Fabrics-Store has many well designed patterns to inspire the possibilities of what to make with their lovely linen. In my over two decades of sewing I don’t think I have sewn more than one piece that is cut on the bias. The NICO Dress Pattern was a very good pattern for me to stretch myself…
PATTERN REVIEW: FS NICO Dress in Black Midweight Linen
“Dress was employed by the Renaissance elite to manifest rank and magnificence.” William J Connell, contemporary historian. In High Renaissance Italian art, virtuoso paintings convey an extravagant world of thick piled velvet, metallic embroidery and glossy, stiffened silks. This fabric allowed artists to tell wondrous, exotic stories, whipping and swirling in the wind, circling and…
Fertile moss greens of GREEN Linen are a vital ingredient in Pierre Bonnard’s paintings, bringing into them an energising, ambient glow. A leader in the early 20th century intimiste movement that observed the quiet intimacy of ordinary life, Bonnard made private, simple observations come alive through luminescent colour and scattered strokes of paint. Earthy greens…
I have been on the hunt for a classic white shirt for years. Since starting a capsule wardrobe, or well-worn wardrobe as I like to call it, this closet staple has been on my project list. I finally found the style I was looking for in the Cameron Blouse pattern and recently spent a Saturday…
“Fabric was more than décor; it became part of the story.” Alan Riding, writer Sinuous, flowing drapes of fabric flow across early Renaissance paintings, wrapping the contours of bodies and breathing into them dynamic life. Taking their cue from the sculptures of Ancient Greece, artists of the Renaissance period produced diaphanous veils of colour and…
Natural dyes have been with us since the dawn of civilisation & before the creation of synthetic dyes they were the sole source of colour for the fabrics, fibres and textiles of our lives. They have a rich and fascinating history, valued, traded and transported throughout the ancient world. It always fascinates me to learn…
Cold, white light runs through Pierre Auguste Renoir’s paintings, leaving dark, mysterious shadows in its wake. The mossy shade of FERN Linen coloured damp, dark corners of his outdoor scenes, soaking into them a weighty solidity and substance. World renowned for his sparkling qualities of light, Renoir helped lead the French Impressionist School to success,…
“Queen to b4, knight to F7, bishop to H5…” I couldn’t help but overhear an older man talking to himself as he replayed one of the great chess games of history. He held an orange book with tattered corners in one hand while swiftly moving the pieces on the board in front of him with…
“Veils and cloths are versatile instruments that stimulate fantasy and conjure make believe…” Paul Hills, art historian Fabric defines Renaissance art, cascading, caressing, or breezing over saintly figures, lavish interiors, and ethereal landscapes with decadent, sumptuous folds. Art reflects how fabric was woven into Renaissance culture, filling palaces, churches, interiors, and streets with glorious colour,…
The whole sewing community has been going crazy about Anna Allen’s Persephone Pants and Shorts pattern since its release in 2018. If you’ve been following some sewing blogs or makers on Instagram, chances are that you’ve already seen versions of it in your feed. It’s been so popular online that we just had to try…
HONEYSUCKLE linen’s coral pink slices through Pop artist Patrick Caulfield’s paintings and prints, causing a striking and instantly memorable impact. Still life and interior views were his favoured subjects, brought bursting to life with the acid-sharp colours and flat, gimmicky style of comic book art. Eclectic arrangements of big, bold and simplified objects in deliciously…
I recently spent another rainy Saturday at my sewing machine. This time, it resulted in a wide leg CHARLIE Pant in Midweight Natural Linen. As the temperatures continue to drop in Wisconsin and we prepare for our first snowfall, I have been thinking about warm layers and garments that transition from season to season. I…
Do you ever think about how no one chose to be here? No one submitted an application to exist. Our existence was chosen for us. Therefore, no one has more or less right to be here than you. You have a right to take up space. You are enough, the very essence of who you…
Vivid, intense colour emanates from British artist Patrick Heron’s work, infusing it with glowing, atmospheric light. The rich, deep violet shade of FIESTA MARINA Linen was a tool in his belt that he would employ to create pockets of cool, wintery darkness, cut into with shards of vivid, acid bright colour, or intensified further with…
Adaptive layering is something we feel can be practiced all year round. If you are looking for something light to throw on, or feel you need to add a little flair and colour to your warmer layers but still look effortlessly chic, then you probably need a duster! What exactly is a duster you might…
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11 Mar 2026 @ 4:37 am by Emma Cartmel
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11 Mar 2026 @ 4:37 am by Emma Cartmel