Hail King Ken...

....he's done it again!

Here at Tessuti, we’re more than a little over the moon to be launching our new online shop. Have you seen it yet? This one’s been a looooong time in the making.



The man behind the change is our web maestro/master/guru Ken Davis. Or King Ken. You choose. He’s put an enormous amount of time, skill, energy and patience into this new look and on behalf of all of us at Tessuti, we’d like to say THANK YOU Ken!



This change is all about improved usability for you. We hope you now find it easier to browse the fabric collections and find exactly what you’re looking for. Some of the improvements include larger photos, more fabrics to view per page, and a clearer page numbering system allowing easier access to pagination.

Check it out and let us know what you think, yeah?

Happy shopping….


xx

50s inspired wedding dress on Packed To The Rafters

Watch Packed to the Rafters on Tuesday night? If you did, how cute was Melissa Bannon's wedding dress? More pics can be viewed here. I loved its simplicity, which reminded me of the wedding dress styles worn in the 50s.

The lace portion at the bodice is this 100% Cotton guipure lace - available only in Ivory.





This same design guipure lace is also available in 100% Rayon, in White, Ivory and Black.



(images)

Caged Colours a winner at Melbourne Cup

Here is the 1st prize winning design by Melbourne couturier Craig Braybrook who won the coveted Cup Day Racewear Designer Award with a bold take on the traditional 1950s-style jacket and voluminous party skirt, made up in the same fabric as our stunning Italian 100% silk duppion 'Caged Colours'.

Red Missoni Knit long-line cardi

Talented Donna sent me some pics of her longline cardi made in our lighter weight Missoni knit - a gorgeous blend of linen, silk, cotton and viscose.

Donna said:

"The design is based on an Onion pattern 1029Cardigan for knits.I modified the neckline to create a tie closure.The pattern works well with the fabric as it has vertical darts front and back.These disappear in the pattern but give the cardigan a nice shape.

The fabric was a bit tricky to sew - it was like dealing with a bias woven rather than a knit.The pieces grew longer and thinner as bias does.So I would recommend cutting with 'insurance' in the side seams, especially if using an untested pattern. But of course, you would make a muslin before cutting into the fabulous fabric!!!!



I laid out the pattern to take advantage of the zig-zag edge.I had to fake it on the sleeves and attach the edging separately.This pattern used almost all of the 1.5m that I purchased so was very satisfying.The colours are beautiful but this doesn't really show in the photos.The fabric is also extremely comfortable to wear - warm but light.

The pants are from a burgundy wool crepe from Tessuti (out of print Butterick pattern).I made these years ago and they still look great. Wool crepe is the PERFECT fabric for pants!

I missed out on the last lot of Missoni fabric you carried. I took too long to decide 'if I needed it'.This fabric is perfect with these pants and also looks great with navy.I love this so much I am considering another colourway (if not already sold out)!"



Isn't it fabulous? I've also got some of this fabric and have earmarked it for a three quarter sleeve, long line cardi.



Thanks Donna!

xxx

Fashion Design Studio Parade 2009

In Sydney and want to check out what this year's fashion students from The Design Studio (aka East Sydney) have been up to? You can attend by purchasing tickets from Ticketmaster.

It's a great night and you'll be blown away by the talented first, second and third year students.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 3 - 5 November (Wednesday is Trade Night).
Starts 7.30pm @ The Carriageworks.

Check out last years event.

Dylon Fabric Dyes now @ Tessuti

Finally.....Dylon dyes are available at all Tessuti stores and online. The original tin range has been discontinued and the new hand dyes now come in groovy glossy black 50g soft packs. There are 17 colours available.

Check out the facts sheet for instructions and helpful hints when using these dyes.

Having seen this gorgeous creation on Make Something not to mention all the fabulous tie-dyed summer creations in the stores....it's got me very inspired.






xxx

our fave top (part 2)...

Remember this post from a few weeks back? Well, a few customers and bloggers have asked for some measurement details so here y'go (and oh-so-sorry for the delay)... click on image to enlarge.



