Innehållsförteckning för Issue 135 från Simply Sewing

Celebrate Pride month with vibrant makes, perfect ahead of the summer season! Our cover star, The Hadley Dress, is our most romantic garment yet, using exclusive fabric from Minerva designed by Tammy Handmade – read all about Tammy and her new fabric collection on page 24. Play with colours and make a bright stripe dress on page 49 – no pattern needed! Turn to page 42 to meet Sheri and Elizabeth, two creatives adding frills and fun to the sewing world! Learn to stitch a joyful card for any other occasion on page 57. And embroider the most colourful rainbow on your tea towels with our project on page 59. Don’t forget to share your makes on social using #simplysewingmag WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING #SIMPLYSEWINGMAG facebook.com/simplysewingmagazine pinterest.com/simplysewingmag instagram.com/simplysewingmag…

SUNSHINE GLOW We present to you the dress that you will want to wear everyday this summer – The Dillon Dress, designed by Christine Haynes, is a modern apron wrap dress that's absolutely perfect for layering over any other garment in your wardrobe – from a t-shirt to a blouse, a tank top, or even a fitted jumper. The Dillon Dress has a bib front, gathered a-line skirt overlapping at the back, skinny waistband and thin shoulder straps that criss-cross in the back. Get yourself the pattern at christinehaynes.com TURQUOISE CHARM Create a versatile top to wear in any season, dressed up or down, with the Mauritius Top designed by Itch to Stitch! This woven wrap top features a secure button closure, defined waist, and elegant peplum – with two…

Simply Sewing magazine readers can get a FREE PDF copy of McCall’s 8566! This fashionable unisex shirt pattern can be made in three different lengths – fitted, cropped or loose fitting. Available in sizes XS to XXL, you’re saving £11.50! 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 Put the McCall’s 8566 pattern into your basket on the Sew Direct website – sewdirect.com 3 Use the voucher code during checkout and your basket total will update to give you McCall’s 8566 for FREE! SCAN ME to get your voucher! Terms and conditions Offer available on PDF pattern only. No alternative patterns provided. You will only be able to claim one copy of the…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Lightweight woven fabric:■ 2.5cm wide elastic (cut to fit waist)■ Ruler or measuring tape■ Bodkin/safety pin■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED ■ Atelier Brunette Gaia Ivy Green viscose fabric, atelierbrunette.com NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm. CREATING THE TIERS Step one Cut two rectangles as follows: Inner layer: 2x your waist measurement (width) x72cm (or other desired length) Outer layer: 2x waist measurement (width), approx 15cm shorter than bottom layer. 01 Step two Fold each rectangle right sides (RS) together and sew the side seams with a 1cm SA so you now have two loops of fabric. Finish the raw edges and stitch a narrow hem at the bottom edge of both loops. 02 Step three With RS out, Slip the longer inner layer…

This is a great pattern for those wanting comfortable nightwear that also looks nice! The Paloma Pjs are great for the summer months, when your fan just doesn't cut it in the night and you need a lighter garment that lets your skin breathe. They're also perfect for just lounging in, as they look simply beautiful while feeling super soft. The satin hems and ribbon also add some glamour to the overall look. Sew your Paloma Pyjamas today and tag us with @simplysewingmag. YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric: 145cm wide: Sizes 6-14: 2.5m 145cm wide: Sizes 16-30: 3.5m■ 1.5cm of 25mm waistband elastic■ 2m of 5cm-wide satin ribbon■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light to medium weight woven fabrics, such as cotton lawn, brushed cotton, cotton poplin…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Blank Card (5x7 inches or A5)■ Stranded cotton (we used DMC 3706, 722, 726, 472, 959, 799, and 3607)■ Chenille needle■ Felt mat or corrugated cardboard■ Size 5 embroidery needle■ Scissors■ Felt-tip pen NOTES ■ Find the template on page 71 or download from gathered.how/ss-templates TRANSFERRING THE DESIGN Step one Print or trace the pattern on paper and place it over the front of the unfolded card. Working on a felt mat or corrugated cardboard, begin pre-punching holes for stitching with the chenille needle. Start on the first dot, then make another hole about 3mm from the first. Then, space the holes about 6mm apart until you get to the next dot. Continue this way. 01 STITCHING THE DESIGN Step one Cut a 1m piece of…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Blue fluffy plush 65x35cm■ Green smooth plush fabric 60x48cm■ Light blue dimple plush 20x23cm■ Pale orange plush 19x10cm■ Yellow plush 18x7cm■ Purple plush 18x7cm■ White wool felt 14x7cm■ Black stranded cotton■ Polyester toy filling 250g■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES: ■ Find the templates on page 71 or download and print from gathered.how/ss-templates.■ Fabric measurements are W x H.■ Seam allowance is included.■ Use 6mm seam allowances throughout unless indicated.■ For less mess, cut just the backing of the fluffy fabric to avoid cutting into the pile.■ Arrows on the templates indicate direction of plush fabric pile.■ Fasten off at the beginning and end of stitching, unless indicated.■ Tack before sewing and remove stitches afterwards.■ Finished size: Approx 17cm tall. CUTTING OUT Step one Pin…

