Stitch it tonight a Bucket Bag: Sew up the perfect tote for all your essentials

This brightly coloured bag by Corinne Bradd is just the thing for packing up all your must- haves for the festive holiday. Easy to stitch and with a drawstring to close, it will look stylish and come in handy. It could even double up as a sack filled with presents under the tree! 

Essentials

•  Striped fabric, 120cm
•  2oz quilt wadding, 50cm
•  6mm wide cord, 200cm
•  4cm wide webbing, 100cm (optional)

Dimensions

• 40cm x 41cm 

Stitch a Bag

1. Cut a 85cm square from striped fabric and crease in half across the stripes. Trim a 42cm x 85cm piece of wadding and lay on one half of the wrong side of the fabric so one edge lies along the crease. Cut a 90cm length of cord and place along the crease. 
2. Fold the other half of the fabric over the crease line, to cover the cord and wadding. Pin the layers together under the ridge made by the cord before pinning the layers together at regular intervals. 
3. Use a zipper foot to sew directly along the side of the cord to make a piped top edge. Quilt the rest of the fabric along the stripes every 5cm to 7cm to hold the layers together and provide structure. Trim the edges of the fabric square if necessary and zig zag stitch along them. 
4. Cut eight 5cm x 8cm rectangles from striped fabric. Fold each one in half lengthways, right sides together, and sew along the long edge to make a tube. Turn each one out and press so the seam sits in the centre. Fold in 5mm on each raw edge and topstitch 2mm from the fold. 
5. Pin the flattened tubes to the bag, 3cm down from the piped top edge in a landscape position, at regular intervals, leaving a 1cm back seam allowance at either end of the quilted fabric. Topstitch them to the bag, on the long edge of each, to make cord channels. 
6. Fold the quilted fabric in half widthways, right sides together, and sew up the back seam with a 1cm seam allowance. Trim the ends of the piping and cover with a short length of bias binding or scrap of fabric slip stitched over the raw ends. 
7. Cut two 23cm squares from striped fabric for the bottom. Lay one piece face down followed by a piece of wadding the same size, with the second fabric square on top, right side up. Pin them together and zig zag stitch around all four edges. 
8. Find the centre of two opposite sides of the square and mark them with a pin. Match one mark to the back seam of the bag and sew the edge of the square to the bottom, stopping 1cm from either end. Find the centre of the front and stitch the opposite side of the square to this in the same way. The two remaining sides of the square can now be sewn to the rest of the quilted panel. 
9. Cut a 10cm x 100cm strip of striped print. Fold in 1cm on the short edges and tack. Fold in 1cm on each long edge and crease. Bring the long folded edges together and pin to make a 4cm wide strap. Iron fusible webbing inside the folded fabric to strengthen it, if required. Topstitch along both long sides, 2mm from the edge. 
10. Pin to either side of the bag, 4cm below the cord channels. Topstitch the bottom 4cm square of strap end to the bag, closing up the tacked ends as you go and reinforcing with a cross shape in the centre. Remove the tacking stitches. 
11. Create two small tabs from 5cm x 10cm rectangles, folded in half, right sides together and stitched down each side. Turn them out, fold in 5mm along the top edge and slip the ends of the remaining cord into each one. Topstitch them closed over the cord. Thread the cord through the channels at the top to finish. 

Stitch a pretty pinny with feminine frills by a fashion designer

You’re sure to look the picture of domesticity in the kitchen this Christmas with this fancy apron made by Stuart Hillard. It’s stitched in a cheerful floral repeat designed by Kaffe Fassett, and features lovely pleated details and a useful front pocket. The contrast waistband is long enough to tie in a bow at the front to ensure it doesn’t slip off during crucial oven to table manoeuvring! 

