Literary Sewing Circle: A Project Roundup

 
This round of the Literary Sewing Circle brought lots of fantastical, fun projects. The elements of the book inspired a lot of different ideas from a range of readers. Here are the ones that were shared for the roundup! 

Over on Instagram, longtime participant @conlon.jan decided to take the green slime that Howl creates in a temper as her inspiration and made a Seamwork Cosmo blouse! 

New reader @dolorousrattus used the colours of Howl's suit as her beginning and made a grey and scarlet sweater echoing his style, using the Kajo pattern from Named. 

Over on Threadloop, Sara has shared her Magic Pants, a pattern by Anne Tilley -- inspired by the atmosphere of magic in the book in general. 

And on PatternReview, a few members shared their projects too. SewLSC made McCalls 7975, referencing both Sophie's 'fine gray dress' and the twists of fate she faces throughout the book!

VivianZ made a flamboyant vest with a pattern from Cutting Line Designs, to reflect some of the wild flashes of colour from Howl's spells 

Litapita took her lead from Sophie's cutting up and restitching of Howl's suit, and cut up a shirt she'd made for her husband to make a new pair of pjs! 

Silverdell also thought about Sophie's habit of cutting up Howl's suits (particularly the blue and silver one) and made a colour-blocked top from a Japanese pattern book. 

And of course, my own - a Celeste Dress inspired by Calcifer. This perfect fabric has all the swirly colours of Calcifer's flames, a perfect match. 

This was a fun round of reading and sewing! Thanks to everyone for participating. (And if I've missed your project somehow, please let me know, I will add it) . 

Look for the next round of the Literary Sewing Circle in Spring 2026. 

A Celeste in Calcifer Colours: a Literary Sewing Circle project

I finished my own project for the Literary Sewing Circle this week, and I love it! My inspiration came from the description of Calcifer, especially when Sophie first sees him when she ends up in the Moving Castle for the first time. 

She stretched out a creaking arm and heaved a log on the fire, which sent a spray of green and blue sparks flying up the chimney. She heaved on a second log and sat back, not without a nervous look or so behind her, where blue-purple light from the fire was dancing...she turned back to the fire, which was now flaring up into blue and green flames. "Must be salt in that wood," Sophie murmured... She was side tracked a little by imagining a face in the flames. "It would be a thin blue face," she murmured, "very long and thin, with a thin blue nose. But those curly green flames on top are most definitely your hair...and those purple flames near the bottom make the mouth..." Curiously enough, the only orange flames in the fire were under the green eyebrow flames, just like eyes, and they each had a little purple glint in the middle that Sophie could almost imagine was looking at her, like the pupil of an eye...

 

 The unusual colouration of Calcifer's flames made me think of a fabric I had in my stash -- actually an old sheet (probably from the 80s) that I've had for quite a few years. It leapt to mind and I couldn't stop thinking about it. The hard part was trying to decide what to make with it. I certainly didn't want to waste the fabric, as it is totally unique -- hard to get more of a thrifted sheet from years ago! 

I ended up going with a dress I've made before, which I also thought was pretty suitable to the Calcifer theme. It's the Celeste by Itch to Stitch, as a nod to Calcifer's previous existence. 

I made a couple of modifications this time around. I lengthened it slightly so it's just below the knee, and I extended the sleeve from a short to a 3/4 length, with enough of a turned under hem that I can fold a small cuff as well. Just as with my first version, I didn't put a side zip in, although this fabric is a bit more unforgiving than the linen blend of the first one so it's a bit of a shimmy to get it on. 

I really love how it turned out, and am particularly pleased with the sleeve. I extended it but then checked against another pattern that I liked, and realized that I needed to make the sleeve a bit straighter, as it would have been too narrow at the hem the way I'd first drawn it. A handy way to double check - now the sleeve is perfect. 

I took pictures at an art opening at my library; I felt like it was a good occasion to wear this. Love this easy to wear pattern, and I'm especially happy with this version, which feels more like a fall/winter version to me than my first one which was in floral print with short sleeves! That one is a summer staple. I'm sure I'll get a lot of wear out of my Calcifer dress. 

Literary Sewing Circle Wrap-Up

Today is already our final day of the Literary Sewing Circle focusing on Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle!

