Make it Today Issue 12 Dressmaking Preview

Make it Today!

ISSUE 12 MARCH 2 016

Stitch your Style

LOVE IT

MAKE IT

DO IT

BUY IT

READ IT

YOUR KIT PATTERNS FROM

&

Easiest ever

spring tea-dress STEP OUT IN PRETTY PRINTS THAT FLATTER YOUR FIGURE

BONUS T U O L L U P RN PATTE

MAKE IT TODAY

WEDDING BELLES 5 KEY LOOKS FOR

ISSUE 12 | £7.99 MARCH 16

SUMMER BRIDES-TO-BE Plus: Kids Dressing Up Special . Re-Loved & Re-Made Garments . Invisible Zips & More

13

48 20

18

38

24

Contents: dressmaking YOUR KIT MAKES

13 TEA DRESS Opt for classic appeal with these variations of a figure-flattering frock

38 LIBERTY PRINT BLOUSE Stitch a pretty top with matching belt for extra style and appeal

26 SPRING JACKET Choose from two tailored pieces to create stunning wardrobe essentials

48 SABRINA DRESS Sew a timeless Audrey Hepburn-inspired number, complete with bow detail

EXTRA PROJECTS

56 UPCYCLED SHIRT Transform the look of an old garment with cute Liberty print accents

20 MIDI DRAPE SKIRT Stitch a swishy no-pattern skirt that’s the ideal outfit for springtime dates 22 BOATNECK TOP A chic crop style that’s perfectly suited for day or night

RELAX AND READ

ISSUE 12

6 MAKE IT, BUY IT, LOVE IT What’s new in the world of stitching?

Find out all you need to know 8 NOTICEBOARD Our chance to showcase your sewing successes and reveal your worst stitchy confessions 18 SPORTS LUXE Sew your way to activewear heaven with our guide to using Spandex

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 WELCOME 5 INSIDE YOUR KIT 29+42 GIVEAWAYS 58 COMING NEXT ISSUE 43+60 SUBSCRIPTIONS 61 THE PRACTICALS

REGULARS

11 ESSENTIAL KIT Fix your dressmaking faux-pas with our handy repair kit must-haves!

24 KEY CUFF Keep your bits and bobs safe with this handy stash-busting project

36 BRIDAL SHOWCASE Shine on your big day with our top picks of aisle styles

32 FELT HAT DECOR Featuring fancy details, this project makes the perfect statement berets

45 FABRIC LOVE Check out the fabric fancies on our mind this spring

32 LET’S PLAY DRESS UP! Treat your little angel to these sweet makes, ideal for play-dates and parties!

52 THE BOOKS We love a new read to inspire us so here are our top picks

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get money off a three-issue trial.

Turn to pages 43 and 60 for details

44 INTERVIEW: HEATHER JACKS GBSB series II winner Heather discusses her dressmaking story 50 KIMONOS & TUNICS See our top picks for comfortable springtime perfection 53 REFASHION CONSCIOUS Give your wardrobe a new lease of life by making use of every bit of fabric in your home 66 SEWING DETECTIVE We demystify your dressmaking woes with a guide to invisible zips, courtesy of the WI’s Sarah Greef

Make it Today!

4 04_Contents.indd 1

12/02/2016 15:41

Make it Today!

YOUR DESIGNER PATTERNS

TURN TO P61 FOR ALL THE DRESSMAKING TIPS YOU’LL NEED TO GET STITCHING TODAY!

ILLUSTRATED INSTRUCTIONS AND SEWING GUIDES INSIDE

Opt for a classic tailored jacket

Four springtime picks to choose from

EACH ENVELOPE INCLUDES AUTHENTIC DRESSMAKER’S TISSUE PATTERN PAPER What’s your size?

DON’T MISS NEXT ISSUE! Semi-fitted dresses and kimonos for you to enjoy

ON SALE 8TH APRIL 2016 Find out more on page 58

If you’re in need of a larger size, an alternative version of M7116 is available for Make It Today readers: M7116 (16-24).

Call Butterick at 0344 880 1263, quoting voucher code MIT7116 to redeem your replacement pattern at half price, £4.37.

Offer valid until 25th March.

K4140 includes all the sizes available in the envelope.