In the end, I shortened my length by about 8cm. Colette didn't shorten her top at all. Please note all measurements are in centimetres and include seam and hem allowances. Also, front and back pattern pieces are cut on the fold.




Happy sewing!

L x

UPDATE: Thanks to Nichola.....You can now download 'Our Fave Top' pattern here . Plus don't forget to add a pic of your finished top to the Tessuti Flickr group :-).

Happy Birthday Georgia x

I'd like to send a big hug and best wishes today to friend and birthday girl....Georgia. Where would we be without her? Over the past 2 years Georgia has inspired many of us with her fantastic pattern reviews and she's so generous with her time, whilst I drag her around the streets of Sydney for our photo shoots. I only hope she enjoys them as much as I do.

Remember my favourite top from last summer made from pattern Simplicity 3887? Here is Georgia in version F from the same pattern made up in silk/cotton voile 'Strawberry Scratchings'.



xoxoxo

Vogue Patterns $12 sale ends this Saturday.

Just a reminder that the $12 Vogue Patterns sale will end this Saturday 24th October.

Margaret's Retro Poncho Top

Here is yet another great easy top, this time a poncho style, that you can make without buying a pattern...woohoo!

Margaret breezed into our Surry Hills store a couple of weeks ago wearing this top made in our silk georgette '60's Retro Art' and I was all over it!!! The design was just perfect to show off the fabulous print.

She was also kind enough to email me the measurements and details. Quite simply Margaret bought just over a metre of the 133cm wide silk. Folded it selvedge to selvedge - cutting out the boat neck (as deep as you'd like) at the folded edge, so that there is no shoulder seam and centred it just right so that the design ran down the middle front and back.






Sorry folks...I've realised that my diagram doesn't match Margaret's instructions below (*measurements across top include the cuff)

The overall length of top is 66cm - Margaret recommends making the back slightly longer.

*The width of the top measured from each sleeve cuff is 95cm.

*The length of the sleeve from neckline to cuff is 38cm.

The cuff measures 38cm long and width is approx 2.5cm finished - therefore cut 5cm wide plus seam allowances.

Gather sleeve edge and join to cuff band.




Feel free to give this one a try....I'm sure you'll find it easy peasy.

Note: The very last of '60s Retro Art' is still available at Tessuti Surry Hills only.

Feature Fabric Of The Week - Home Sewing Is Easy

Look what just arrived in our latest delivery of cotton novelty prints.

This fabulous printed cotton Home Sewing Is Easy would make a wonderful skirt, dress, apron, sewing machine or ironing board cover.

I had seen this comical print in an earlier post on Christina's blog almost 2 years ago.It's originally from a vintage sewing booklet by Sally Stitch.....isn't it fabulous?



Home Sewing Is Easy is available at Surry Hills and online (and arriving soon in our Melbourne store).

Our fave top...

About six months ago, Colette and I both purchased a top that has fallen firmly into that part of your wardrobe that you wish you could wear every day. But that would be a little weird, slightly impractical and customers would surely notice, no? So what is one to do but make a copy, of course. Presenting version one of what might well be the first of many.

Here's the pattern. Two pieces. Both cut on the fold. How easy is that?


I have a bit of a thing for stripes. You know when you go into a shop, any shop, and are inextricably drawn to the same kinda thing, time after time, year after year? If it's got a stripe, you can bet I'll be looking at it. My love affair began when I first bought REMO's Stripey Thing back in 1987 (it's a little worse for wear, but still going strong!). And so when we got this 100% cotton jersey ('Magpie Stripe' - $20/metre - currently in stock at Surry Hills, Chatswood and Melbourne), well, I can assure you I did swoon. And knew exactly what needed to be done with it.

I don't generally recommend posing like this in public, but it gives you a good idea of how the sleeves fit...


...to give you this lovely, drapey effect in the front...


...and back.


I'm pretty sure that I'll have another version in my wardrobe before the month is out.

Lx