So I moved house… and now that I have a big kitchen, I’m cooking up a nice batch of dyed laces. My trick: always have a wetted sample piece of the garment fabric to match it to. And before you remove it, test a small cut off piece, by rinsing and drying with an iron… Perfection!

So I picked this up, and it was an enjoyable read (especially while flying over Greenland.) However… I’m convinced the 2020 death of my friend Job Jacobus Kootte — attacked by a polar bear in Svalbard — was a big inspiration. Not mad about it, but would really love to have confirmation… @tomhindle

Amsterdam is celebrating its 750th anniversary, and today they closed the main freeway and turned it into a 15 kilometre long pedestrian-only festival. The day was scorching, but unique. A city is just so much more relaxed with less cars around… (With @basilok.bsky.social )

Okay, I admit: I don’t know exactly WHAT liquidators do to the companies they acquire, but I suspect it’s not something that is beneficial to the business, or to the consumers of said company’s products. Correct me if I’m wrong… It feel like the hits keep coming!

After just over fifty hours squeezed into four long days, this dress is now almost done! But now I singlehandedly need to make five more... 😭 At moment’s such as these I’m overthinking my life choices… #hadestown #persephone #sewing #garmentsewing #costume #theatercostume #stress #dressmaking 🧶

Look at these fabulous pics of Milan in my all-leather Death costume for the Elizabeth (Sisi) show. I’m rather chuffed with them! Not bad, for a gifted self- taught amateur! ❤️ 🧵🪡🧶 #costume #theatercostume #leather #airbrush #tailoring #patterndrafting #coat #waistcoat #custom #sewing #leatherwork

I just love piling different stuff together. An audience may not see the individual parts, but they sense the richness of it… Here I’ve taken: leftover rhinestones, rivets, foiled- and sequined fabric, and added plastic necklaces from the party store… Cheap – but looks expensive. 🧶 #sewing #costume

I can finally share my Edna Turnblad’s Hairspray poster dress! Promotional looks like the are made months before we start work on the actual show, so they’re always mocked up a bit. But I’m happy with the result, and the wigmaker did well! 😍 #costume #sewing #drag #hairspray #theater #musical 🧶🪡🧵

Operation: Hyper-pads is done! This Joost Klein Eurovision inspired piece was a fun build. There wasn’t time for a fitting, but I’ve built so much for Richard over the years, that this was no problem. All patterned and constructed by me… #sewing #tailoring #chainstitch #costume #garmentsewing 🧶🪡🧵

So, I just constructed the largest shoulder pad of my entire career. Look at it!!! 🪡🧵🧶 #garmensewing #sewing #tailoring #shoulderpads #theatercostume #costume #costumier #toile #mockup #muslin

Well I did it again: I located a nice 130 year old chainstitch embroidery machine over in Belgium (Cornely K.) I keep snapping these rare beauties up, because I’m one of the few people that still embroider on them… Once restored it will live in my home workshop. ❤️🧶 #embroidery #bonnaz #cornely

Occasionally I read these stories of reclusive people who’s skin has literally fused to their own beds. And on some days… that don’t sound too bad! #goals #thoughtfortheday

“Sir, you alright?” I ask, shaking the junky’s shoulder: passed out, head back, mouth agape, stiff under touch. So I think: this guy is dead! (My CPR training rushing back.) Then suddenly - his eyes flutter, he groans, sighs - and farts… Something something never unpunished something. #amsterdam

Today on the cutting table: I finished the three piece all leather outfit for Death (Elizabeth.) Patterned, constructed and airbrushed all by me… This was a real challenge, now I have to do the whole thing over again for the understudy! Aaaaah!!! 😳 🧶 #costume #sewing #tailoring #craftmanship

It’s getting there… pfew! #costume #theatercostume #airbrush #leatherjacket #airbrushing #leather

Today is the day I’ve been slightly dreading. I’m going to airbrush a floor length leather coat. But I haven’t touched an airbrush in… well - EVER! Crazy!!! But hey, we never improve if we don’t challenge ourselves! But my test piece came out well… YOLO! 😁🧶🧵🪡 #costume #sewing

Trying out the feeling of the new bedroom carpet sample. Kitty approves it! #catsloveit #catsofbluesky #tartancarpet #carpet #tapijt #bedroom

Today on the cutting table. I’m quilting stretch goatskin. It will become the part of a costume for the role of Death… 💀 🪡🧵🧶 #garmentsewing #tailoring #stretchleather #leather #theatercostume #quilting #costume #sewing

Pfew! At least the jacket is finished! I like the chaotic lacing/eyelet combo. Got a bit tired with the old fashioned symmetrical approach… 🧶 #cyrano #garmentsewing #theatercostume #denim #selfdrafted #lacing #costume #sewing #jacket

I knew a lot of this, but it was still eye-opening. Worth your time….

While I’m sewing away today, I think I’ll listen to my favourite post-apocalyptic novel. Seems the season for it… #booksky #johnwyndham #triffids #postapocalypse youtu.be/i0x845GWExc?...

