Innehållsförteckning för 85 från Simply Sewing

Not only do we have two gorgeous patterns for you this issue – the Ava Jumpsuit and the Nora Cardigan – we’ve also paired up with Sewing Bee winner Serena Baker to bring you her pick of the top ten patterns for beginner sewists. Turn to page 48 to discover Serena’s favourites, along with her tips for getting started with sewing. Plus, we’re excited to introduce our brand-new Pattern Review column! Rumana Dawood of The Little Pomegranate kicks it off on page 42 with a review of Friday Pattern Company’s Davenport Dress. Find garden makes, comfy joggers and a fruity bag inside, too. WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING #SIMPLYSEWINGMAG facebook.com/simplysewingmagazine twitter.com/simplysewing_ pinterest.com/simplysewingmag instagram.com/simplysewingmag…

REACH FOR THE SKYE The search for the perfect summer dress pattern has come to an end with the Skye sundress from Tilly and the Buttons. This flowy, chuck-on-and-go dress comes in three different lengths and features those all-important pockets so you can show off your faux tie straps without worrying about a bag. Available in UK sizes 6–24 and 16–34; shop.tillyandthebuttons.com. NOTE TO SELF Spend some relaxing time with a needle and thread to create this gentle reminder for yourself or a loved one to always try and ‘see the good’. This design from Brynn and Co feels particularly poignant following the past year; find the embroidery kit at brynnandco.com. BIG SOFTIE W If you want to make sustainable choices when it comes to your sewing materials, you shouldn’t…

FUNDER-WEAR Get involved with a fun session making knickers and boxer shorts to raise money for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust on 18th September! Find out more about making pants for pennies at funder-wear.co.uk FAST FASHION THERAPY Breakaway from fast fashion with help from Eleanor and Sarah, who hold monthly online workshops showing you how to repair and upcycle your clothes. 6 September, fastfashiontherapy.co.uk INTRODUCTION TO GRADING If our workshop on page 74 piques your interest in the possibilities available when you can grade patterns, join this introductory class on 10 September by The Fashion Box. thefashionbox.co.uk…

Whether you want something smart and feminine for dinner and drinks with friends or a practical, casual option for pottering around the house in, you can make any style you want with the Ava Jumpsuit. YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: ■ Jumpsuit A Sizes 10–14: 3.6mx140cm (4ydx55in) Sizes 16–20: 3.7mx140cm (41/8ydx55in) ■ Jumpsuits B and C Size 10: 3.2mx140cm (3½ydx55in) Sizes 12–16: 3.3mx140cm (3¾ydx55in) Sizes 18–20: 3.4mx140cm (3¾ydx55in) ■ Jumpsuit D Sizes 10–12: 2.9mx140cm (3¼ydx55in) Sizes 14–18: 3mx140cm (33/8ydx55in) Size 20: 3.1mx140cm (3½ydx55in) All versions: ■ Elastic, 4cm (15/8in) wide: Sizes 10–18: 50cm (20in) Size 20: 60cm (24in) ■ Lightweight iron-on interfacing: 40x90cm (16x36in) ■ Small buttons: x6 ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm (5/8in). ■ Finished inside leg measurements: Jumpsuits A and…

1 Use eye-catching florals with Betty Ann’s Glamour from Bari J’s 365 Fifth Avenue Collection for Art Gallery Fabrics. artgalleryfabric.com 2 Pick something striking like Tina Vey’s Geo Floral Pink from the Modern Retro collection for Cloud9 Fabrics. cloud9fabrics.com 3 Opt for a tropical vibe with the Cactus Flower fabric in Tawny by Philip Jacobs for Kaffe Fassett. freespiritfabrics.com 4 Challenge yourself with this organic jersey in rainbow Breton stripes from Tilly and the Buttons. tillyandthebuttons.com 5 Have fun with print with the Tropical poplin from Monaluna’s Festival Collection. monaluna.com…

