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PARTY DÉCOR
ISSUE 42
NEW
PLUS EASY PEASY
CH T I T S O T TS C E J PRO
PRINTED IN THE UK • £5.99
FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC
ISSUE FORTY TWO
DRESS TO IMPRESS!
quick-SEW bouquet make in an hour!
Occasion
wardrobe IN SIZES 6-20
STITCH IT! ✓ Sequin shrug ✓ Chic clutch ✓ Pig plushie
rn e t t a p e e Fr inside!
5 NEW LOOKS TO SEW TODAY!
Bloom into event season with timeless silhouettes HOW TO: Sew with luxe fabrics Make a rag rug Fern stitch Fabric necklace Leaf quilt
SEW GIFTED As if our Simplicity ▼
IDEAS
INSPIRATION
wish list wasn’t long enough, they’ve just launched a new range of stationery, ACCESSORIES WEBSITES gifts and accessories that we just can’t resist. Calendars, zip pouches, sewing kits, wrapping paper, notebooks, keyrings, bookmarks, mugs, an umbrella and more are adorned with elegant illustrations of stylish ladies in stunning frocks from the 1950s and 60s. We’ll be gifting a few to our crafty pals (if we can bear to give them away, that is). Find the collection at www.simplicity newlook.com
EVENTS
STUFF
WANDERLUST
S
titch a versatile tank top for your summer adventures with Friday Pattern Company’s Wanderer Tank design. This simple-sew top pattern has an easy-wear boxy fit, a pretty lace-up back with eyelets, and a fully reversible two-in-one design – great for holidaygoers that aren’t the best at travelling light (yep, that’s us). PDF pattern approx £9, www.fridaypatterncompany.com
BIRTHDAY GIRL
Hang up the bunting, ice the cake and get ready to paint the town red, white and blue – it’s Cath Kidston’s 25th birthday, and to celebrate the brand has launched a range of limited-edition pieces for your home and wardrobe in an iconic palette that honours its British heritage. Hip hip hooray! See more at www.cathkidston.com
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Pinboard WIN PATTERNS FROM LIESL + CO. AND OLIVER + S!
See p17.
Painterly prints
Take the softly softly approach to home styling with painterly pieces in summery shades.
FAMILY TIME
Sew a stylish holiday wardrobe for you and your mini-me with five new designs from Liesl + Co. and Oliver + S. For us, there’s the Extra-Sharp Pencil Skirt, Weekend Getaway Blouse + Dress, and Terrace Dress with a tie-waist detail; and for them, there's the Cartwheel Wrap Dress for little ones, and the versatile Girl on the Go Dress + Top for tweens. Find them at www.oliverands.com
SunNy homE
We love adding colour to our home with cushions and textiles, but why stop there? This storage cabinet has us inspired to invest in bright furniture to add even more shades to our space – its mustard hue will give our sewing room a summery vibe all year round, and it's practical too, with adjustable shelving for our stash. From www.norsu.com.au
We're bringing the sunshine to our craft corner with colourful storage.
