Innehållsförteckning för 50 från Simply Sewing

This month we’re channelling the hygge vibe. Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word used to describe a mood that combines being cosy, comfortable and content. With that in mind, we’re spending more time in front of the sewing machine, indulging in some well-deserved ‘me time’. Let Scandinavian style effortlessly influence your wardrobe and your home this season with cosy jumpers, chunky felt storage tubs and luxurious faux fur accessories. Pop the kettle on, it’s time to hibernate and get sewing. WWW.SIMPLYSEWINGMAG.COM #SIMPLYSEWINGMAG facebook.com/simplysewingmagazine twitter.com/simplysewing_ pinterest.com/simplysewingmag instagram.com/simplysewingmag…

BLOOMING NORA From the bloggers’ fave Cleo pinafore to the cosy Coco top, Tilly is our go-to for when we want to fill our everyday wardrobes with me-made joy, so we’re firing up the sewing machine ready for our next Tilly pattern fix! Her new Nora pattern is a modern sweater with a boxy, slouchy fit and three variations, including a summer tee, and the Ness is a classic fly-front skirt with denim-inspired design details. Find them at shop.tillyandthebuttons.com EASY CHIC The pride we take in making clothes we love to wear every day is what keeps our sewing machine whirring, and the Hughes Dress by Friday Pattern Company is the perfect easy-wear all-year-round dress. We love its oh-so- flattering princess seams and lace-up back detail. www.fridaypatterncompany.com STITCHED…

1. If you can't dress like a human glitter ball at this time of year, then when can you? This jazzy number is perfect for no-effort party attire – just add black jeans and heels. £55, www.oliverbonas.com 2. Add a sprinkling of (Ziggy) stardust to your home with these glam rock-inspired bedazzled cushions. Now, where did we put our platform boots...? From £86 each, www.janconstantine.com 3. This intricate Pop Art purse, covered in thousands of sequins and beads, is handmade by a small Fair Trade supplier in Dehli. £26.50, www.iansnow.com…

When it comes to threads, you can never have too many, right? Well, how’s this for a collection to swoon over? This fantastic competition from Madeira gives one lucky reader the chance to win this immense palette of over 160 spools of thread - in every colour you could ever imagine. You’ll find threads in Metallic, Rayon, Polyneon, Polyneon Multicolour, Egyptian Cotton, Cotona and Polyester in this collection - in a range of 200m and 400m reels. Plus, there’s even an 18 spool set of Madeira’s famous Supertwist Metallic – an exclusive ‘effect thread’ used by famous fashion designers and fashion houses all over the world. This collection is every sewist’s dream! To win this amazing prize bundle (featuring all the thread types you’ll need, for every sewing project you…

If you're feeling inspired by our luxurious Scandi-style homewares on page 18 and fancy adding some faux fur to your winter wardrobe, don't miss these cute mittens from Stoff & Stil. Ours are made in wool felt with a faux polar fox fur trim – yum! A snip at just £2.50, this simple pattern is great for beginners; there's even a handy video tutorial. You'll have them sewn up in a flash, so they're fab for last-minute gifting, too (if you can bear to give them away, of course!). Find the pattern, video tutorial and fabric at www.stoffstil.co.uk…

Dressing a post-pregnant body can be seen as challenging, but I don’t think it has to be. You don’t have to give up your personal style just because you don’t fit into your pre-pregnancy wardrobe anymore. With some planning and a few alterations, you can use some of your tried and true patterns to make a wardrobe that is just as much you post-pregnancy, as it was before you got pregnant. At the very least, making sure you’ve got PJs and some lovely undies will always brighten your day!…

