Boned Bodice – aka The Great British Sewing Bee
We saw the contestants of The Great British Sewing Bee tackling a boned bodice in their first challenge of week 5. It can be a tricky garment to make and so I’ve got my ten top tips to share. Check the size you are to make and make sure it suits your measurements as…
Read MoreTen Tip Tips for sewing Stretch Fabrics aka Great British Sewing Bee
Last night we saw the contestants make a Rugby top from cotton jersey and then the final challenge of making a tennis outfit with Lycra. Here are my ten top tips for success. 1. When sewing with cotton jersey fabrics, use a ball point needle which will help prevent skipped stitches. 2. If you are…
Read MoreEasiest Facemask Ever!
I have just, super quickly, made a facemask from a pattern by one of our Knitting & Stitching talented tutors Katya Essery, Sew Pretty. She has designed three sizes of this simple mask for women, men and children, which is made with minimal fabrics and really is easy and fast to make. The only difference…
Read MorePerfect Self-Lined Patch Pockets – aka The Great British Sewing Bee
Make your own perfect self-lined patch pockets to add to your shirt – aka The Great British Sewing Bee. This method is the easiest I know. BY WENDY GARDINER Make a self lined pocket quickly and easily and create a fabulous Hawaiian shirt for him indoors just like the contestants of the Great British…
Read MorePerfectly Concealed Invisible Zip Insertion – aka The Great British Sewing Bee
Last night we saw the contestants of the Great British Sewing Bee inserting invisible zips into the Palazzo trousers. This is my favourite type of zip insertion because there is no visible stitching on the right side of the fabric and actually I think it is the easiest to do – if you have an…
Read MoreMake a Super Quick Cosy Throw
This super quick cosy throw is the perfect solution to a wedding gift dilemma. Deciding what to get as a wedding gift can be tricky, especially when the couple have been living together for a while and there is no wedding list to choose from. So knowing the couple like cuddly things, I decided to…
Read MoreComplete Book of Sewing Techniques – new book
I got a surprise this morning. A new book on sewing dropped through the door – and it’s by me! The surprise is that I didn’t know that it was to be published. The book, called ‘Complete Book of Sewing Techniques’ is a rejig of another title I wrote back in 2007 (The Complete book…
Read MoreSew your own Weekender Bag perfect for cabin luggage or weekends away
Sew your own weekender bag, perfect for cabin luggage or weekends away in just a weekend! It fits the required size for airplane cabin luggage and it is soft, so can fold up and be packed as an extra bag should you come back from holidays with more than you take! Or it is the…
Read MoreSewing for the Boys – a rare treat as I usually sew for myself or work
I mostly sew for myself or work, so sewing for the boys was a treat. Although I’m a bit late posting this blog, these projects were made for Christmas, I thought I’d share it nevertheless. My eldest son has always loved going to music gigs and has done so since his early teens. A…
Read MoreRevamped Sewing Room provides a welcome place to work and create
At last I have done it – with some help from Lez my husband of course – revamped my sewing room to provide a welcome place to work and create! Over Christmas I had vigorously downsized much of my stash – of fabrics, remnants, patterns, books and files. But still, I wanted more! I wanted…
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