THIS MONTH...

make it, buY it, love it

New looks, shows, gizmos and gifts for a stitchy spring

SWEET DREAMS

Colour visionary Amy Butler has done it again: the entrepreneurial fabric designer has released two selections of heavenly prints under the inspired moniker of Dream Weaver. Inspired by Amy’s recent travels to Morocco, these two luscious colour palettes bring together multiseasonal voiles and quilting cottons in a dizzying array of post-modern blooms and ornate swirls, evoking a free-spirited Boho sensibility. Says Amy, “I hope you will enjoy the delicious fusion of colour and texture as much as I do”.

Lose yourself in opulent wanderlust! amybutlerdesign.com

CALLING ALL CRAFTERS If you fancy taking a break from the sewing machine and rubbing shoulders with inspiring creative types of all persuasions, the Stitch & Craft show takes place on the 10th–12th March. Visitors can meet experts and attend ‘make and take’ workshops at the Three Counties Showground in the Malverns. £7, grosvenorshows.co.uk

CHINA IN YOUR HAND

We here at stitchy HQ know how hard it is to keep on top of all your sewing knick-knacks, so if you’re all needles and pins, look no further. These charming English bone China containers and gift sets from Cornwall-based designer Laura Lee are the ideal way to organise all your crafty bits. Inspired by Laura’s childhood in her mum’s fabric shop, they make the perfect gift, and we love the glossy pin badges! Prices from £1.50, lauraleedesigns.co.uk

READERS GET 20% OFF WITH CODE MAKE16!

Make it Today!

6

BRIEF AND TO THE POINT

IMAGES © VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON

SILK SATIN, LACE AND WHALEBONE CORSET, 1890–5

Sisters, let us save you from getting your knickers in a twist! This April, the V&A will showcase a very special collection of historical panties, corsets and delicates, and it promises to be an unforgettable romp through the most delightful items to ever find favour in a lady's boudoir. ‘Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear’ tells the story of underwear design in all its provocative and breathtaking splendour, featuring more than 200 examples of fascinating figure-shapers. Tickets £12, vam.ac.uk

DISPLAY FIGURE AND ADVERTISING CARD FOR Y-FRONT PANTS, 1950S

PANDA LOVE

Now fabric lovers can do their bit for conservation. New Forest Fabric’s Minshan range from Lewis & Irene is a call to action for all panda lovers, with a percentage of all sales being donated to Act Now for Wildlife led by Chester Zoo. Says a spokesperson, “Without the forests, these enigmatic creatures will be lost forever”. actforwildlife.org.uk, newforestfabrics.co.uk

SEE OUR UPCYCLING FEATURE ON PAGE 54 FOR MORE RESTYLING INSPIRATION!

Fabric specialist Alice Garrett talks about her lifelong love of Liberty How did your involvement with Liberty Art Fabrics begin?

My grandma was an avid quilter, and finding a scrap of Liberty in her stash was like finding treasure! After school, I did a degree in chemistry, then a PhD. During this time, I made bags and sold them at student fairs.

After that, it was time for my creative side to have a turn and I started selling leftovers on Etsy.

How do you decide which designs to choose? What are your inspirations?

Choosing the fabrics is my favourite part of my job! I go on instinct mostly. First, I pick prints that grab me from the swatch book, then I mix them together to see which will work as part of a collection. The in-house team at Liberty sometimes collaborate with well-known artists or designers such as Grayson Perry. I get a lot of inspiration from Japanese craft books, which are so detailed.

What would you say is the main ethos of your brand for crafters?

I want to encourage people to have a go a crafting and creating. The joy of trying something as an adult is that there is no one to grade you. I also hope to provide inspirational ways to combine colours, as Liberty fabrics are so versatile.

RESTYLE CHALLENGE

Try a sewing weekend with a difference in the capable hands of dressmaking guru and TV presenter Wendy Gardiner. Find out how to transform a cheap T-shirt or refashion a glamorous charity shop dress to create something that is comfy and stylish. Held at beautiful Dunford House on 1st April, it’s sure to be a stitch riot. £345, wagardiner@ntlworld.com

CREATOR’S CORNER

SEE OUR LIBERTY BLOUSE PROJECT ON PAGE 38!

NATURAL HIGH

Delight as the beauty of nature receives the Alice Caroline treatment in this joyful new range of Liberty Art Fabrics.