“Start small: try refashioning an unloved skirt into one that’s more your style – don’t reinvent the wheel.” Kate Brookes “Remember that different garments offer different creative opportunity. It’s exciting to learn from each one.” Mira Musank “The more tailored or detailed a garment is, the more challenging it is to work with. Suits can be hard as there is a lot of internal structure –darts, pockets, buttonholes, etc –to work around. Something like a simple gathered skirt, though, is pretty much just a rectangle of fabric once you remove the waistband, so it offers more scope or freedom to create.” Portia Lawrie “My top tip is to make a toile… your fabric is limited and you often need every inch available. This will help you avoid any major mishaps.”…

YOU WILL NEED Linenforthebag outer Lining fabric, for the bag lining Stranded cotton in pale pink Stranded cotton in white Wooden bead Basic sewing kit Matching thread NOTES Use a 7mm (¼in) seam allowance. Download the template at WORKING DECORATIVE EYELET STITCH Step one Come up at the outside of the pattern or shape. Go back down near the centre. Step two Continue making straight stitches, working from the outside to the centre with each stitch. You can work eyelet stitch with even or varying-length stitches.01 WORKING FUNCTIONAL EYELET STITCH Step one Stitch a ring of back stitch a little larger than hole of the eyelet should be. Carefully cut out the center with small scissors. Step two Work eyelet stitch closer than the decorative version and working from…

YOU WILL NEED Oilclothfabric2mx160cm(2¼ydsx63in) Cotton webbing: 4cm (15/8in) wide x 2m (2¼yds) for handles Zip 90cm (36in) Zip 75cm (30in) Fray stopper Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTES Supplieslistedareforone bag. Use a 5mm (¼in) seam allowance. The fabric used is Fleurettes extra- wide acrylic oilcloth in Chintz from Norfolk Textiles. Visit To make the small bag, follow the same instructions, but from the oilcloth cut out: Two53x51cm2078x201/8in). Two24x26cm9x10¼in). Two12x74cm4x291/8in). 10x24cm4x9in). From the webbing cut: Two50cm20in. APPROX FINISHED SIZES Large bag: 60 (W) x 50 (H) x 30cm (D). Small bag: 50 (W) x 40 (H) x 20cm (D). CUTTING OUT For the larger bag: Step one From the oilcloth cut: Front/back panels: Two 66x61cm (26x24in). Side panels: Two 30x33cm (117/8x13in). Zip top panels: Two 15x89cm (6x351/8in). Zip end…

YOU WILL NEED Coffee sack Ticking fabric: 50x70cm (20x28in), for the lining and base Webbing: 140x3.5cm (55x13/8in), for the straps Erasable fabric marker Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTE Use a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated. CUTTING OUT Step one From the coffee sack cut: Bag outer: Two 45x38cm (17¾x15in). Step two From the ticking cut: Bag base: Two 45x14cm (17¾x5½in). Bag lining: Two 45x52cm (17¾x20½in). Step three From the webbing cut: Straps: Two 70cm (275/8in) long. MAKING THE OUTER AND LINING Step one With right sides (RS) facing, pin and sew one coffee sack bag outer piece and one ticking bag base along the longest edge.01 Step two Repeat with the other bag outer and bag base pieces. Place the two assembled bag outer pieces together with…

This year, I'm embracing winter and all it has to offer when it comes to seasonal sewing! I'm adding luxury metallics to my party outfits (p48), cosying up with Scandi-style faux fur homewares (a trend I've been swooning over for a while, p18) and setting the table for winter feasts (p82). We're also looking into the art of refashioning and the benefits that recycling our clothes has on our world – read more on p52. Feeling inspired? Sew a patchwork sweater (p62) and transform an old blanket into a cape (p56) - clever, huh?…

One of the many joys of embroidery is how tactile it is, not just in the stitching of it but in the finished piece too – it's impossible to resist reaching out to touch it, a simple pleasure that continually inspires Gemma Cutts, the maker behind the Papercutts collection of stitched accessories. “One of the most important things for me about embroidery is how it inspires touch,” says Gemma. “I can’t help but feel the stitches under my fingers, and by using embroidery on items for the everyday that joy becomes part of your daily life.” Coin purses, patches, clutches, make-up bags, blankets and cushions are all machine-embroidered with Gemma’s original designs, from pineapples to peacock feathers. She realised the creative potential of digital embroidery while studying at Manchester Metropolitan…

