Tuppence Ha'penny

The Escapade Dress is inspired by classic 1950s and early 60s summertime chic; the name is a nod (and a wink) to the effortless glamour and mischievous charm of golden-era stars Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren. The fitted midriff flatters your waist, while the wide scoop neckline is framed by gathe

The Serenade Dress, based on an original mid-1940s design, features a dart-fitted bodice with a ruched yoke, creating a wide neckline and almost-off-the-shoulder look with tiny cap sleeves. The gathered skirt’s frill echoes the ruched yoke and gives the dress a retro Hawaiiana vibe, while the gored

I'm thrilled to introduce our pattern for June, the Miramar dress. Miramar is a playful, sleeveless sundress with a sweetheart neckline and a classic fit-and-flare silhouette, based on an original design from the late 1940s. The name, meaning “sea view” in Spanish, evokes morning strolls on the prom

I've teased this pattern with the release of both the Explorer Shorts and the Librarian Skirt - I'm delighted to introduce the Calypso Blouse, a cap-sleeve, tie-front blouse designed for effortless style and carefree comfort. The blouse is cropped to waist length in the back, and designed to sit jus

And finally! Our third pattern release for March brings us all up to date, and I hope you'll agree it's been worth the wait! The Town & Country Blazer is a 1940s-inspired jacket pattern featuring elegant princess seams and classic tailoring. The curved, peaked lapel and flared peplum bring a touch o

Continuing our preppy theme, following on from the Librarian skirt, I'm delighted to present the Collegiate dress - a sleeveless dress or jumper/pinafore style inspired by the smart, youthful co-ed fashions of the 1950s. The bodice is neatly dart-fitted for a flattering shape, with a choice of V-nec

I'm playing pattern catch-up! This is officially the release for October last year, before I put my page on pause. Two further patterns - one for November and one to bring us up to date for current month - will be released in the next couple of weeks. The Librarian Skirt is a midi-length skirt cut i

I'm thrilled to introduce the Explorer Shorts – your new go-to pattern for adventure-ready style. Designed with both function and comfort in mind, the Explorer Shorts were created to be your ideal companion for travel, hiking, and everyday wear. They’re already a staple in my travel wardrobe! The de

This pattern has been in development for months, and I'm thrilled to finally unveil the Art Gallery Dress! The Art Gallery is a striking and elegant piece which draws together inspiration from several true vintage 1940s patterns. This quirky, asymmetric colourblock dress features a gathered contrast

I'm delighted to introduce our first official pattern for September! A faithful reproduction of a true vintage gem, this French Knicker pattern is based on an original design from the early 1950s. Unlike today’s form-fitting underwear, French knickers (also known as tap pants) are designed with a lo

Okay it's not exactly a seasonal cover image, but it's my only completed version of this pattern :) I'm delighted to introduce the Calyx Dress, an elegant princess seamed day or cocktail dress, based on McCall 3745 from 1940. The bodice meets the flared, twelve-gore skirt in a striking zig-zag seam

Introducing the Parkway Coat, a 1940s princess seamed, single-breasted overcoat with arge, rounded lapels and in-panel pockets. It's here! This pattern was originally intended for release in October, but life stuff and grading difficulties got in the way. However, I'm thrilled to introduce the Parkw

This appliqué circle skirt is my own take on the novelty festive sweater tradition! The history of traditional Festive Jumpers can be traced back to 19th century Scandinavia, where thick, warm, brightly coloured woollens were knitted in geometric patterns. These Nordic knits became popular as skiwea

The Demure Tea Dress is a late 30s dress with shaped waistline and shirtwaist styling, based on Hollywood 1552 circa 1939. I'm delighted to introduce the Demure Tea Dress - ostensibly September's pattern (October's pattern is on track for release later this month). The Demure Tea Dress is late 30s d

The Weekender series is inspired by patterns from the 1940s and 50s which include interchangeable button-on accessories - perfect for travelling light or a weekend getaway, as you can create multiple looks with just a few items. The Weekender Bolero is designed as a second button-on option (in addit

The weekender series is inspired by patterns from the 1940s and 50s which include interchangeable button-on accessories - perfect for travelling light or a weekend getaway, as you can create multiple looks with just a few items. The dart-fitted sun dress bodice features wide-set straps and subtly sc

The Catskills halterneck bodice is inspired by one of Mrs. Maisel’s outfits from season 2 of the show. My pattern departs slightly from the screen version, featuring a centre front seam rather than a surplice front. However, I've included a pattern hack to make the outfit more screen-accurate. This

I'm delighted to introduce the Café Culture Dress, an elegant day or cocktail dress with mid-late 1940s styling. This is a beginner-friendly pattern, with a relaxed fit and no sleeves to set in. An extended shoulder line forms cap sleeves. Rows of shirring at the shoulder release to fullness at the