Bringing new colourways to enchanting prints of flora and fauna, the Contemporary Classics Collection is a paean to spring. Featuring Sue Blackwell’s Wildflowers, succulent Tresco and the beloved beasties of Queue for the Zoo, it’s truly a feast for the senses. alicecaroline.co.uk

NEWS 7

If you had to choose, what are your favourite Liberty designs?

Ooh, that’s so tricky! Only three?

If I had to be picky, I’d probably go for Mitsi in the hot pink colourway, Tresco and Floral Eve, which was designed

by Rachel Pedder Smith, who painted the seed collection at Kew Gardens.

But then there’s Betsy and Strawberry Thief... there’s just so many!

What are your ambitions for the coming year?

We are launching a new range of cosmetics bags and accessories, all handmade in England with Liberty fabrics. Liberty is about to launch the most gorgeous range of fabrics for children, evoking childhood nostalgia. We’re already choosing the winter collections, and even spring 2017. I can’t wait!

PROJECT BY AMANDA WALKER | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A DREAMY DAY OF DRESSMAKING

ESSENTIAL KIT

Cotton lawn print, 3m x 140cm Lining fabric, 3m x 140cm Fusible lightweight interfacing Co-ordinating thread Concealed zip, 22cm Hook and bar fastening MEASUREMENT: Custom sized

Find guide online makeit today.co.uk

FOR A GUARANTEED PERFECT FIT, THIS

MIDI DRAPE SKIRT

is pretty fine and pattern-free!

Sometimes a gal’s just got to have that gorgeous statement skirt she can twirl around in. This exquisite piece, with its gratifying drape and snug waistline, is designed just for you – because it’s tailormade to fit your form and yours alone. And best of all, you don’t even need a pattern: just follow the formula for a freeflowing style piece that’s as pretty as a picture.

Make it Today!

20 Midi skirt.indd 1

11/02/2016 16:03

PROJECT BY AMANDA WALKER | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A MELLOW WEEKEND OF FLOWERY DELIGHTS

GET FLORAL FOR SPRING WITH A

LIBERTY PRINT BLOUSE that’s flattering, casual and oh-so-cool

With its short sleeves and sweet seasonal print from the Liberty June’s Meadow collection, our beautiful, lightweight blouse is perfect for spring. With colours inspired by the blooms of idyllic Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, this delightful top is flattering to both tall and petite frames, and the co-ordinating belt accentuates the waist. Match with trousers in a bright shade for evening edge, or simply dig out your trusty denim for a look that is both contemporary and classic casual.

ESSENTIAL KIT

Fabric: printed, Liberty, 3m Iron on interfacing, lightweight Bias binding, contrasting Buckram, curtain, adhesive Thread, matching Buttons: small, five Buckle Eyelets

Find pattern online makeit today.co.uk Make it Today!

38

PROJECT BY DOLIN BLISS O’SHEA | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A MELLOW WEEKEND OF DELIGHTFUL DRESSMAKING

FEEL LIKE A STAR IN THIS

SABRINA DRESS that’s a perfect weekend make

For a touch of vintage glam, stitch a little black dress that will have every head turning. This iconic style created by Dolin Bliss O’Shea has been inspired by the frock worn by Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, which boasts the classic 1950s silhouettes. The fitted bodice and flared skirt is a flattering design for most figures, and you’ll add princess seaming, lining and straps to your dressmaking skills.

ESSENTIAL KIT

Main fabric, 114cm x 2.8m Lining, 1m x 114cm Co-ordinating thread PLUS: Zip, 40.5cm Satin ribbon, 1.6cm x 1.2m MEASUREMENTS: XS-XL

Find pattern online makeit today.co.uk

CUTTING GUIDE:

A Centre front: Cut One on Fold from main fabric and lining B Side front: Cut Two from main fabric and lining C Centre back: Cut One on Fold from main fabric and lining D Side back: Cut Two from main fabric and lining E Centre skirt: Cut Two on Fold from main fabric F Side skirt: Cut Four from main fabric G Strap: Cut Two from main fabric

SABRINA DRESS 1 Download and print the templates from makeittoday.co.uk. Cut the pieces out, referring to the cutting guide and diagrams, making sure to transfer all pattern markings. Stay-stitch the centre front and centre back pieces at the neckline and armholes, 1.2cm from the raw edge. The armholes of the side front and side backs require stay-stitching.

Repeat for the lining.

2 Fold the strap pieces in half lengthways, aligning the long raw edge, right sides together, and pin in place.

Using a 0.6cm seam allowance, sew the long edges together. Turn out through one of the open ends and press.