Essentials

• Floral print fabric, 50cm x width
• Plain cotton, light pink, dark pink, grey, 50cm of each
Dimensions
48cm x 98cm (excluding ties) 

make an apron

1 Fold 50cm x width of printed cotton in half, selvedge to selvedge, and press lightly. Tie
a length of string to a pencil, then pin at the top of the folded fabric, with the fold on the left. Position the pencil at the bottom fold and mark a quarter circle. Cut on the line and open out to make a semi-circle. Do the same with light pink lining fabric.

2 Create a pocket in the same way as for the apron, using 20cm x 40cm each of floral print fabric and grey cotton for the lining. From

grey cotton, also cut three 10cm x width of fabric strips. Join two of them together for the apron frill and set aside.

3 Make the pocket frill by folding the remaining strip in half, wrong sides together, and press. With the right side of the pocket in front of you and starting at one edge, create 5cm pleats in the strip and pin

to the lower curved pocket edge, right sides facing. Trim of any excess length and tack the frill in place. Pin the outer pocket and lining right sides together, with the frill inside. Sew the curved lower edge using a 9mm seam allowance. Turn out and press. 

4 Cut a 5cm strip of bright pink cotton and use it to bind the pocket top. Sew with right sides facing to the lining side, then turn the

strip to the front and topstitch neatly in place, tucking the raw edges in at each end. Pin the pocket to the apron front, 8cm down from the top raw edge. Stitch in place by sewing 5mm either side of the frill and the pocket.

5 Fold the longer frill strip in half, wrong sides together, and press. Create pleats as before, 8cm apart. Pin, then tack to the

lower curved edge of the apron, right sides facing. Pin the apron front and lining right sides together with the frill inside. Sew the curved edge of the apron using a 9mm seam allowance. Leave the straight top edge open. Turn out and press. Topstitch the seam 9mm from the curved edge.

6 To make the waist tie, cut three 16cm x width of fabric strips from bright pink cotton. Join them together to make one

continuous piece. Press the seam allowances open. Fold the strip in half lengthways, right sides together, and sew down the long edge. Turn the strip out and centre the seam along the back. Press.

7 Turn the short raw edges of the strip in and press. Fold over the top raw edge of the apron by 2cm and press. Tack in place. Centre the waist tie onto the apron top edge, wrong side to right side. Make sure that the tacked top edge of the apron is 5mm down from the top of the waist tie. Pin then sew the waist band in place along the top edge. Remove the tacking, then topstitch all the way around the waist tie. 

An expert fashion designer explaining how to stitch a winter wrap shawl easily

Sew a stylish accessory to vamp up your wardrobe 

Made from a length of fashionable checked wool, minimal stitching is needed to make Cheryl Owen’s shawl wrap. With a hint of vintage, it’s just the thing to take a roll neck and skirt to whole new levels. Pair with leather driving gloves for old-school glamour at its best! 

Essentials

• Wool fabric, 2m 
• Medium weight fusible interfacing, 20cm x 25cm 

Dimensions 

• 70cm x 195cm 

 stitch a shawl 

1. Cut a 10cm wide strip from one short edge of tweed fabric to leave a 75cm x 2m rectangle for the shawl. Set the strip aside. To hem, press under 1cm then 1.5cm on the short edges and stitch. Repeat on the long sides. 
2. Cut two 8cm x 20cm rectangles fromthe fabric set aside and medium weight interfacing. Press the interfacing to the reverse. Pin and stitch the pieces together around the outer edges, right sides facing, using a 1cm seam allowance and leaving a gap. Turn out and press. Slipstitch the gap closed. 
3. Slip the shawl over your shoulders with the short edges level, right side facing out. Fold back the inner long edge at the centre back 8cm to form a collar, pin in place. Remove the wrap and secure with a few stitches. 
4. Referring to the diagram, pin the strap to the left-hand end of the shawl. Stitch in place close to the short edges then again, 6mm in. To wear, slip the right-hand end of the shawl through the strap, folding the fabric to lay in pleats. 