Basting makes life easier… 🧶🪡🧵 #sewing #costume #theatercostume #basting #handsewing #tailoring #tailor #sleeves #couturesewing #denim

Please American film and TV makers, I’m begging you: Dutch people are NOT German speakers standing next to a windmill holding a cheese! We have our own language and our own culture. We’ve never worn lederhosen, we’ve retired the lace cap, and wooden shoes are souvenirs for tourists… #goingdutch

Morning Bluesky! Today, in my quiet corner of this mad world: Edna’s hairspray dress is finalised for the first fitting. And while I wait for that, I’ll remember to breathe – and will move on to Cyrano de Bergerac. Hang in there! ❤️ #garmentsewing #costume #theatercostume #sewing #dressmaking 🧶

Today in the workshop: I dusted off my Cornely FD for some appliqué work. Hard to film and steer at the same time, but fun to do! 🧶 #garmentsewing #costume #chainstitch #cornely #costume #machineembroidery #theatercostume.

Need a little uplifting today? Check this twelve minute docu-film out. Don’t be fooled by the title! This is a surprisingly touching - and often humorous - portrait of a charming couple that bought their dream home, a house that just happened to have a bit of a history… 👍 youtu.be/gH4czqraTUc?...

Skilled craftsmanship is the end result of self-therapy that got out of control. Making with our hands is therapeutic – so build something! Fail, learn, try, grow! If you turn a nice pot, or crochet a nice cardigan you are less likely to get sucked into depression - or a fascist death cult. 🧶🪡🎨

Today on the cutting table: the voluptuous Edna Turnblad, for the upcoming national tour tour of Hairspray. This here will be the poster dress… #garmentsewing #costume #theatercostume #hairspray #patterndrafting #sewing #drag

I’m posting some goodies from my library of rare sewing books. Today I’ve chosen this lovely ladies coat with a - striking - pelerine. (June 1930) It comes from bound Rudolph Maurer magazines that I picked from a pile of books in Prague. Fab! 🧶 #garmentsewing #sewingpattern #vintagefashion

Yesterday, we danced on the edge of the volcano and celebrated my sweet husband’s 50th birthday. (@basilok.bsky.social) The party seemed to lift all attendants spirits - my own included. And I felt hope again. So my advise for the coming period is this: when life becomes hard - party harder! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

It literally pains me to see Lightlark talked about a lot on #booksky, but the - IMHO far superior - Larklight, seems almost forgotten. Sure they are very different book, for different age groups. But come on now bookskyers! Great books deserve readers! You’ll love it! Huzzah! #Lightlark #Larklight

Here’s a sped up video of me embroidering the letter ‘D’ on my chainstitch machine. These machines are hand guided with a crank underneath the table. They are 19th century technology, and I love them. No digitising, and no framing of the material. If it fits under the arm you can embroider it! ❤️🧶

I’ve been sewing for thirty years, so you’d think I would have enough experience to grow out of the: “Oh sure! I can sew this up in three/four hours!!” Fifteen hours later – still not done… 🙄😭 🪡🧵🧶

A former nyt co colleague pubbed a very powerful account of deep anti-trans bias at the nyt this morn. She did so with great bravery and honesty. Please read for the inside story of how the nyt silences trans employees as it pursues its biased coverage. (Also, please note Carly’s content warnings)

Hurray 100 followers! Thank you lovely people (and some bots but whatevs!) The unthrottled engagement on this platform has been a breath of fresh air so far. Let’s all keep it up, creative, and - most of all - friendly! ❤️ ❤️❤️ #bluesky #ijustthinkitsneat #ijustthinktheyreneat #newsocialmedia

I’ve been seeing more pussybow blouses for men recently, so I made my own. I ❤️ how the one strap accidentally matches up with the pattern of the shirt - and visually disappears. I wore it to see Sigourney Weaver in The Tempest. Some people stared. #IDGAF #sewing #garmentsewing #patterndrafting

Today on the cutting table: the fabric from Hell… Pattern matching is already difficult enough with any plaid, but one where the printed stripes are offset to the woven stripes? Diabolical!!! 😈 😭 #garmentsewing #ineedadrink #sewing #costume

Claire Shaeffer has passed.. We never met, but I owe her my gratitude. Her ‘Couture Sewing Techniques’ book 👍 is unique, and taught me unusual tricks - like incrustations (inserting one fabric into another.) She love couture sewing, and revealed it’s secrets. Thank you Claire! Needle down… 🖤🪡🧵🧶

Heartbreaking! Hey, but at least Zuckerberg made an extra buck… #dumpmeta

Well I’m on Pixelfed, I can’t upload my Instagram on Pixelfed.social as my husband can who is on gram.social. And while he can see my profile and my pictures, his profile is completely empty for me. But it’s not bad, it does look promising… pixelfed.social/stefanmakes

Hey Bluesky, this is me in my Amsterdam workshop! This old classroom is the place where I build costumes, tailor suits, sew dresses, and craft hats - mostly for theater. I often post my work, and process - sometimes other stuff. Glad to be here! 🧵🪡🧶 #garmentsewing #sewing #costume #hatmaking

Two days ago I announced I was leaving META in a FB group. There were well over 150 comments, but only one made the tired ‘it’s not an airport, you don’t have to announce your departure!’ quip. That says something to me… People are shooketh! #costumenetworkinggroup

I’m trying to watch a serious program, and all I can think is: ‘why is there an ominous grey mega-vibrator standing in the city of Doha?”

I started the process of detaching from META today. It turns out that taking that first steps and actually starting it is the hardest. I’ve deleted quite a bit already, and I’m discovering I actually get a spring-cleaning kind of joy from it. This feels good! It’s the right decision…

Hey Bluesky, guess who made that? THAT’S RIGHT! #new #millinery #hat #costume