Author: Ruth Singer

I’m being very mean with my posting this week until I get the camera thing sorted. Of course I am also insanely busy, but who isn’t? I had a lovely time camping and enjoying some rain. There really has been a drought in the south-east, so it was good to see rain, even if it…

The turnip skirt, as promised! The back hem is about 8 inches longer than the front, which is turning into a bit of a trademark. I love it, such a great way to make a simple 3 panel skirt a whole lot more interesting. I also tried putting in ric rac in the side seams.…

I love to finish things. I really like to see things done. So I have been rather frustrated today as I haven’t been able to finish the many things I have on the go. Two felt bags need another wash to be ready to go off for exhibition and I need olive green bias binding…

I’ve just seen that the Costume Institute of the Met has updated its highlights pages with some lovely new things like this coat by Fortuny, c.1930. I adore Fortuny. He designed clothes from about 1910 that were heavily inspired by Renaissance textiles – very dear to my heart. One of his techniques was to print…

If you like my work and are interested in learning some of the techniques I use, this course might interest you. Hand Constructed Fabrics for Fashion course24-27 July 2006 A four day course exploring a range of fabric manipulation and applique techniques for use in clothing. The techniques covered include complex hand-pleating, folding, stitching, quilting,…

ooh, it’s been ages since I posted. I hadn’t realised when I started this a few week’s ago how much I would miss it when I couldn’t post. So what have I been up to? I had a couple of days working in London – doing my regular guided tours of V&A fashion gallery. After…

Well, not a book of birthdays but a book for a birthday. It’s my mum’s birthday and she asked a couple of months ago for me to make her a covered address book. I painted one for her when I was about 15, and she’s used up all the pages – most of the S…

Since I discovered Tie One On a few weeks ago, I have been thoroughly re-energised in my apron fixation. I have always loved them and honestly had no idea that anyone else understood it. So it was fantastic to discover that other people are equally (if not more) obsessed than I. Last year I designed…

I had a great day or two shopping last week, on the prowl for nice vintage things.While in London for a meeting I popped into a charity shop and fell upon some vintage knitting patterns. Its rare to find pre-60s patterns cheaply, these were £1.50 and 75p, so I was really pleased. Not that I…

I had an unreasonably early start this morning to get out to Basingstoke for the course I am teaching every Saturday this month. Its a family fashion workshop and today was good fun, and I managed to stay awake throughout! I taught the group how to work with felt to make corsages and do cut-work…