimpton, girlfriend of Mick Jagger and Steve Marriot, Chrissie's style tended to be child-like and sweet, much like this smock dress in Butterick 6959 from the 70's

Cilla!

A recent flood of Cilla Black images on Instagram and Pinterest led me to wonder what the heck is going on with Cilla Black? Was the world rediscovering her or something? 

After a quick check with Mr Google I see that a new TV series has been released in the UK telling the story of Cilla Blacks rise to fame and life in Liverpool. The pictures look so amazing with Sheridan Smith playing Cilla getting about in some amazingly adorable outfits, giving me serious dress envy

I really hope the full series shows here as she was quite popular in the 60s even in Australia. I'll probably have to wait a year, but I'm going to be impatient and dream about her now

I always think of Cilla, along with Sandie Shaw, Petula Clark and Lulu as those lovely pop song birds of the 60s. Singing catchy songs that get stuck in your head or that cheer you up on a bad day like "Anyone who had a heart"

Cilla also has the added bonus of being wonderfully fashionable! The woman has so much flair for colour and pattern, and with that giant ginger bouffant, I think I'm going to need to do something about it one day. Like perhaps replicating this dress below! 

Cute yes? I already have some purple paisley, so I'm half way there!

Lets see what other fashion fantasies Cilla can inspire...