Innehållsförteckning för Issue 136 från Simply Sewing

Start the summer right with the brightest, most vibrant sewing patterns and projects! Our cover star, The Florence Jumpsuit, is the summer staple, perfect for both casual and smart wear. If you’re not feeling confident sewing a jumpsuit, then turn to page 16, where Sophie Tarrant gives you all the expert tips and tricks to successfully sew any jumpsuit! As we head into the new season of the Great British Sewing Bee, read our column on page 40, where an ex-contestant tells us all about his sewing journey. We’ve also collected six different projects to upgrade your kitchen, on page 26. Plus, turn to page 14 for a special reader offer: 30% off all Simplicity patterns! Don’t forget to share your makes on social using #simplysewingmag WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING #SIMPLYSEWINGMAG facebook.com/simplysewingmagazine pinterest.com/simplysewingmag…

SUNNY SEWING This summer, sew a slip-on skirt that'll fit your body so well you won't want to take it off! This Maxi Skirt pattern by Tammy Johal of Tammy Handmade has an elasticated waist for comfort and two leg slits that not only give it a trendy look but add to its easy-fit styling. Find this pattern (and the matching top) in her brand-new book Sew Simple (Quadrille, £22). Get to learn how to sew a collection of 20 stylish garments in the most fun way with this beginner-friendly guide for the modern dressmaker! STYLISH & VERSATILE Time to sew your next favourite make! The Tansen Top by IzzoSew Studio is a beautifully fitted round-neck jersey top that lets you express your unique style – whilst offering a flattering…

AVENIR JUMPSUIT This stylish pattern from Friday Pattern Company creates a beginner-friendly all-in-one design with billowy sleeves and wide-fitting legs. Gathered elastic at the neck and waistline make for a comfortable, casual fit that can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion, with multiple sleeve options to allow for customisation. fridaypatterncompany.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Step into all-in-one style with our top pattern picks for making jumpsuits, overalls, dungarees, and more 1 M8512 JUMPSUIT AND DRESS If you’re looking for the wow factor, this pattern delivers! This design from McCall’s creates a dramatic floor-length jumpsuit or dress, both styled with bold panelled seams for a colour-block silhouette. A scoop neckline and built-in shelf bra also offer extra support and comfort. sewdirect.com 2 MADELINE ROBERTSON JUMPSUIT AND DRESS This jumpsuit is…

Sew a lightweight and elegant blouse in summery fabric to create the gorgeous Simone Blouse! Perfect to wear in the summer to escape the heat of the sun, you can also easily style it to wear any day of the year. The stand collar makes it an easy fit, just put it on easy-peasy without any zips or buttons. You can dress it up or down, by wearing different accessories, such as statement jewellery and a smart skirt, or with a simple pair of jeans. Use light fabrics if you would like to wear yours during hot summer days, and give it this drapey feel that will make you look elegant as well as keeping you cool. You're going to love the way it looks on you – and it's…

A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of your favourite and essential clothes that survive the test of time, trends and wear - tops, bottoms, outerwear, and shoes. The idea of a capsule wardrobe is to have a versatile, mix-and-match wardrobe where each piece can be worn in different combinations to create various outfits. Sewing a Capsule is a great way to make your wardrobe more sustainable. Choose fabrics that go well together, make sure you have a mix of patterns and plains to mix-and-match. Invest in quality fibres that will withstand the test of time and being washed regularly. It can also be a rewarding project – planning and sewing the perfect bespoke looks, garment by garment. Get inspired to make a moodboard or scrapbook to curate your perfect…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Linen top■ Stranded cotton (we used DMC 3866, 353, 722, 3820, 733, and 3811)■ Water-soluble peel-and-stick stabiliser■ Pencil■ Size 5 embroidery needle■ Scissors■ 4-inch embroidery hoop NOTE ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates TRANSFERRING THE DESIGN Step one Print or trace the wildflower patterns onto water-soluble stabiliser. You can use as many flowers as you want for your top. The sample top repeats some of the patterns a few times. 01 Step two Arrange the peel-and-stick patterns on the top. Once you're happy with the layout, peel off the backing and stick them in place. 02 STITCHING THE DESIGN Step one Centre your first embroidery motif within the embroidery hoop. Use three strands of stranded cotton throughout the project for each colour. Embroider all the stems…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 3 metres x 130cm double gauze fabric in orange and pink■ 60cm diameter hula hoop■ Scrap paper■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit CUTTING OUT Step one Use the scrap paper to draw ou a triangle 51cm in height, 28cm long at the base, 3cm long at the point – based on your hoop being 60cm in diameter. Step two Use the template to cut four triangles from the orange fabric and four triangles from the pink fabric. 01 SEWING THE TOP OF THE TENT Step one Place two different coloured triangles wrong sides (WS) together and pin along one of the long sides. Stitch this in place using a 9mm seam allowance. 02 Step two Trim the seam allowance down by half and press the seam…

