Tag: sewing

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2022 the year of Taking the Scary out of Sewing

2022 is my year of taking the Scary out of Sewing!

I want as many people as possible to take up sewing so they can create, make, mend and more.

To help take away the scary, every Friday there is going to be a new video on YouTube with accompanying pattern for a project entirely aimed at beginners. Each week there will be different techniques to learn or go over and it’s going to be a super fun way to grow your sewing skills.

As often as I can on Wednesdays there will be a hint or tip showing you how to do an aspect of sewing. These will go from absolute beginners to advanced so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

Then on Thursdays there will be the usual unboxing, sewalongs, livestreams and more. All of it aimed to make sewing as accessible as possible so you can start, continue or grow your sewing journey.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/c/MeasureTwiceCutOnce/

See more of my sewing and shop patterns at https://measuretwicecutonce.com.au​

Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_measuretwi…

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Support me on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MeasureTwiceC…

What I’m wearing

Dress Pattern: Self drafted in Liberty Lawn fabric

Earrings: Harry and Herne

Nail Polish: Xanadu by Hanami

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Sewing Adventures – Boxy Dress

Summer in Sydney is getting hotter… or so it seemed? This summer is feeling cooler but this dress was planned before it turned cool and I was preparing for endless hot days.

My goal was for a dress I could pull on over my head, was roomy enough to aid airflow but still looked decent in case I was leaving the house to go to the supermarket or post office. Hunting through my stash I found some Nerida Hansen remnants I had picked up at a Finders Keepers market back when we could meet in person. Each remnant was a slightly odd size so I had to plan out how I was going to cut it out to make it work. In the end I cut the top from one section and then used part of the rest of that panel and another panel to make the skirt. I didn’t even have enough fabric left to make pockets.

The pattern is my standard bodice block with a few changes

  • cut the armholes slightly lower
  • straightened off the side seams to create a more boxy look
  • increase side seams by 1cm to allow it easy to slip on over my head

So not huge changes but enough to make it slightly more casual.

The fabric itself is lovely to wear, nice and cool and relatively wrinkle free, sewing it was less fun. The print is a digital print so every needle and pin mark showed up. I sewed it using a Microtex needle and even at a 70 needle you had to be careful not to show up the needle marks. I used my overlocker to finish the seams and you can see the marks there. Which fine is ok for a remnant but very disappointing that the quality of the fabric is so fragile for what is essentially an every day fabric.

Despite the problems it is a nice dress to wear and has been fulfilling it’s mandate of boxy pull on dress ready for the hot weather.

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Sewing Adventures – Liberty insertion Dress

Regular readers are no strangers to seeing my go to dress, my own bodice block mixed with either a gathered or pleated skirt. It is by far the garment I have made the most as its not only a fast easy make it’s easy so easy to wear.

Rewind to late November 2019, I’m working 7 days a week, it’s hot the air is heavy with bushfire smoke and we are preparing to fly to England for Christmas. To say I was busy would be a vast understatement of the facts. In my bid to speed things up I grabbed some Liberty fabric from the stash that was pre washed, my bodice pattern and headed to Bobbin and Ink to teach for the day. Good Luck with the buses meant I arrived early lay out my fabric, cut my bodice and thought yep no problems tonnes left for my skirt.

Only not so much, my skirt was too short, like much too short. In a panic and under time pressure I basically threw it back into my to do pile where it has been floundering ever since.

The fabric was way too pretty to lose so I needed to find a solution.

Cue some insertion lace and leftovers from one of my Liberty fabric Myosotis dresses. Using 2 lines of insertion makes the whole look more deliberate and less like I made a big mistake.

Showing that a little bit of a break and some creative thinking means that everything can be salvaged just sometimes we need to slow down and take a step back to find our solutions.It was also approved by the cat (an important part of the process that I’m sure all cat owners will agree with me).

Pattern: my own bodice block with a modified skirt

Fabric: Liberty lawn from Liberty of London, insertion lace from Pitt Trading

Alterations: next time just slow down and think some more

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Sewing Adventures – Outback Wife barkcloth dress

I had seen the Outback Wife barkcloth fabric on Instagram and it was so beautiful but the original price was a little out of my budget so I kind of forgot about it and moved on to other projects. When a Melbourne store was advertising they had the whole collection for $9 a metre my recollection came hurtling back and I was on the phone the first thing next morning.