I hope you've had the chance to read the book, and both the first and second inspiration posts, and are getting lots of ideas for a project of your own.

This is our final and roundup post. Share links to your projects here: as soon as you are done your project, just pop a link to your post into the comments and we will all be able to visit your blog/instagram etc. and explore your creation -- remember, it can be sewn, or knitted, crocheted, embroidered... any textile art that you practice. Or you can just tag me, @sewmelwyk on IG and use #LiterarySewingCircle as a hashtag.

We've discovered more about the author and this book in the author feature post. If that sparks any comments, please share those, too! 

Here are a few questions to ponder -- please add your thoughts to the comments! 

Did you like the fairy tale structure and subversion in this story? 

How did Sophie's sudden aging affect her personality, and what did you think of her character, especially as she finds her voice? 

Did you have a favourite character? Were there parts you related to more than others? 

Could you see the hidden bits of the story ahead of time, or did things surprise you - like Calcifer's story and the contract, or the actions of the Witch of the Waste? 

Did you like the inclusion of Wales as part of Howl's story? Do you think it added to the story or did it draw you out of the fairytale setting of Ingary? 

Howl is a tricky character. Did you believe everything he said (or that was said about him) or do you feel he was hiding his real character often?  Would you have been charmed by him if you were Sophie (or Lettie)? 

If you have watched the film, did you notice a lot of differences? If so, did you like one format over the other? Or did you find them both interesting in their own ways - and with their distinct takes on the story? 

Please share your thoughts on the book, its themes, characters, or anything you noted about it -- either in the comments here or on your own blog with a link to your longer thoughts in the comments so we can find it. I love to talk about the experience of reading so feel free to comment no matter when you're reading this post; if you've read this I'd love to hear about it!

Also please share a link to your project in the comments -- our linkup did not work last time, so we'll go with links in the comments -- if that doesn't work for you, please email me or tag me on IG so that I can see and share your project. Thanks so much for reading and sewing along! 

You have two more weeks, until Nov 21, to share your project, if you want to be included in the round up post. 

Literary Sewing Circle: 2nd Inspiration Post!

It's time for more inspiration for our sewing projects drawn from Howl's Moving Castle! This week I'll be looking at some of the places and the imagery mentioned in the book to spark some ideas for our own sewing. 
 

Let's start with some of the places in the book. We begin the story in Market Chipping. You could make this Market Skirt by Texture Clothing (including a hidden pocket!) to reflect that. 

Or maybe this cute little Market Dress by SewPronto would suit you! 

Market Chipping sits within the Folding Valley -- so perhaps you'd like to fold up some mountains and valleys in this origami inspired pleated blouse by Liz Haywood! 

If we think about the Moving Castle as Sophie first sees it, you might consider something windswept like the moors it travels on, like the men's Breeze shirt by Twig & Tale. 

Or perhaps you're more interested in the heather that covers the hills outside the castle. You could make a pale green and lavender outfit using the free Heather Dress pattern by Mood

Or go a little more streamlined with the classic Heather Blazer by Friday Pattern Company

Of course there are the other locations that the castle opens onto, perhaps it's one of those that will appeal most. You could try Porthaven -- there are so many inspirations there! You could go literal with the Port Haven beanie, if you know how to crochet

Or you could shorten the name a bit and make the plain Haven Hoodie Dress by CKC Patterns 

Or you could think about the many things found in Port Haven for your ideas. From the sea, to ships, to mermaids, there are many directions you could go! 

Try the Shoreline Top by Natascha Chambers for Tauko

Or the Shoreline Top & Dress by Blank Slate Patterns

Or you could try the Smooth Sailing set by Wearing History 

Or maybe the Wave Dress by Pearl Red Moon on Etsy, lots of options for flowing ocean colours here

Could be the magical fight between Howl and the Witch of the Waste that sparks your imagination! You might try the Cloud Dress over at FibreMood in a stormy colourway

Or something mermaidy that reflects those shrieking mermaids driven onto the rocks to escape the magical storm, like the Tisha Mermaid Dress by Tiana's Closet (another free offering!) 

Or anything really, from MadeForMermaids! 

