News
Make Your Own Body Double Workshop
I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a two-day workshop at Claire Tyler’s new Midhurst Sewing Rooms on 28-29th November. The Learn to Make your Own Body Double Workshop is one that you will love – once you get used to seeing your body double – because once created, you will wonder how…
Read MoreDisappearing Nine-Patch – Beginner’s Patchwork Live Workshop
If you are new to patchwork and quilting and a bit nervous about getting started, join me for a live workshop on Thursday 30th July at 4pm for a class on making a disappearing nine-patch. This simple technique is great for beginners as it is easy to do but the results are really quite stunning!…
Read MoreBeyond Festival of Quilts – virtual event launch
Some really exciting news – the Beyond Festival of Quilts, virtual show has just been launched, starting with the Live Workshops that need to be prebooked now and that will take place during the period when the live event would have been (30th July – 2nd August). I have been working on this event for…
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 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 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…
Read MoreCreative Sewing Weekends planned for 2018
We’ve two great Creative Sewing weekends planned for 2018, both to be held at a new venue in Haslemere. I say new venue but actually, the weekends will be held The Georgian Hotel, Haslemere, which is an 18th century building, turned into a hotel in the 1920s. Recently bought by a couple, the staff and…
Read MoreNot so Mystery Guest on BBC Radio 2
I had the pleasure of being Chris Evan’s BBC 2 radio show as his ‘not so mystery guest’ on Thursday last week. We were talking about sewing machines as his young son Eli wants one for Christmas so Chris wanted advice on what to buy as a sewing newbie. It was great fun and the…
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