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…

VERSION A VERSION B VERSION C PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheets x2 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED Version A ■ Sizes 6-14: 1.7m of 145cm wide fabric■ Sizes 16-30: 2.3m of 145cm wide fabric Version B ■ Sizes 6-14: 2.4m of 145cm wide fabric■ Sizes 16-30: 3m of 145cm wide fabric Version C ■ Sizes 6-14: 2.8m of 145cm wide fabric■ Sizes 16-30: 3.5m of 145cm wide fabric All versions ■ Sizes 6-14: 2m x 2cm wide elastic cut into two■ Sizes 16-30: 3m x 2cm wide elastic cut into two■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, unless otherwise indicated. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light to medium weight woven fabrics, such as linen, cotton lawn, cotton poplin, viscose or chambray. Shop more of…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Main outer fabric (patchwork): In three colours, 0.5m each■ Lining fabric: 1m■ 20cm nylon zipper■ Curtain bonded cotton lining: 1m■ 2 x 25mm D Rings■ 25mm magnetic clasp■ Craft knife■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated. SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Main outer: Faux suede■ Lining: Cotton, cotton poplin Lauren Holloway runs her own slow fashion brand. Find out more at laurenholloway.uk WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING WWW.LAURENHOLLOWAY.UK © Printed in the UK for Simply Sewing magazine. Design by Lauren Holloway. Supplied by Our Media Company Ltd, Bristol, BS1 4ST. To be used for individual, private home use only. Not for commercial/manufacturing purposes or for resale. STITCHING TERMS RS/WS: Right side/wrong side of the…

We're starting the summer as we mean to go on, with heaps of mood-boosting sewing! Give your kitchen a refresh with accessories sewn from gorgeous Tilda fabrics (p26). In fact, new subscribers receive a bundle of these exact Tilda fabrics this month – find the offer on p24. There are heaps of other things to put a smile on your face – an exclusive 30% discount code for Simplicity patterns (p14), 20% off in our online shop (p42), and £440 worth of exclusive Minerva fabrics to be won in our competition (p15). But the very best thing this issue is on p69... that's right, designer Lucy Ward has made a plushie toy capybara. We are besotted.…

Looking for your next project? Save big on your summer sewing plans with this exclusive offer from our pals at Simplicity. They’ve given us a unique discount code for Simply Sewing readers to use between now and 3 August 2025. To take advantage of these great savings simply head to sewdirect.com and enter the discount code SSM136 at checkout. You can use it on all Simplicity patterns, including PDFs and paper patterns, so there’s hundreds of designs to choose from, such as this bestselling dress (S3098), waistcoat (S3108), and tracksuit set (S3111). Go have a peek for yourself at sewdirect.com Terms and conditions Offer expires ends 23:59 on 3 August, 2025. Available on all Simplicity sewing patterns, including PDFs. P&P charges will apply unless your basket qualifies for free shipping.…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Outer fabric: 53x55cm■ Lining fabric: 53x55cm■ Felt: 53x55cm■ Zipper: 35cm■ Strap webbing: 100cm■ Metal D-ring: 3cm■ Slider■ Swivel clasp loop■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Seam allowance: 1cm.■ Adjust strap length as needed before cutting. RECOMMENDED FABRICS ■ Outer: Cotton, canvas, velvet, waterproof fabric.■ Lining: Lightweight cotton or satin. CUTTING OUT Using the template, cut pattern pieces from the outer fabric, lining fabric, and felt. Fold outer fabric in half before placing pattern pieces to ensure symmetrical cuts. Press felt onto the WS of each outer piece after cutting, and secure with a zigzag stitch. PREPARING THE PANELS Step one. Fold the outer Base Panel in half and notch the centre point. Then fold each side toward the centre…

When it comes to discovering the fascinating sewing skills behind a salwar and kameez, there’s no better person to learn from then Raminder. Now in her sixties, Raminder has been sewing traditional Asian clothing since her childhood. She was ahead of her time as a Sikh woman running her own successful dressmaking business in the 1980s and 90s, for which she was recognised as the Sandwell Businesswoman of the Year runner-up. Having sewn countless garments for numerous clients, herself and family members, she has more recently turned to teaching others her skills and to share her love for these beautiful garments and their construction. "Many women of my generation were taught to sew because it was such a necessary skill then" How did you learn to sew? My mum had…

EIKÄ Helsinki-based Eikä is a sewing and craft enthusiast, mother of two, and finance professional. By night she shares her handmade creations and inspires other to embrace the art of crafting. Turn to page 82 to learn more and discover her favourite make. MARCUS HOLLEY Marcus’ love of design started as a teenager, when he would print T-shirts for his friends. He’s passionate about making garments that are interesting and a little bit different. Read all about his experience and motivations on page 40. RAMINDER VIRDI Raminder is a dressmaking tutor who has been sewing traditional Asian clothing from India and Pakistan such as salwar, kameez, sarees and lenghas, since her childhood. Read all about her, her classes and Sikh traditional garments on page 64. MAYA PEREDA Originally from Peru,…

