Innehållsförteckning för Issue 130 från Simply Sewing

Sew yourself the gift of comfort and practicality with our cover star, the gender-neutral Bailey Hoodie! Wear it close-fitted or size up for an oversized, lounging garment – for more styling inspo, turn to page 22. And dance your way through our second star pattern, The Carrie Skirt – with its flowing, colourful look, you’re sure to brighten up any outfit. To help you get through the last cooler months, we show you how to make super comfy faux suede slippers on page 41 and learn how to sew wool in our Trend Tech of the month on page 18. Fancying booking a holiday where sewing is at the centre of it all? (Who wouldn’t?) Michelle Rowley tells us all about her own experience going on a sewing retreat on page…

SCRAPPY STELLAR Start the year right with the most stellar of quilt patterns to keep you warm and snug all year long! The Spectra Quilt by Morgan of Modernly Morgan is perfect to try yourself at quilting the Sawtooth Star Block design. Choose to make it scrap-happy with all your favourite fabrics from your stash, or make it with the brightest and most vibrant fabrics for a bold take to brighten up your home. The pattern includes four sizes from Baby to Queen size. Don't wait any longer, get your pattern at modernlymorgan.com LABEL IT, DON'T LOSE IT! Do you know the way to add the perfect finishing touch to any of your sewing projects? A cute, fun and colourful label of course! Little Rosy Cheeks has released a whole collection…

PSST: Turn the page for fabric and styling inspiration. Share your Bailey Hoodie with us No matter if you wear for lounging at home or as a comfortable and practical garment when going outside, the Bailey Hoodie is going to become your favourite piece of clothing! YOU WILL NEED ■ Upper section fabric: 1mx145cm ■ Mid section fabric: 1mx145cm ■ Lower section fabric: 1.5mx145cm ■ Stretch or Microtex machine needle ■ Edge tape ■ Lightweight stretch interfacing ■ Open-ended zip: 56cm (22in) ■ Nylon anorak cord or flat cotton cord: 1.4m ■ Plastic cord stops (optional) ■ Eyelets (optional) ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Medium-weight sweatshirting or sweatshirt fleece, French terry, stretch velour, light to medium-weight ponte, medium-weight jersey with at least 30% crosswise stretch.…

Sign up to our newsletter now to download your bonus digital copy of Love Crafting – for free! Inside this bumper craft special you'll find not one, not two, but thirty two step-by-step guides to beautiful projects to put your crafting skills to good use. With patterns for stitching, sewing, crochet, papercrafts, knitting and baking projects you will be kept entertained for months. These projects make for beautiful presents for loved-ones or nice treats and décor for yourself! Sign up for yours today at try.simplysewingmag.com/bonus-gift.…

Does your sewing bring you greater satisfaction than your 9-5? If so, you’re not alone. Research from Anglia Ruskin University has found that arts and crafts give greater life satisfaction than work. Researchers at the university analysed the results of a UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport survey of over 7000 people on the topic of ‘taking part’. The 37% of the participants that engaged in an art or craft activity had greater ratings of happiness, life satisfaction and feelings that life was worthwhile than those who didn’t (regardless of other factors such as age, gender, health and employment status). The findings confirm what we as sewists have long known: a creative hobby positively supports our well-being. 'Hobbies can help us strengthen and develop our sense of identity.' CRAFTING…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 2.5 metres of woven fabric■ Lightweight interfacing■ 23cm invisible zipper■ Fabric marker or chalk■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ The seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise stated. MATERIAL USED ■ Fabric used is 137cm wide from Richmond Mill Fabrics on Etsy. MEASUREMENTS NEEDED ■ L: distance from your waist to your calf (or desired skirt length). ■ W: waist measurement . CALCULATIONS In order to cut a full circle skirt, some simple calculations are required.Radius = (W + 6cm) ÷ 6.28On one corner of an A4 sheet of paper, measure and mark the radius from one pointed corner to the other. This should form a quarter circle. 01 CUT THE FABRIC Step one With wrong sides (WS) together, fold the fabric in half, ensuring…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Brown faux fur fabric: 90x55cm■ Ivory plush fabric: 55x30cm■ Dark brown plush fabric: 10x12cm■ Dark grey wool felt: 5x5cm■ Black wool felt: 7x7cm■ Black stranded cotton■ White stranded cotton■ Polyester toy filling: 400g■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Solid Cuddle Plush in Natural by Shannon Fabrics. Brown faux fur fabric by Neotrims, find similar projects on Etsy. NOTES ■ Find the templates on page 75 or download and print from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Fabric measurements are given width first, then height. ■ Arrows on templates indicate the direction of plush fabric pile. ■ The templates include 6mm seam allowances. ■ Use 6mm seam allowance, unless otherwise indicated. ■ Tack before sewing. ■ Use a ballpoint machine needle for fur fabrics. ■ When cutting the fur…