Name: Rumana Dawood Instagram: @thelittlepomegranate Website: thelittlepomegranate.co.uk Pattern: Davenport Dress, Friday Pattern Company (fridaypatterncompany.com) Fabric: Walk the Gentle Path viscose, Selvedge & Bolts (selvedgeandbolts.com) I chose to make the Davenport dress as I love the shape and style of the pattern. It’s not often that I find a pattern straight out of the pack that suits my full coverage style. I also really liked the easy fit of the dress. It has no darts! Plus, most of the fitting is done through the elastic gathering so you can easily adjust these to fit better. The pattern is full of quite simple techniques to create beautiful details. The shoulders have a lovely raglan style with a yoke and the construction means you get a really nice clean finish on the inside.…

With all the lovely dress patterns out there, it’s easy to forget to sew other wardrobe essentials sometimes. Now you can add the Nora Cardigan from Tilly and the Buttons (tillyandthebuttons. com) to your collection of me-mades for an everyday garment that’ll layer perfectly with your other favourite makes. YOU WILL NEED Fabric: ■ Cropped hem: 1.7mx150cm (17/8ydx60in) 2.1mx115cm (23/8ydx45in) ■ Longline hem: 1.8mx150cm (2ydx60in) 2.3mx115cm (2½ydx45in) ■ Ballpoint sewing machine needle ■ Optional: overlocker (serger) ■ Matching thread ■ Sewing machine and basic tools (a rotary cutter, mat and walking foot are useful) NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm throughout. ■ The model (Megan Valero, @pigeonwishes) wears a size 4 (UK 12). ■ Cardigan is designed to be worn open. RECOMMENDED FABRICS ■ Medium to heavyweight low-stretch knit fabrics…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Lightweight woven fabric: 2.5m ■ Waistband elastic 3cm wide ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED ■ We used a viscose challis from rainbowfabrics.co.uk CUTTING OUT Step one With the fabric folded lengthwise selvedge to selvedge, cut a 40cm deep section from the top. Trim the total width of this section to your hip circumference + 5cm (folded that would be hip + 5cm, divided by 2). This will form the top section of your skirt. The total width of our top section was 96cm.01 Step two Then cut a further three 30cm sections at full width (our fabric was 150cm wide). These will form the tiered sections of the skirt.02 MAKING THE TIERED MIDI SKIRT Step one Take one of the 30x150cm tier…

Attitudes to age and ageing have come a long way in the past 20 years, thank goodness, but undoubtedly the world has a long way to go in catching up to the fact that life doesn’t, in fact, end when you hit that half-century. With more time opening up to dedicate to our favourite hobby, why is it that the over 50s don’t always have the same level of visibility in social media and in the marketing for pattern and fabric companies? Sewing for the over 50s is a growing movement that’s captured the hearts and imagination of sewists across the globe and, thanks to a dedicated group of women, it’s set to revolutionise the sewing market and finally offer that representation that’s so desperately needed. Back in August 2018,…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Four T-shirts ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit CUTTING THE T-SHIRTS Step one Measure from your belly button to your feet, including your body contours. Step two Divide this measurement by 3 (for example, ours was 120cm, making each skirt section 40cm). Step three Cut the three T-shirts that you want to use as the top, middle and bottom sections of the skirt part of the dress into tubes. The top and middle sections need to be the length of your calculated measurement with 1.5cm added for seam allowances at each end (3cm total). Leave the T-shirt hem on the lower edge of the bottom section, then cut it to your calculated measurement plus a 1.5cm seam allowance at the top edge. MAKING THE SKIRT…

