Innehållsförteckning för 101 från Simply Sewing

With the countdown to the big day officially on, we’ve got plenty of projects to help you tick things off your list. From partywear and accessories to gifts and decorative table makes, you’ll find heaps of inspiration inside. If you’re after some pressie ideas for little ones, we’ve got some fun ideas for you − sew Buttons the mischevious little elf who can visit them in December, or make their Christmas magical with cape and mask so they can be superheroes for the day. Treat yourself to something new to wear too, with a classic wrap dress or a casual colour-block jumper. Merry Christmas! WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING#SIMPLYSEWINGMAG facebook.com/simplysewingmagazine twitter.com/simplysewing_ pinterest.com/simplysewingmag instagram.com/simplysewingmag…

COSY KNITS The range of Minerva Exclusive fabrics just got bigger with the launch of cosy sweater knit fabrics! Minerva’s new fabrics are soft, beautiful to touch and have a good drape. They’re the perfect transitional fabrics for autumn and sew up beautifully for cardigans, light pullovers, sweater dresses (see page 11!), skirts and more. See all ten designs at minerva.com. A REAL CRACKER Make your table decorations extra special and eco-friendly this year with reusable fabric crackers. With a kit from Skimming Stones you’ll get everything you need to make these beautiful DIY crackers or your own stocking. skimmingstonesdesigns.com/sewing-kits TRIM THE TREE Let your love of sewing take centre stage this festive season by adding a vintage sewing machine decoration to your Christmas tree! This nostalgic black and gold…

The Electra floor lamp from Daylight is the answer to your sewing struggles as the days and nights draw in! Keep sewing throughout winter with this adjustable lamp which has been specially designed for crafters. Choose a brightness, an angle and colour temperature to suit with Daylight’s Electra floor lamp. Use the Daylight or Cool Light mode to help with your sewing, then switch to Warm Light mode when you’re ready to cosy up and relax on the sofa. This sleek lamp with a black satin finish will become a stylish addition to any room and will effortlessly blend in with the rest of your décor. Three lucky winners will receive one of these beautiful lamps worth £119.99 each. Find out more about the difference the Electra lamp can make…

DAWN JEANS We love a classic pair of jeans, and this four-in-one pattern from Megan Nielsen is one we’ll be keeping in our collection for a long time to come. It creates several different high-waisted looks, including cuts for tall, regular and cropped trousers. megannielsen.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Start making today with our pick of the best cord-friendly designs 1 V1821 DRESS This unusual design from Vogue creates a super-comfy, loose-fitting, unlined dress with bias neck binding, dropped shoulders, three-quarter length sleeves, and a deliberately frayed hemline. The unfussy silhouette is ideal for showing off the bold texture of jumbo cord. sewdirect.com 2 SENNA SKIRT This must-have pattern from WISJ Designs creates a midi skirt in a variety of sizes, all the way from 18 months right through to women’s. It…

Make this Christmas season even more magical with the arrival of a michevious little elf! Buttons the Elf is included with your magazine this month and is designed by Lucy Ward (@thewhistlingcowgirl). Sew Buttons as a special surprise for a little one who will love seeing what they get up to each night... making flour snow angels, perhaps? You could even dress your elf in a fabric to match your children’s PJs for their first introduction! You’ll have tons of fun deciding whether Buttons will be on the naughty or nice list this year, too...…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Fine knit jumpers: two ■ Flexible stay tape ■ Pressing cloth ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Lightweight 15mm wide Vlieseline stretch seam/stay tape from sewessential.co.uk. SELECTING THE RIGHT JUMPERS For this project we used two fine knit jumpers of similar weight and stretch. One (ours in the navy colour) forms the foundation of the finished garment and needs to be in your size, but not too fitted. The other (ours is the wine colour) is used as a secondary garment so preferably should be slightly wider than the first in order to cut the sections you need from it and add a seam allowance. Ensure the weight and stretch is similar to the first. As this is a great project to save…

DRAFT YOUR OWN! YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric: see below ■ Iron-on interfacing: 2yds ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC QUANTITY NEEDED ■ Width: hip measurement + 1 yd ■ Length: shoulder to hem + 3.5in ■ Contrasting fabric: 1.5–2yds BODY MEASUREMENTS NEEDED ■ Hips ■ Shoulder to hem ■ Nape to sleeve hem (the nape is located at the base of your neck, centre back) NOTES ■ Seam allowances are ½in unless otherwise stated. CUTTING OUT Step one From your main fabric, cut out a piece that measures your hip measurement + 10in (width) x shoulder to hem + 3.5in (length). Step two Fold the fabric in half along the width. The folded edge is your centre back and the open end is your centre front. Bring…