3 Join the centre front and side front together to create princess seams.

Repeat on the front lining pieces. Join the back and back lining in the same way, noting that the back pieces don’t have any ease added to the princess seam.

PATTERN HACK

Stitch a straight skirt variation for an alternative look. See the book for more details.

ALTERNATIVE VERSION OF SABRINA DRESS

Make it Today!

48

PROJECT BY TORIE JAYNE | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A HAPPY WEEKEND WITH PLENTY OF TEA BREAKS

STRAPPY OR FRILLY SLEEVED, THIS

TEA DRESS is the perfect all-occasion wardrobe staple Whether you’re after a dainty cotton ensemble or something a little more slinky, McCall’s M7116 four-way design covers all the bases with its versatile, alluring femininity. Always modern but endearingly vintage, this comely number has enduring appeal thanks to its figure-flattering attributes, utilising a gathered bodice, semi-fitted bias and side zipper, with the option of shoulder straps or ruffle sleeves, as well as an elasticised collar and pleat if you prefer. Deliciously retro, it may be – but its can-do spirit means it’s never out of style. Dressed up with heels and a clutch, or playfully casual with hat and boots, this foxy frock really will suit you down to a tea!

TO SEE PROJECT, TURN OVER TEA DRESS 13

PROJECT BY AMANDA WALKER | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A FEW LOVELY HOURS OF LIBERTY BLISS

USE A SWEET PRINT FOR AN

UPCYCLED SHIRT to revitalise your favourite look

Now we’ve taken you on a whistle-stop tour of some of the most intriguing upcycling workshops in the country, it’s over to you! All you need is an old shirt and some gorgeous fabric to create a clever rework of the classic tailored shirt. Amanda Walker explains how easy it is to use the existing collar and cuffs as templates for your new Liberty masterpiece, using soft slices of corduroy to add colour and interest to the simplest design. Trust us, once you’ve got a yen for upcycling, you won’t be able to stop.

FABRIC L VE

LIBERTY ROSSMORE KAYLIE SUNSHINE Amanda used this soft floral Liberty Rossmore Cord with its delirious bursts of shocking pink, lime, tangerine and violet to embellish the shirt’s collar and cuffs. Available for £16.95 from sewbox.co.uk.

Make it Today!

56

PROJECT BY JAYNE CORDLE | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A PRETTY WEEKEND OF SAVVY STITCHING

DASH FOR THE DAISIES WEARING A

SPRING JACKET

with statement diagonals for all shapes Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to pull out some sunny colours and brighten up your wardrobe – it’s also time to try something a little different. This season’s exciting new trend for bold reinterpretations of classic lines is stunningly realised here with Kwik Sew’s K4140 pattern, with two styles fusing comfortable shaping, scoop neckline and ease of movement with daring angular cuts and bold shoulder action. Whether your preference is a petite casual piece or a longer traffic-stopper, this gorgeous two-way jacket will give you the freedom and confidence to hit all the right lines.

Make it Today!

26 Covermount jackets12.indd 2

12/02/2016 11:52

SUBSCRIBE TO MAKE IT TODAY

FOR YOUR FREE*

Antex Mini Iron with Spade Tip Each mini iron is supplied with a standard shaped tip known as the ‘spade tip’ for ease of use

The iron tip is ideal for patchwork, craft projects and applique and for all projects using fusible bias tape.

The small base plate of the iron directs concentrated heat where needed with very little pressure.

FREE GIFT

3 ISSUES FOR ONLY £19.30!*

EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE

VISIT: WWW.MAKEITTODAY.CO.UK OR CALL: 01795 414915 QUOTE: MIT1216 *This is a UK-only Direct Debit offer. Gift is only available to UK subscribers. Existing subscribers can renew using this offer. Your subscription will begin with the next available issue. Subscriptions are for a 12-month period including all gift subscriptions. Your free gift will be dispatched within 28 days of your payment being received (sent separately from the magazine). If your subscription is a gift, the gift and gift card will be sent to the donor. You can also subscribe via cheque or credit card. In the event of a gift being faulty or damaged, please contact us within 28 days of receiving the gift. This offer is subject to availability; an alternative gift may be supplied to the same or greater value. This is a limited offer and may be withdrawn at any time. Photocopies accepted. Cancellation policy applies: refer online or contact customer services for more details.