Innehållsförteckning för Issue 9 från Simply Sewing

CHINELO BALLY Chinelo Bally wowed the Great British Sewing Bee judges with her freehand cutting method. Her book, Freehand Fashion, is out in November. See page 36 for her batwing top tutorial, and page 40 to find out more about her sewing journey. ALICE GARRETT Alice Garrett sells beautiful Liberty fabrics through her online store, Alice Caroline. She enjoys designing patterns and has published her first sewing book, Little Lady Liberty. Turn to page 73 to make her Liberty fabric toy cat. SAARA & LAURA HUHTA Saara and Laura Huhta are the founders of Finnish indie pattern label, Named. So far, Named has released five pattern collections, with garments that feature a mix of Scandinavian clean-lined simplicity and interesting details. Read about their new patterns on page 45. NICKI TRENCH…

Sewing baskets There’s a style of sewing basket to suit every kind of maker. STYLISH STORAGE This large handmade woven trunk is perfect for those with plenty of fabric to store (who, us?). £55. www.idyllhome.co.uk FLOWER POWER This classic sewing box includes an in-built pin cushion and lift-out tray, already packed with a few stitching goodies. £24.99. www.argos.co.uk HOUSE OF FUN We love this roomy, retro sewing box – lift the roof up or open the drawer to have a peek inside. £58. www.cath  kidston.com AHOY THERE Sail away on sewing dreams with this cute and convenient mini sailboat-themed work box. £26. www.sewessential. co.uk DOT TO DOT Pretty polka dots for on-the-go crafting, including a pincushion and compartments for bits and…

Although summer is well and truly behind us (and didn’t it fly by!), that doesn’t mean you have to pack away the brights! Finnish pattern house, Named, has released an autumn-winter pattern collection that takes things back to basics, with updated versions of staples, including the timeless trenchcoat. In Named’s trademark modern style, its lookbook sees the designs sewn up in monochrome with pops of magenta, like the Mimosa Culottes – we think they’d look super-smart made in grey wool crepe, too. See more at www.namedclothing.com…

It sometimes seems like kids just can’t wait to grow up, so they’ll love proudly wearing their age on their T-shirt! Plain tees can be bought cheaply and easily, so this is a great last-minute gift idea for a birthday boy or girl. Simply find a font you like, print out the letters and numbers, and trace them onto the T-shirt to stitch over. We used satin stitch to fill in the lettering, and stem stitch for the outlines, which gives a neat finish. The only problem is, they’ll expect one for every birthday! Give stem stitch a try with our workshop on page 63 .…

YOU WILL NEED Liberty cotton fabric,1 fat quarter Contrasting Liberty fabric for the ears and collar, a few scraps Lightweight fusible interfacing, 20x20cm (8x8in) Toy stuffing Silver charm with jump ring Stranded cotton, black Basic sewing kit Pencil Sewing machine (optional) MEASUREMENTS • The finished cat stands approx 24cm (9in) tall. TEMPLATES • You will find the templates needed to make this cat toy on the pull-out pattern sheet provided with this issue. To make the collar pattern piece, cut a 4x15cm (15/8x6in ) rectangle out of paper. Designer Anne says: “Meet Betsy, an adorable kitty who will warm your heart with her Liberty fabric loveliness. She wants to brighten up your day, sitting calmly in your sewing room, on your sofa, or nestling up to your favourite books on…

YOU WILL NEED • The knickers kit free with issue 9 of Simply Sewing, or the following: Cotton fabric: 58x52cm (227/8x201/›in) Cotton jersey gusset: 10x20cm (4x77/8in) Lace elastic: 1.5cm (5/8in) width x 2m (79in) Ribbon: 7mm (1/›in) width x 50cm (193/›in) • Matching thread • Basic sewing kit NOTES • Find the knicker pattern pieces on the pull-out pattern sheet provided. • The pattern includes a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance. CUTTING OUT Step one Trace and cut out the knickers pattern pieces on the pull-out pattern sheet, following the lines for your size. You need one back, one front and one gusset. Step two Your knickers front and back need to be cut from the spotty fabric on the bias. This means placing your pattern diagonally across the fabric to…

YOU WILL NEED • Jersey fabric, width: nape to sleeve hem x 4 + 5cm (2in); length: shoulder to hem + 2.5cm (1in) (see taking your measurements). Chinelo used Royal Blue Roma Jersey from Fabric Godmother (£14.99 per metre). Readers can get 15% off jersey fabrics using code JERSS15. (Offer valid until 15 Nov 2015) Matching sewing thread Fabric marker Twin needle Basic sewing kit Overlocker (optional) Notes Always fold fabric right sides (RS) together unless otherwise stated. Press all folds to create definite creases. Use a 1.5cm (½in) seam allowance Designer Chinelo says: “I love an easy sew, a project that only takes a couple of hours and can be jazzed up by using a fancy fabric such as velvet, can be embellished for extra wow factor, or made…

