Calico Laine News

From the Old Hollywood Era starring the likes of Bette Davis and Ava Gardener, to modern day style icons like Scarlett Johanssen and Taylor Swift, we can always count on celebrities to push the fashion envelope. There are certain dresses that cannot be described merely as a fashion statement, some that are so iconic they can really only be described as...

Here, at Calico Laine we love nothing more than seeing what gorgeous creations our customers come up with. Over the years we have been awed and inspired by the wonderful (and yes, sometimes weird!) designs which have been showcased both on our website and our social media channels. We know that many of our customers, some with many years experience...

It's a cold winter's day today up on the Wirral and as I write this it's blowing a gale and raining cats and dogs! With this awful weather in mind it brings me onto the topic of today's blog and that is dressmaking for the cold weather! Below I am going to talk about three of my favourite fabrics to...

Jersey fabrics are always one of our most popular Fabrics for dressmaking whatever the season. These fabrics are so versatile making them perfect for almost any dressmaking project including t-shirts and dresses. Popular due to its element of stretch and beautiful drape, this range of comfortable fabrics provide excellent insulation possibly explaining why jersey fabrics were once strictly associated with undergarments...

For someone making their first attempt at Sewing, using a zip in your dressmaking project can be a little daunting if you're not sure how to install it in your garment. In today's blog, I'll be walking you through a tutorial on how to sew a zip into your dressmaking project. What you'll need: A regular dress zip measuring your...

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and is the ideal time for exploring your creative side. With the party season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your outfits. Forget about traipsing around the busy high street trying on a variety of uninspiring outfits which will make you blend into the crowd, and...

With Christmas rapidly approaching, the decorations are starting to come down from the attic and the Christmas trees are finally going up in our homes. If you're hoping to make some of your own decorations for your tree this year, you might have already bought some fabrics and other materials to get started. At home I like to decorate my...

As the world came together last week to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the tragic death of the much loved 35th President of The United States, John F Kennedy Jr, we remember not only what a legendary figure JFK is, and what conspiracy surrounds his death, but what an icon his wife Jackie Onassis Kennedy, was. From 1961 until her...

Autumn is possibly the most beautiful season of the year, with those distinctive autumn hues of golden brown decorating the world around us and leaves crunching beneath our feet. Long before those bright mornings take a frosty turn and the chilly autumn gusts start to blow through the trees, you will find your thoughts turning to your autumn wardrobe. Keeping...

At this time of the year, BBC One and ITV are usually in battle for viewers with their big budget programmes, Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor respectively. As much as I enjoy a good singing competition, this year I have been hooked on Strictly. As well as watching the celebrities trying their hand at a Jive or American Smooth...