Paris Fashion Week Dates announced 2016

Finally Paris Fashion Week dates announced

Men's Fashion Fall/Winter 2016

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 01/15/2016 12:00PM

Paris, Paris, France

France

Haute Couture

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 12/10/2015 8:00PM

Paris, Paris

France

Ready-to-Wear, Fall/Winter

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 12/10/2015 7:00PM

Paris, France

France

Men's Fashion, Spring/Summer 2017

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 06/15/2016 8:00PM

Paris, Paris

France

Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2016 Collections

Paris Fashion Week (Mode à Paris)

Starts: 09/09/2016 7:00PM

Ends: 2016-10-07:00.000

Paris, Paris

France

Upcoming Paris fashion Week dates 2016

Hello Visitors, I am writing this post to clarify the scheduled Paris fashion week's date.The most awaited Paris fashion weeks dates are not announced officially. Paris is not easy than other “Big 4” to pin it down.

However the fashion experts guessing, the Paris fashion week dates will roll over in the end of February 2016 after Milan, probably because Paris missed the opportunity long ago. The event will continue till March 2016.

Then it will begin in late September and it will continue till October for Spring-summer collection).

Paris is the topmost, brightest and rich of all the fashion weeks, which organized by the French Federation of Fashion. So let the blissful fashion begin!

We apologize that we can’t you with a date you are for. However I will keep posted on the same once the date announced.

Which vintage are You?

Want to draw inspiration from the past, but don’t know where to start?Take our quiz to find out which era best suits your bridal style 

Q1: Which hairstyle will you be rocking?   

a. A sleek bob
b. Bombshell waves
c. Victory rolls
d. A chignon
e. Long and loose with a centre partingf. Farrah-style flicks 

Q2: Which of the following themes best describes your home décor?

a. Art-deco eccentric
b. Boudoir glamour
c. Thrifty homespun charm d. Candy-coloured and cute
e. Psychedelic prints

f. Fun and funky 

Q3: Which of the following best describes your dream vintage dress? 

a. Heavily embellished with a dropped waistline 

b. Bias-cut with a figure-hugging fishtail
c. Something simple with buttons and a defined waist
d. Full A-line skir t which kicks out at the calves 

e. A short shift with long sleeves

f. A white lace pantsuit – all the better for dancing! 

Q4: Which of these is a venue priority?

a. A fully-stocked cocktail bar
b. A stage with space for a 15-piece big band
c. An area for bake-off style dessert table of homemade treats

d. A jukebox and plenty of space to rock and roll

e. A chill-out area loaded with cushions

f. A multi-coloured light-up dance floor

Q5: Which of these are your favourite accessories?

a. A jewelled headband and feathers
b. Opera-length gloves and a cocktail hat 

c. A headscarf and wide belt
d. Kitten heels and an oversized bow

e. Long beads and floral hair accessories 

f. Dangling earrings and sequins 

Q6: When it comes to flowers, you’ll be requesting...

a. An over-arm shower of gypsophila, carnations and foliage
b. A classic dome of white roses
c. A loosely-tied bouquet of seasonal, British wildflowers

d. A pretty pomander worn from the wrist 

e. A glorious flower crown or circlet
f. A bright, packed multi-coloured posy 

Q7: It’s your first dance; you and your groom will be busting moves to...

a. Always by Irving Berlin
b. Cheek to Cheek by Fred Astaire
c. All or Nothing at All by Frank Sinatra 

d. Love Me Tender by Elvis
e. And I Love Her by The Beatles
f. Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder 

Q8: Which of the following is your signature make-up look?

a. Pale foundation, kohl eyeliner and a defined cupid’s bow
b. Pencil-thin brows, mascara and dark lips
c. Arched brows, brown liner and a red pout d. Flawless foundation base, flicked liner and pink blush

e. Au naturel skin, nude lips and heavily defined eyes
f. Bronzed skin, smoky eyes and a pop of colour 

Q9: Your celebrity style icon is... 

a. Coco Chanel 

b. Ginger Rogers 

c. Hedy Lamarr 

d. Grace Kelly

e. Marianne Faithfull 

f. Jerry Hall 

Mostly A

Your style is: The Roaring ’20s
This era saw the rise of the ‘new woman’, recognised by her flapper style and bobbed hair. She could easily keep up with the hedonistic lifestyle, and would often be found at urban speakeasies filled with jazz and champagne.