Cotton prints are a must-have for every sewist’s fabric collection, and Rooftop Fabrics are offering one lucky reader the chance to boost their stash with a fantastic selection worth £250. The winner will receive a generous bundle of top-quality cotton fabrics, including designs from the Colour Me range, along with fun, bright prints perfect for a variety of sewing projects. Rooftop Fabrics is a family-run business that was set up in 2009 by a creative mum looking to bring a wider range of plush fabrics to UK crafters. The online store sells over 100 different fabrics from designers such as Art Gallery, Free Spirit, Michael Miller, Dashwood Studio, Camelot, Riley Blake and many more, along with haberdashery and craft kit essentials like pins, threads and buttons. See the full range…

YOU WILL NEED Velvet or cord fabric, black, 1 metre (40in) (based on fabric 142cm (56in) wide) Lining fabric, black, 1 metre (40in) (based on fabric 142cm (56in) wide) Fabric scraps, for the ears and face details in pink, grey and green Bondaweb, 30x30cm (12x12in) 1 button, black, 2cm (¾in) in diameter NOTES • You will find all of the cape pattern pieces on the pull-out pattern sheet provided with this issue. You will find the templates for the facial features on page 93. Kirsty Hartley, designer of children’s brand Wild Things (www.wildthingsdresses.com), shows you how to create this purrfectly charming little cat cape. It’s sure to become a favourite everyday dressing-up piece in your little one’s wardrobe, and also makes a great Halloween costume. CHOOSING THE FABRIC Ideally use…

YOU WILL NEED Scraps of denim, to fit the templates Cotton fabric for the backing, to fit the templates (we used bright pink, bright orange and mid orange) Sewing thread, bright pink, bright orange, mid orange, dark blue Basic sewing kit Air or water erasable pen or dressmaker’s pencil in white Card or paper for the templates Photocopier or scanner, to enlarge your templates NOTES • You will find the templates needed to make these denim leaves on page 93. Designer Jessica says: “There’s nothing like the warm, rich colours of autumn. When the trees turn gold, pink and red and leaves fall to the ground making a stunning carpet – so pretty. These double-sided denim leaves can be made up into different sizes for placemats, coasters and napkin rings,…

There are few garments as covetable as a beautifully made pair of knickers. But, elegance aside, we expect our lingerie to feel wonderful, too. In fact, we demand it! We wanted to know what goes into making the ideal pair of panties, and so got intimate with three of our favourite underwear brands, independent maker Gerry at Swoon, Stephanie Woolven from StephieAnn and the vast empire that is Ultimo, to find out how they take their undies from design stage to store. DREAM DESIGNS Gerry at Swoon (www.swoonlingerie.com) creates a delicious array of vintage-look and romantic-themed pants that’ll make any derriere look divine. We’re particular fans of her 1930s print ballerina knickers. “Swoon is an independent business, and ‘indie’ in just about every other sense, too,” she explains. “For each…

Elastic may not be the most exciting-looking bit of haberdashery in your sewing box, but it's certainly one of the most useful. Elastic is comfortable to wear, making it ideal for making children's clothes, underwear (check out the pretty polka-dot knickers on page 9!), loungewear and pyjamas, and it can also be used to add decorative details to garments, such as gathering and shirring. Sewing with elastic is a versatile technique to add to your stitching repertoire, and it can be done using a standard sewing machine – so no fancy tools required! Our two-page workshop has all you need to know about the different elastics, and step-by-step guides to how to use them.…

SEAM RIPPER You’ll find this odd-looking tool invaluable for cutting through seams and removing stitches. The hook slips under the stitches while the sharp blade at the back cuts the thread. Replace it if it’s getting blunt – they’re cheap. MARKING TOOLS Tailor’s chalk and water- or air-erasable pens and pencils make pinning and tacking much easier as you can see where you’re meant to be sewing. They come in different colours to contrast with your fabric. ROTARY CUTTER If you want to get into patchwork or dressmaking, these make short work of cutting out a lot of fabric and pattern pieces. Always cut away from yourself as they are very sharp. You’ll need a cutting mat and special ruler to use these. PINS AND NEEDLES Indispensable stainless steel pins…

DENIM LEAVES PAGE 61 TEA COSY PAGE 22 COPY AT 200% CAT CAPE PAGE 51 WHISKER, NOSE, EAR AND EYE TEMPLATES DENIM LEAVES PAGE 61 OVEN GLOVE PAGE 22 OVEN MITT TEMPLATE 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 website, or copy it multiple times without our permission. Copyright law protects creative work and unauthorised copying is illegal. We appreciate your help.…

YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: 100x80cm (40x32in) Contrast fabric: 22x114cm (9x44in) Insulating wadding: 100x40cm(40x16in) Basic sewing kit Matching sewing thread MATERIALS USED The fabrics used are from Yoyogi Park by Skinny laMinx for Cloud9. For stockists, visit www.hantex.co.uk/ cloud9 Main fabric: Tokyo Trees in turquoise, ref: C9YP131803 Contrast fabric: Shrubbery in grey, ref: C9YP132050 Insulating wadding: Sew Simple. For stockists, visit www.eqsuk.com or call 0116 271 0033 MEASUREMENTS The finished oven gloves measure 90x17cm (35x7in). CUTTINGTHE FABRIC Step one Cut the main fabric into the following pieces: Main body: 100x20cm (40x8in) Lining: 100x20cm (40x8in) Mitt front: cut two, each 25x20cm (10x8in). Step two Cut the contrast fabric into the following pieces: Mitt linings: cut two, each 25x20cm (10x8in) Binding: cut five strips, each 4.5x70cm (2x28in). CUTTINGTHEPATTERNPIECES Step one Trace the…

YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: 23x70cm (9x28in) Contrast fabric: 40x70cm (16x28in) Binding fabric: 160x6cm (63x23/8in) Insulating wadding: 30x70cm(12x28in) Matching sewing thread MATERIALS USED The fabrics used are from Cloud9. Visit www.hantex.co.uk/cloud9 Yoyogi Park by Skinny laMinx. Tokyo Trees in gold, ref: C9YP13181 Shrubbery in turquoise, ref: C9YP132003 Aubade by Michelle Engel Bencsko, Morns Rays in warm grey, ref: C9AU133350 Insulating wadding: Sew Simple For stockists, visit www.eqsuk.com NOTES Use a 1.5cm (5/8in) seam allowance. The tea cosy pattern is on page 93. CUTTINGTHE FABRIC Step one From the main fabric cut: Front and back, two pieces each 23x35cm (91/8x13¾in). Step two From the contrast fabric cut: Front and back two strips each 8x35cm (31/8x13¾in) Lining: two pieces each 30x35cm (12x13¾in). Step three From the binding fabric cut: Lower edge binding:…

YOU WILL NEED 1 fat quarter (we used Skopelos, Nisi Flora in Oceanon by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics) Lining fabric, fat quarter Piping cord, 2m (80in) Bias binding, 2m (80in) Vintage button Basic sewing kit Step one Make a template approx 2.5cm (1in) larger than your hot water bottle. 01 Pin the template to your fabric and cut out the front panel. To cut out the bottom back panel, use the same template, but cut straight across two-thirds of the way up. To create the top back panel, again use the front panel template, and ensure it will overlap the bottom back panel by around 5cm (2in). 02 Use these pieces as templates to cut the lining to the same sizes. 03 Step two You will need around…

Sitting in a friend’s motor home on a tango-dancing holiday near Totnes, Devon, I realise that I’m naturally drawn to places like this. They say that birds of a feather flock together, so I often find myself visiting so-called ‘alternative’ towns. I’ve been coming to this tango festival, Tango Mango, for about three years with my sister, Natalie, who also dances. I’m a reluctant camper, but I give in to the community spirit and we dust off our bell tent and camp in a field next to the venue. My only consolation is that our tent is the best decorated on site, with fabric and wool bunting and crocheted blankets. Totnes is a town of creativity and community spirit and is a hub for the performing arts, with comedy clubs…

YOU WILL NEED 2 T-shirts, size UK 16 Lace panel Matching thread Basic sewing kit Ruler Roller cutter and mat Jennie says: “Whether your style is contemporary or vintage-inspired, you can easily transform a plain tee into a scarf to suit your wardrobe.” MAKING THE TASSEL SCARF Step one Cut off the top and bottom of the T-shirt to make a tube, approx 33cm (13in) wide. 01 Step two Lay the tube on a cutting mat and, using a rotary cutter and ruler, cut strips 1cm (3/8in) wide and 12cm (4¾in) long. Cut through both layers. 02 Pull the strips gently to encourage them to roll. 03 Stretch the tube out a little, and the scarf is ready to wear! 04 MAKING THE LACE SCARF Step one Follow step one…

“THIS BLUE DRESS was made for a production of a Tennessee Williams play called Sweet Bird of Youth. The play was on at the National Theatre, London, from 1993 to 1994, and was designed by Anthony Ward, a renowned stage designer. Emma Amos, who was playing the character Heavenly Finley, wore the dress. The pattern was cut by Joan Coleman, who was one of two head cutters in the ladies costume department at the time. All fabrics were sourced by the costume supervisor for the show in conjunction with the buyers, and the net for the skirt was custom dyed to match the satin by the in-house dye department. As a first hand (main sewist), I was responsible for sewing the dress together once it was cut. Constructing just the…