Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 117 i Simply Sewing

This month’s cover star is the adorable Rowan Pinafore − the perfect dress to add to your 2024 me-made wardrobe. You can choose to sew it two different lengths and decide between patch or sewn in pockets. Make it in your choice of medium weight woven fabrics such as wool blends, cotton, chambray, or corduroy − and team it up with a modern alternative to the traditional shirt with The Blouse pattern, designed by The Avid Seamstress and the deceptively spacious Crossbody Bag. One complete outfit that will take you through the seasons. Plus, our four-legged friends are not forgotten this month as we have a whole litter of amazing projects to sew for your dog! WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING #SIMPLYSEWINGMAG facebook.com/simplysewingmagazine twitter.com/simplysewing_ pinterest.com/simplysewingmag instagram.com/simplysewingmag…

DRESS SUCCESS The Varda Dress and Top have the style lines of a fitted dress but with some ease built in for a looser fit. Choose either the dress or the top length, with one of three sleeve options, for six elegant garments. All views feature an invisible zipper closure up the center back, French darts at the bust, contour darts along the back, and a top-stitched faced neckline. The top hem lands at the hip, and the dress finishes right above the knee, making it both evening and office appropriate. christinehaynes.com DASHWOOD 10 YEARS Dashwood Studio are celebrating their 10th anniversary by bringing out a special panel. Coming out next spring/summer, the unique panel features illustrations by many of the designers who have worked with Dashwood over the past…

I began sewing when I was young, it started with cross stitch. I can remember where I was when I finished my very first one. I was sat at the dining table at my nan and grandad’s house, it was a red tractor pulling a green trailer of dirt. I used to watch my nan fix her neighbour’s curtains, patchworking or fixing/altering clothes. I was fascinated, nan taught me the basics. I went on to study textiles for GCSE, I was more suited to textiles as I can’t draw for graphics and let’s not talk about wood/metal work. I didn’t think about making clothes until I was at college where, with my nan, we made my first wearable garment. We were creating our own version of The Nutcracker; I played…

CREATURE COMFORTS DOG COAT YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: 50x90cm■ Lining fabric: 25x150cm■ Webbing: 60-100cm■ Bias binding: 180-250cm■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance throughout unless stated.■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates . SIZING Small: Neck 38cms. Chest 38-41cm. Length from neck to top of tail 33cm. Medium: Neck 42cm.Chest 46-50cm.Length from neck to top of tail 40cm. CUTTING OUT Step one Measure your dog then trace around and cut out the pattern to the required size (As a guide: ‘Small’ should fit a dog the size of a Border terrier and ‘Medium’ should fit a larger Boston terrier.). Step two Fold the main fabric in half right sides (RS) together. Pin the pattern to it and cut around it to make one pair of…

BOW TIE YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: 1 fat quarter■ Interfacing: 1 fat quarter■ 1 popper■ Tool to attach popper■Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. CUTTING OUT Step one Download and print all of the patternpieces and cut them out.Step two From the main fabric cut:Bow tie front A: cut two.Bow tie front B: cut two.Bow tie strap C: cut two.Step three From the interfacing cut:Bow tie front A: cut one.Bow tie front B: cut one.Bow tie strap C: cut one. MAKING THE BOW TIE Step one Interface one of each fabric piece. Step two Join the interfaced B and C pairs along the dotted line marked on the pattern pieces. Join the uninterfaced pieces in the…

DRAFT YOUR OWN! YOU WILL NEED ■ 1m of knit fabric with at least 15% stretch■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ You can sew these projects by hand, but a sewing machine would be ideal. A serger or overlocker is great to have, but not vital.■ Use a 1cm seam allowance throughout. CREATE THE HAT Step one Measure around the wearer's head just above their ear and add 1cm for seam allowance. For clarity in these instructions, we'll use my measurement of 66cm. Step two Cut two pieces of fabric for the front and back of the hat. The height will be 25cm and the width is ½ the wearer's head circumference from the previous step. In this example, I cut two 25x33cm pieces. Step three Fold the…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Pink luxe plush fabric: 65x50cm■ Ivory cuddle plush fabric: 25x20cm■ Purple cuddle plush fabric: 45x45cm■ Black stranded cotton■ Extra strong thread■ Polyester toy filling 200g■ Basic sewing kit FINISHED SIZE ■ Approximately 39cm tall FABRICS USED ■ Luxe Cuddle Galaxy Plush in Magenta, Smooth Cuddle Plush in Ivory and Amethyst, all by Shannon Fabrics NOTES ■ Find the templates on page 77 or download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Fabric measurements are W x H.■ 6mm seam allowance is included on the templates.■ Arrows on the templates indicate direction of plush fabric pile. Note pile runs upwards on the Ear and Horn pieces.■ Fasten off at the beginning and end of stitching, unless otherwise indicated.■ Tack before sewing. CUTTING OUT Step one Download and print the templates.…