Enter our competition for your chance to win one of four 5m bundles of EcoVero Viscose Challis fabric! We have teamed up with Minerva to give four lucky readers a fabric bundle from two of their latest designer collaboration collections: the Minerva x Terrance Williams Fabric Collection, and the Minerva x Tammy Handmade Fabric Collection. Each collection has a gorgeous 10-print range for you to choose from. The winners will be able to choose which designs they would like from their Tammy Handmade and Terrence Williams collection. Each bundle has 5m of Minerva Exclusive EcoVero Challis fabric, worth £110. Check out Minerva’s wide range of fabric collections on their website at minerva.com. And enter our competition today by heading over to our website at gathered.how/sew_comps! See gathered.how/sew_comps to enter today!…

OVEN GLOVE YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A: 50x35cm – Outer■ Fabric B: 50x35cm – Lining■ Cotton/linen tape 10mm: 12cm - Hanging Loop■ Cotton/linen bias binding 25mm/30mm: 38cm - Binding■ Vlieseline Thermolam – 0.5m■ Erasable fabric marker■ Matching sewing thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Sunday Brunch collection by Tilda.For stockists visit: grovesltd.co.uk■ Vlieseline products supplied by www.vlieseline.com NOTES ■ Use a 6mm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated.■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Use a walking foot and a size 14 or 16 needle.■ We used Thermolam insulated wadding. Two layers give great protection against high heat. CUTTING OUT Step one Print off the template and cut out. Step two From fabric A, cut: Outer: two 25x35cm. Step three From fabric B, cut: Lining: two using the template. Step four…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: see instructions for details, for top■ Cotton fabric strip: see instructions for details, for casing■ Elastic: 4cm wide, see instructions for length■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED ■ Cotton crochet-effect lace fabric, white, 142cm width, minervacrafts.com NOTES ■ Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated.■ This off-shoulder lace cover-up is made of four rectangles of fabric. One forms the front of the top and one the back. Each sleeve is made from a smaller rectangle. TAKING YOUR MEASUREMENTS Step one Take the following body measurements and write them down: Full bust Full actual hip: the bony part of your hips. Nape of neck to actual hip Full distance around top of arm at armpit level CUTTING OUT Step one Use the…

Sign up to our newsletter to download your bonus digital copy of Handmade Home – for free! This little guide will give you no less than twenty stylish, trendy and beautiful home projects for you to sew. You'll find small projects to sew in an afternoon as well as bigger ones, and you'll get to decorate each room in your home! 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.…

Create a bag that you'll want to take with you anywhere – from a simple outing in town to a weekend away. This slouch bag designed by Lauren Holloway is roomy enough to hold all your essentials for a night away while looking being highly fashionable. You can play with different colours to make it vibrant, or use neutral fabrics to match your style. The adjustable strap also makes it super comfortable to hold all day long! See more of Lauren's work at laurenholloway.uk and find more patterns at gathered.how/sewing-shop…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Brown faux fur fabric 65x45cm■ Dark brown cuddle plush fabric 45x30cm■ Black wool felt 6x3cm■ Beige wool felt 7x2cm■ White stranded cotton thread■ Polyester toy filling 250g■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Find the templates on page 75 or download and print from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Fabric measurements are W x H.■ Arrows on the templates indicate direction of plush fabric pile. On the Ear pieces the nap on the plush pile should run upwards, on the Footpads it runs backwards.■ When cutting the faux fur, try to snip just the backing of the fabric and not the pile itself.■ The templates include 6mm seam allowances.■ Fasten off at the beginning and end of stitching, unless otherwise indicated.■ Always tack before sewing.■ Finished size: Approx 26cm tall. CUTTING…

"Sewing and crafts have always been part of my life. I have fond childhood memories of my mother’s late night sewing sessions and my godmother introducing me to everything from silk dyeing to dollhouse crafting. My grandmother used to laugh at me knitting socks for everyone in elementary school, eyes closed. I inherited my mom’s old sewing machine and overlocker when my youngest was just a year old at the time, so I started with baby clothes and simple projects. But the online sewing community quickly pulled me in, inspiring me to build my own wardrobe. I have no formal training in tailoring, but trial and error and a few YouTube deep dives have taught me plenty. "Right now, my obsession is volume. I love playing with proportions, especially ultra…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1 (tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ All sizes: 2.3m of 150cm wide fabric■ Lightweight iron on interfacing: 05m■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, unless otherwise indicated. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Lightweight woven fabrics, such as linen blends, cotton lawn, viscose, silk or chambray. 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. Designed by Becky Perry ; illustrations by Terry Evans for Prima UK, January 2022. Supplied by Our Media Company Ltd, Bristol, BS1 4ST. For individual, private use only and not for commercial or manufacturing purposes. Not for resale. CUTTING LAYOUT TOP MAIN FABRIC (ALL SIZES) 150CM WIDE DIAGRAMS FABRIC KEY – STEPS…