Maybe it's the Porthaven Marshes that have stuck with you from the story. In that case, you might want to try out the Saltmarsh Skirt by Merchant & Mills. 

The Marshes are where Michael and Sophie go to try to catch a falling star. You could reflect that with the Etoile Dress by French Poetry 

Or Pattern Fantastique's Celestial Dress

There's also the field of flowers that Howl has encouraged to grow on the edges of the Waste, which provides the stock for the flower store they eventually open in Market Chipping. You could go with any kind of floral named dress or top, there are hundreds of them! 

But you might want to challenge yourself with a tricky Flower Patchwork Top from Roberts Wood for something a little different.

You could also just choose a floral fabric that includes some of the flowers from the descriptions in the book.

And speaking of the Waste - that's not a place that anyone wants to go alone. The Witch of the Waste is a villain to be avoided. We'd definitely want to use some "Zero Waste" patterns here 😂

You can find many options at The Craft of Clothes, Liz Haywood's shop. From dresses to tops and pants, to the origami blouse above, you will find a wide variety of low and zero waste patterns at her shop! Maybe even this sweet Lillypilly Dress, a zero waste floral reference ;)

Of course there are many low and zero waste patterns by Birgitta Helmerson, too, including ones in her book Zero Waste Patterns. There is also a New Zealand based research project that has made all their artsy zero/low waste patterns available on their website. MakeUse. You'll definitely get away from the Waste here! 

Or you might want to try this cozy Cardigan and headband set at Bernina - perfect for cozying up in front of Calcifer on a cold night on the moors...far away from the Waste. 

 

Besides patterns themselves, your inspiration might just come from some of the colours and images in the book, whether from the clothes characters wear, or just from elements of the story. Fabric choice can be your main inspiration! 

Calcifer's colours are described very differently in the book than he is shown in the movie version. Our book Calcifer is made up of spiky green and blue and purple flames, with just a hint of orange for eyes. You could find a beautiful print in all those colours and use that for your project, perhaps this batik from ColorMyFab

Or thinking about Sophie as a shop assistant in the beginning of the book, she is in grey as camouflage against busy market days - and then, once she's an old woman, seems to rely on grey as well. Lots of soft, subtle greys to choose from to make something comfy. Maybe this deadstock knit in Heather Grey from Riverside Fabrics would work - referencing both Sophie and the heather on the moors! 

But Howl's greys aren't subtle - they are mixed with scarlet in the suit that Sophie mends magic into. You could try a print featuring both colours, or just make something putting two solids into one outfit. Options could include this fancy floral jacquard, or op-art silk, both from Fabrics-Fabrics. 

Howl's other suit features blue and silver, and ends up as a triangular patchworked outfit. Lots to play with there. Colours, shapes or patchwork could reflect that one! Maybe a fabric to catch all three, like this African print by laprintmaven on Etsy! 

Or you could go with rich reds and velvets, inspired by Kingsbury and the king's messengers, as well as Sophie and Michael's fine clothes bought to visit the King on Howl's behalf. Rich colours, fabrics and designs are suggested in Kingsbury! This red velvet from Ann's Fabrics seems sumptuous enough. 

Sophie's family gives lots of inspo both via their names, as in our first inspiration post, or in some of their descriptions. The dress that Sophie makes for Lettie a year before the story begins is referenced as evidence of her stitching skill. Maybe you want to make a rose dress like that one, using a soft pink fabric in your own right. This 'Baby Noil' viscose linen blend from Fabricana would make a lovely dress.

Fanny swans into Sophie's new house near the end, finely dressed in cream silk, dress and hat, trimmed in roses (made by Sophie)  while mistaking Sophie for a servant at first. Cream silk would be a beautiful option for something luxurious, even if you haven't, like Fanny, married money. This silk crepe de chine from Gala Fabrics is a beautiful choice. 

Martha, meanwhile, works at Cesari's pastry shop; the distinctive packaging at Cesari's might also inspire you! Can you think of a fabric all in pink and white stripes like their cake boxes? Like this one at GK Fashion Fabrics. Or a fabric covered in a cupcake print? 