GOLDEN TOUCH Golden swirls, bubblegum-pink dashes and sumptuous velvet make this cushion a must-have. £28, www.oliverbonas.com SUMMER LEAVES Brighten up your home in more ways than one with this colourful layered leaf lamp. From £199, www.anna jacobsart.com
out & about
SKILLS, SHOWS & EVENTS 11-13 MAY The Handmade Fair. Ragley Hall, Warwickshire. Enjoy the ultimate creative day out with hands-on workshops and handpicked sellers. www.thehandmadefair.com
MARBLE MAGIC Count down to tea-break o'clock on this modern marble-design timepiece. £30, www.artwow.co
16 MAY
TWICE AS NICE How to make sure no one steals your favourite mug? Buy a matching set so you'll always have a spare. £23.50 for two, www.printer andtailor.com
Make your own leather espadrilles. Leather Needle Thread Studio, Bristol. Learn how make your own pair of luxury leather espadrilles, with four designs to choose from. www.leatherneedlethread.com
25 MAY Edinburgh College of Art Fashion Show. National Museum of Scotland. See fashion’s rising stars showcase their collections in the museum's Grand Gallery. www.nms.ac.uk
25 MAY-23 SEPTEMBER Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern. Fashion and Textile Museum, London. Discover what inspires iconic print designer Orla Kiely at this 150-piece exhibition. www.ftmlondon.org
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CANDY STRIPES This delectable hand-painted mini plate is the perfect size for serving up sweet treats. £12 for two, www.not anotherbill.com
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bridal gifts
wedding belles
Shower a bride-to-be with thoughtful gifts and decorative touches for the big day. Designer: JESSICA ENTWISTLE Styling: LISA JONES Photography: PHILIP SOWELS
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EMBROIDERED CARD
Shop-bought greetings can get a bit samey, which is why we're looking to our sewing machines to create bespoke cards for the most special occasions in our calendars. This clever machine-embroidered cake design includes space for the happy couple's initials as well as the date of the big day. You can't get much more personal than that! And the design can also be used for milestone anniversaries.
FABRIC FLOWERS
Arranged in a jug or vase, these everlasting fleurs will brighten up any space, from a grand wedding reception to a humble kitchen table, so make a lovely keepsake. They don’t require any watering (phew!), are free from sneeze-inducing pollen, and will provide you with yearround colour for next to nothing. Bloomin' marvellous!
PSST: fabric and
rleaf for spiration, e v o n r u T n tyling i e your s n o i s a occ o shar t e r u s tagged s s and be e r D a Sophi fnished lysewingmag #simp
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COVER STAR
the SOPHIA DRESS
Twirl your way into event season with The Sophia Dress in UK sizes 6-20, a statement occasion frock with cut-out side panels and two sleeve and skirt styles.
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A GOOD READ
DRESSED TO IMPRESS From the purest silks to the softest wools: four designers share their secrets for working with the most luxurious fabrics. Written by Holly Johnson.
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A GOOD READ For bridal designer Helen Rhiannon, "the drape of a pure silk dress is worth the hard work."
Annie Mullooly uses delicate lace and crepe fabrics to create vintageinspired styles.
friends in her 20s, before launching her first wedding dress collection in 2015. “The experience of creating a wedding grown is very special and unique to each bride,” says Annie, whose design label is Ffrog (meaning ‘frock’ in Welsh). “It can be a long process – sometimes up to seven fittings before the dress is finished. But I love going on this journey with them, getting to know my brides on a very personal level and building up trust.” Annie is inspired by vintage styles, especially the glamour of the 1930s and the Art Deco era. “I have a weakness for crepedback satin, with its fluidity and luxurious feel. This fabric also nods to the bridal fashions of the 1930s that I love so much.” Her recent collection features oyster crepes, delicate laces and covered-button details. “Some fabrics tell me what they what to be – I start with sketches, then the patterns take shape.” She describes the satisfaction of finally seeing her designs worn by brides on their wedding day as “immense.” Annie offers a fitting service for her dresses from within the Rachel Burgess Bridal Boutique in Penarth, South Wales (www. rachelburgessbridalboutique.com). Having sewn “pretty much daily” for nearly 15 years, her fabric handling has become almost instinctive. “The challenges come when a garment hasn't been cut well in the initial stage of construction,” she says. “If the grains
Photos left & top left: Jon Turtle Photographer; Photos top & bottom right: Michelle Huggleston; Photo centre: Rebecca Knowles
B
ehind every red-carpet frock, sharp suit or breathtaking bridal dress is a super-talented seamstress, tailor or costumier – the unsung heroes and heroines of our special occasions, who create stunning pieces that make us feel a million dollars and are worn for some of our most memorable moments. Whether it’s for a friend, family member, or as part of your own business, making dresses and outfits for events is a huge privilege. Not only are you playing an important role in the celebrations, but your work is on show for all to see. The detail and finish must be flawless, the fabric handled beautifully, and extra time and patience is required for those all-important fittings. Here, four of these behind-thescenes superstars share their passion and process for working with luxury fabrics to create show-stopping garments, from wedding dresses to historical costumes.