Liz Haywood @lizhaywood3754 (she/her) Author of Zero Waste Sewing and The Dressmaker’s Companion, Liz creates size-inclusive zero-waste sewing patterns with a range of 20 sizes and runs a fantastic sewing and fashion blog. Maureen Gleason @processofsewing (she/her) Theatre and textile artist Maureen Gleason creates stunning, modern, size-inclusive zero-waste patterns under the brand Process of Sewing. The patterns have a range of 15 sizes. WHERE TO GO FROM HERE As you can see from the team’s amazing and varied work, designing for zero-waste is more creative than restrictive. It provides constraints to be creative within, space for solutions, and the exciting opportunity to come up with innovative and new designs! Likewise, ZWDC creates the space and community for every sewist to learn, get creative and, most importantly, save waste. Instagram: @zwdo_collectiveTikTok:…

NO-08JEAN POCKET YOU WILL NEED ■ Jeans ■ Stranded cotton in a range of colours ■ Embroidery needle ■ Embroidery scissors ■ Basic sewing kit PREPARATION Step one Choose a range of stranded cotton colours, we chose an ombre selection but you could pick your favourite colours, a rainbow design or monochrome! This is a great way to use up threads leftover from previous projects. 01 Step two Thread your needle with three strands of stranded cotton and tie a knot at the other end. EMBROIDERING THE DESIGN Step one Use the folded edge on the inside of the jeans pocket as a guide for where to bring the needle out to the front of the pocket. 02 Step two Wrap the stranded cotton over the top of the pocket…

MY FAVOURITE THING “This shirt is something I am currently trying to find any excuse to wear; I’m obsessed with it! On the surface I really like the look and feel of the shirt; it’s made in an organic cotton sateen and it was a dream to sew. I used the Minimalist Shirt pattern by indie designers Tobias Konrath which is a boxy, oversized, gender-inclusive design with a raft of suggested hacks. I’ve sewn about six shirt patterns over the last few years, and I can easily say that this is my favourite. It’s such a fun, quick make; there are no tricky cuffs or plackets to worry about, and it taught me a new skill – French seams. I had always been wary of these, but the beautifully illustrated…

As the countdown to Christmas starts, I'm getting all the feels for bold, bright and playful makes. The change in weather makes me want to splash around a bit of colour to cheer everyone up! The easiest way to add colour or print to your wardrobe is with a simple silhouette like our floaty wrap dress (p24). Nothing quite beats a classic Christmas dinner table set-up and I think this kitsch, retro-inspired look (p28) is our best yet. Trifle, anyone? And there's plenty of time to get started on some handmade gifts − I can highly recommend our superhero cape and mask (p42), my kids love it! What are you sewing for Christmas?…

ANDIE DRESS, VIKISEWS We love this chic design from Vikisews! The straight-cut maxi dress has bust darts for a subtle fit, and a turndown collar makes it both smart and comfortable. The long sleeves feature thumbholes too to keep you extra toasty in the winter months! Available in EU sizes 34–52, vikisews.com. TURME JUMPER, PH7 PATTERNS This loose-fit design will be so cosy to throw on on a cold winter’s day! The simple shape makes this a great basic to style with anything – wear it over a pair of jeans or leggings for a casual outfit or over with some glittery tights or pleather leggings for a party look! Available in sizes A–J, ph7patterns.com. JODIE JUMPER, SIMPLY SEWING This simple-sew features raglan sleeves and patch pockets for a super…

Two lucky winners will each receive a bundle of sewing books from CICO Books. With a focus on sustainability and mindfulness, this collection is the perfect bundle for setting your sewing resolutions for 2023. The bundle features a selection of books from designer-maker Wendy Ward, including How to Sew Sustainably, Sewing Basics for Every Body and Sewing with Knitted Fabrics, as well as the recently published Simple Hand Sewing by Laura Strutt and Fashion Hacks by Janine Chisholm Sullivan. There are 28 full-size sewing patterns inside this collection of books – many of which can be used to create multiple garments – as well as 35 hand-sewing projects for when you fancy some relaxing stitching. That’s the new year sorted! Find even more crafty books to add to your bookshelf…