There had been a merino wool version that I was really wanting but it had already sold out. In the end I said the wonderful sales girl over the phone give me 2 metres of whatever you have left in pinks or purples. She asked if I wanted photos and I said no let’s just go for it.
When my parcel arrived I got this white with big pink flowers and a lovely lilac based floral too. They were perfect. Now I just had to figure out the perfect dress.
I knew I didn’t want to do gathers as the fabric is too stiff but big pleats were definitely a contender. After much deliberation I did something I tell people not to do. I pinned the Deer and Doe Myosotis pattern to my own bodice block pattern, then placed that on to the fabric. Using parts from one pattern and parts from the other I ended up with a round neck bodice with short sleeves.
For the skirt I wanted maximum amount of useage so I cut the length I wear across the width of the fabric twice. Then pleated them up to fit the bodice. I didn’t really even measure them just went in by eye and adjust as needed. The centre front is an inverted box pleat and then all the other pleats are just knife pleats. This allows for good amount of swish while still sitting relatively flat around the waist. With a fabric this stiff you were always going to get some bulk. Plus the skirt has pockets!
The bodice has underbust and side bust darts but no back darts (I find for myself I don’t need them enough to be bothered about them).
Despite my rather haphazard approach to the pattern it does work. The bodice fits with being too tight, there is room in the waist seam for it to move freely without pulling, the pleats mostly disguise my lopsided torso (the weight of the fabric helps with this too) and the little sleeves are cute.
Now for the parts that don’t work as well. The neckline is a fraction too wide and I do have to be careful about what bra I wear or you can see the straps. Ideally I’d like to block it in by about 1 to 1.5cm at the shoulder seam then sort out the neckline shape a little more.
The neckline ripples above the bust when I move about. Yes a certain amount of rippling occurs in order to be able to you know breathe and move but this is just a little over that. A small pinch dart on either side of the neckline would ensure it would sit that little bit flatter. Similarly with the back neck I could take a small amount out of the centre back where the invisible zip is.
They aren’t big changes but sometimes it irks me that I know exactly what needs to be done in order to get a really good fit. The other side to that is the whole thing took me about 2 hours to make and I’ve had a tonne of wear out of it. It hangs nicely and looks good so it is my go to dress for teaching in as I just don’t have to worry about it. I just get dressed and go. It’s comfortable as long as I remember not to wear it on really really hot days when I feel the heaviness of the fabric a bit. Plus I get a tonne of compliments while wearing it, which honestly it never gets old hearing someone say lovely things about a dress you’ve made.
The good outweighs the bad and I would always rather have something finished than a UFO that never got around to be finished for fear of it not being perfect.
Also it should be said that laying one pattern on top of another and borrowing from both is NOT an ideal way to do things, so if you are going to follow my lead expect there to be some issues and maybe try it on a fabric that isn’t precious first?
Pattern: blend of my bodice with Deer and Doe Myosotis with full width pleated for skirt
Fabric: Outback Wife barkcloth from a Melbourne store originally with a short stay in the stash
Alterations: sort out neckline/shoulder area to cover bra and not have neckline gale so much while moving
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Sewing Adventures – My Fabric Place Cotton Sateen Dress

Last year the wonderful team at My Fabric Place approached me about using some of their fabric. I took a look at their selection and fell in love with this stretch cotton sateen, they had so many lovely fabrics it was a bit hard to choose from!

They packed it up and sent it across and while I have taken it out and patted it quite a lot I just never got around to using it. mostly becuase of time and because I didn’t want to make something in it that wasn’t going to be showing the fabric off to its best advantge.

Last week I cut into it, made it up, wore it on the weekend to a lovely ladies lunch with friends, got blog photos and kicked myself for leaving such lovely fabric languishing for a whole year.

It is a delight to wear with a nice solid heaviness to the fabric but not being hot. these photos were taken on a warm day after I’d walked, caught a train, ate lunch and been in a car and it still looks pretty fresh!

Make wise it is my own bodice block which I have altered slightly when I recreated it last year. I’ve added a bit more room to the sides. it helps my dresses hang straighter and doesn’t pull so much over the lopsided section of my torso. Seeing it in photos means I’ve spotted a few other things I can fix so I’ll keep those in mind for next time I use it.

The skirt is the full width of the fabric pleated to make the front and the same for the back. I didn’t measure the pleats just eyeballed it in.

I also added side pockets, the neck and armholes are finished with satin bias binding.

The back has an invisible zip which I inserted using my regular zip foot as I always do. I find the regular foot so much better than the speicifc foot. It also means if you know this technique you cna use any machine and never have to hunt to find the speicific invisible zip foot.

Pattern: my own bodice block and pleated skirt

Fabric: Stretch cotton sateen from My Fabric Place

Alterations: next time don’t wait so long to make up beautiful fabric!

