Sewing Tips, Tutorials, Projects and Events

I know we all love pockets, but sometimes on tight fitting jeans, jeggings or skirts I want the design feature, but not the bulk of a real pocket bag. If you look on your ready to wear garments they will often feature a false pocket for this very reason. Here's how to create your own and bust some scraps at the same time.

Hello again, I hope you all had a wonderful time over Christmas and New Year? I have quite a backlog of sewing projects to share with you and thought I'd get started with this Jalie knit shift dress. Comfortable and easy to wear it was versatile enough to fit the bill for Christmas day with all the family and a Pearl Jam tribute gig, what a winner!

Unpicking overlocker and coverstitch stitches isn't fun, but it's a lot easier and quicker if you know how. Having said that, no matter how many times I do it I always have to remind myself how to do it so I thought I'd write it down and share it with you lovely folk. Maybe that way it will stick?!

Although some sewers find them a daunting prospect, knit and jersey fabrics are great to sew with, even if you don't have an overlocker. They are comfortable to wear, more forgiving on fit and they don't fray plus there are so many knit and jersey fabrics and sewing patterns to choose from these days too. Here are our top tips for getting professional results every time.

Everyone needs a little sparkle in their wardrobe and a simple sequin top is a great way to try sewing with sequins. I thoroughly enjoyed this project and love the end result too, which has already been worn on a night out with the girls and inspired some terrible Mom dancing.

It's so great when someone has a hobby like sewing and you can give them a Christmas gift they truly want to receive - right? Only problem is you need to know what to buy. For anyone out there who is scratching their head (or who wants to help someone scratching their head with a few subtle hints and a gentle nudge!) read on for our favourite Christmas sewing gifts.

This week I'm sharing the new sewing patterns we've added to the site in the last month. We have a new issue from Butterick and also a new pattern from Sew Liberated. I was really impressed with the Butterick new season release and have a top pattern, a coat pattern, a jumpsuit pattern and a dress pattern to share with you plus the new Estuary skirt pattern from Sew Liberated. As always I'll share fabrics you could pair them with and everything I share is available on our site and the links are below.

Nothing excites me as much as the ever increasing number of people who want to start sewing and dressmaking. Thanks to a thriving online sewing community, craft and sewing focused TV programmes and a wider understanding of how these activities can benefit your mental health and general wellbeing more and more people are getting the bug. Ok, you're sold, but just how do you start sewing?

There was a time in my life when the Hudson pants would never have been on my to sew list. The most comfortable thing I had in my wardrobe was a pair of skinny jeans. These days I'm still a lover of dressing up, but when I get home after a long day I neeeeeeed comfort. The Hudsons well and truly tick this box and (I think) they look great too - yay! Read on to find out all about this perfect cosy loungewear pattern and why I love it so much.

Let's cut straight to the chase - my biggest tip for sewing with sequins is to just go for it! Every girl needs a little sparkle in her wardrobe and it isn't anywhere near as difficult as you might imagine. Follow our top tips and you will be taking the world by storm in your dazzling handmade outfit in no time.