17 JANUARY-7 FEBRUARY 2019 Learn to Make a Coco Top or Dress. Great Denham Community Hall, Bedford. Make a Tilly and the Buttons' Coco at this friendly beginner class. www.sewme-wearme.com 18-20 JANUARY 2019 Newark Quilt Show. Newark Showground. See quilt displays from well-known quilters and textile artists, take a workshop and stock up on supplies. www.grosvenorshows.co.uk 31 JANUARY-28 FEBRUARY 2019 Draft your own sewing patterns. The Thrifty Studio, London. Draft a personalised bodice and skirt pattern block on this five-session course. www.thethriftystitcher.co.uk 2 FEBRUARY-14 JULY 2019 Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams. V&A, London. Get inspired by one of the 20th Century’s most influential couturiers, with garments, sketches and photos spanning from 1948 to the present day. www.vam.ac.uk…

We love a pattern that gives us a chance to tick off lots of skills in one project, and this issue's Cressida Skirt by Jennifer Lauren Handmade is packed with techniques to try. You'll master sewing in-seam pockets, buttonholes, belt tabs and perfect topstitching – and have a twirly, 1950s-inspired skirt at the end of it all! YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: 150cm60inwidth x 2.1m (3yds); 115cm (45in) width x 2.9m (3¼yds) 150cm60inwidth x 1.7m (2yds); 115cm (45in) width x 2.8m (31/8yds) Buttons: 14buttons25cm(1in) in diameter or smaller 11buttons25cm(1in) in diameter or smaller Lightweight fusible or sew-in interfacing: 40x90cm (16x36in) Tracing paper Matching thread Basic sewing kit FABRIC SUGGESTIONS Medium-weight woven fabrics such as cotton, denim, corduroy and suiting. GETTING STARTED First, pre-wash and dry your chosen fabric to allow…

YOU WILL NEED Fabric A: 30x40cm (12x16in), for the main bag Fabric B: 20x20cm (77/8x77/8in), for the left outer pocket Fabric C: 20x20cm (77/8x77/8in), for the right outer pocket Lining fabric: 46x57cm (18x22in) Iron-on fleece: 50x90cm (20x45in) Medium-weight fusible interfacing: 25x25cm (10x10in) Bag zip: 30.5cm (12in) D-ring: 5mm x 1.3cm (½in) Trigger hook: 1.3cm (½in) Magnetic clasp: 1.5cm (5/8in) Chicago screw: 1cm (3/8in) Piping or zip machine foot Hole punch pliers Basic sewing kit NOTES Use a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance. Backstitching could tear the washable paper, so pull the top thread to the wrong side and knot. Finished size: 43cm (W) x 33cm (H) x 15cm (D). (17x13x6in). FABRICS USED Washable paper in silver, rose gold and gold from www.u-handbag.com CUTTING OUT Step one From Fabric A cut: Bag…

Please tell us a little bit about yourself When I’m not busy with my son or working on the house last year, you’ll find me in my sewing space (a cabin at the end of the garden), sewing and being creative. As well as my own sewing blog (www.makery.co.uk), I regularly design projects for Simply Sewing and am the creator of the annual online sewing challenge The Refashioners. What inspired you to set up The Refashioners? A lot of my early sewing projects involved refashioning clothes I had found in the charity shop. At that time (the first series was in 2011), I felt that refashioning had a really bad image in the online sewing community. There wasn’t a great deal of inspiration out there, and what there was often…

