Inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee, shown recently on BBC2, I decided to pick up sewing again. The last time I was really into sewing was when I was still belly-dancing. Some of my circular skirts and veils you can see here. The Great British Sewing Bee was sewing’s answer to The Great British Bake Off, although I find Patrick Grant a lot sexier than Mary Berry’s irritating sidekick, Paul Hollywood. 

The viscose/lycra jacket is from a pattern in de Knip, May 2013 issue. De Knip is for sale in newsagents, or you can download individual patterns from their website.  If you don’t speak Dutch though, I’m afraid you won’t be able to make head nor tail of the instructions. I can read Dutch but the mind-baffling draped pockets constructed within the side seam of the  jacket gave me a box-of-Anadin headache!

The skirt was an easy-peasy A-line pattern (also from De Knip) made with a fabric which I got for 4 euros a metre from the wonderful Albert Cuyp market. If you want a pattern in English then go to de Kniphal, also along the Albert Cuypstraat. De Kniphal used to be the best for fabrics too, but these days they only seem to carry interior textiles or highly ornate fabric for occasionwear.

The material for the digital-print jacket was a lot more expensive, 17,95 euros per metre from De Boerenbonthal. De Boerenbonthal is an Aladdin’s cave of sumptuous textiles which you can find about halfway along the Albert Cuypstraat at numbers 186-190.

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I hope this blog will inspire you to perhaps take up sewing for the first time, or pick it up again! Summer clothes are usually quick and easy to make and you’ll have a totally individual piece that will make you stand out from the crowd!