sky lines
A perspective from above the clouds to the kitchen windowsill in the same week.
I enjoyed making this new piece from some grey linen I’d been saving for a while. The pattern is the Skyline Dress and I bought it as part of a Palestine fundraiser a while back. I really like Syd Graham’s designs and that they’re designed to suit a wide range of fabrics, sizes, aesthetic choices. If I can get my overlocker up and running again, I’d love to make a patchworked version for the summer - a bit like this beauty.
This design is clever because the straps thread through the back neckline and are super-adjustable by way of a tie at the back of one shoulder. About 20 years ago when I started sewing clothes for myself, I drafted a similar design but for a top, with a wide channel to thread a wider strap through and tie at each shoulder. I loved that pattern, and made quite a few as gifts, too. But I do think this dress version is superior!
The designer also provides fantastic walk-through YouTube tutorials for her patterns, as well as written instructions, making them very accessible for new makers.
I wanted to share this beautiful blanket my Mum knitted for me. She used her own hand-dyed, hand-spun merino in shifting, natural colours. The palette reminds me of her garden with shades of earth, lavender, roses, trees. It’s a great size for the sofa and i love it.
Some favourite things to share:
The Wellington Jazz Festival is happening at the moment, and some friends and I went to see Bumpy, a First Nations Australian singer and composer. Her music is gorgeous, uplifting, special! You can listen to a song here.
My friend Helen Lehndorf shares weekly thoughts, photos, art and poems over on her Slow-Small Media page. Her latest post, ‘53 thoughts’ on turning 53, is so simple yet meaningful. I loved reading them and you might too. In my experience, time is a spiral. Be a river.
Something I would love to start making this summer is a quilt from the Sampler Quilt Sew Along by Farm & Folk. The designer Sara has generously provided free patterns for all of the traditional blocks used in the quilt, and I’ve seen some beautiful examples of this on Instagram.
Thank you, as always, for reading. See you again soon,
Melissa X