PATTERN REVIEW

Each month in our pattern review column, readers share their unique style with a gorgeous garment make!

Name: Raph Dilhan (He/him)

Instagram handle: @raph_sew_and_so

Pattern used: Vogue V8759 and Simplicity/Mimi G Style S9043

Fabric: Mini Leopard Print Cotton Sateen

Fabric stockist: whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk

When coming up with a concept for an outfit to make for the Gay Times Honours, I immediately thought of this Vogue shirt pattern. I had already used it to make a gardening shirt for my partner Keith a few months prior and thought it would be a good base to put my own twist on. I paired it with the high waisted trousers by Mimi G Style.

SILKY SMOOTH

As I wanted my outfit to have high visual impact, I chose to make the whole ensemble out of one luscious fabric and chose glendina. It is an ultra lustrous silk-linen fabric and is very sturdy thanks to its linen content. The way it is woven allows the silk to appears only on one side. As a textile artist for film costumes, I had been using some recently at work and was amazed by its high sheen and capacity to be dyed vibrant colours. It's very similar to linen when sewing. It creases easily (but in a nice way like linen does), and has the sheen of pure silk. Oh, and the drape is absolutely stunning!

HIGH STAKES SEWING

I was alternating between projects as I was also making a leather kilt for Dr Ranj that had to be finished for the same event! The set took me about five days which included making a toile for the trousers, dyeing 6m of fabric a lime colour before cutting, sewing both garments and then adding an ombré hue (I wanted the colour to be reminiscent of a peacock feather - more on that in a bit!).

CHOPPING AND CHANGING