I'm delighted to introduce a pattern I've been planning since I started this Patreon page. It's one I've made several times and I'm often asked about the pattern - well here she is! The Sophisticate tea dress features ruched shoulder yokes which meet at a V-neckline above a sweetheart shaped lower b

I'm very pleased to introduce our first *new* (not re-release) pattern for 2024! The Rendezvous Jacket is a V-necked, zip-front hooded jacket inspired by an original vintage late 30s velvet jacket I saw online. The hood has an oversize, rounded shape and extends to the V-shaped neckline, so when not

With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought I'd share some Valentine-themed projects! Candy conversation hearts have a long history dating all the way back to the 1860s, when Daniel Chase invented a machine to stamp words onto candy lozenges using vegetable dye. Originally made in a variety of shape

After I promised to re-release older patterns in the new expanded size range, one of the most-requested patterns was the Brunch dress, previously released in May 2022. The pattern has been fully re-graded from scratch, and now includes the two sleeve variations from the original late 30s pattern. I'

Merry Kitschmas! For my very first Cricut project I created this cute reindeer appliqué beret, inspired by a vintage felt Christmas tree skirt. I know it's a bit tight to squeeze in a last-minute make before Christmas, but this is a quick project, easily completed in an evening so perfect if you nee

The Etoile skirt is a full skirt constructed in 16 gores, with zigzag seaming creating an eight-pointed star. Perfect for the festive season or cocktails! This skirt was inspired by vintage examples I’ve seen using contrasting textures in a monochomatic colour scheme (such as my velvet and taffeta v

Who doesn’t love a cape? Always chic, capes can be dressed up or down, and instantly elevate any outfit. Named after the Greek god of the west wind, the Zephyr Cape can be made for any season. Make it in terrycloth for a chic vintage style beach cape, or in tweeds and velvets as outerwear for the co

A companion pattern to the Bletchley Blouse, the Home Front Shirtwaist bodice expands on the same single-size pattern I previously released in 2022. The updated and redrafted pattern features late 1930s / early 1940s styling with waistline gathers for a softly bloused effect. The pattern comes with

This issue of Home Notes from October 1951 includes patterns for two hat and handbag sets. I've included the patterns - fully scaled for printing in both print-at-home and A0 options - as a bonus project. The tiled patterns are labelled on a grid system for ease of laying out. For the felt hat shown

I'm very pleased to introduce the Bletchley blouse - named in honour of Bletchley Park in Buckinhamshire, home of top secret codebreaking operations during World War Two. I originally released this pattern, based on McCall 4040 from 1941, as a single-size pattern back in April 2022. This new and imp

I know you're excited about this one since I shared a sneak peek with the Lido playsuit paper doll! I'm delighted to introduce our latest pattern, the Meadowdays skirt. A quick and easy make, the Meadowdays skirt will make a great addition to your wardrobe at any time of year, just as chic in autumn

This magazine comes with a special bonus project, two "easy to make" velvet hats including the petal hat illustrated on the front cover. I've digitised the templates for both hats, which are attached as printable PDFs in both A0 and tiled versions.

Lidos - outdoor swimming pools, often situated near the sea - became popular in Britain in the 1930s. The term lido (pronounced lee-doe) comes from the Italian word for beach or shore. As either a one-piece or separates, the Lido Playsuit is perfect for lounging at the lido or taking seaside strolls

...And now for something completely different! We're making a foray into the 1950s with our Patreon pattern for June, the Mimosa dress. The Mimosa dress is a fun, flirty mid-50s style sundress, with a wide, V-shaped neckline perfect for showcasing a novelty necklace. The keynotes of 1950s styling ar

I store my A0 printed patterns in A4 ziplock bags, and find it helpful to have a cover page with the pattern image for at-a-glance identification. I created a series of cover pages - each with a quick-reference yardage chart - for this year's patterns so far. I created these for my own use but thoug

It's here! I'm delighted to introduce the Serendipity Dress, a 1940s style tea dress, evening dress or gown. Gathered centre panels in contrast fabric on the bodice and skirt give the Serendipity dress its visual interest and make this pattern perfect for using offcuts of precious vintage yardage. A

As some of you may know, I moved house this month and it took way more of my focus than I had anticipated! Meanwhile I'm also working with a new pattern grader, who is very thorough but works more slowly than others I've used. All that being the case I wasn't able to get this month's pattern out as

What could be sweeter than a little heart-shaped percher pillbox hat? I love all things heart-shaped, and spent many years wanting the perfect heart-shaped hat for Valentine’s Day until finally deciding to make my own! The pattern and tutorial is one I shared on my blog a couple of years ago, but I