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…

SKIRT PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instructions sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: 115cm x 3.5m■ Iron-on interfacing: 30 x 120cm■ Invisible zip: 25cm■ Button: 2cm diameter■ Matching thread NOTE ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. Seam allowances are included. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light to medium weight fabrics with a natural drape such as crepe, viscose, rayon challis and lightweight cotton. Shop more of our dressmaking patterns online at gathered.how/sewing-shop BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Designed and printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Supplied by Our Media Ltd, Bristol BS1 4ST. For individual, private home use only. Not for commercial/manufacturing purposes or resale. CUTTING LAYOUTS MAIN FABRIC (SINGLE LAYER) 115CM/145CM WIDTH FABRIC DIAGRAMS STITCHING TERMS RS/WS: Right side/wrong side of the fabric. The right side…

When you want to share the love (not just for Valentine's Day), nothing beats gifting something handmade. Whether that's a matching set of jersey hoodies (page 22), a cosy pair of slippers (page 41) or a hug from the cuddliest sloth (page 69), we've got you covered! And for yours truly? How about a sewing retreat or stitching holiday? Be inspired to book your dream break thanks to our feature on page 60. We all know sewing makes us feel good, but do you know the science behind our hormone-boosting hobby? Turn to page 46 to read what Doctor Haleema Sheikh, a specialist in bioidentical hormone balancing, has to say. It's fascinating!…

These fabric buckets, baskets and totes are perfect for storing and organising your stuff. Whip up a set with this easy-to-follow pattern. All these organisers feature contrast lining and handles for easy moving. And all sizes can be made in a wide range of fabrics. 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 Add Simplicity 8107 to your basket on sewdirect.com 3 Use the voucher code during checkout and your basket total will update to give you S8107 for FREE! SCAN ME to get your pattern! Terms and conditions Offer available while stocks last. No alternative patterns provided. You will only be able to claim one free pattern with this offer. Checkout…

Although I learnt to thread a sewing machine in school, I never made any wearable garments – and I didn’t pick it back up until 4 years ago, when I became more interested in sustainability and fashion. I often joke that I learnt to sew out of pure stubbornness. A I was seeing designs I loved in the shops, but I didn’t want to buy fast fashion and wanted to have more choice about what I wore. One day, I came across a dress I loved, from a brand I didn’t love so much. I bought the dress, traced a pattern in newspaper, returned the dress, and started the trial-and-error journey of making my first garment from one of my dad’s old shirts. I wouldn’t recommend “pirating” your first sewing…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 25cm light brown faux suede ■ 50cm cream faux fur ■ Pair of non-slip slipper soles (ours were from joestoes.co.uk) ■ Cream sewing thread ■ Thick cream upholstery thread ■ Stranded cotton in light green, dark green and peach ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates. ■ Sizing – the front piece template works with a size 5-6 sole. To scale it up or down, draw the front piece on paper a little larger or smaller, cut it out (without adding seam allowance) and pin to the soles, then try on the paper slippers. Adjust the pattern piece as necessary until the fit is right. CUTTING OUT Step one With the faux suede right side (RS) down, place the front piece template…