“Some fabrics tell me what they what to be. I start with sketches, then the patterns.”
BOUTIQUE BRIDAL Working with luxury fabrics offers up unique challenges – whether it’s delicate vintage lace or slippery silks, cutting and sewing such intricate textiles requires skill, consideration and expert fabric-handling know-how. Annie Mullooly (www.ffrog.co.uk), who studied Fashion and Textiles at the University of Cumbria, started making wedding gowns and bridesmaids’ dresses for family and
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all that glitters
Add a touch of sparkle to your occasion look with Jennifer Mills' vintageinspired sequin shrug.
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satin swish Get summer-party ready with The New Craft House's foaty satin wrap skirt, made to your measurements.
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sweet petite Lisa Lam shows you how to make a mini clutch with brass hardware details for a pro fnish.
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home and away Special outfts deserve special treatment, so carry and keep your favourite frocks in Debbie von Grabler-Crozier's piped holder.
BUY THIS KIT!
See this demonstrated live on air on 8th May 2018*
Live on SKY 678 Freeview 78 * Visit page 15 for special offers and T&Cs
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this little piggy
What has a snufy snout, a cute curly tail, foppy pink ears, and says "oink oink"? Jo Carter's cuddly pig plushie, of course!
BUY THIS KIT!
See this demonstrated live on air on
27th April 2018 *
Live on Freeview 78 and Sky 678 * Visit page 15 for special offers and T&Cs
FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC
workshop RAG RUGGING
Every issue, our sewists present classic projects and techniques.
my favourite thing
painted lilies
Suzie Kemner of Suzie London designed her own 1960sinspired lily-print fabric to make this self-drafted dress. "MY LILY DRESS IS SUPER SPECIAL to me as it’s the first one I made using fabric I designed myself! It was inspired by a trip to the V&A museum in London, where I saw a beautifully simple waterlily jug from 1848 in the glass section. I loved how around this time the artist Ruskin started to create designs with 'appropriate ornament: water vessels decorated with waterlilies, or a sherry decanter with bunches of grapes.' My name, Suzanne, derives from the Hebrew name for Lily, meaning 'to be joyful, bright or cheerful'. So, I decided that an 'appropriate ornament' for me would be a dress decorated with lilies. I drew sketches of several waterlilies from photographs, then coloured them in digitally using Photoshop. I layered them over each
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other and then created a repeat 'tile'. I also experimented with scale and decided on a large repeat, 60s style, which was very me! I ordered my design to be printed on silk crepe-de-chine, a beautiful, flowing fabric with excellent drape. I cut and sewed up my printed fabric into a dress from a pattern that I drafted myself, in a loose, relaxed shape, with flowing angel sleeves, and side seam pockets, of course! Inspired by a beautiful beaded Tudor jacket I also saw at the V&A, I added some sequins and beads to the neckline of the dress as a finishing touch, stitched by hand. It is an absolute joy to wear this dress! And, even though it’s not made perfectly, I will treasure it forever." See more at www.suzielondonuk.com
S Summer dress Travel makes Silk cami Beach tunic Leather purse Patchwork quilt Panda toy Cooler bag And more...
4 free patterns! +exclusive to simply sewing Sew a relaxed summer dress and tie-sleeve top in fun prints for your new-season wardrobe, in sizes 6-20!
PLUS
CHIC CITY BACKPACK PATTERN! Don’t miss this exclusive silk cami pattern by Sew Over It!
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* CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PAPER AND FABRIC GIFTS NOT AVAILABLE WITH DIGITAL EDITIONS.