Sew Chinelo: How to transform your wardrobe with sustainable style

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Measuring is really important, if you get them wrong, the clothes will not fit you correctly. I learnt how to take my own measurements myself and I always encourage people to do the same. Try doing this in front of a mirror, that way you’ll know if you’re distorting your body. It can get a bit awkward and there are some measurements that you won’t be able to do by yourself, so get someone to help you with those. My book, Freehand Fashion, covers body measuring and is clearly illustrated so you’ll know exactly where your tape should be. I think it’s a mixture of the 2, when you learn freehand, there are the basic cuts and dimensions which are standard, it’s all about marking measurements, positioning darts and shaping out the garment; these are all terms that are used in freehand cutting. There is also the process of mentally deconstructing a garment and translating what you have done mentally onto the fabric; I often see garments in magazines, shops, films, etc. and set myself the challenge of recreating them, sometimes I make mistakes which are actually discoveries. From practicing I know how to sculpt clothes around the female body without using the draping method; when I first started learning I would ask my aunties and friends if I could make clothes for them, I really wanted to learn how to make great fitting clothes for women of all shapes and sizes. Step 2; place the top of your tape on the top edge of the paper measure down 7″ and mark. then mark your vertical measurements+0.5″ (shoulder to waist and shoulder to hips)

I have been extremely busy working on my new studio and other things, all very exciting, but have kept me completely busy. I will do a tutorial for something as soon as I possibly can, I’m thinking something up-cycled, let me know your opinions and watch this space for it I can'tinterview you without asking about your wonderful earrings. Even my husband, who has no fashion-sense or interest in jewellery, has been commenting on themeach week! How many pairs of enormous earrings do you have? Do they all come from one shop? And which are your favourites?

I have added only 5 dates for this workshop so spaces are very limited; get booking guys!!! Here’s the link https://www.kazoova.com/activity/454/ Join these marks with a smooth curve and using your tape measure make sure that the curve is a quarter of the waist measurement+(0.25″ to 3/8″). if the quarter circle is too big or to small, shorten or lengthen the reference length and repeat until you get a close enough match to the waist measurement. Step 13: now you are going to make make the circle skirt for the dress, quarter the waist measurement. Get a piece of paper, take your tape and make a quarter circular curve in the corner, mark on one edge where the tape ends. Step 5; At the top of the straight line draw a straight line 2″ in towards the centre, then from the furthest marking from the centre, along the top edge, draw a deep curve the joins the 2″ line you just made. It should now resemble the second picture. I promised last week that there'd be an interview with one of the finalists. I really wanted to talk to Chinelo before she got inundated with other things, as I know SO many of you have enjoyed her creations and been inspired by her freehand cutting. It's taken longer than planned due to technical issues, but I'm delighted to welcome Chinelo Bally to the blog.

these 4 panels you just cut will be slightly smaller than the unfolded centre panel. It will now look like this: from the centre folds from the top seam, measure down 2-4″ and mark (this is for the sweetheart dip so make it as low or as high as you like). from that mark, draw a line that slopes up towards the joining panels at the top seam. From the top seam measure down the bust line (this is a reference mark) along this mark, divide your bust measurement by 4 + 2″ and mark, from the mark you just made draw a straight line 2″ long towards the centre fold. Connect the end of this line and the panel joining along the top seam with a diagonal line, it should now look like this along the topInvert the dart lines that are outwards facing on the right side of the fabric, now you are ready to draw your darts I’m sure everyone remembers my tie melt down. Gosh that was a very wordy pattern and not being a pattern girl it completely threw me. Prior to the sewing bee I had never used a pattern, but when I was confronted with my first pattern for the show, I relied heavily on the pictures for direction. So sorry to all those who were disappointed with the melt down, but hey, I never have to make a tie EVER again (I say that now but something inside me tells me I will soon post up a tutorial on making a tie freehand). for sleeves follow my tutorial on sleeves, the link is: http://chinelobally.com/2014/02/04/busy-bee-how-to-cut-a-sleeve-without-a-pattern/