Sewing Tips, Tutorials, Projects and Events

The competition is really hotting up now and I always think this is the point where we start to see some really accomplished sewing amongst the Sewing Bees. The Bees were tasked with sewing a toddler's romper suit, transforming wet suits into under the sea themed fancy dress and creating a children's raincoat. The thing I was looking forward to most was seeing Patrick or Joe donning the fancy dress efforts. Continue reading →

This week I'm sharing my latest dressmaking project with you - a gorgeous Simplicity 8606 wrap skirt with a bang on trend flounce sewn up in our bright, mood lifting mustard John Kaldor crepe de chine fabric. Continue reading →

Sewing an invisible zip can seem like an intimidating task with a number of problems to overcome. How do you avoid that nasty bubble at the end of the zip and what about sewing around the zip pull at the end? In this tutorial we'll show you a magical method that will solve all of these sewing problems and guarantee great results every time. Continue reading →

Darts are such an important part of so many sewing and dressmaking projects. Not only do they give the garment shape they are also usually highly visible and therefore it is a good idea to strive for a professional finish. In this video I'll show you my top dart sewing tips. Continue reading →

If you're working with a fabric that frays easily or want a super professional finish to the seam allowances of your garment a French seam can be a great option, but just how do you sew the armhole? In this handy video tutorial I take you step by step through the process and give you lots of general tips for sewing and setting in sleeves too. Continue reading →

This week on the vlog I'm sharing some of the independent sewing pattern company patterns we've recently added to the website. It's been ages since I've done one of these for you and we have some lovely new Autumnal fabrics in to pair them with so I thought it was the perfect time. Continue reading →

Whether you're an experienced sewer or a complete beginner there are some super useful tips for hemming or shortening jeans in this handy video tutorial. I'll show you how to shorten jeans accurately when cutting off the excess fabric and an alternative method that keeps the original hem intact and can be used as a temporary measure for children's jeans. Continue reading →

This week on the vlog I'm answering some more of the fantastic questions you've been asking. I talk about my love of sewing, the most challenging dressmaking project I've ever worked on, how I choose buttons and lots of other sewing and dressmaking chat. Continue reading →

Last week I learned a great little tip for finishing a neckline facing without overlocking the raw edge. It is a super simple technique and takes a little more time, but if you're a sucker for a neat finish like me or making something special it might just come in rather handy. Continue reading →

This week I'm sharing my picks from the latest New Look sewing pattern release. I've picked out my personal favourites and have paired them with our gorgeous fabrics focusing on styles that will transition well between Summer and Autumn including dresses, tops and skirts plus we've included a slide show of the full range at the end of the video so stay tuned for that. Continue reading →

After a much needed holiday I've been sewing up a storm and dressmaking like mad again. This week I'm sharing the Shelby dress and romper pattern by True Bias and a Tilly and the Buttons Nora Tshirt both of which are on constant rotation in my handmade wardrobe. Continue reading →

Recently I've thoroughly enjoyed sewing shirts and blouses to pair with jeans for a put together smart, casual look. For those days when I'm feeling more casual, casual I've been sewing up some simple Tshirts. Let me show you what I've made, covering fit, construction, fabric and everything in between. Continue reading →