MY FAVOURITE THING After trying my hand at all manner of crafts, I found my way to sewing and quickly discovered my true creative passion: shirt making. My first button-up was a challenge − yes, there were tears− but it was wearable and it lit a creative fire that hasn’t gone out. When my husband and I decided to get married, I knew I wanted to put my skills to the test and sew up my own suit for the big day. While I may eat burrito yokes for breakfast, tailoring is a much bigger challenge. With a good pattern to hand− the Mascultory London Blazer − the following month became a slow process of learning and improving. By the time I finished my toile, I’d finally tracked down the…

Welcome to the first issue of 2024! We are thrilled to present issue 117, packed with heaps of inspiration, tips, and exciting projects to ignite your creativity. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered to create beautiful garments and accessories. Our cover star is the Rowan Pinafore (a reasonably quick dress to sew as there are no sleeves), a great addition to your me-made wardrobe. There's also another easy pattern with The Blouse which has elasticated cuffs and not forgetting the deceptively spacious Crossover Bag! Plus, lot of makes for your beloved pooch, too! Here's to another fantastic year of sewing...…

COMPETITION Simply Sewing Magazine readers can pick up a FREE copy of McCall’s 8218. This chic wide legged jumpsuit pattern is made for knit fabrics and has two styles of tie front to try! It has a subtle v-neckline, wide shoulder straps and can be made in a cute romper length. Available in sizes 6-24, you’re saving £13.50 by claiming this exclusive offer! HOW TO GET YOUR PATTERN 1 Scan the QR code and enter your email address on the offer page. We’ll email you an exclusive voucher code. 2 Put the McCall’s 8218 pattern into your basket on the Sew Direct website – sewdirect.com 3 Use the voucher code during checkout and your basket total will update to give you McCall’s 8218 for FREE! SCAN ME to get your voucher! Terms…

THIS MONTH... S9829 HOODIE This cosy design from Simplicity creates an over-the-head hooded sweatshirt that’s just calling out to be made in soft jumbo cord. It features a front kangaroo pocket, a central front zip, and elastic along the cuffs and hemline to ensure a super-comfortable fit. sewdirect.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Get creating with our pick of the best corduroy-friendly patterns 1 BLAIR SKIRT This stylish pattern from True Bias makes a woven skirt with a slightly retro feel (perfect for corduroy!). It’s fitted through the waist and hips and features a smart button-front opening and handy belt loops. Choose from mini, midi, or maxi lengths, then add optional pockets for extra detail. truebias.com 2 ME2036 JACKET This work jacket from designer Norris Dánta Ford is part of the Know Me…

DOG BED YOU WILL NEED ■ Cotton fabric: 1.5x1.5m (we used Cloud 9 Fabrics Window Dressing in Ocean/Fuchsia, find at www.hantex.co.uk/cloud9)■ Tailor’s chalk■ Wadding, 1.5m: 200g■ Hollowfibre filling: 500g■ Upholstery basecloth: 1m (we used Corovin)■ Matching bias binding: 2.5m x 3cm wide■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Measuring 70 x 45 x 28cm when finished, this bed will comfortably fit a medium-sized dog, but if you want to make the bed bigger or smaller, scale the measurements up or down to suit.■ Use a 1.5cm seam allowance throughout, unless stated. CUTTING OUT Step one from main fabric, cut: One 70x59cm Bed Front Panel One 70x59cm Bed Back Panel Two 45x59cm Bed Side Panels Two 70x45cm Cushion Top/Bottom panels Two 70x12cm Cushion Side Panels Two 45x12cm Cushion Side Panels Step two…

