Tailoring is a garment construction process with unique parameters. If it was a winter sport, I imagine it would be professional slalom skiing. Each calculated step and process may appear rather unnecessary, but omit it or approach it with a carefree manner, and it will be your undoing. Traditional tailoring is about precision and calculation. […]
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | Part 4: Fastenings Unless your garment is super stretchy you are going to need some kind of fastening to be able to get into it and keep it closed. Keep it Zipped! The most obvious thing to use is a zip. […]
As we know, a zip is not just a zip… SLIDER The slider joins or separates the elements when the zipper is opened or closed. Various types of sliders are available depending on use. ELEMENTS The teeth, also known as elements, are the parts on each side of a zipper that mesh, or engage, with […]
Rouleau Loops are the perfect way to add an elegant finishing touch to special occasion and everyday dressmaking projects, something a bit more special than standard machined buttonholes! I love these versatile little loops and use them all the time as a closure for fabric covered buttons and also when creating dramatic corset backed ballgowns. […]
Sewing bloggers are a great source of inspiration and if you’re a newbie seamstress, you can pick up some fab ideas from them. Here’s my pick of the best sewing bloggers that you should follow – if you don’t already. If you have any other suggestions, add them in the comments below! Why not read about our […]
When I used to look at buying a new sewing machine, the number of stitches per minute was always important to me – well, the quicker the machine stitched, the faster I could make stuff. Or so I thought. I have upgraded my sewing machine twice in the last 3 years and have only just […]
I hate ironing. No, I really hate ironing. The iron spends more time in the cupboard than in use but my OLD iron, the one my husband used for years during his art degree, sits permanently on the side ready for use. Not for ironing use, for pressing use. They’re the same aren’t they? Thankfully not! Everyone […]
For anyone who has thought about starting to sew, making your own clothes and accessories can seem overwhelming. There’s plenty of help out there – craft bloggers, social media, and even Youtube videos – but if you just don’t know where to start, or you want to learn from a sewing teacher, why not look for a […]
Whether you want to take up sewing as a hobby, or you plan to embark on a new career where sewing will play an important role, there is much to learn and a lot of enjoyment to be taken from this popular craft. So let’s start right at the beginning… Choosing Your Machine Before you […]
This is the final time I will ever have to do any kind of ‘Back To School’ shenanigans. My oldest is heading to University and my younger teen is in her Final Year A Levels, hoping to go to University herself next year. I no longer have to remember to buy uniform and new school […]
If you’re making products in fabrics (be it a dress, a makeup bag, or a simple pouch) – if the product is designed to fit a certain object or serve a certain purpose, it’s important to get into the habit of creating a mock up, more traditionally known as a Toile. Toiles are created from a cheap material […]
With words of warnings from my husband and teens ringing in my ears, I bought a rotary cutter last year. They all cringed and warned me not to – I am clumsy, sometimes don’t concentrate wholly on what I’m doing, and the fear was having to rush me to Casualty needing stitches to stop fingers […]
I have owned a sewing machine of various kinds since buying a hand-cranked Singer at the age of 16. Recently, I twisted my husband’s arm (well, bank account really) to buy an all-singing, all-dancing new one. And I LOVE it! This beauty is computerised and I am starting to learn how to use some of […]
My Grandma used to say to me “measure twice, cut once” and of course I would smile at her, nod, and carry on hastily with my cutting out and sewing. Everyone makes mistakes sewing, no matter how long you’ve been at it. Only last week I sewed a bag together, muttering to myself that it seemed […]
One thing that students of all ages often find difficult is cutting fabric. So here is a short post on how to improve your fabric cutting abilities, because if you cut something out accurately, then it will be a LOT easier to put together accurately. Buy the best quality scissors you can afford. William Gee […]
This simple guide has been built for those who have just bought a new sewing machine, or for those who are looking through your sewing box and thinking, ‘I got this foot with my machine and hey, i have no idea what it actually does’. I’m going to give you a quick run-through to the feet […]
So as promised, here are some top tips for placing and cutting out your pattern. This is possibly one of the most important bits of the dressmaking process – if you cut it out correctly, then the garment will go together well. For part 1, click here. Read the Instructions! It sounds daft, but the […]
A pattern is a tool to enable you to create something, whether it is a bag or a blouse, and contains all the information you need for a successful sewing project. Other tools include your scissor, pins, needles, thread, sewing machines and marking tools. The key to successful sewing is accurately transferring all the marks […]
As any designer knows, research is everything! And I’m going to be writing today about why a visit to a Contemporary British Design Show is a brilliant research opportunity that you should be putting in your diary. I have to admit, I thought design shows were about people in suits and everyone talking about million […]
Whether it was a Sunday workshop or a sewing class your friend dragged you along to, everyone had to start somewhere. But once you were in, there was no going back. We have all had a sewing box or sewing basket at some stage as a sewer – some of us may still have one. […]
We’ve just begun our latest 6 week dressmaking course. This is a really popular course as everyone can make what they want and get guided through the process. Once you have learnt to make your own garments, it is a very fulfilling hobby. However, like everything, it is a learning process and it can take a […]
So it’s winter. Like really winter. Cold, rain, wind, all that jazz. Chances are your daily uniform consists of jumpers, jumpers and more jumpers. I’m going to go out on a limb and say you are probably getting pretty tired of your current collection of jumpers. But what about that old one buried away that […]
Lets face it – you might be the Queen Bee of sewing, but after hours and hours of cutting, pinning and draping it can start to do your head in. Here are a few helpful tips to make life a little bit easier. Consider that next 1 a.m. sewing meltdown averted. Rubber Banded Seam Allowance […]
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