Get the look: Create a lavish reception with a black and gold palette, setting the tone with art deco-style stationery. For tablecentres, drape pearls from candelabra and display props such as vintage gramophones and ostrich feathers. Stack gold-rimmed champagne coupes into a tower, and create a cocktail menu with bespoke tipples.The pièce de résistance should be your square-tiered cake, covered in edible gold leaf.

Mostly B

Your style is: ’30s Hollywood Glamour
As technology advanced from ‘the talkies’ to full-colour films and animation, actors sky- rocketed to global stardom.This was later known as the golden age of Hollywood.
Get the look: Take beauty tips from the first screen sirens with glossy waves, long lashes
and berry lips to complement a slinky gown. Complete a red-carpet-worthy outfit with chandelier earrings and sparkling jewels.
Take inspiration from crushed-velvet theatre seats and incorporate a flash of red into a monochrome palette. For added glitz, embellish tables with scattered crystals and name each after your favourite classic films.

Mostly C

Your style is: ’40s Thrifty Chic
The first half of this decade was dominated by the Second World War, and rationing meant home-growing and DIY-ing were increasingly practised.Yet despite these measures, patriotism was high in Britain.
Get the look: This style is all about the simple things, so consider hiring a village hall venue and decorating with bunting and ribbons. Fill baskets with wildflowers, and reuse tins and jam jars as vases for seasonal blooms. Consider switching
a formal dinner for afternoon tea served in chintzy vintage cups and saucers. Arrange long trestle tables in a banqueting style, and display a Victoria sponge with fruit and a dusting of sugar.

Mostly D

Your style is: The rocking and rolling ’50s
This era saw the advent of rock and roll, and the rockabilly rebels associated with it. Interiors took on a bright aesthetic, while jukeboxes of American diners became icons of the decade. Get the look: Nail 1950s fashion in a shor t prom-style gown with a cinched-in waist and frothy petticoat. Polka dots and pastel prints will add a retro touch to big-day styling, and don’t be afraid to add a pop of colour to your bridal whites with colourful shoes, belts or petticoats. Consider adding striped paper straws to glass bottles for the drinks reception, and work vinyl records into the décor as placemats or retro- style tablenames.

Mostly E

Your style is: The hippy ’60s
In the early ’60s, mods arrived to clash with the rockers, and by the end of the decade, a hippy counterculture had taken shape, giving us flower power and the sexual revolution.
Get the look: Channel Woodstock with a festival-themed do. Hold an outdoor ceremony in a woodland setting, and choose a short shift dress with flowing sleeves or a bohemian off- the-shoulder gown, completing the look with a crown of fresh flowers. Mix eclectic coloured glassware with botanical elements, including bark, moss and foliage. Being green is the name of the game, so try to stick to seasonal produce and local suppliers where possible.

Mostly F

Your style is: The funky ’70s
Enter the age of disco, where strobe lighting and glitter balls lit the scene, from the heady Studio 54 to local night-spots, and DJs got crowds shimmying to the disco divas of the day. Girls coveted big hair, and men: big sideburns. Get the look: This era is about having fun,
so incorporate colour into the big day with bright patterns and neon highlights. Create a vibrant atmosphere with lava-lamp tablecentres, bespoke neon signs or large illuminated letters. If your venue doesn’t have a light-up dancefloor, wrap fairylights around columns or beams,
and hang a glitter ball in the centre of the dancefloorreadyforWed-dayNightFever.

Also read my previous post

2015 & 2016 Top five fashion blogs in Dubai, UAE that fashion professionals should follow

Would you get married while pregnant?

Two former brides share their thoughts on tying the knot before or after the arrival of a newborn