1 If you have to tape your pattern together, use an invisible matte tape such as Scotch tape – this will make alterations easier as you can draw on top of these tapes. 2 It’s recommended that you only grade between two or three sizes at a time. Attempting to grade from a size 6 waist to a size 14 hip will result in a steep curve. While this might look fine on paper, once sewn, the seam will collapse in on itself! 3 Don’t forget that you can grade halfway between sizes too. If your measurements fall halfway between a 16 and an 18, for example, mark your cross between the sizes for a tailored fit. 4 You can also grade in specific areas. For example, if your bust…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Five different patterned quilting- weight fabrics: 50x50cm of each ■ Four plain quilting-weight fabrics, picking out colours from the patterned fabrics (we used pale grey, pale pink, pale yellow and pale blue): 50x40cm of each ■ Plain quilting-weight cotton for backing: 100x110cm ■ Lightweight batting: 100x110cm ■ Bias binding: 4.5m ■ Thick card: at least 15x15cm ■ Rotary cutter and mat ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm unless otherwise stated. FABRICS USED ■ Cerise Chambray by Tilda fabrics for the backing ■ Patterned fabrics from the Gardenlife collection by Tilda Fabrics ■ Vlieseline 277 cotton batting ■ All from Groves. For stockists email: groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk MAKING THE FRONT PANEL Step one Start by cutting out your squares for the patchwork…

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.…

We’ve got some real treats for you this month, especially if you’re just getting started on your sewing journey. Turn to p48 to find Sewing Bee champ Serena’s top pattern picks for beginner sewists, before developing your skills with our gorgeous patternless makes. Whether you fancy a glam maxi skirt and cami top, or prefer the idea of some cosy joggers, we’ve got you covered. Plus, pretty up your outside space with our garden makes, and take the sunshine wherever you go with our lemon bucket bag on page 58. Share your makes @simplysewingmag.…

FLOR DRESS, BELLA LOVES PATTERNS Is it possible to wear this dress and not want to twirl everywhere you go? Unlikely. This dress and cropped top pattern is so beautiful and elegant, with a touch of drama added by the statement ruffles. Oh, and it comes with pockets! Available in UK sizes 6–20, bellalovespatterns.com. 19 TH  OF JANUARY DUNGAREES, YOU MADE MY DAY PATTERNS These short dungarees are smart and fun at the same time! The ruffled straps carry on through the  crossover back, and the details don’t end there – the shorts have a rounded hem and box pleats for a design that perfectly combines fun, comfort and style. Available in EU sizes 34–46, you-made-my-day.com. SAGEBRUSH TOP, FRIDAY PATTERN COMPANY If you’d prefer your ruffle detail to be…

STRESS-FREE SEWING SOLUTIONS Barbara Emodi ($29.95, C&T Publishing) This book is a long-awaited guide to sewing F.A.I.L.S (followed-all-instructions-letdowns). We’ve all been there! Understand common missteps to help avoid frustrating mistakes, and find easy fixes for when you fall into those sewing ‘oops’ moments. Your next facing, binding, placket, popper or zipper sewing experiences will be all the better for it! A BAG FOR ALL REASONS Lisa Lam (£15.99, David & Charles) Whether you’re new to bag making or well versed in crafting your own, Lisa Lam’s latest book is a must-have. The 12 designs inside vary from totes and laundry bags for beginners to 3-in-1 convertible backpacks and a vanity case for when you gain confidence in your skills. You’ll also find plenty of tips inside for customising the patterns…

BRUSH UP YOUR SKILLS This pattern features modern tailoring techniques, including a notched collar, back vent and welt pockets. GET IN LINE The jacket is fully lined, making it perfect for covering up in the cooler months. ADDED EXTRAS Choose from optional finishing touches including elbow patches, topstitching and pocket flaps. JASIKA BLAZER This design from Closet Core Patterns is a classic tailored jacket with a semi-fitted shape and a wide variety of optional extras. The design can be dressed up or down depending on the fabric you pick and the outfit you team it with – opt for plaids or stripes to really show off your pattern matching. closetcorepatterns.com…

Give every project a professional finish with our guide to pattern matching fabric prints 1 WHY BOTHER? Perhaps the first question to address when discussing pattern matching is, why go to the effort of doing it at all? High-street stores often don’t pattern match their garments, and most onlookers are unlikely to notice whether or not your prints line up perfectly. However, once you get into the routine of doing it, you’ll never look back. Matching your prints elevates your garments and gives them a tailored feel, meaning they not only look smarter but you’ll feel even more proud of your creation, too. Sometimes it’s just nice to go that extra mile! 2 ONE DIRECTION So, you’ve decided you’d like to match your fabric print along your seams – what…