DOG BLANKET YOU WILL NEED ■ Four different patchwork fabrics: 25x100cm each■ Soft fleece fabric: 82x82cm■ 70g wadding: 94x94cm■ Parcel paper: to make your pattern template■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance. CUTTING OUT Step one Draw a 22x22cm square on paper and cut it out to make a pattern. Step two Cut four squares from each of the patchwork fabrics using your pattern. 01 MAKING THE PATCHWORK Step one Number your fabrics 1-4. Step two Following the numbers on the chart, take a square from each fabric and sew right sides (RS) together along one side into a row. Step three Make three more rows in the same way following the chart. Step four Press all the seams open then lay the rows out following…

Sew this stylish crossbody bag, designed to be comfy to wear by distributing the weight evenly across your shoulders, reducing strain. The bag features a zip closure to keep your belongings safe and the adjustable strap allows you to fully customise the bag's position, ensuring easy access to those essentials. Sew it out of a heavy weight fabric like corduroy, canvas, or waxed cotton. Designed by Lauren Holloway, this bag pattern is one of your gifts this month. Shop more of her designs and kits at laurenholloway.uk.…

Sewer, designer and author of two books, Melissa Lowry celebrates her culture through her work. She says: "It is very important for me to always have my culture front and centre,” and this is never more true than in the second of Melissa's books which is inspired by her heritage. Vibrant Punch Needle incorporates the lively colours and patterns of Mexico. Melissa “drew inspiration from the many beautiful textiles that I grew up with” and travelled across to the country on a research trip specifically to see these textiles in person again. Her culture permeates many facets of her life: “As an adult, I dance and perform traditional Mexican folklore and its handmade colourful costumes are also a huge inspiration to me,” she shares − and it is this pride…

HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF ACCURATELY ALWAYS MEASURE YOURSELF BEFORE you choose a pattern size to cut out. The sizes do vary greatly from pattern to pattern, so it’s always best to measure yourself accurately and then refer to the pattern’s size chart to find your size. The chart will usually be printed on the pattern envelope or on the instructions inside. Measure yourself in your underwear and preferably in the bra you’ll be wearing underneath your garment as this can alter the measurements slightly. Use a fabric tape measure as it’ll curve around your body well for accuracy. You can measure on your own if you stand in front of a mirror, but, for best results, ask a friend to help so they can check the tape measure is sitting…

MELISSA LOWRY Melissa is a sewer, designer and author of two books − Handmade Animal Dolls and Vibrant Punch Needle, the later, incorporates the lively colours and patterns of Mexico. Turn to page 60 to find out about her inspirations and creative process. TAI HICKS Tai Hicks is a self-taught seamstress from Birmingham, Alabama. She first learned to sew so she could alter her dance costumes before branching out into everyday garments. Turn to page 49 for her self draft hat and scarf set. MATTHEW DUMMIGAN Matthew is a designer and maker focussed on creating garments that are gender free and aimed to help people express themselves. He appeared on series nine of the Great British Sewing Bee. Find out what inspires him to sew on page 26. GAVIN BURRELL…

Express your individual style when you sew up this gorgeous pinafore dress in your choice of fabric and length. Customise the fit to your own unique measurements and decide on the pocket style that suits you − sew in the side seams or patch pockets. A stunningly simple design with a fitted bodice and gathered waist gives this pinafore a cinched effect. The dress has an invisible zip in the back for ease of getting on and off. Change the look of your homesewn garment by teaming up with different tops and blouses underneath. You can get so much wear from The Rowan Pinafore, it's sure to become one of your me-made wardrobe favourites! YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: Pinafore A: 115cm (45in) width fabric x 3.1m (3½yds); 140cm…

CREATURE COMFORTS DENIM BONE YOU WILL NEED ■ Denim scraps: small bone 24x34cm; big bone 30x40cm■ Matching thread■ Toy stuffing■ Flat squeaker (optional)■ Bells (optional)■ Air or water erasable pen■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates MAKING THE BONE Step one Decide which size of bone toy you want to make then trace and cut out the relevant bone template. Step two Iron your denim and place the bone template on top. Using an erasable pen, mark your bone pieces onto the reverse of the denim – you need two pieces for each toy. 01 Step three Pin your two bone fabric pieces in place right sides (RS) together and sew around the drawn template line, leaving a turning gap and making sure you backstitch at…