Glamour, elegance, grace – Rita has it all! Made up in beautifully soft fabrics with wonderful drape, this floaty dress will be your go-to garment for seasonal parties and family get-togethers. For a more casual look to style through autumn/winter, pair your dress with some tights and boots and a chunky cardi or leather jacket. With a simple change of colour or print, this dress will be a wardrobe staple though the summer season too, and there’s nothing more satisfying that a pattern we can use over and over again! Choose from a midi- or maxi-length skirt for a style that suits your personal taste and fills a gap in your wardrobe. For a guide to sewing the fiddly wrap ties, head to gathered.how and search ‘how to make spaghetti…

YOU WILL NEED For the masks ■ Skinny or fat quarter of soft fabric: one ■ Fabric scraps in contrasting colours ■ Iron-on bonding web: 30cm square ■ Matching elastic: 30cm long For the cape ■ Soft fabric: 60cm ■ Fabric scraps in contrasting colours ■ Contrasting fabric: one FQ ■ Contrasting lining fabric: 60cm ■ Iron-on bonding web: 30cm square ■ Velcro: 2cm For both: ■ Matching sewing thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm unless otherwise stated. ■ Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates. MAKING THE MASKS Step one Print the template at the most suitable scale for your child and make two copies. Step two Prepare enough fabric for the mask by backing it with iron-on bonding web. Peel the paper backing away and…

Master the art of marbling with Zeena Shah’s brand-new book! Create patterned clothes, stationery, homewares and accessories, including this gorgeous ruffled headband, with Zeena’s simple instructions and patterns in Marbling (Quadrille, £15). Throughout the book you’ll find imaginative ways to upcycle household objects using minimal equpiment such as water and nail varnish. Get your copy now to make the festive bauble in time for Christmas, and follow Zeena’s bright and beautiful Instagram at @heartzeena.…

Eight years ago I learnt to sew. At the same time, I learnt pattern making, and I loved it so much that I decided to train myself professionally. One thing led to another and in 2015 I quit my job and began to develop and market sewing patterns at Readytosew (readytosew.fr). Sewing is a wonderful tool that allows us to create a personalised wardrobe made for our own body and style, but it’s also a great way to be more responsible about what we buy because we quickly learn the real price of a garment. Once you realise what goes into making clothes – materials, care and time – it’s hard to go back to old habits and buy a T-shirt for three euros from a fast-fashion brand. To consume…

In this workshop Simply Sewing’s Senior Technical Editor Roisin walks you through the process of a full bust adjustment for a wrap front bodice. Bust adjustments of any kind can be daunting. For a plain bodice the steps are relatively simple, but add in other aspects such as darts in different places, or wrap bodice fronts and the complexity often puts people off. We promise that once you get started it can be therapeutic to work though the stages. When you see the difference that correct fit can make you won’t look back to the days of ‘that’ll do!’. YOU WILL NEED ■ Calico. Size 6–20: 1mx140cm, sizes 22–30: 2mx140cm (see notes) ■ Pattern paper ■ Pattern master or ruler ■ Paper scissors ■ Coloured fine liners ■ Scotch magic…

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…

LUCY WARD Lucy is a wonderfully talented toy designer and she regularly sews the sweet characters featured in Simply Sewing. This issue she’s designed an elf toy (page 40) ready for December. This cheeky chap is sure to start a magical Christmas tradition! ZWDO COLLECTIVE The Zero Waste Design Collective is paving the way for sustainable sewing by creating a central resource for education about zero-waste design. Get to know the creative and experienced team behind this platform in their feature on page 62. CHINELO BALLY Chinelo first appeared on our screens in 2014’s Sewing Bee, and has graced our magazine and Insta feeds with stunning makes and sewing inspo ever since! This issue she’s sewn a party jacket that’s perfect for the holiday season (page 57). ROBERT SEXTON Not…