YOU WILL NEED Sequinfabric60x25cm(24x10in) Felt: 2 x A4 sheets Velvet ribbon: 1m (11/8yds) Fabric glue Basic sewing kit NOTE Downloadthetemplatefrom CUTTING OUT Step one Download, print and then cut out the collar template. Step two From the sequin fabric cut: Collar: Trace the template onto the wrong side (WS) of the sequin fabric and add an additional 3cm (1¼in) all the way around, and then cut out a mirror-image pair. Step thee From the felt cut: Backing: Four using the template. ASSEMBLING THE COLLAR Step one Place one piece of the sequin fabric right side (RS) down on a flat surface. Centre one of the backing felt pieces on top. Start folding the edge of the sequin fabric around the felt piece and secure it with pins. Step…

YOU WILL NEED Mainbodyfabric70x45cm (28x18in) Spines background fabric: 30x30cm (12x12in) Spine and face fabrics: 30x40cm (12x16in) Eye fabric: 5x5cm (2x2in) Cheek fabric: 8x8cm (3½x3½in) Pom pom: 3cm (1¼in) diameter, for the nose Bondaweb: 80x90cm (32x36in) Polyester fibrefill Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTES Download the template from Use a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance. CUTTING OUT Step one Download and print the template. Cut around the outer line of the hedgehog. Step two Fold the main body fabric in half widthways with wrong sides (WS) together then place the hedgehog template centrally on top. Step three Draw a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance outside the edge of the template all the way around then cut it out. Unpin the template.01 MAKING THE APPLIQUÉ SHAPES Step one Turn the hedgehog template over…

YOU WILL NEED Fabric A: 20inxWOF Fabric B: 6x6in Fabric C: 1x Fat 16th Fabric D: 1x Fat 16th Fabric E: 1x Fat 16th Wadding: 20x30in Backing fabric: 20inxWOF Basic sewing kit NOTES Cutting and assembly instructions are for two placemats and two coasters. All cutting instructions are width x height. Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. FQ = fat quarter (18x22in). Fat 16th = fat sixteenth (9x11in). WOF = width of fabric. FINISHED SIZES Placemats: 14x9½in. Coasters: 5x5in. CUTTING OUT Step one From Fabric A cut: Filler squares: Eight 5x5in squares. Binding: Four 2½in x WOF strips, for the binding. Step two From Fabric B cut: 1st section square: Six 15/8x15/8in squares. Step three From Fabric C cut: 2nd section square: Six 15/8x15/8in square. 2nd section rectangle: Six…

MARKING PEN Transfer markings to your fabric, then wash them out when finished. TAPE MEASURE A flexible fabric tape measure will take accurate measurements. MARKING PENCIL Choose a colour that shows up on your fabric. TAILOR’S CHALKSX Chalk temporarily marks fabric and can be easily brushed away. SEAM RIPPER This sharp blade cuts through and unpicks stitches. FABRIC CLIPS Use these instead of pins when sewing thicker fabrics. THIMBLE Wear to protect your fingers when handstitching. PINKING SHEARS These cut a zigzag edge on fabric to neaten. PINS Stainless steel pins with sharp points are best. SHEARS Keep a pair of sharp shears just for cutting out your fabric. SMALL SCISSORS Use for snipping threads and cutting notches. HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF ACCURATELY ALWAYS MEASURE YOURSELF BEFORE you choose a…

JENNIFER LAUREN Jennifer designs modern patterns that nod to classic vintage attire for her brand Jennifer Lauren Handmade, with beautiful details and a gorgeous fit. Make her Cressida Skirt on page 42, and read about her maternity sewing plans on page 46. LISA LAM Lisa designs sewing patterns and kits and runs an online bag-making supplies shop, www.u-handbag.com. She’s also the author of two bag-making books, and a guest designer on Sewing Quarter. Sew her chic metallic clutch on page 48. MINKI KIM Minki is known for her ‘sewing illustration’ –turning sketches into stitches. She’s the author of two sewing books, Sew Illustrated and Diary in Stitches and her third is due out next year. Find out what inspires her stitched artwork on page 78. PORTIA LAWRIE Blogger and regular…

