Corset Month!! This was one of the biggest Sewing Pattern and Kit releases I had managed to date, it took me months of prep and sampling to be happy with. The Corset Kit has a re-usable graded Pattern for a Victorian inspired Over Bust Corset, with an Instruction Booklet which covers every aspect of making up the Corset including tracing …
Handy Hand Stitched Closures Guide
I’ve just happened upon this brilliant Hand Stitched Closures Guide from Burda and thought I’d share as this weeks Sewing Bee mentioned Snap/Popper Fastenings amongst others. Many of these should be sewn on using the same stitch used for making the Button Loop. With a little practice they look very neat, don’t they? I am sorely tempted to make up a …
Notions: Hemming by Hand
I am afraid I am one of those dreadful bores of a teacher who insists that Hemming is done by hand! It just looks simply beautiful, & gives a truly professional finish to a garment that has been carefully stitched together, by hand. I have taken this Tutorial from my Simple A-Line Skirt Tutorial because this subject has come up …
A-Line Skirt hack: Make a Pleated Skirt!
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 …
Notions: Lapped Zip
Lapped Zips were a hot topic on this weeks episode of The Great British Sewing Bee. I know them mainly as a Vintage technique, and my Vintage Sewing Books are stuffed full of ways to work them! The following Tutorial is taken from McCall’s Complete Book of Dressmaking (which is delightful!). The important thing to remember when inserting Lapped Zips …
Customizing a Simple Skirt
As you may remember, last week I promised my version of customization, a la The Great British Sewing Bee. I have been struck by the ‘flu this week ( boo!), so this is a little late coming to you but I love the outcome so much, I thought I’d share! I am also really proud of myself for finally starting …
Notions: Clipping Corners
Inside corners, as seen in yesterdays Scallop Hem Tutorial, are important to clip. It can be a little scary to clip right up to the stitching- and many a time I have snipped straight through!- but it is essential if you would like the corner to turn out beautifully. Snipping, or clipping, the inside corner relaxes the fabric so it …
Notions: Hand Made Button Loops
As seen on this weeks Great British Sewing Bee, this lovely hand finishing detail is time consuming but excellent for finishing delicate fabrics and lingerie. It is a useful technique to accomplish as it can be used for Button Loops- as illustrated- the ‘eye’ for a Hook and Eye fastening, delicate Belt Loops, and even swing tacks for petticoats and …
Notions: Basic Patch Pockets
Recently I seem to have been teaching students how to do various forms of Patch Pockets so I thought I’d add this little Tutorial and follow it up with some variants upon the theme including a Pleated Patch Pocket. Patch Pockets are super duper easy but care us needed when Top Stitching the Pocket to the Main Fabric. The more …
Notions: Interfacing Guide (from Amy Butler!)
Having just stumbled across this, I thought I would resume my occasional series of sharing Notions’ from other Blogs and this was just too good to not share!I am currently teaching a Men’s Shirt Course (click here to read more on that), so Interfacing is a hot topic for me at the moment! Below I have included the most common …