LOTTA JANSDOTTER EVERYDAY PATTERNS Lotta Jansdotter (£21.99, Abrams Books) Create a seven-piece wardrobe with basic patterns that can be easily layered and styled together. For each garment – a skirt, shirt, shirt dress, tunic, trousers, jacket and robe – Swedish designer Lotta offers ideas for trims, pockets, sleeves and hemlines for the chance to get creative and personalise the designs. There are also patterns for unique accessories included. THE COSPLAY BOOK OF BALLGOWNS Regan Cerato & Kelley Kullman (£15.99, C&T Publishing) Cosplay couple Cowbutt Crunchies have published their third book to walk sewists through making magical ballgowns. The world-champion duo guide you through the basics, including materials and project planning followed by detailed chapters on undergarments, skirts, bodices, and those all-important finishing touches. THE EMBROIDERED CLOSET Alexandra Stratkotter ($24.99, Abrams…

CHRISTMAS TABLE NAPKINS Reusable napkins are a brilliant step towards a greener Christmas – not to mention the fact that they’re also softer, super-absorbent and add much more character to your table than paper ones! Sew a festive set, and then use the pattern to sew some to use year-round. BOTTLE BAG Make your gifting more eco-friendly this Christmas with a handmade bottle bag that will be used and appreciated for years to come. When you can sew, the packaging can be just as special as the gift inside! Find more guides to sewing gift bags at gathered.how. PLACEMATS Decorate your dining table with homemade placemats for a personal touch that guests will love. These are super-simple to make, too, so a great project for when you’re after an easy-sew…

Name: Linda Mafuba Instagram handle:@mydei.official and @the.rectangle.dress Patterns used: No.7 Vanløse trouser suit by How to Do Fashion Fabric: Taupe triple crepe Fabric Stockist: minerva.com Whenever I’m looking for a new pattern to sew I automatically lean towards dresses as I love how ‘dressed up’ you can look simply by putting on one item of clothing. However, with the cooler seasons fast approaching here in the UK I wanted something that I could wear year-round but that would feel like a new addition to my winter wardrobe. When I came across the Vanløse pattern by How To Do Fashion, I immediately fell for its sleek lines and vintage 1930s feel. I’m excited to have this pattern in my stash so I can adapt it for future makes. FABRIC SELECTION My…

Introducing the Pan top – a soon-to-be wardrobe staple! With grown-on sleeves and a relaxed-fit bodice, this cool and casual top by I AM Patterns (iampatterns.fr) will be comfortable to wear and a quick and easy sew. The loose-fit means this top also lends itself to a range of fabrics, so you can sew a lightweight version for the office, a silky satin top for an evening look and a jersey version for lounging in. We love the idea of a really bold pattern for the top bodice and then a complementary plain for the rest, or you could even go for an ombre effect using two shades of the same colour! The button-up back is a chance to perfect sewing those buttonholes, and another way of adding some personality…

Zero-waste design has become a buzzword in the sewing community over the last couple of years. Patterns have been popping up and inviting sewists into the wonderfully creative and textile-saving world of zero-waste design. But what is zero-waste design? ZWD develops methods for the design of garments that do not produce waste in their production. This is done through the use of creative pattern cutting and design methods to enable the careful placement of pattern pieces in a jigsaw-like arrangement. WHY DO WE NEED ZERO-WASTE DESIGN? It is estimated that the industry produces approximately 400 billion square metres of textiles every year, and an average of 15–25% is wasted on the cutting room floor. For home sewists there ends up being a higher percentage of waste per garment. Sewists are…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric: ⅝yd x 40–60in ■ Heavyweight iron-on interfacing: 1⅛yd x 20in ■ Lining: ⅝yd x 45in ■ Lightweight iron-on interfacing: 1⅛yd x 20in ■ One large magnetic snap ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit RECOMMENDED FABRICS ■ Medium-weight, stable fabrics such as chintz, denim, linen or twill. NOTES ■ Prewash your fabric using a method that’s suitable for the fabric type. ■ Head to sewdirect.com to download the pattern (SP113). CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric cut:Bag Front and Back: twoFlap: two Step two From the lining fabric cut:Bag Lining: two Step three From the heavy interfacing cut:Bag Front and Back Interfacing: oneFlap Interfacing: two Step four From the lightweight interfacing cut: Bag Lining Interfacing: one PREPARATION Step one Pin the heavyweight interfacing…

COASTER AND TREE DECORATIONS PAGE 36/39ACTUAL SIZE KIDS’ MASK PAGE 42ACTUAL SIZE KIDS‘ CAPE PAGE 42ACTUAL SIZE All templates are available to download from our website. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! 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.…