1 Choose a delicate floral print like this Watercolour Bouquet Linen Cotton Blend fabric from Lamazi Fabrics for a garden party-ready dress. (lamazi.com) 2 Up the skill in your project by adding some pattern matching with this pretty Laurel Stripe Cotton from Sister Mintaka. (sistermintaka.com) 3 Try adding some tactile texture to your Davenport dress with this Selfmade Woven Crepe Viscose fabric in Bright Lavender. (selfmade.com)…

Growing up, I was always a creative soul; I loved drawing my favourite anime characters and that’s how I first got into illustration. As time went on, the craft no longer felt like my own and I was searching for another creative outlet. My sister suggested sewing, and a few weeks later she bought me a sewing machine for my birthday. I took beginner lessons at a lovely sewing studio near my house where I made a cushion cover, complete with a crocked zip and uneven seams. I was so proud of my imperfect creation that it took centre stage in my living room (even though, according to my mum, it didn’t match the furniture!). I bought Love at First Stitch by Tilly Walnes, which taught me sewing in a…

Blak Blanca, @blakandblanca We’re obsessed with Blanca B’s account, where she serves up elegant, androgynous looks with the coolest of attitudes. Lena King, @thatlenaking Brighten up your feed by following London-based Lena. Her colourful creations will make you want to immediately ditch the monochrome! Marcia Lois, @marcialoisriddington Mainly working with vintage patterns and repurposed fabric, Marcia is the pattern queen and we can’t get enough of her style. Kathy, @sew_dainty Sewing blogger and jewellery maker Kathy is the one to follow for dreamy and oh-so wearable dress and style inspiration. Olivier Till, @oliviercoud Showing us that the #SewOver50 movement is not just for women, Olivier’s passion for sewing and prints is utterly infectious.…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Woven relaxed fit trousers ■ Elastic 3cm wide (see notes) ■ Soft knit fabric: 1.5m ■ Erasable fabric marker ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Organic French terry in Blush from dragonflyfabrics.co.uk NOTES ■ Our template trousers were a larger size than our model to begin with so we omitted adding a seam allowance. If your template trousers are closer in size and fit to your desired finished measurements, then add a seam allowance to your markings. ■ Elastic requirement will depend on your waist measurement; add approximately 5cm to your waist measurement for the length to buy. CUTTING OUT Step one Fold your knit fabric in half wrong sides (WS) together. Fold your trousers in half lengthwise and align the inseams…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Placemats: 53x37cm (we used ready-made linen placemats) ■ Base yarn: Russia braid in off-white/cream, 3mm thick, approximately 105cm per stem ■ Stranded cotton to match the colour of the Russia braid ■ Small embroidery hoop ■ Hand embroidery/sewing needle ■ Tailor’s chalk or erasable pencil ■ PVA glue ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates TRACING THE DESIGN Step one Trace the template onto the fabric, positioning one stem along each long edge of the mat. Draw over the pattern directly onto your fabric by copying the drawing onto paper and using a lightbox or window to trace the drawing through onto the fabric. STITCHING THE RUSSIA BRAID Step one Fix the end of the Russia braid with glue…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Ivory fabric: 58x50cm ■ Pink floral fabric: 16x20cm ■ Pink plain fabric: 50x33cm ■ Brown fabric: 28x11cm ■ Interlining: 16x12cm ■ Cotton lace trim: 19cm ■ Lace trim: 43cm ■ Pink buttons: x2 ■ Length of narrow elastic: 30cm ■ Pink seed beads: x11 ■ Black stranded cotton thread ■ Pink stranded cotton thread ■ Long doll-making needle ■ Polyester toy filling: 150g ■ Basic sewing kit FINISHED SIZE ■ Approximately 39cm tall. FABRICS USED ■ Main body: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen in Ivory ■ Ears: Liberty Betsy Butterfly Blossom ■ Dress: Kona Solid in Ballet Slipper ■ Bag: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen in Leather NOTES ■ Find the templates on page 89 or download and print from gathered.how/ss-templates. ■ Seam allowance is 6mm. ■ Tack…

