Bias Binding

I love bias binding. It finished off things so neatly, adds colour, texture, pattern and is just so satisfying to sew on. I got this broderie dress a few months ago, hoping for some Spring sunshine, but when I went to look at it last week, I decided that I wasn't so keen on it any more, and that it needed some work.

When I had been to one of the fabric shops on Goldhawk road last week to buy some bias binding to make some Midsummer Night's Dream bunting which had been ordered, I noticed this gorgeous red and white softly striped bias binding, and stupidly, decided not to buy it. Although as an afterthought, it was probably a good idea as I would have got on with customising my dress rather than finishing my order, which I needed to get done.

But as I don't live very far away, I went back today and bought a few metres of the bias binding, a bargain at 50p per metre.

The dress initially had buttons down the back, but I decided that aside from being very fiddly to do up, I prefered them to be down the front. So I altered a few seams to adjust the shape slightly so that it worked being work back to front from its intended direction, and then got to work with the bias binding.

I think garments being manufactured on a large scale would have the binding sewn on in one go, both sides at a time, but I always always sew mine in 2 parts. I firstly sew the outer side, on the inside so you can't see the stitching, and then either hand sew the inside, or then top stitch the inside side on. As I said before, I just love the neatness of the binding and the perfectly neat edge it gives to a garment.

So this is the finished effect. I love it! Instantly more exciting. I am still undecided about putting binding around the neckline as well - I like how it looks at the moment, but then I'm not sure if it needs the neck binding as a final touch. Maybe I'll wear it a few times and then make a decision. What do you think?

John M Armleder: Quicksand: Spring/Summer 2013

I love going to new and random art exhibitions, and so one of the amazing things about London is that there are endless venues and even more exhibitions.

As my parents came to visit for the weekend last weekend, I sent them a list of ideas at the usual venues for things to see. When my Dad responded and 'no'd' all of them, I then had to look further for something else to see.

So I found Quicksand, by John Armleder, a Swiss artist. It was a lovely mixture of colour, texture and sound, and is currently on at the Dairy Arts Centre, near Russell Square.

 

I read all of his leaflet which came with the exhibition, which was very interesting  but if I had to describe why I liked the exhibition, it would be this: lots of bright colours, glitter, and flowers planted in tyres. I realise that this makes me sound really simple, but that's how I looked at it. And it was beautiful.

Henna, Hairbands & Other Projects

The Boden Summer Catalogues have launched and it seems the weather too is playing along and actually being quite warm for a change which is lovely! So as the catalogues come out....so do my creations. For Summer 2013 I have made props for Womenswear, Johnnie b, and Mini and it is lovely to see them all now in the catalogues.

The Summer Johnnie b catalogue, shot in LA but with an Ibiza-y vibe. We shot at a gorgeous house on the beach in Malibu, and then at another beautiful location up in the hills. Our art director had a picture of some henna-d feet which she wanted as inspiration for this shot, but of course we couldn't put actual henna on the girls as it had to come off for the next shot, so I managed to do these lovely swirly decorations with a brown felt tip pen - looks pretty real doesn't it??

It seems like so long ago, when on October 1st I posted a picture of the lovely silk headbands I'd been asked to make for the Summer Womenswear catalogue. Little did I know that these would end up being used in many many shots in the catalogue, which was very exciting to see. 

And finally, in the Mini catalogue, I made some little cloth toys for a previous baby shoot and these ended up in the Baby Boden summer shoot, although in the hands of a rather scared looking child. I love seeing my creations in print so the summer catalogues have proved to be very exciting for me.