SEW KRAFT-TEX BAGS Betsy La Honta and Gailen Runge (£22.99, Stash Books) Discover a new material with this book of stylish bags made with kraft-tex, a paper which wears like leather but sews (and washes) like fabric. Inside you'll find 17 projects for every skill level, including tool rolls, craft storage, occasion clutches and everyday tote bags. Looks like we've found a new fabric to add to our stash! www.ctpub.com/stash-books QUILT BIG Jemima Flendt (£19, Krause Publications) Winter nights and warm, super-size quilts are the perfect match, and we'll be sewing our own jumbo designs with Jemima Flendt's beginner-friendly blocks. There's a step-by-step guide to scaling up traditional blocks and 17 big-and-bold quilt designs to inspire you, plus 20 blocks to mix and match to create your own statement quilts.…

DELUXE LOUNGING Throw back to the glamorous nightwear of the 1920s and 1930s with this vintage-inspired robe from www.folkwear.com CHIC SET Level up your skills with The Piccadilly Pyjamas, with two styles to make, bias binding details and a button closure, £14 from www.sewingquarter.com FAMILY VALUES Family movie nights just got comfier with this fun onesie (3244) for all ages – made in matching fabrics, of course! £11.99, www.jalie.com PIPED PRETTY Upgrade your loungewear look in the Tofino trouser – the piping makes them extra-special to sew, and to wear. www.sewaholicpatterns.com KEEP IT SIMPLE With only three pattern pieces, you'll have a drawer full of cosy Ultimate Pyjamas sewn up before you know it! PDF £7.50, www.sewoverit.co.uk…

HYGGE VIBES The Danish concept of hygge is all about contentment, cosiness and enjoying the simple things in life – and we're feeling very contented indeed after sewing up this set of home accessories in luxe faux furs from Stoff & Stil (www.stoffstil.co.uk). Try mixing different fabric weights, textures and prints for a contemporary take on the Scandi look (and then settle down for some well-earned hygge time!). CUSHION TRIO Creating a comfy living space all starts with the sofa – and the more cushions the better! So turn up the snuggle factor with our set of three cushion styles to make. If you've never sewn with faux fur fabric before, the plain circle cushion is the perfect place to start – then try another with a pom pom trim!…

When it comes to cold-weather style, you can never have too many chunky knits – and our bonus pattern add-on for this issue's Jodie Jumper (p32) gives you the perfect excuse to add another one to your collection! Download the bonus pattern and make this snuggly jumper dress with jumbo patch pockets. You could go bold with a bright jersey as we have, make it in grey marl for a sports-luxe vibe, or even add the cuffs in a contrasting colour or print. Download the pattern at www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads…

My sewing plans for 2019 are a little less ambitious than they usually would be, since we’ll be welcoming another addition to our family in February! Sewing time will of course be much more limited than usual, so it’s a top priority to make that count, especially in the lead-up to the birth. I remember after my son Oscar was born, feeling not only like I was not myself anymore, but that my wardrobe reflected that exact feeling right back at me. It was a bit deflating to head back to my wardrobe for my good old staples only to find they didn’t fit, weren’t flattering and weren’t in the least bit suitable for life with a new infant. I don’t want to repeat that mistake again this time around…

We’re used to seeing, creating and buying upcycled furniture, but when it comes to clothing, how many of us will turn to something we already own as a starting point for a new project? Yet with hard-hitting documentaries such as Stacey Dooley’s Fashion’s Dirty Secrets on BBC and Netflix’s The True Cost shining a light on the environmental impact of our shopping habits, many of us are feeling inspired to make some positive changes. And the best thing about it? Our wardrobes are the perfect place to start. “IT CAN BE A QUICK AND SATISFYING SEWING FIX OR A VERY INVOLVED AND CREATIVE PROCESS." One person really championing this cause is freelance sewist, blogger and founder of The Refashioners, Portia Lawrie (www.makery.co.uk). As she explains, the best thing about refashioning…

