Katie Makes Stuff

28/09/2026

Now it’s been received I can share the photo of the last scale skirt I posted out.
I actually had a different color combo in mind for this recipient but as I started to sort my fabrics I was influenced by the season and had a turn around. As it is this color combo was just perfect and I’m relieved to say she’s over the moon!

Can’t wait for some proper photos of her styling it up in true Tiger Rose style 🧡💚

As always this is totally made with scraps, off cuts and upcycled materials with a signature Cornish tartan scale thrown in for luck 💛🖤

27/09/2026

Shed 11 - Scale Skirt Step One

This is where my scale skirts begin, by shopping my own stash, by pulling out the tiny squares of fabric in a specific color palette, grabbing the different textures and prints that will all be cut into scales and eventually sewn in ever decreasing circles around a full circle skirt.

If you’ve ever given me fabric, in the form of a scrap, a damaged item, an off cut or in some very generous cases large pieces of unused materials then it’s highly likely this is where it lives.

It might look like chaos but there’s a method to my madness and I can probably tell you where the smallest little offcut of a certain fabric is.

Alongside the fabric are buttons and cotton reels and cones, trims and fringing and laces and zips and oh so many patterns. There’s velvet and lace and linings and interfacing and sequins and beads.

And the plan is that it will all be used. Sometimes fabric sits in there for years before it gets used, sometimes fabrics don’t even see the inside of Shed 11 before they get allocated for a project. Sometimes I know right away what the material will be used for, sometimes inspiration strikes when I least expect it, sometimes it sits there until someone else comes to me with an idea or a request.

Even the shed itself is repurposed, it used to be my brothers prep shed, now it’s a fabric hoarders storage.
It gets added to by the generosity of friends and strangers, of people with the same mindset who don’t want to see good fabrics end up in landfill or packed away with no chance of a future. It gets added to by me through my visits to scrap stores and charity shops, I’m simply unable to walk past good fabric if I think I might even have the slightest possibility of finding a use for it.

I’ll keep and store any piece of fabric over 5cm square and the smaller pieces sit in pillow cases waiting to be made into stuffing for dolls or animals or cushions.

26/09/2026

8 years ago I started to knit a jumper. 4 years ago I finished that jumper. 2 years ago I sewed it up. Today I sewed in the ends and tried it on for the first time

It fits, now just to block it and maybe I’ll actually wear it this winter

Ps don’t look too close, it’s far from perfect but as I say, imperfectly done is better than perfectly not done 💚

25/09/2026

I really missed sewing this summer….so since the start of September I’ve been at my machine nearly every day, mostly sewing scale skirts which I can’t share yet, but I did manage a couple of children’s dresses and a birthday crown for my niece who turns two next month

Photos of said niece (and her brother) modelling some of the things I have previously made her 💚

12/09/2026

I’m always quiet on here in the summer as I get busy with mermaiding and festivaling and enjoying the sunshine but it doesn’t mean I haven’t been making

Firstly I have plenty of pants all made up just waiting for finishing and I’ll list them before the end of the month

Secondly, we finally have a little girl in the family I can make cute outfits for so I spent a lot of time making dresses and sets for her

Thirdly, I’ve been cutting scales like a scale cuttting machine and I’ve started on the first of 9 new scale skirts with a target to get the finished by Xmas!

While I haven’t managed to make any new costumes during the summer months I did manage to make a seaweed scrap cardigan for 3 Wishes fairy festival and I did manage a few blouses from vintage table cloths

As always one of my main goals is to always use upcycled, repurposed and second hand fabric that might otherwise be heading for the landfill

06/05/2026

What might not be obvious when you see these skirts being worn is quite how large they are. These are ankle length full circle skirts and I cut them from large pieces of fabric, no seams, with a circle cut for the waist.
Full circle skirts are without a doubt the very best for twirling!
This skirt base is made from a photography drop cloth that was kindly donated to me. The scales are hand cut free hand which means I can get as many as possible from each piece of fabric, they are all different sizes and cut on all angles of the fabric to reduce waste
This particular skirt comprises scales cut from:
Old velvet curtains
A damaged black velvet scarf
Gold sequin offcuts from when I shortened someone’s trousers
an orange cotton dress that had a stain
The decorative trim of an old duvet cover
Upholstery offcuts
Leftover scraps from a merry go round costume
Donated satin scraps
Drill cotton left over from another circle skirt I made
Gold lace from a charity shop top
And many many other scraps with a history that to many would have been considered only good enough for throwing away.
Making these skirts takes me hours and hours but I love seeing them come together and it gives me great satisfaction to keep so much fabric out of landfill.

I’ve got one……possibly two more left to make……….

26/04/2026

Four of the six scale skirts I have made in the last 12 months, these are labors of love, gifted to some special people, made in my spare time and when motivation strikes

Each one individual, each one created to reflect the tails of these wonderful mermaids as they take to the land to enjoy two legger events

Each one is created from totally repurposed materials, bed sheet and table cloth bases with scales hand cut from all manner of items, some from my scrap stash, many from charity shops and car boot sales, when the textures and colors are just right I’ll cut up anything: blouses, skirts, dresses, trousers, items that have been discarded by a previous owner and are ready for a new life, there are satins and sequins and velvets and cords, cottons, chiffons and even spandex and always a scale of Cornish Tartan 🖤🤍

These skirts take around 25-30 hours each to cut and sew, not to mention the hours spent trawling for fabric, I always say never again but I think there’s one more I have to make first…..

Thank you to Mischief the Mermaid Porthleven Mermaid Kara-Hope Mermaid and Storm The Siren of The Newquay Merpod for styling and modelling their skirts so beautifully. My fingers might be sore but my heart is happy 💚

04/03/2026

Where are your pants taking you!
These ones are keeping cheeks cosy in Oulu as Tracie and her friends head to the Winter Swimming World Championships

For the unaware, like me, Oulu is in Northern Finland and Google tells me it’s a glorious 4 degrees today

Good luck Tracie 🏊‍♀️❄️

27/02/2026

I’ve got 3 pairs of Cornish tartan pants left
2 medium
1 large
These are in Cornish hunting tartan and can be with you by St Pirans Day 🖤🤍🖤

17/02/2026