Swish into 2025 with style and glamour by sewing The Ingrid Bag − included with your copy of Simply Sewing. This cutie has an adjustable strap to wear comfortably, and choose vibrant fabric for your strap to add colour and fun to any outfit or stay neutral with a muted fabric. With a zip to close it securely, a nifty tab and an outer pocket, this bag great for everyday use – big enough to store all your essentials but small enough to not get in the way when you're on the move! Check out all of Lisa's other bag patterns at sewlisalam.com…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Blazer■ Stranded cotton (we used DMC 04)■ Air-erasable marking pen■ Ruler■ Chenille needle or sashiko needle■ Basic sewing kit PREPARE YOUR BLAZER Step one Use the ruler and marking pen to mark around the inside of the blazer lapel. It will make an elongated triangle. The sample is marked about 8mm in from the edge and fold, but you can adjust this if you like. 01 Step two Pin through the centre of the lapel. This helps keep the fabric smooth as you add the stitching, which will have the effect of quilting. Thread your needle with all six strands of the stranded cotton. 02 STITCH YOUR DESIGN Step one Working on the marked line, come up through the lapel and then begin the sashiko stitching.…

My sewing journey began with a thought that I know you can relate to: “I can make that”. A friend of mine had been making these beautiful boho hoods, despite the fact that I hadn’t touched a sewing machine since year 9 Design-Textiles, I’ve always been creative and was filled with this unfounded confidence, my parents brought me my first sewing machine and I’ve been hooked ever since. As my love of sewing grew, so did my love of fashion. But it wasn’t until I started to approach my 30s that I truly found my style, I became obsessed with shape and colour, I’ve always been a bubbly, if not slightly chaotic person and I wanted my clothes to reflect my personality. It’s hard to pick a favourite make, but…

JULIET UZOR Juliet is a London-based mum and in 2019 she participated to the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee and won! Juliet loves making clothes in a range of different textures, colours, patterns and origins. Turn to page 57 for her circle skirt project. MARIE MARKEY-BOGUE Marie lives in Cornwall with her partner and two children. You can find her either sewing or falling off her skateboard. She loves creating fun, colourful clothing. Head over to page 82 to learn all about Marie’s creative sewing journey! LISA LAM Lisa is a bag designer, author of two bestselling bag-making books, and a regular guest designer on Sewing Street TV. Beside bag-making, Lisa also loves to sew clothes. Turn to page 51 to learn more about Lisa’s exclusive bag pattern. PASCHA Pascha is…

BEAR JACKET This versatile workwear-inspired design from Wardrobe By Me features a smart front zip closure, a shirt-style collar, a shoulder yoke, and two large patch pockets. It’s fully lined wit a relaxed fit, and works perfectly in a variety of fabrics from lightweight cotton and canvas, to thicker cords and wools. wardrobebyme.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Get stitching with our pick of the best wool-friendly sewing patterns 1 TAYLOR TROUSERS Another pattern now that can be worn both in and out of the office, the high-waisted Taylor trousers from BF Patterns feature a wide leg, a functional fly, and front slash pockets with two unique views. What’s more, an invisible elastic secured within the back waistband ensures these tailored slacks stay comfy all day long. blackbirdfabrics.com 2 SALOMÉ SKIRT This stylish…

FRILL FRENZY Add ruffles of fun to your life with this fringed skirt by fashion designer Elisalex de Castro Peake FRINGED SKIRT YOU WILL NEED ■ 2m lightweight suedette fabric ■ Invisible zip: 23cm ■ Rotary cutter ■ Metal ruler ■ Pattern paper ■ Snap fastener ■ Matching sewing thread ■ Basic sewing kit MEASURING UP Step one Measure around your waist, then note down the measurement plus 1cm, for wearing ease. Repeat to get your hip measurement, this time adding 2.5cm, then make a note of the distance between your waist and hip, measured down the centre front (CF). Finally, measure the length you’d like the skirt to be, starting at the waist and measuring down the CF. Step two Lay out the pattern paper, or a large piece…

