The Unpickstitch Papers

Megan Dress Hack

This beautiful piece of fabric had been sitting in my stash since February 2019. It is a really bold cerise with yellow and black swirls, on my favourite fabric to work with, African wax print or Ankara. A sewing friend and fellow minister’s wife bought it for me at a time when I was grievingContinue reading “Megan Dress Hack”

Fancy Shirts

I made a shirt last year and I loved it so much that I decided that 2020 would be the year of the shirts. The shirt I made was the Byrdie Button up by Pattern Scout, I was testing again. I made this shirt from a cotton lawn and trimmed it with navy dobby. ItContinue reading “Fancy Shirts”

Pattern Testing the Lulu Cardigan

This make is giving me all the autumnal feels which is very apt as I both finished it and am writing this blog on the first day of autumn. I was very excited a few weeks ago when Casey of @patternscout contacted me and asked if I would like to be a tester for herContinue reading “Pattern Testing the Lulu Cardigan”

Last of the summer

I can’t say that I’m much of a planner when it comes to this sewing hobby of mine. I see a pattern I love, consider it and buy it. I see some fabric I love, consider it and buy it and eventually I get round to making the pattern and using the fabric, usually. IContinue reading “Last of the summer”

Hummingbird tales

When I was in Primary school, I wrote a story about a time when I held a hummingbird in my hand when I was back in Ghana. A complete fabrication, and I hadn’t intended to deceive, but I must have written convincingly enough because my teacher believed it and loved it. And here I am,Continue reading “Hummingbird tales”

Africa, a different story

Last summer I was at an event hosted by Abjel Communications. The aim of the evening was to network, brainstorm, think and hear stories with the goal of getting a better story of Africa out there. A story of rich diversity, creativity, beauty, strength, struggle and hope among other things. Rather than just the hackneyedContinue reading “Africa, a different story”

Sew that stash

Hi, my name is Lena and I’m a fabric addict. My last fabric purchase at the time of writing was on March 1st at the knitting and stitching show. Almost 3 months now of no new fabric. In that time I have bravely walked into fabric stores like Sew Over It, Ray Stitch and DalstonContinue reading “Sew that stash”

Sewn in the past

So many creatives I’m sure, owe their love of making to a relative. I, like several others owe a debt to my mum for instilling in me a love for dressmaking. Some of my earliest memories were of our large, dark flat in Newington Green, North London. In a little room just past the kitchenContinue reading “Sewn in the past”