William Gee's Haberdashery

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William Gee's Haberdashery

Welcome back to William Gee.
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Five coat and jacket sewing patterns for winter

Sewing yourself a coat might seem like an overwhelming idea – but there are some lovely, accessible sewing patterns out there. Like any sewing project, there’s a range of difficulties and styles. Choose from a simple and cosy quilted jacket, a classic lapelled coat, or a more technical topstitched anorak. Sewing a coat is still […]

How sewing my own clothes changed my life (and how I think about resources)

We start sewing for all sorts of reasons. Some of us learned in school, were taught by grandmothers, or caught the bug after watching programmes like The Great British Sewing Bee. Perhaps you were tired of high-street options and wanted control over your own wardrobe, or you wanted specifically to move away from the reliance on […]

Five Sewing Patterns for your Autumn Wardrobe

The evenings are getting chillier, the leaves are changing and pumpkin flavoured drinks are back on coffee shop menus – which all means that autumn is just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I find that my inspiration for sewing, or ‘sewjo’ as it’s often referred to on social media, returns with […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024 final! And the winner is…

How has the final for the 2024 Great British Sewing Bee come around so quickly? What a 10 weeks it has been – we’ve seen judges in Anna Wintour wigs, outfits made from cricket whites and show stopping lingerie-inspired bustier gowns. The finals for the Bee are always spectacular, and this one was no different. […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Fashion designer week | Episode 9

With just four sewists left, it was semi-final week in the Great British Sewing Bee! The judges set three challenges inspired by world renowned fashion design houses – Balenciaga, Gaultier and Chanel. Episode 9 recap In this post I recap the ninth 2024 episode – there are spoilers underneath, so don’t read on if you […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Diva week | Episode 8

It was the quarter final this week on the Great British Sewing Bee. I can’t believe we’re at the 8th episode already! The sewists spent Diva week drawing inspiration from their favourite stars, ranging from Mariah Carey to Elton John. When I heard Diva week was coming, I instantly thought of previous Bee winner Annie’s […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Lingerie week | Episode 7

It was lingerie week on the Great British Sewing Bee last week. I particularly enjoyed this week – it’s quite challenging sewing, and I think it really shows off the sewists’ ability to be precise and fit their pieces to real life models. It’s a fun episode too, with creative underwear designs and luxurious fabrics […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Kids week | Episode 6

Kids week is a regular feature on the Great British Sewing Bee, and this year the sewists were tasked with making a children’s sequinned bomber jacket, turning old towels into fancy dress, and creating an outfit inspired by a childhood photo. Haven’t seen it yet? You can catch up on BBC iPlayer whenever it suits […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: India week | Episode 5

This week on the Great British Sewing Bee celebrated India – long known for its beautiful printed cottons and stunning saris. The contestants were asked to make a traditional Nehru Jacket, transform a garment from madras check cotton and calico into a new outfit, and to create a made to measure dress inspired by the […]

Esme and Patrick episode 4 - sewing bee

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Reduce, reuse and recycle week | Episode 4

Have you seen the latest Sewing Bee? I was a little late watching it this week, but it was a good one. Episode 4 was reduce, reuse and recycle week – where the sewists focused on using second hand materials and fabric scraps in each of the challenges. They sewed a quilted bag, transformed discarded […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Holiday Week | Episode 3

Have you watched week 3 of the Sewing Bee yet? This episode was inspired by travel, and saw the sewists creating summer blouses from tablecloths, nautical-themed bags and ‘outfits fit for the French Riviera’. You can catch up on BBC iPlayer whenever it suits you, and tune in for Episode 4 at 9pm on Tuesday […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Sports Week | Episode 2

It was Sports Week on the Great British Sewing Bee last week, which saw the sewists making garments over three challenges inspired by sports. They tackled stretch fabrics and an ‘avant garde’ transformation. You can catch up on BBC iPlayer whenever it suits you, and tune in for Episode 3 on BBC 1 at 9pm […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2024: Episode 1 recap

Welcome to Episode 1 of the 10th Great British Sewing Bee series! We’ve seen a lot of amazing makes over the last decade, but each year has its own challenges, showstoppers and creative team of contestants. Have a look at our post introducing the new sewists this year – I can’t wait to see what […]

The Great British Sewing Bee 2024 air date and contestants!

