My favourite thing about the arrival of a new season is the exciting new sewing projects. I love nothing more than leafing my way through a fashion magazine spotting the trends I plan to sew. Here is a quick round up of some of the key trends this season and the patterns and fabrics you can use to recreate them. Fear not, the focus is firmly on wearable garments rather than crazy fashion fads. Continue reading →
Now the winter chill is setting in we are reaching for our cosy knit and jersey fabrics. Although you can create knit garments on a sewing machine, you can also make them using an overlocker. However, I've often heard people say they only use their overlocker for finishing seams. In this article we'll share some tips and techniques to help you gain confidence in this area and get the most out of your machine. Even if you are confident on your overlocker there are some handy little tips you may find useful. Continue reading →
I have been chomping at the bit to get started on my Autumn/Winter handmade wardrobe. If you saw my fabric haul vlog last week you will understand why! There are so many gorgeous, cosy fabrics on our website right now. I decided to start with a simple denim skirt and a cosy long sleeved Tshirt. I'm really pleased with how they turned out and know I will wear them all winter long. Continue reading →
I have been dying to share our new Autumn Winter fabric range with you all. It is stunning! Finally they are up on the site and I can drool over them in public. We have a fabulous new coating range and a selection of suiting fabrics which, by the way, were all over the Autumn Winter catwalks. Not to mention some glorious jerseys and pontes perfect for cosy tops, jumpers and dresses. Plus we have Liberty lawn in stock! This really is a must watch, your winter wardrobe is simply crying out for these beauties. Continue reading →
Ok so it isn't really summer dress sewing weather right now, but there's always room for one last hurrah. Plus I promised myself I'd make this pattern and use some of this gorgeous fabric ages ago. The two make a winning combo and will come in handy for my trip to the Canaries in October. If you won't be seeing any more sunshine this year I'll also share my fabric recommendations to create an on trend Autumn/Winter evening dress with the maxi pattern. Continue reading →
This week I have a little video for you all sharing my most recent makes and how they work well as we transition from Summer to Autumn. There's also a cheeky bit of simple hand embroidery embellishment, which I am loving right now. Continue reading →
I've always loved clothes with interesting or unusual details so sewing this Vogue dress with an overlay looked right up my street. I decided to make it in this delightful French viscose. I love the royal blue and flecks of yellow not to mention the 70s vibe. The fabric also drapes beautifully, which I felt was important for this dress. I swotted up on reviews of the pattern and made a few alterations as a result. It was a fun little project so let me tell you all about it. Continue reading →
If you follow our blog you will know I recently tried sewing with scuba for the first time. I have to say it was an absolute pleasure. I have been waxing lyrical about it ever since. In fact my love runs so deep I thought it warranted a blog post all of its own. Here are my five reasons for sewing with scuba. Continue reading →
We've had a really busy summer here at Sew Essential, but I've still managed to find time to learn some new embellishment sewing techniques on my sewing machine. They are a brilliant way to add some interesting detail to an otherwise plain and simple garment. More importantly they are super easy to master. Continue reading →
This week I'm bringing you more drool worthy fabrics and suggested pattern pairings in my latest vlog. Grab a cuppa and settle down for some sewing inspo. There are a few hints at the coming Autumn/Winter range in here too. Enjoy! Continue reading →
Any of you who watch our vlog will know I have some serious love for this white floral scuba fabric. I sourced it way back in February and was instantly dreaming of the perfect summer dress. I had a few other projects to finish before I could get stuck in. Although I was dying to get started I'm glad I waited. Allowing myself time to think meant I found the perfect pattern pairing. So much so I am definitely making it again in this ponte jersey fabric we added to the website recently. Continue reading →
I try and keep you posted with new fabrics when they arrive so I thought it would be nice to talk to you about a couple of new sewing pattern ranges we have in stock. I also picked out my favourites from the new season McCalls, Simplicity, Vogue and New Look patterns. Of course there is some fabric to drool over too! Continue reading →
