Impossible pattern matching

It's quite impossible not only because it's an intricate pattern, but also because it's Chinese brocade - the world's most slinky and stubborn fabric. Plus, it's a mitred corner. And yet, here it is: And here is another one, on the grain: Can you see how it's done? Zig-zag. What? 😲 Yes, humble zig-zag. Put…

A bustle and a cat

I know I promised to get on with my Shivering Isles dress and do those fancy sleeves, but life interfered again: in 11 days we are going Subaquatic! And that requires an outfit, obviously. Plus, I finally figured out what to do with my purple outfit featuring The Cat: I mean the cat on my…

Flip ‘n Stitch spiral quilt square

This is a brilliant project to give your sewing machine some exercise making a striking quited square with any type of material, not just prime cotton poplin. This is my problem with paper piecing: patchwork was invented as a way to use up fabric scraps, left-overs from other projects and decently preserved bits from discarded…