And finally, Sophie herself is a wonderful inspiration. You could consider making a hat, like she starts out doing, using any pattern that appeals. Lots of fun patterns at MadCap Hats, to start with. Add some flowers or a ribbon and enjoy yourself. Or there is always the classis Rosabelle cloche, a free pattern, that you might want to try out. 

Sophie's stitching is quite magical, and I'm not sure we could replicate that ourselves. But we could give her skills a nod by using any pattern at all from Stitch Witch, a company with a handful of unique patterns to choose from, many of which feel like they'd fit in a fantasy story! 

I'll finish this post with a quote, from when Sophie visits Mrs. Pentstemmon who recognizes the charm on Howl's suit. 

Sophie thought uneasily about the grey and scarlet suit. She had darned the seams without noticing it had anything particular about it. But Mrs. Pentstemmon was an expert on magic, and Sophie was only an expert on clothes. 

Please share in the comments if you have more ideas, or if yours is already underway. I hope you are enjoying your reading!

Literary Sewing Circle: Author Feature

 

Diana Wynne Jones (born Aug. 16, 1934, London, Eng.—died March 26, 2011, Bristol) was a British fantasy writer of more than 40 books for children, many of which centre on magic or magicians. Jones was the oldest of three sisters and often looked after her siblings— deciding early that she wanted to become a writer, she began writing stories for her sisters when she was 13 years old. Though the majority of her books were written for children, Jones’s first published novel, Changeover (1970), was intended for adults. Despite having penned the novel in 1966, Jones did not embark on her writing career in earnest until all her own children (three boys) were in school. (via Britannica.com)

Her career revived when a Studio Ghibli movie was made of this book, Howl's Moving Castle, which introduced many readers to her novels for the first time. 

When the movie was made, the director Miyazaki was interested in highlighting the anti-war themes of the story, and made a few distinct changes to the original. There are many opinions on the book vs. the movie that you can search out, but this one at Screenrant was entertaining and pretty thorough (lots of ads on the site, however).

There's not a lot that ties her directly to the world of sewing but there are some indications she was familiar with the world of sewing and needlearts. In her own life there were mentions of the importance of clothing and presentation in the world, and in this novel, we get Sophie, who can sew magic into hats and suits; we get Sophie wearing 'mousy' grey when she feels afraid and powerless, we see Howl's flashy suits and the clothing that people in Kingsbury wear as opposed to Porthaven, showing class differences. Sophie's dress that she made for Lettie at the opening of the book also shows her stitching prowess, making this element pretty important in this novel (and sewing/weaving is even more explicitly referenced in another novel, Spellcoats).

Here are some examples. 

In her autobiography, she writes about being a child sent to her mother's Welsh family at the outbreak of WWII:

Life in the manse revolved around Chapel next door. My aunt Muriel rushed in from her house down the road and energetically took us to a dressmaker to be fitted with Sunday clothes. On the way, she suggested, as a way to stop us feeling strange, that we should call her Mummy. Isobel obligingly did so, but I refused on the grounds that she was not our mother – besides, I was preoccupied with a confusion between dressmakers and hairdressers which even an hour of measuring and pinning did not resolve.

The clothes duly arrived: purple dresses with white polka dots and neat meat-coloured coats. Isobel and I had never been dressed the same before and we rather liked it. We wore them to Chapel thereafter...

In an essay on Wynne Jones' children's books, the opening references magical weaving, as shown in her novel Spellcoats: 

“WHEN MAGES WEAVE, what they weave is so.” These words in The Spellcoats, by fantasy writer Diana Wynne Jones, double up as spell and tale: the narrator, Tanaqui, has used her skill to weave them into complex and beautiful rug coats, simultaneously forming the magic that frees her family and land as well as the words of the book itself.

And of course in Howl's Moving Castle, Sophie is an experienced hatmaker and seamstress, who sews magic snugly into the seams of Howl's scarlet and grey suit as she remakes it.  

It's clear that sewing serves as a metaphor for the magical power of making and unmaking the world around the characters, as well as a homely detail that can be funny in parts, too. 

I hope you are inspired to look into Diana Wynne Jones' works and discover some of her other novels -- she never really repeated herself, so while her other books and series are touched with magic too, they are all fresh and different from this one. And you won't soon run out if you do: check out her bibliography!