This issue is bursting with creativity and colour as we support and celebrate Pride in style! Discover a vibrant collection of me-made outfits and gifts – perfect for wearing to local events or gifting to pals. Craving a dose of The Great British Sewing Bee? Don’t miss our exclusive sampler from the brand-new book (p17) and catch up on all the latest buzz over on our website (p19). Thanks to our friends at McCall’s, every reader can download a unisex PDF shirt pattern (p18). You’ll also find inspiring projects to refresh your sewing space (p30), and your chance to win a dress form – an essential addition to your sewing stash (p16). Enjoy!…

We have teamed up with Adjustoform to offer one lucky reader the chance to win their Lady Valet – a luxurious dress form! This mannequin combines dressmaking and luxury, perfect for dressmakers looking for a dress form that looks good and lasts. This premium dress form is made with a solid European-sourced wooden stand and a matching top knob, making it look great whether you use it for holding your work in progress or between uses. The long eight-part body offers wide flexibility in your creations, so you can get creative and bring your designs to life with ease, with 12 thumb wheel adjusters that make for easy adjustment to the bust, waist and hips. It also allows adjustment to the back length to get your perfect size, and the…

As spring comes and we head into series 11 of the hit BBC One Show The Great British Sewing Bee, we're sharing our views on our dedicated fan group on Facebook – search for 'Great British Sewing Bee' and join the conversation for yourself alongside over 51,000 fellow Sewing Bee fans from all over the world! To keep up with all the latest gossip and news from the brand new series, don't forget to bookmark gathered.how/sewing-bee where we'll be sharing behind-the-scenes pictures and quotes from the contestants and judges!…

M8252 DRESS This fun pattern from McCall’s is perfect for those who want to level up their sewing skills without feeling overwhelmed. It’s a two-piece style that’s cleverly joined at the waist with a decorative ring, giving you that on-trend cut-out look without the tricky construction. You can also play around with different sleeve styles and add an optional slit at the front of the skirt, which comes in two lengths: above the knee, or a longer midi look. sewdirect.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Take your makes to the next level with our pick of the best bold and beautiful patterns 1 SISKO DRESS AND TOP This pattern from Named Clothing offers two chic variations, both featuring a cleverly layered and interlaced wrap bodice. Both options are sleeveless with a scoop neck…

Sign up to our newsletter to download your bonus digital copy of Pattern Handbook – for free! Inside this ultimate guide, you'll get all the best tips, tricks and techniques you need to know to understand, get ready and create a garment from a sewing pattern. From marking, tracing, cutting, seams, hems and buttonholes, you'll know it all! Don't wait, sign up for yours today at try.simplysewingmag.com/bonus-gift Already a newsletter subscriber? Lookout for the link to download your bonus gift in our weekly sewing newsletter.…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 2.5m of 140cm wide fabric■ 2cm wide elastic the length of the waist minus 5cm■ 20cm invisible zip■ 1m lightweight fusible interfacing■ Fabric marking tools■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED ■ Bold & Bloom Stripes by Susan Driscoll for Dashwood Studio, anbo.co.uk NOTES ■ Seam allowance: 1cm■ Hem: 2cm SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Lightweight woven fabrics such as viscose or cotton lawn. DRAFTING THE DRESS Step one Divide upper bust measurement (above the bust just under the armpit) by two. Mark a line this length along the fabric (A-B). This will be the top of the bodice. Then at either side, faintly mark the length of the bodice from upper bust to waist plus 5cm (A-C and B-D). Connect at the bottom (C-D) to create…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Cotton or linen tea towel: pink■ Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of black, blue, light green, pink, red, turquoise and yellow■ Embroidery hoop: 18cm diameter■ Adhesive water-soluble stabiliser■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Use three strands of stranded cotton throughout this design. TRANSFERRING THE DESIGN Step one Download the template and transfer the design from the template onto the tea towel using your preferred transfer method. Step two Once transferred, mount the design area in the embroidery hoop and pull the fabric taut like a drum. As Satin Stitch is the main part of this design, it’s essential to keep it the stitching as neat as possible. Step three Cut the stranded cotton no longer than 50cm and pull slowly from…