With thanks to My Fabric Place for supplying the fabric for this project.

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2018 total makes

All year I’ve been keeping a tally of what I’ve made, I thought it would be an interesting way of seeing how productive I actually am.

Bessie swimsuit – fabric purchased 2018 from Rathdowne Fabrics

Emma slip in dark floral – fabric purchased 2018 from Pitt Trading

Tote bag in grey with pink spot – fabric from stash (originally from Spotlight)

7 kit bags in bunny print cotton –  fabric from stash (originally from Spotlight)

1 Peg Bag in Cat print lightweight canvas – fabric from stash (originally from Miss Matatabi)

Papercut Patterns Sway dress – fabric from stash originally from Pitt Trading, cream tassels purchased 2018 from Pitt Trading. Pattern given to me by a friend.

Grainline Linden sweatshirt – grey marle fleece printed with sloths from stash originally from Spotlight. Pattern given to me by a friend.

Grainline Yates coat – double sided suede from the stash originally from Pitt Trading. Pattern Purchased 2018

Tote Bag in Sloth print – fabric from the stash, originally from Miss Matatabi

Emma Slip with lace edge – fabric from 2018 Sydney Spoolettes swap, lace and fold over elastic purchased from Pitt Trading 2018

Emma Slip in lemon and pink floral – fabric from stash, original purchased from Pitt Trading. Lace and elastic purchased from Pitt Trading 2018

Darcy Boxer shorts in Navy cotton – fabric from stash originally from Pitt Trading, Buttons purchased 2018 from Pitt Trading. Elastic from Prym as part of my sponsorship from them

Deer and Doe Myosotis Dress in Liberty Lawn – tiny square print, fabric from stash, originally purchased online from a Liberty sale last year and then posted to The Englishman’s parents and picked up at Christmas. Buttons from Pitt Trading purchased 2018.

The Bingley Boxer shorts in star print cotton – fabric from Pitt Trading, given to me as the sample was used for store promotion

Deer and Doe Myosotis Dress in Liberty Lawn – tiny pink splashes print, fabric from stash, originally purchased online from a Liberty sale last year and then posted to The Englishman’s parents and picked up at Christmas. Buttons from Pitt Trading purchased 2018.

5 x wee braw bags – fabrics from Quiltsmith purchased 2018 for this purpose. Trims purchased from Pitt Trading 2018. Pattern  purchased from Craftsy

3 x Knitting size wee braw bags – fabrics from Quiltsmith purchased 2018 for this purpose. Trims purchased from Pitt Trading 2018.  Pattern  purchased from Craftsy

Jalie Clara Tights in Camo Print – fabric from stash but originally from Pitt Trading, Pattern purchased as a PDF from Jalie 2018

Jinbei shorts for The Englishman –  fabric from stash but originally from Pitt Trading, pattern salvaged from fire but originally from Nomura Tailor Kyoto

Papercut Patterns Adrift dress in pink lawn with large white flowers – fabric from stash but originally from Lincraft 2017, purchased on sale.

Papercut Patterns Adrift dress in floral silk – fabric from Pitt Trading 2018

10 Beeswax wraps –  beeswax a gift from SewBusyLizzy, Fabric from Quiltsmith and Pitt Trading all purchased 2018

Black, pink and spot pre printed tights – fabric from Pitt Trading 2018

Blue floral pre printed tights – fabric from Pitt Trading 2018

Cherry Blossom pre printed tights – fabric from Pitt Trading 2018

Tote Bag with lemurs – fabric 2018 from Pitt Trading as part of their #pitttradingbanthebag promo

Claire swimsuit – blue swim Lycra from stash originally from Pitt Trading

Bessie swimsuit – black, black and white print from Pitt Trading 2018

Nina Lee Kew dress – pale peach broderie anglaise from stash originally from The Fabric Cave, buttons from Pitt Trading

Angled hem waisted dress – hot pink Shibori cotton from Fibers to Fabric 2018 Gift as part of collaboration

penguin wee baw bag – fabrics purchased 2018 from Pitt Trading

Penguin drawstring bag – fabrics purchased from Pitt Trading 2018

Penguin sleeve bag – fabrics purchased from Pitt Trading 2018

6 rope bowls – rope purchased 2018 from lost Property HK Etsy store

Stripe jinbei shorts for the Englishman – fabric from the stash

Bingley boxers- pink destination fabric from Pitt Trading 2018, Prym elastic

Darcy boxers – moped fabric from stash originally from Pitt Trading, Prym elastic

maree swimsuit – pink Turkish print Lycra from stash originally from Pitt Trading

maree swimsuit – aqua belle print Lycra from stash originally from Pitt Trading

Darcy Boxer shorts and matching drawstring bag in Australian Christmas fabric from stash but originally from Spotlight. Elastic from Prym sponsorship

Casmerette wrap dress in jungle print rayon jersey from Pitt Trading – this one was made as a sample for the Pitt Trading Summer Soiree so is actually for one of the other girls working there.