DOG PILLOW YOU WILL NEED ■ Main cotton fabric: see instructions for details■ Appliqué fabric: 60x112cm■ Duvet■ Snap popper tape: see instructions for details■ Bondaweb: 120x45cm■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance.■ You can download the templates needed from gathered.how/ss-templates■ We used a king-sized duvet folded into quarters to give the bed some depth and springiness. If you have a smaller dog, then simply make your bed using a smaller duvet. CUTTING OUT Step one The amount of fabric you need will depend on the size of the folded duvet you use, plus a 1cm seam allowance all the way around. It’s best to prewash your fabric, especially if you’re using ticking as it does tend to shrink when washed. We cut our fabric into two…

With multi-million-pound budgets, film and TV industries spare no expense on making sure everything looks perfect for production and that includes nailing the outfits worn by the actors and actresses. Have you ever wondered what happens to the clothes once the director yells 'it's a wrap'? Or where the pieces come from in the first place? Discover the sustainable side of costumes… Laura Frecon is a US costume designer who has worked across the board, from humble black box theatres through to Broadway productions and Netflix hits such as Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and Inventing Anna. Having immersed herself in the wonderful world of costumes for her entire career, Laura knows behind-the-scenes better than most. "The fashion and entertainment industry is known for being one of the most wasteful…

DRAFT YOUR OWN!SELF-DRAFT YOU WILL NEED ■ Outer fabric: 1mx140cm■ Lining fabric: 1mx140cm■ 25cm invisible zip■ Soft iron on interfacing: 30cm■ Matching sewing thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Pre-wash your fabric and iron carefully■ Use a 1cm seam allowance unless otherwise instructed FABRIC USED African wax print from Julius Holland CREATING THE PATTERN Step one Measure the place on your body where you want the skirt to sit. Keep the tape measure close to the body, but not too tight. One finger is included in the measurement (see photo), for ease. Measure down from this point to your desired skirt length (see white arrow). 01 Step two Fold your outer fabric diagonally once and fix it with a few pins. Place point 1 in the corner. From there, measure…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Wool Coat or Jacket with Patch Pocket■ White stranded cotton■ Water-soluble stabiliser (See Note)■ Embroidery needle■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ If you don't want to get the coat very wet to remove the stabilizer, use a tear-away paper or an iron-transfer pen.■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ TIP: Instead of embroidering in all white, make your heart in bright colors! TRANSFER THE DESIGN Step one Download the template and trace or print the floral folk heart pattern onto the water-soluble stabilizer and attach it to the coat pocket. Note, it's easier to stitch when it's closer to the pocket opening. 01 STITCH THE DESIGN Step one Begin embroidering the pattern using three strands of stranded cotton throughout. You will not use a hoop, but instead,…

DRAGON PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! DRAGON PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE DRAGON PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE DRAGON PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE Thank you for making these projects from Simply Sewing. The copyright for these templates belongs to the designer of the project. They work hard to create projects for you to enjoy, so please don’t re-sell or distribute their work without permission. Please do not make any part of the templates or instructions available to others through your website or a third party, or copy it multiple times without our permission. Copyright law protects creative work and unauthorised copying is illegal. We appreciate your help.…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: Corduroy, canvas, waxed cotton (0.5m)■ Lining fabric: Medium weight cotton or polycotton (0.5m)■ 28cm zipper■ Medium weight interfacing: 0.5m■ 1 x 38mm rectangular loop■ 38mm cotton webbing (1 x 60cm, 1 x 12cm)■ 1 x 38mm buckle slider■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a sewing machine needle that is suitable for heavier weight fabrics.■ Seam allowances included in the pattern are 1cm for all seams unless otherwise stated. RECOMMENDED FABRIC ■ Main fabric: Medium to heavy weight fabrics such as corduroy, canvas, waxed cotton■ Lining fabric: Medium weight cotton Lauren Holloway runs her own slow fashion and accessories brand. Find out more at laurenholloway.uk. © Printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Design…

DRESS A DRESS B PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: Pinafore A: 2.2m x 115cm wide fabric or 1.8m x 140cm width x 1.8m for all sizes Pinafore B: 3.1m x 115cm wide fabric or 2.7m x 140cm width x 1.8m for all sizes■ Lining fabric: 0.6m x 115cm wide fabric for all sizes■ Invisible zip: 56cm■ Hook and eye■ Matching thread NOTE ■ Use a 1.5cm seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise stated■ Seam allowances are included on the pattern pieces. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Medium weight woven fabrics such as wool blends, cotton, chambray or corduroy.■ Use rayon acetate, cotton lawn or cotton voile for the lining. Shop more of our capsule Simply Sewing patterns in our online shop at simplysewing patterns.etsy.com BODY…