Dress Of The Day with Angela

  Pocket added to jnside of jacket. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Most of my Indigo Moon jackets don"t have pockets. I emptied a zip up bag which I was given on a Singapore Airlines flight. I am turning larger, stiff zipped make up bags into clutch bags by adding sequins. Other small, stiff bags with zips in bright colours can be turned into small shoulder bags or evening body bags for dinner in restaurants and hotels.  However, this light, thin bag will make a pocket. I considered making a slit for a pocket in a side seam, but slant pockets are better for side seams. If I had one smart zippered bag I could make two vertical slits and thread it onto a dress belt, or a belt for trousers (Americans say pants) or a coat. One drawstring fabric gift bag which came with jewellery, or a candle. Could thread through a belt on on evening skirt. lf I had had two elegant matching matching bags they would make matching patch pockets on a shirt, skirt, pinafore dress or coat But I have just on...

 "What do you want for your birthday?" my family asked me.  I wanted more clothes. But my family members already think I have too many.  So, I asked for silk pillowcases. When I searched online, I tried to find silk, from silkworms. I did not want satin, which is a type of weave. Satin can be made from any one of several kinds of fabric, including polyester. The visible difference is that satin, although thin, and soft and shiny on one side, is matt on the underside. I looked for the word silk. But also the word mulberry, which is the plant which silkworms feed on. Polyester is something different. Sets Of Two Some of the manufacturers offered sets of two pillowcases. Why would I settle for one when I can gettwo. I would rather have two cheaper ones than one more expensive one. Why? Because I need two when one has been hand-washed and is drying. Zip Closure Versus Envelope At first, I wanted a zipped one rather than the envelope style. The dearest ones are the ones with a...

  A zip / zipper sewn into a wrap-around coat. Photo by Angela Lansbury.   What Is A Zip In England we say zip. Americans say zipper. This is a rare occasion when it is the Americans who use the long word, and the British use the shorter word. Mostly it is the other way round. Who Needs A Zip? I sewed a zip in a coat. I had been meaning to do this for years. What stopped me?  My old, warm, hooded coat was brown, a colour which no longer suits me. I kept meaning to throw it out or give it away.  But it was useful to wear in the garden where it protected me from brambles and thorns on roses, from biting gnats.  It kept me warm. It and stopped me getting too wet when I went out to the garage. That is what it did most of the time. However. it did not protect me enough all the time. On one occasion I got snagged by thorns, my legs scratched and a nice skirt was torn. The next time, I got bitten by insects. I was not happy.  I was still not prepared to jettison t...

When you type in loosen  a tight skirt up pop a selection of videos.  I came across this handy video. The lady with the classroom of sewing mchines behind her demonstrates. She is fashionist Sheri. This works best on a long skirt, becuase you are making the skirt shorter. You pull the skirt upwards to the point where it fits. You cut the excess fabric off the top, a half inch or inch above the new waistline, for turning the seam allowance uder.  Shortening The Zip You cut right across the zip. Then, of course, you have to sew over both sides at the stop to prevent the zi pull from pulling off. Securing Seams On a skirt with several vertical seams, she reinforces the seams. This won't work on all gaments. But it might work on some, and just the one you wish to fix.  Two sources of videos are wikihow and youtube. A few Americanisms transated American - British English awesome - amazing, fantastic, impressive, wonderful dress form - mannequin, model zipper - zip Useful ...

Hand sewn zip added to handbag with magnetic button closure. Photo by Angela Lansbury.  I looked for advice on hand sewing a zip in a pocket. If I have open pockets I am likely to lose items, or at least drop them and feel foolish retrieving them. I have sewn a button onto a towelling bathrobe pocket to secure my phone. No need to cut a buttonhole. Just sew on a piece of ribbon. However, for travelling on a plane and long journeys when I might be taking off my jacket to go through security it is extra important to have secure pockets. So I am sewing in zips. The first thing to note is that the British word is zip but Americans say zipper. From one of the YouTube videos I learned some handy tips. 1 You can cut a nylon zip which is too long. 2 If you want stronger cotton you can put your thread through bees wax, which is sold in a small disc shape in a plastic saucer with notches both sides so you can lower your thread into the wax. (I use button thread, which is thicker, but you nee...