summer already?
March 1, 2015
Okay, it doesn’t really get cold here…but it also doesn’t get particularly hot. I am in a little bit of a holding pattern, waiting around for summer. These two pieces remind me of hot, humid weather. A shirt or dress that you can wear all day, and into the warm night.
They made out of thin cotton shirting. Each one is double layered, lined with more of the same plaid. I simply sewed the neck and sleeves together, turned the garment around, and sewed the shoulder and side seams. The whole thing, turned right side out, made an inner and outer dress layer.
The shoulders and sleeves are cut a little bit on the bias, and are meant to be worn loose, drapey, and possibly folded over.
The shirt was initially meant to be the top of a dress. I didn’t have much luck with the skirt, the fabric was just too thin to lay right, so I turned the top into a shirt. It was a little bit too short, so I added a strip of fabric at the bottom.
The shirt and dress have different necklines. I was having fun cutting out shapes and curves.
And here is the finished neck. Simple symmetry of curves, lines, and plaid.
scrapkins
February 13, 2015
I hate throwing fabric away. I also hate having it accumulate in my closet. This was a solution to take care of some wonderful large scraps of fabric left over from another project.
Turn them into delightful little napkins! Hemmed pieces of fabric are perfect for so many things. Tiny placemats, napkins, tiny tea towels, hand towels, or just something pretty to line a basket or bowl for fresh bread or fruit.
These are reversible napkins, cheerful and bright. The brown and white plaid fabric has strips of glitter throughout. It is delightful when the glitter pops out.
The napkins are on the smaller side, perfect for lunch with small plates and bowls.
goodmorning tunic!
January 15, 2015
This tunic shape is one of my new favorites. I ended up creating a mini series to study the shape, and how it changed with different fabrics, combinations, and directions. These are the results.
The above two are opposites. The fabric is the same, reversible double layer cotton, but the tunics were made with different right sides. On the left, with the checks as the right side, and on the right with the plaid. It was fun for me to see how the different materials looked, fit, and felt. Some people look better in small prints, and some better in large prints. It is interesting to see the same shape, with different prints, colors, etc, tried on different people. They are both mostly reversible, although the inside seams aren’t quite as nice as the outside ones.
Above is the desert tunic. To be worn in a dry, sunny climate. The sleeves can be unrolled for more sun protection. It is the thinnest fabric of the bunch, and while double layer, it is the same on both sides.
The sparkle plaid is one of my favorites. The little bit of glitter goes so well with the black and white check on the reverse! Again, it is two layers of thin fabric, magically attached together. It is a delightful combination, that still cheers me, even after working with it quite a bit.
Each tunic s hand finished around the neck, with homemade bias tape. Every one is finished a little bit differently, to keep me entertained.
All of these tunics are available for sale in my etsy shop here.
cozy winter flannel
December 4, 2014
Here are a few new dresses, made of flannel, and made for winter. 
They are both designed similarly, with bias cut sleeves, box pleats, and a simple drape.
Blue plaid might work over tights or leggings, to keep warm in this cold, damp weather. Blue plaid’s sleeves are not too long, and the boxy shape would fit well over a long-sleeved shirt. Blue plaid was designed to layer, and to keep cozy. Blue plaid is available for sale on my etsy store.
Brown plaid is going to my mom, so that she can stay warm while keeping shop in Iowa. With the cold winter winds, a warm dress is always welcome!
small production run
November 3, 2014
These are denim work dresses. They have a pocket for things; a tape measure or a trowel, a paintbrush, the corner of a tea towel, or perhaps a chisel. They are sturdy, and finished by hand. They are meant to be worn and used, patched, and used again.
Some jumpers have right handed pockets, and some have left handed pockets. They are made for different people to enjoy.
One of the pieces of fabric came with a flaw on the edge. I put it right on the front, and wove a bit of thread in to make it look a little bit interesting. I like things with a little bit of character some of the time.
There are three of these. One is spoken for, and the other two are up for sale. contact me if you are interested.
bias and straight
October 24, 2014
This dress is made with a combination of bias cut fabric on the top, and ‘regular’ fabric on the bottom. I wanted to allow for more movement in the top (which is created by the bias fabrics).
The hand stitched detail on the sleeves was inspired by my work mending victorian lace. It seemed important to have something a little bit delicately hand stitched. Of course I left a messy edge to come undone and fray.
This dress is another one that is loose and comfortable. Perfect for moving around, doing things.
work clothes
October 19, 2014
Sometimes new jobs need new clothes. I just had one of those changes, and have been working on making a new wardrobe of dresses. The designs are simple, easy to wear, and easy to move around in. I like to think of them as sack dresses that fit well enough.
The attention is to the simple details. An extra line of stitching, some gathers, a neat and tidy corner…
They are meant to change a little with time. No interfacing to keep thing stiff and held together. I like to think of the dresses as little creatures, moving and adjusting to the new wearer.
fancy dresses
April 17, 2014
The dolls grow out of a pattern cut from my coffee training folder.
They multiply. And fill up, one by one, with wool.
Then they grow hair. French knots, tied with embroidery floss.
And then they get dressed. These dolls like fancy dresses.
Cut from scraps of Liberty cotton.
They all try on different fabric scraps.
Which are then cut into multiples of geometric shapes for bodices.
Ties for hair.
Trapezoids for skirts.
The shapes are stitched together.
Pretty soon they are all dressed.
And posed for show.
denim, liberty, and christmas stockings
December 9, 2013
I was at the train station few months ago, and saw the most amazingly dressed man. He was wearing a beautiful Liberty of London button down shirt, and the perfect pair of jeans. I was taken by the outfit as it traveled onto the train, through airport security, and all the way to Dallas…when the man walked off the airplane from few rows in front of me.
When my sister suggested sewing denim Christmas stockings, the inspiration stayed with me.
These stockings aren’t too big. Perfect for special treats, a walnut or two, and a tangerine. Maybe some marzipan, or little bar of chocolate.
There are 5 different designs, some right side out, some inside out. They are all unique, and mix and match well! Each of the different denim fabrics has a different Liberty print loop to hang on the mantle.
I felt a little bit like an elf all weekend, with piles of fabric and stockings migrating around the room. Now the stockings are finished, and ready to go to their new homes. They are available in San Francisco at Beacon Coffee and Pantry, and online at Etsy.com, shop name: TorreyWitherspoon.
black dress with brown stripe
October 5, 2012
Another hand-woven cotton and vintage fabric dress. The black fabric is hand-woven cotton, and the brown from a roll of fabric that I found nestled among countless delightful rolls in a quiet little alley. There is nothing like the feeling of pulling out rolls of fabric, each more wonderful than the next, and collecting them in your arms until you can’t hold anymore!
Initially I had planned on making a horizontal neck line for this dress. I tried the top part of the dress on and decided that it looked better at an angle. The line worked better with the strong vertical line of the brown section.
The brown fabric on the bodice is sewn at an angle onto the black bodice. The angles of the shoulder, neck, and front pull the eye into the waist and then opens up again with the skirt.
The brown section almost pours out of the waistline, and onto the skirt. I matched the brown panel from the bodice to the skirt. The black part of the skirt is gathered on the back to create more fulness in the skirt. It is a pleasant view to look at when sitting down…
The back of the dress is all black. Because there is so much going on with the pattern and embroidery on the front I left the back plain. It is important for me to have some major elements of simplicity in design. Things can get too busy.
I haven’t managed to buy bias tape to line armholes and the like, so I came up with some fabric left over from another project. So the armholes are lined with purple and black spots..
living in the woods and making stuff 