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…

TILLY AND THE BUTTONS Our cover star is the wonderfully cosy Nora Cardigan from Tilly and the Buttons. You’ll make use of this comfy layer all year round, and it’d go perfectly over your Ava Jumpsuit or Tilly’s latest release – the Skye sundress. Take a look on page 9! SERENA BAKER Who better to talk us through the best beginner sewing patterns than Sewing Bee 2021 winner Serena! Serena’s sewing was impeccable throughout the series so we can’t wait to read all about her pattern picks; find them on page 48. RUMANA DAWOOD We’re so excited to introduce a new Pattern Review column this month, and we’re incredibly lucky to have Rumana – multi-crafter, doctor and former Sewing Bee – as our first pattern tester! Find Rumana’s review of…

Q I’ve treated myself to a new jumpsuit pattern but I’ve never made one before and don’t know what to choose for the fabric – what should I look for? A When choosing fabric, remember it needs to be comfy and breathable. If you love bold colours you won’t go wrong with a waxed African cotton from Adaku Parker’s dovetailed.co.uk. Play around before you cut out the pattern to make sure you make the most of the fabulous colours and design of the print. If you don’t want to go quite so bold then a quilting weight Liberty cotton would also look stunning. Cotton jersey will also be comfortable and stylish, but remember to check the stretch on the fabric (there should be a guide on your pattern) and use…

1 CALDER TROUSERS & SHORTS These wide-legged woven trousers from Cashmerette feature a flat front, elasticated back waistband, faced in-seam pockets, and options for mid-calf, full, and short lengths. The optional dartless apple fit is not only great for flattering the figure but for showing off bold fabric prints too, as seen in this gorgeous sample. cashmerette.com 2 FAIRFIELD SHIRT This button-up shirt from Thread Theory mixes classic details with a modern close fit. The design features a slim collar with stand, an optional chest pocket, flat felled seams and a yoke. The button band is also drafted onto the shirt front, to make matching plaids and stripes simpler than ever. threadtheory.ca 3 EUCALYPT DRESS AND TANK This design from Megan Nielsen Patterns is perfect for matching up bold prints…

APRON Keep your trusty tools to hand with a gardening apron. The apron is lined for extra strength and the two pockets are perfect for carrying your gloves, packets of seeds, plant markers, secateurs and maybe even some tasty snacks to keep your energy up! CADDY Save yourself the hassle of rummaging around in the greenhouse for your tools and keep all your gardening essentials stashed in one place with this handy carry caddy! Whether you’re potting in the shed or tending to your borders, this will keep your tools and accessories organised. KNEELER Take care of your knees while you’re taking care of your garden with a comfy padded kneeler. If you’ve got a long to-do list, or just fancy dedicating a day to your outdoor space, don’t let…

Lyra dress (shop.tillyandthe buttons.com ) Lyra’s drawstring waist means you have some leeway in creating your perfect fit, and it looks great made up in a range of fabrics. Huon dress (munaandbroad.com) Gorgeous gathers at the neckline and back yoke give Muna and Broad’s Huon dress a relaxed, flattering silhouette and contemporary feel. Dayo dress (sewingpatternsby masin.com ) With shirred cuffs and balloon sleeves, the Dayo dress lends itself to lightweight woven fabrics like rayon, viscose and voile.…

