Dovetailed News
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February Sewing Subscription Box : What Lena Made.
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Some things to consider if you would like to make a pair of overalls/dungarees in African wax print. Firstly, Ankara fabric comes in a narrow width of around 45”/115cm. The bib and trouser leg for the Yanta overalls is one piece, and originally I wanted the design to run vertically, but I couldn’t fit the pattern piece on that way so the design is running horizontally instead, which I am totally fine with. -
What Adelle made with your January Sewing Subscription Box!
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I knew straight away that I wanted to combine the print into one project. The mixing of prints is something I’ve noticed a lot recently and I anticipate this will grow come the summer months. -
FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING OVER £80
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WE NOW OFFER FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING OVER £80!!! This means that all of our international customers can fill their baskets. Oh, and we ship eve... -
The Toni Box Bag - Let's sew some Arm Candy: African print style!
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The new book from Adaku ‘Sewing with African Wax Prints’ is a project book full with colour and inspiration. The Toni Box Bag my the second project from the book and my first time creating a bag. The Toni bag is a large tote bag with a magnetic clasp. It’s lined with fusible fleece to give the bag structure and the lining can be made in contrasting fabric or like me the same fabric as the outer.
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The Jennifer Jumpsuit: The on-trend Summer staple.
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This pattern has 4 pieces: front bodice, back bodice, front trouser and back trouser. There is also an option to have a fully lined bodice which I didn't use at this time. The jumpsuit came together very quickly in less than an hour.
Attaching the zips, binding neckline and sleeve edges were a breeze and instructions can be found on page 114-115; 120-121. -
The Christie Circle Skirt: A simple sew with amazing results!
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As a circle skirt lover, one thing I have come to realise is really important is waiting for the hem to drop. As circle skirts are made on the bias [*note that this skirt was cut on the cross-wise grain*], the fabric is likely to drop in different areas of the skirt. As such, you should wait before hemming your skirt. -
The Philippa Pinafore Dress: Stylish and oh so versatile!
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This pattern is marked a three star difficulty (most of the other garments are two stars) and there definitely were some new techniques for me. I’d never done a half elasticated waist before, it was quite fiddly and a bit different from elastic all the way round, because you don’t pull the elastic through a channel, you insert it from the long side. It felt a bit counterintuitive and was a bit fiddly, but it worked a treat! It’s so nice to have it fitted at the back waist but still have a nice clean flat front. Definitely more half elasticated waists in my future!
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The Etta Shirt Dress: A guaranteed show stopper!
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African wax print fabrics are also perfect for new beginner dressmakers, being woven they are easy to create a variety of different projects from. From the projects within the book, the Etta dress was the one I just said ‘wow” as I turned the page! A classic shirt dress which a closely fitted bodice teamed with a flared skirt. A timeless piece that will be perfect for the summer days to come. -
Wax Print Lottie Culottes: A Super Comfy Staple
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The Lottie Culottes pattern was an incredibly easy sew, without the pockets they took me less than two hours from start to finish. African wax print is always a joy to sew and when the pattern is this straightforward, making these culottes is such a pleasurable way to spend a couple of hours. The instructions and illustrations were so easy to follow! -
The Lottie Culottes: Made for Summer
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When I received the 'Sewing with African wax print fabric' book, I was so excited to make the garments in the book. The book is awesome, it has a wide variety of garments and in an unusual fashion, it also has accessories, which is simply amazing. -
The Christie Circle Skirt : Made for twirling!
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"I started by placing the fabric tightly against my skin (just because) and then I washed and spun the fabric in the machine using a temperature of 30 degrees. Then I left it to completely air dry." -
The Dorothy Dress: Work from home in style!
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I chose to make the Dorothy dress, an straightish tunic with patch pockets, a boat bracket and bell sleeves. For me, it's the right balance between casual and dressed up. I'm working from home for the foreseeable future, and even before the pandemic I didn't have the kind of social life that required a lot of fancy frocks, but I do love a dress, and I thought the sleeves add that extra bit of interest.
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