YOU WILL NEED Widescarf Matching thread Basic sewing kit MAKING THE PONCHO Step one Fold the scarf in half so the shorter edges meet and place it on a flat surface.01 Step two Measure the width of the folded scarf and divide by two. Mark the centre of the scarf with a pin. Mark along the entire centre. Step three Cut down the marked centre from the edge up to the fold.02 Step four Use your scissors to create a small circular neckline.03 Step five Finish the raw edge with a zigzag stitch or an overlocker.04 Step six Fold the edges under and hem around the entire opening.05 SEWING THE MOCK SLEEVES Step one Fold the scarf with the new hemmed opening on top. On the the left-hand side…

YOU WILL NEED Asweatshirtthatfitsyou Scraps of jersey or knit fabric in a similar weight Matching thread Basic sewing kit PREPARING AND CUTTING OUT Step one Begin by unpicking the ribbing sections from the hem, neckline and cuffs using a seam ripper. We are retaining the original seam allowances so no cutting is involved.01 Step two Next remove all of the remaining stitching. Essentially you are deconstructing the entire garment until you are left with its component parts.02 Step three Press all of the pieces flat, including the seam allowances. Set all of the pieces aside apart from the front section you are replacing. We will use this as a template to create a new front section.03 SELECTING THE FABRICS Step one Select your contrast jerseys in a colour or…

YOU WILL NEED For the backgammon board Fabric A: 91x65cm (36x26in), for the board front, central bar and bag lining Fabric B: 91x57cm (36x22in), for the board back and bag outer Fabric C: 25x33cm (10x13in), for the dark triangle points and counters Fabric D: 25x33cm (10x13in), for the light triangle points and counters Bias strip: 150x4cm (60x2in), see instructions for details Bondaweb: 25x40cm (10x12in) Narrow webbing: 2m (2¼yds), for the tie closure 30 self-cover buttons, 22mm (7/8in) in diameter Erasable fabric maker Matching thread Basic sewing kit BACKGAMMON EXPLAINED A backgammon board is divided into four parts and each player has an inner table (their right side of the board) and an outer table (their left side of the board). Each table is divided into six ‘points’ which refers to…

Feeling inspired by our simple patchwork placemats on page 82? Take your skills to the next level with this contemporary quilt design by Caroline Hadley. Inspired by the stepwells of India, she's combined striking strips and glimmering metallics to piece this unique design. Made from a swoon-worthy selection of fabrics from Cotton + Steel's Netorious, Sprinkle and XOXO collections, it's a step-up from your boring duvet! Find the pattern in Love Patchwork & Quilting issue 68, out now. See more at www.lovepatchworkandquilting.com…

ONCE YOU HAVE FINISHED stitching your seam, it’s best to press it open on the wrong side so it lies flat. Sometimes it’s better to press it to one side to reduce bulk but the pattern instructions will tell you this. Usually the seam allowances are left as they are as they help to strengthen the seam, but sometimes they cause too much bulk so they are trimmed to half their original width. If your fabric has a tendency to fray you should neaten the raw edges after you have worked the seam. There are several ways of doing this. To machine-finish them, set your sewing machine to the zigzag stitch then stitch close to the raw edge all the way along. The zigzag must be small enough to stop…

"I first dreamt of this hack of the Nina Lee Kew Dress ( www.ninalee.co.uk ) in September 2017, when I picked up the paper pattern from Nina Lee herself at The Great British Sewing Bee Live. The original pattern has a buttoned-up front, but I decided to remove that and fit an invisible zip to the centre back. And it was fate that the Atelier Brunette Stardust fabrics were released, right at the time I was ready to start. I literally raced to my local haberdashery, Backstitch ( www.backstitch.co.uk ) for it. The pattern was a dream to work with – clear instructions steering me in the right direction through the whole make. Before committing to cutting this beautiful fabric I scribbled out my plans on…