Dance your way through the year with The Carrie Skirt! This beautifully flowing skirt will add fun and vibrancy to any outfit, as well as giving you the freedom to move as much as you like. Make it with varied colours or keep it neutral with muted fabrics. This skirt looks gorgeous with a jumper for winter, and will also be perfect with a cute summer top. Its length is great to keep your legs warm during the cold months and will help you stay cool during hot sunny days. Match it with simple accessories so that the spotlight stays on the skirt! Add heels for a chic look, but don't be scared to keep warm and trendy with winter boots. Don't forget to share your makes with us online…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 1-2 metres of 150cm wide fabric ■ 2-3 metres of bias binding ■ French curve ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED: ■ Mind The MAKER Organic Kora Stretch Woven Corduroy Fabric in Sienna, from minerva.com NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm. ■ Hem allowance is 3.5cm. ■ Pattern can be drafted straight onto fabric using chalk or onto paper to create a reusable template. SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Corduroy, needlecord, denim, cotton drill. DRAFT THE DRESS Step one First measure dress length, from shoulder to chosen length above the knee. Add 4cm to this length. Fold fabric in half lengthwise right sides (RS) together and mark the top and bottom of dress along one edge. At the top and bottom of this line, mark…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 50x140cm velvet fabric■ Gold tassel■ Two 29mm metal cover buttons■ Toy stuffing■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates CUTTING OUT Step one Using the template, carefully cut out two stars from the velvet. STITCHING THE CUSHION Step one With right sides (RS) facing, pin the two stars together. Velvet has a nap so make sure the fabric has the smoothness going downwards. Mark the top with a pin or chalk. Step two On a straight edge near the bottom, mark a gap of 5-8cm with two pins. 01 Step three On the bottom point of the star, lay the tassel on the inside of the cushion, with the tie going outwards and the rest of the tassel inside the cushion.…

All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! TOY SLOTH 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.…

HOODIE PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheets x2■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Upper section fabric: 1mx145cm■ Mid section fabric: 1mx145cm■ Lower section fabric: 1.5mx145cm■ Stretch or Microtex machine needle■ Edge tape■ Lightweight stretch interfacing■ Open-ended zip: 56cm (22in)■ Nylon anorak cord or flat cotton cord: 1.4m■ Plastic cord stops (optional)■ Eyelets (optional)■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Medium-weight sweatshirting or sweatshirt fleece, French terry, stretch velour, light to medium-weight ponte, medium-weight jersey with at least 30% crosswise stretch. NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance unless otherwise stated. ■ The project can be sewn up either with a sewing machine or an overlocker. If using a sewing machine either use a lightening stitch or a narrow, short zigzag stitch. Try starting with a 1.5 width and…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Outer PU fabric: 50x138cm wide■ Lining fabric: 50x112cm■ Iron-on fleece (Vlieseline H640): 50cm■ Decovil Light interfacing: 50cm■ Zip to match outer fabric: 38cm■ 2cm D-rings: two■ Trigger hooks 3.8cm: two■ Strap slider 3.8cm: one■ 3.8cm wide webbing: 1.5m■ Sewing clips■ Walking foot■ Seam roller■ Pinking shears (recommended)■ Washable quilter’s tape■ Fabric glue■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ All seam allowances are 1cm, unless otherwise stated. ■ To minimise bulk, use home sewing machine-friendly PU fabric. ■ Use a universal 90 weight sewing machine needle. ■ When sewing with faux leather (unless instructed otherwise), do not secure stitches by backstitching. Instead, pull the top thread to the wrong side of the fabric and knot the top and…