Louisa swimsuit in autumnal florals and blue – from Pitt Trading – this one was made as a sample for the Pitt Trading Summer Soiree so is actually for one of the other girls working there.

Nina Lee Kew dress in red hail spot cotton from Pitt Trading this one was made as a sample for the Pitt Trading Summer Soiree

Elite Directo Bike Trainer Cover – cat fabric from Pitt Trading Purchased 2018

4 drainage bags – fabric purchased from Spotlight 2018

Papercut Patterns Sway Dress in Cranes – fabric from stash originally from Spotlight

3 Wee Braw Bags using up the leftovers from the Drainage bag fabrics

Seamwork Alamada robe in silk viscose- purchased from Pitt Trading 2018

Jalie Cocoon cardigan – merino wool from the stash originally from The Fabric Store

3 PICC covers – fabric from Pitt Trading

Rutland Collection wrist warmers – merino wool from the stash originally from The Fabric Store

Deer and Doe Magnolia in Rayon Challis purchased 2018 Lincraft on sale

Modified Myosotis Deer and Doe in white embroidered lawn purchased 2018 from Pitt Trading

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Sewing Adventures – Pink Shibori Fibers to Fabric Dress

Both a happy and a sad day today as I lost a dress and gained a dress. I unpicked my second favourite dress (you can see my original post about it here). It was however in a good cause, I want to remake my bodice block and since I know this dress was made from the original one and it fits well it was a good place to start.

Once unpicked I ironed it out straight and then used it as a guide to cut a new version using this lovely Pink Shibori Fabric.

The fabric is a lightweight cotton sateen. It has a lovely smooth sheen to it and drapes like a lawn. It was given to me as a collaboration with Fibers to Fabric Using many traditional techniques they have a lovely range of fabrics and it was hard to choose what to use!

On cutting out I made the decision to cut on the cross grain. It’s something that I rarely do but with the skirt panels being cut long and wide it was actually more efficient to do it that way.

Once cutting out was done I assembled the darts, shoulders and attached the skirt before hanging to allow it to drop. The skirt has some bias angles happening so I always like to give it a bit of time to see if it will move or not before I continue.

The fabric was lovely to sew with and has a nice polished cotton like sheen to it but weight wise it’s dense like a poplin yet drapes like lawn. It’s actually really nice and I can imagine on a hot summers day it’s going to be cool. I used a fine sharps needle and found that it worked very well.

Sadly my decision to cut on the cross grain came back to bite me. The back ripples a bit where the zip has gone in. I know its because the weave shifted during hanging (which is the exact purpose of hanging) but I must not have got it back to true before sewing. It also makes the bodice have slightly less give. Totally my own fault for rushing in and cutting without thinking it through. I’m convinced it will give with wear and all will be fine.

Sadly my outdoor photos aren’t showing the pink to it’s true potential. It’s been raining (which is great we need the rain) but makes blog photos hard. I rushed out to get these and the sun got so bright it washed out the dress colour. Also wind. Photographing skirts in wind is the worst!

Dress Pattern: My own bodice block and skirt from Simplicity 8048. Remade from a premed garment.

Fabric: Shibori Print Indian Cotton from Fibers to Fabric

Alterations for next time: slow down and be more careful of cutting.

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Sewing Adventures – Wee Braw Bags

Do you make Christmas presents for your friends and family? I always have great plans to and almost always fail to make everything I have planned. Not this year! this year I’m organised and already have sone done. (oh if you are one of the people who normally get presents from The Englishman and myself, well perhaps don’t read anymore ok? or practice your surprise face, your choice).

I spotted the weebrawbag via Instagram and was immediately charmed by it’s adorable shape. A few clicks later and I had the pattern downloaded and drawn up to the correct sizes. I’ve gone with the wee size and 3 of the bigger knitter sizes. It’s possible that if you are a knitter you may want an even bigger size as this seems a little small if you were working on a big project. In fact I’ve already made one and blogged it here

Fabric wise I didn’t have much that would work so went to Quiltsmith in Annandale to have a look. Sadly the store is no longer there. I’d been in a few times but rarely use quilting fabric, quilters who I know are devastated at the loss of such a good local store (support your local stores!!). I came away with a few cat prints, I know total shock that I chose cat prints. A navy and hot pink print featuring pattern shapes and a favourite cotton and steel print that shows thread reels. The reels say Measure Twice Cut Once on them! love them. Plus sloths because well, sloths.

