Hello lovelies! Having been very inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee a couple weeks ago, here is my A-Line Skirt Hack based on my super duper popular Patternless A-Line Skirt Tutorial to make an Inverted Box Pleated Skirt as they did. The original Tutorial is amazingly simple, and I highly recommend it if you are learning to sew or want …
Sewing Bee Snippets Week 1
As previously discussed, here are my insights in to construction details, tips and tricks, and practices used on The Great British Sewing Bee this week. The contestants were really put through their paces this week sewing each basic staple fabric- Cotton, Wool and Silk. Their Cotton Tunic Tops displayed a very wide range in construction details- and finishing techniques!- and …
Christmas Pyjamas!!
Who wouldn’t want a gorgeous, hand made pair of Pyjamas this Christmas? I know I shall be whipping up a few pairs to give as gifts, so I thought I’d share how to make up Pyjamas, without having to buy a Pattern! I have sorted out the following, super simple printables for you all to follow, which illustrate how to …
If you haven’t… get yourself a Pattern Book!
As Pattern Month draws inevitably to a close- sob!- I though I’d post some last helpful advice for people who are maybe a little newer to the world of Pattern Cutting. I really hope you have been inspired by all of my posts, interviews and the many lovely comments over the course of the month. If you are planning on …
Notions: Marking Your Handmade Patterns
Hopefully you are well on your way to drafting your first Block and these are a few vital pieces of information it is advisable you note down on each and every Pattern piece. This will help to identify the pattern and assist you if you decide to make it up again. As a costume designer, I have many patterns which are drafted …
Pattern Month on Pinterest
For an awesome selection of Vintage, modern, free and many more Patterns please take a look at Pattern Month on Pinterest. I’ve also made sure there are a great little selection of tutorials on how to re-size Patterns and how to deal with PDF printable Patterns. These are my favourites… A 50s Slip, complete with Pattern information and …
Week 1: Drafting the Basic Blocks
From Practical Home Dressmaking Illustrated by Lynn Hillson Welcome to the first Tutorial of Pattern Month!! Firstly, you will find it useful to know the four stages of Pattern development: 1. The Basic Block. This is the Basic Pattern that is used as a basis for all adaptations. The Block Pattern is traced on to pattern paper to produce the …
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. Often in my classes I …
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 in Bristol! I am going …