The Great British Sewing Bee 2024 is officially returning to our screens on Tuesday 21st May! The much loved sewing programme is just around the corner, and we can’t wait. Where to watch You’ll be able to watch it on Tuesday 21st May at 9pm on BBC One, or catch up on iPlayer. The contestants […]

The Great British Sewing Bee 2024: what we know so far!

The Great British Sewing Bee is returning to our screens this spring! We can’t wait to see what Series 10 has in store. Whenever this time of year comes around, I find myself looking forward to two major events in the sewing calendar – Me Made May and the Great British Sewing Bee. #MeMadeMay is […]

6 inspiring sewing podcasts to listen to in 2024 (and beyond!)

I love having something on in the background while I’m sewing or cutting out a new project. Podcasts are great – depending on which one it is, it can either be incredibly educational, or feel like having a chat with sewing friend while working on a project together. I’ve collated a list of my favourite […]

Beginner's quilting - Bind a quilt with mitred corners

Beginner Quilting: Bind a quilt with mitred corners

Welcome back to our beginner series on quilting. We’ve covered how to make a classic ‘Ohio Star’ quilt block and how to attach wadding and lining. This next step explains how to bind the edges of your quilt, and how to get a neat mitred corner. There are a few ways to bind the edges […]

A festive note from William Gee

A Festive Note & Christmas Opening Hours

Dear customers, suppliers and friends, As we come to the end of the year, all that remains is to thank you for your support and custom throughout 2023. Christmas Opening Hours & Final Orders Our shop on Kingsland Road will close 2pm on Fri 22nd Dec 2022 & will reopen 9am on Tues 2nd Jan […]

Beginner's Quilting: Attaching quilt wadding and backing

Beginner Quilting: attaching quilt wadding and backing

Welcome back to our mini-series on learning how to quilt. Quilting is becoming more popular again, and I’m so pleased about it. It’s a wonderful hobby, and a great way to use up scrap fabrics. We all need a bit of extra cosiness, and it can help you build your confidence with sewing. You can […]

Beginner Quilting Series: how to sew an ohio star quilt block

I’m not sure there’s anything cosier than a handmade quilt. The layers of soft fabric and wadding stitched together can be very welcome as we move into the colder months – perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with, topping your bed, or even hanging on the wall. Quilting, like many crafts, is becoming more […]

Sewing Your Own Underwear: Is it worth it?

Sewing Your Own Underwear: Is It Worth It?!

I love figuring out how to make things that I thought I’d always have to buy. I’ve been sewing for a while, but I had put things like swimwear and underwear out of my head, thinking it would be too technical. It’s not true! Sewing your own underwear can be great fun, and is a […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2023 Final: Episode recap and sewing inspiration

Great British Sewing Bee 2023 Final! Episode recap and sewing inspiration

This week was the final of the 2023 Great British Sewing Bee! It seems to have come around very quickly. We’ve seen some beautiful and interesting makes this series, and it feels like we have a nicely varied bunch for the final three. I’m going to recap the Series 9 final in this post, so […]

Great British Sewing Bee Episode 9: Utilatarian Week (Semi-Final)

The Sewing Bee: Episode 9 – Utilitarian Week (semi-final!)

This latest week is the Great British Sewing Bee’s semi-final, and the sewists are making all things workwear. Quarter-final week saw Lauren leave the show after a mishap sewing the sleeve of her smoking jacket in fashion icons week, while Asmaa won garment of the week again. She’s on fire! Back to Utilitarian Week! It […]

Vilene Interfacings at William Gee UK

The Art of Interfacing Fabric: Elevating Your Sewing Projects

When it comes to creating beautiful and professional-looking sewing projects, the key lies not only in choosing the right fabric but also in using the appropriate interfacing. Interfacing fabric is a hidden hero in the world of sewing, providing structure, support, and stability to your creations. In this post, we’ll explore what interfacing fabric is, […]

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