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…

SIZES 6–30 (US 2–26/EUR 30–54) PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1 (tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric: 145cm wide: Sizes 6-14: 2.5m 145cm wide: Sizes 16-30: 3.5m■ 1.5cm of 25mm waistband elastic■ 2m of 5cm-wide satin ribbon■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light to medium weight woven fabrics, such as cotton lawn, brushed cotton, cotton poplin or viscose. NOTES ■ Seam allowances are included and are 1.5cm, unless otherwise stated.■ Pin or tack the main pieces together first to check the fit and mark any alterations needed before sewing.■ The neckband of the gown is made from the wide satin ribbon (no pattern piece required). 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…

Welcome to the latest stand-alone book in the series of The Great British Sewing Bee, which introduces you to pattern drafting (or pattern cutting – the two terms are interchangeable) and offers you exercises and inspiration on how to get started. Many home sewers who are experienced in making their own clothes have no experience in pattern drafting, something I’m hoping this book can change. Once you’ve learnt how to sew your own clothes and fit them well, designing your own patterns is the next step on your making journey. The principles of pattern drafting are the same regardless of what kind of body you are designing for, including childrenswear. In this book, we’ll look at the basics for women’s pattern drafting, which means we will be using patterns designed…

To start making your own patterns, you will need to take accurate body measurements to compare against pattern blocks and to get the size as accurate as possible before you make a toile. Bodies can change a lot, so I recommend that you take measurements whenever you are making new patterns, whether it’s for yourself or for someone else. If you are making for someone else and they have provided body measurements for you, it can be tricky to estimate whether they are recent measurements or how well they have been taken. How you navigate this will depend on your relationship with the person and how much they understand about making clothes. If possible, always ask for recent measurements and ask for someone to assist the person in taking them.…

ROB BAKER-GALL Former teacher and award-winning baker and cake decorator, Rob combined his passions, opening Mr Baker’s Cake School. Alongside teaching classes, he has a permanent sewing corner set up at the school. Get to know him better on page 82. TAMMY JOHAL Tammy founded her own sewing pattern company, Tammy Handmade. She’s been sewing for over six years and creates patterns for beginners and intermediate sewists. See her new fabric collection on page 22 and read her column on page 24. PHOEBE GORMLEY Phoebe founded Gormley & Gamble in 2014, Savile Row’s first women-only tailor. Combining heritage craftsmanship with modern design, they provide sustainable, zero-waste tailoring that celebrates individuality and fit. Learn more on page 52. SOPHIE BROWN Sophie is a writer and co-owner of queer bar and community…

Learn how to draft dressmaking patterns from scratch with help from the Great British Sewing Bee experts! As an exclusive gift for our readers, we have an extract of 36 pages from The Great British Sewing Bee: Pattern Drafting for you to enjoy reading and learning. This book is a great keepsake for anyone from beginners to advanced sewists. You can even download a digital sleeve block PDF as a bonus gift! Stay up to date with the Sewing Bee on our website at gathered.how/sewing-bee, where we'll be sharing all the latest news from the…

Sew the most vibrant and romantic dress, perfect to wear for any occasion – from a first date to a work do, or simply for a long walk in the sun, you name it! The gathered skirt will add frill and fluidity to your dress, as well as giving it a beautiful shape. You'll also get to feel simply fabulous with the stylish open lower back and the keyhole opening on the upper back. Create this dress in time for the summer season with lightweight fabric that will keep you cool. Use your brightest fabrics and prints to make it as colourful as your summer! However you sew yours, share a pic using #SimplySewingMag YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric 115cm wide: 3m 140cm wide: 2.75m■ Lining fabric: 115cm wide:…