Using my Prom cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter I had fun mixing and matching prints in an utterly madcap manner. Some of the combinations clearly work better than others but I love the freedom to play about and have no “rules” to it. I added a Star print from Pitt Trading that I had used for The Bingley Boxers and had scraps for leftovers.

The bags go together in maybe 15 minutes once you get the hang of it? Batch sewing certainly sped the whole process up. I went without any of the internal batting because a) didn’t have any b)I’m not sure they needed any?

Once done I used some lovely teal cord from Pitt Trading to create the drawcords and voila! Christmas presents ready to go…now I just have to finish all the other ideas I have for presents.

Highly recommend pattern for presents, anyone who needs to sew for school fairs, teacher presents and scrap busting. I also thing it would be a great project to do with kids, it’s all straight sewing but has some techniques which would be a good learning tool.

Pattern: Wee Braw Bag pattern by Laura Zuckerkuss

Fabric: cats x 3, Cotton and Steel Reels, Pattern Shapes and sloths from Quiltsmith stars and drawcord From Pitt Trading

Alterations: didn’t use interfacing because I didn’t have any to hand

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Sewing Adventures – Deer and Doe Myosotis Dress v2

I loved my first Myosotis so much I pretty much started cutting out a second one after the first day of wearing my first version.

I was using this lush Liberty Tana Lawn which was another one I picked up when I was in the UK at some point.

Everything was exactly the same as the first time I made it except for the collar. In my first one I get these weird drag lines. It gets so bad while wearing that it actually looks like the garment has tucks in it.

This time I tried it on before I added the collar and discovered the bodice comes up into the column of my neck. To fix the problem I shaved over a centimetre off from the neckline. I think I would actually take more if I’m going to make it again as it has still a slight drag line to it.

Apart from that it was as straight forward sew. I skipped making buttonholes as I discovered that I can just pull it on over my head. It needs a good press but when I took these photos I hadn’t bought my lovely new iron yet.

It’s lovely and floaty and goes well with tights and boots for winter and am sure it will ease me right into the warm weather too. Snapped these photos on a sunny day after teaching at Bobbin and Ink.

Pattern: Deer and Doe Myosotis Dress

Fabric: Liberty Tana Lawn

Alterations: shaved 1cm off neckline, all other alts as per last time I made the pattern.

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Sewing Adventures – Deer and Doe Myosotis Dress

I’m so excited about this dress! Truly I am, I loved it when I first saw the Myosotis released by Deer and Doe but didn’t think the shape would be for me? Through the encouragement of some sewing friends I gave it a go and I am so glad I did!


I cut a straight size 44 with no alterations except on the bottom ruffle I cut it at the full length. I wanted the dress to hit just under my knee.
I only had enough of this Liberty Lawn to do the ruffle on the bottom but not the sleeve ruffle but that didn’t worry me as the sleeve ruffle would’ve come a very long way down my short arms.
Mid way through the make I popped it on and was a little bit “oh my gosh I’ve made a little house on the prairie dress” but once it all came together it lost that look.


It’s not a super fitted dress and I deliberately chose to make mine not super fitted in the torso. As a result I can pull the whole thing on without undoing any of the buttons and the comfort factor is huge!
Construction wise it comes together very easily but be sure to choose something that can gather easy because “holy gathering Batman!” There is a lot of gathers.


The pattern pieces all fit together really well but I had to use an easing stitch to get the sleeves in perfectly and there is no mention of that in the instructions.
I also raised the side seam pocket placement ever so slightly as the original placement was just too low for me.

These cute square buttons I got from Pitt Trading as I liked how they mimicked the tiny pixels of the print.


Now that I have seen the photos I notice I have some bust drag lines and some around the neckline from the side neck outwards. Some of this could be because it needs a proper press, am working with a less than great iron at present. I’m not overly bothered by these but it is something I will think about before I make my next one and I know there is definitely going to be more!

Pattern: The myosotis dress from Deer and Doe
Fabric: Liberty Lawn from the stash but originally ordered from Liberty when they had a big fabric sale early last year. I ordered a few pieces and had them sent to The Englishman’s parents and then picked them up while we were there at Christmas.
Alterations: raised pockets by approx 3cm at side seam, changed collar construction to get a neater internal neck finish. Changes for next time, look at drag lines on bust and from collar/high shoulder point