1 Start by using stable fabrics. This lets you focus on gaining the basic technical skills. You can experiment with tricky fabrics once you have these. 2 Set aside plenty of time for sewing. Whether it’s 30 minutes or three hours, having time to fully focus on sewing without distractions always makes me enjoy it far more. 3 Invest in a good pair of fabric scissors. They make a huge difference to the quality of your cutting out (and are very satisfying to listen to!). 4 Focus on learning one new skill at a time to make it less overwhelming. This could be trying a new technique or working with a more difficult fabric. 5 If you are sewing with more expensive fabric, spend the time making a toile first.…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Canvas or similar weight fabric in a summery print: 1mx147cm ■ Lining fabric: 70x112cm ■ Style-Vil foam interfacing (Vlieseline): 91.5x72cm ■ 18cm zip for the front outer pocket ■ Webbing for the handles, 4cm wide: 1.2m ■ Coordinating faux leather to trim the handles: 8.5x38cm ■ Clear-drying glue (PVA is perfect) ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 5mm unless otherwise stated. FABRICS USED ■ Outer: Yuma Lemons Mist canvas by Bari J for Art Gallery Fabrics. ■ Lining: Lemonade from the PURE Solids collection by Art Gallery Fabrics. For stockists visit artgalleryfabrics.com. ■ Interfacing: Vlieseline products available at Lady Sew and Sew: ladysewandsew.co.uk CUTTING OUT Step one From the outer fabric cut: Outer Top Trim (A): one using template A…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Woven fabric: 1mx150cm ■ 2.5cm wide elastic x your bust measurement ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm unless otherwise stated. ■ We used the width of our fabric as the top front and back (cut as one piece). If your bust measurement is larger than the width of your fabric you can use the fabric length (this may require more fabric). Measure yourself before purchasing your fabric if you want to be sure the width and length of your desired top will work. FABRICS USED ■ We used Lady McElroy linen viscose in Khaki from minerva.com. MEASURING YOUR MAIN FABRIC PIECES Measure your bust and add 60cm, this will be the width of your top. Measure down from your…

In this month’s workshop, Simply Sewing’s Senior Technical Editor, Roisin, shows us how to grade between sizes for an accurate fit. When you take your measurements and find you’re three different sizes at the bust, waist and hips, it can be hard to know what to do. Cut the largest size and make do? Cut the smallest size and squeeze into it? As size charts vary from one pattern company to the next, you’ll find that you’re rarely the same size across brands and that your measurements usually fall across two or three sizes. It’s the same in the shops; it’s rare to pick up the first item you see and find it fits perfectly. You usually have to try a few different styles, sizes and stores before you find…

YOU WILL NEED For the small box ■ Cotton fabric: 150x110cm for outer ■ Cotton fabric: 150x110cm for lining ■ Canvas: 50x110cm for base ■ Vlieseline G700: 150x90cm ■ Vlieseline Decovil I Light: 150x90cm ■ Zip: 150cm plus two heads For the large box ■ Cotton fabric: 110x110cm for outer ■ Cotton fabric: 150x110cm for lining ■ Canvas: 60x110cm for the base ■ Vlieseline G700: 190x90cm ■ Vlieseline Decovil I Light: 190x90cm ■ Zip: 200cm plus two heads ■ Mesh fabric: 24x19cm ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 2cm. ■ Small box measures: 50x38x20cm ■ Large box measures: 65x50x20cm FABRICS USED ■ Joules Bircham Bloom Floral fabric and Joules Bircham Bloom Stripe fabric, hobbycraft.co.uk. ■ Vlieseline products both provided by Vlieseline: ladysewandsew.co.uk. ■ Hemline continuous zip, email:…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Linen fabric: 30x30cm ■ Quilting cotton: 30x30cm ■ Toy stuffing ■ Perle cotton in yellow ■ Stranded cotton in black ■ Small embroidery hoop (optional) ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 6mm unless otherwise stated. ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates CORAL STITCH Step one Come up through the fabric. Start the first coral stitch (or knot) a short distance from the starting point. Take a tiny stitch down and up through the fabric and on the line you are embroidering, leaving the needle in place. Wrap the working thread over the needle and then under it.01 Step two Tighten the working thread around the needle and then pull the needle through the fabric. Slowly pull the thread through and…

The ability to create any look I desire and have it fit my body perfectly is what makes sewing and designing such a treat. It gives me a sense of freedom and expression. I’ve always been fashion-forward, expressing myself and my love for beautiful fabrics through garments and accessories. I can’t say I have one favourite piece, but my most coveted designs and ideas have derived from the bustier and corset trend! The corset, although such a constricting and controversial piece of clothing coming out of the 19th century, is very figure flattering and there are so many modern ways to wear and create them now. A few of my favourite patterns for these are the Rose Cafe Bustier pattern from Daria Pattern Making and the Butterick Corset pattern B5935.…