Just spotted this in one of my local Haberdashery spots, Creativity in Bristol. How cool? The “Sew-all Thread 100 m rPET” is the new sewing thread from Gütermann Creativ made of 100 % recycled polyester. It currently retails in a fairly basic range of colours however; the Gutterman website says the advantages (as well as being […]
Uncategorised
Notions: Measuring the Grain
From McCall’s sewing in Colour. When placing a pattern piece on to the fabric in preparation for cutting it is obviously incredibly important to make sure it is cut out in the correct Grain. Straight Grain isn’t stretchy, & Cross Grain or Bias Cut is. This means that unless the pattern has been designed to […]
Uncategorised
Notions: Beginning to Sew Up the Simple Skirt
Hopefully you have seen my previous post How to Make a Simple Pattern Free Skirt, I do hope it has inspired you, & those of you new to sewing, to make an A-Line Skirt! Carrying on, I wanted to give some instructions on how to cut the skirt out & start to make it up. […]
Uncategorised
Notions: Grading a Seam
From McCall’s Sewing in Colour Often when working with commercial patterns they will ask for a seam to be ‘graded’. This term refers to a process which makes the seam thinner, or lighter & reduces the bulk of a garment. It is actually something which will help any Hand Made garment look more professionally […]
Uncategorised
How to Make a Simple Pattern Free Skirt!
In preparation for tomorrows start of The Great British Sewing Bee on the beeb, I am re-posting my instructions for making a Simple Pattern Free A-Line Skirt. I shall be following this up with construction instructions after the episode tomorrow night after I have chosen some lovely print cotton fabric (1.5m needed) at Flo-Jo Boutique […]
Uncategorised
Mrs. Make do & Mend, that’s me!
Above is an official government cartoon featuring Mrs. Sew and Sew a “woman of resource and ideas” who promoted the “make do and mend” philosophy of the lean World War II years. In Britain, clothes were rationed from 1941-1949. At the beginning of the ration, women were allotted 66 coupons to spend on a year’s […]
Uncategorised
The Great British Sewing Bee!
I am slightly alarmed to see that possibly only two of the people pictured seem to be wearing their own creations! And one of them is a judge! I do hope to be proved wrong… They look like a jolly bunch, & I already know I’m going to be envious of their work space!! I […]
Uncategorised
Notions: Make a Hem on a Chiffon Garment.
To make a hem on a chiffon garment: Sew a straight stitch about 0.5cm or 1/4″ to 1.5cm or 3/8″ away from the cut edge. Iron the hem up at the stitched line. The stitched line will help the iron naturally turn the fabric. Stitch the turned area down with a straight stitch, just […]
Uncategorised
The best Haberdashery shops in London!
Back when I had just taken Laura After Midnight full time I read a blog post by a small business owner who had been working away on her business for a couple years & was about to go on holiday. Probably many people reading this wont understand the magnitude of that statement however; I was […]
Uncategorised
Notions: Threading a Needle
When threading a needle to begin sewing, make the thread twice as long as usual. Fold the thread in half and thread the resultant loop through the eye of the needle. Pull the loop longer than the two loose ends. Take a stitch, thread the needle through the loop and pull tight. Voila! a secure […]