BOARD COVER YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric, see instructions for size■ Elastic, 0.5cm wide and long enough to fit around your cover■ Ironing board padding (optional), see instructions for sizing■ Matching sewing thread■ Basic sewing kit MEASUREMENTS ■ The finished cover will fit over your ironing board. CUTTING OUT Step one First make a template of your ironing board. You can do this by placing your ironing board upside down over a large sheet of paper (try using a roll of spare wrapping paper, or sheets of paper taped together). Draw around the ironing board and then cut out the shape. This will be your paper template. NOTE: Your piece of main fabric needs to be 15cm larger than your paper template all the way around (this is for…

Xin a sunny corner on the South East coast of England, Sheri Scott (aka Forever Yours Betty) and Elizabeth Whibley are crafting a revolution in underwear-as-outerwear. Their brand, Bloomies (@bloomieland on Insta), transforms the iconic vintage bloomer into a playful, ethical statement piece designed for bodies of all shapes and sizes. Using deadstock fabrics, vintage trims and sustainable practices, Sheri and Elizabeth have created a unique collection of joyful, frilly bloomers that challenge fast fashion while embracing self-expression through seriously cute clothing. "We're motivated by joy," explains Elizabeth, "and thank goodness we are because you really have to be a resilient person with a positive outlook to have a small fashion brand in the UK, especially competing with unethical, cheap, fast fashion brands." “I always thought every time I found…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Crushed velvet: 50cm each in light pink, gold, light blue and medium blue, 1m in dark pink■ Rotary cutter■ Cutting mat■ 45x45cm cushion pad■ Polyester stuffing■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates SQUARE CUSHION Step one Cut a 50x50cm square and a 50x26.5cm rectangle from the light blue velvet Step two Repeat with the medium blue velvet. Step three Cut the two squares in half diagonally from the bottom left to the top right to create two triangles in each shade. Set one of each triangle aside as you’ll only need a light blue one and a dark blue one for this project. 01 Step four For the cushion front, place a light blue and dark blue triangle with right…

Sewing is something I had dabbled with on and off, but I never took seriously. Until 2023, when I made my first ever garment from a pattern. Once I realised sewing clothes wasn’t actually scary, I was hooked and all sorts of garments followed. However, it rapidly became clear that there isn’t a great amount of variety for men. It was then that I started exploring indie pattern makers, who tended to be more adventurous with their menswear, allowing room for expression and creativity. One pattern that caught my eye was the Painter Jacket from Wardrobe by Me, which on first glance seems like a fairly simple garment, but with its generous fit, oversized and unstructured details, it offers a modern boxy shape and plenty of room for customisation. I…

As we enjoy the latest season of BBC One’s The Great British Sewing Bee, we’re delighted to be able to bring you this exclusive keepsake from the book that accompanies the series. The Great British Sewing Bee: Pattern Drafting, is a beginners guide to creating dressmaking patterns from scratch. Starting with the basics, this illustrated guide will show you how to measure yourself accurately, make pattern blocks and sew with confidence as you embrace the joy of taking your skills to the next level. We’ve even bagged exclusive access to a digital sleeve block download (you’re welcome), turn to page 6 to download yours. Stay up to date with all the Sewing Bee news with our dedicated episode guides at gathered.how/sewing-bee and @SimplySewingMag.…

Here are the tools I recommend you have to start pattern drafting: 1 Pattern paper: Draw your patterns on lightweight pattern paper or brown paper. I prefer white paper as it has some transparency to it, meaning you can easily trace over certain design elements. To practise your design, you can use any type of paper. 2 Pattern card: Transfer your basic blocks onto pattern card. You can use any type of reasonably thick card. 3 Paper scissors: You will need these to cut out your pattern pieces and blocks. 4 Pencils (propelling) and eraser: You will need a sharp pencil to draw accurate lines. An eraser is essential, too! 5 Pattern Master: This is an irreplaceable tool for pattern drafting. You can draw straight lines and different angles, there…

Sleeves are fun to experiment with and quick to sew up as a toile, as they have fewer pattern pieces and no darts to consider. It can be very difficult to gauge volume on a flat sleeve pattern, so I always recommend doing a toile of just one sleeve to see what the effect is. There are lots of different types of sleeves, but they can be broadly categorized like this: ˚ Set-in sleeves: Sleeve designs that are sewn into a regular armhole. ˚ Grown-on sleeves: Sleeve designs that are part of the bodice pattern. ˚ Dropped shoulder sleeves: Sleeve designs where the sleeve head sits lower than the natural shoulder point. To make grown-on sleeves and dropped shoulder sleeves, such as kimono sleeves or raglan sleeves, you need to…