Make It Monday - Denim Dress

After six months on my to do list, I finally finished this Wiksten dress this week.

I purposely made it quite plain because I still see myself as a beginner - especially when it comes to clothes - and I didn't trust myself to use anything with a strong pattern. I also made it in the largest size so it's a little baggy but warm, and perfect for autumn and winter. I plan to dress it up with some bright accessories and that's why denim is so good - it goes with any colour.

There were lots of new techniques involved - basting stitches (by hand and machine), setting sleeves and adding the collar. It's not perfect but for a first dress it went way better than I thought.

The pattern is really well explained and easy to follow despite the new techniques and I would definitely order there again.

For now I have a couple of easier projects lined up before another new dress.

Summer Manifesto #10 Wear more dresses

July has been the hottest month yet and helped me get out of my usual jeans and into a more summery attire of dresses and skirts. There was a stretch of about two weeks when the jeans didn't see the light of day.

I realised just how boring my wardrobe had gotten when colleagues and pupils commented on the change and I hope to keep up the variety all year round, especially now that I'm sewing my own dresses too.

Here's to a warm, more stylish summer!

Clearing Out

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While I wish I had Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe, I don't have the space or the finances. I cleared out my wardrobe last year but have been thinking about doing it again for a long time.

I finally got around to it this week and probably got rid of about a quarter of it. Despite several previous attempts, there were things in there that I wore aged 18, and probably never again since. There were also plenty of things that didn't fit.

I tried to follow a few rules:

• out goes anything that doesn't fit.
• out goes anything to grubby/overwashed to wear any more.
• out goes anything I wouldn't wear any more

I have been on a spending diet when it comes to clothes ever since I moved to Germany so many of the clothes are older and I often forget what's in there. While I'm still a way off, I plan to keep cutting down until I can wear anything I put my hand on.  

Apart from the obvious space saving and time saving, there is something very therapeutic about a clearout. I am looking forward to much more clearing out.