a project finished, a new project started

On Sunday I finished off my red and gold jacket. I’m so very pleased with it, and am looking forward to showing you photos when I have some of me in it! However, I’ve given you a sneak peak of the buttons at the waist.

Because it had taken up a lot of my time recently, taking me away from writing my book, I decided I needed to start a small project for the book, so that I can get something finished quite quickly and feel like I am making progress.

I’m working on some Vaupel and Heilenbeck linen banding that they so very kindly sent me. It is GORGEOUS to work on! The threads are plump, firm and smoothly polished. I haven’t worked with such a nice linen in some time! (Yes, the linen was a free sample, but no, they haven’t asked me to say nice things about it – this is purely my own thoughts!)

The project is progressing quickly, which was exactly the idea. However, I have made numerous counting errors, which has meant an awful lot of undoing! After the second large mistake yesterday, I wrote a section for the book on checking the position of the stitching, to make sure it is right! (If I can get it wrong, I figure others will make mistakes too!)

I’ve also drafted a new dress using my CIAM pattern making skills and have been searching for fabric for it. I’ve decided to use some *beautiful* fabric by Florence Broadhurst, an extraordinarily talented Australian wallpaper and fabric designer from last century. She was an amazing character, who lived larger than life, and whose mystery has only been enhanced by her unsolved murder in the 70s.

Welcome to those who are visiting today from &Stitches! For everyone else (who are of course welcome also!), &Stitches has today published an interview with me about whitework, which you may enjoy reading.