Simply Sewing issue 25

2N8GS TO SEW

LEARN NEW SKILLS TOP 10 E-COURSES! Make u s!

THI

FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC

transform your look with embroidery

ISSUE TWENTY FIVE

NEW! SEASONAL STAPLES

easy-sew

WINTER coat IN SIZES 6-20

Fre e pattern inside!

+ TUNIC DRESS

PENCIL SKIRT SHOPPER BAG

6 NEW LOOKS:

COSY & WEARABLE

ISSUE 25 PRINTED IN THE UK • £7.99

Inspiring patterns for a brand new year

HOW TO: Sew with jersey Easy patchwork French seams Appliqué Basic embroidery

Photo: www.iampatterns.fr

IDEAS

INSPIRATION

ACCESSORIES

WEBSITES

EVENTS

STUFF

SHOOTING STAR

We’ve been looking to the night sky for sewing inspiration this issue (check out our constellation-print bedroom accessories to sew on page 20), so it seems it was written in the stars that French pattern label I AM Patterns has released a stellar new collection; titled I AM A STAR, it includes four pattern designs named after stars and constellations. Our pick is the beginner-friendly Cassiopée dress. £13.50 each, www.backstitch.co.uk

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Pinboard CAPITAL IDEA Blogger Sally of

Photos: www.simplicitynewlook.com

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MADE TO LAST

When we spend hours sewing a beautiful new garment, we want it to last! That’s why we love timeless styles like these vintage Simplicity designs. From 1940s tailoring (8242) to a pretty heart apron (8232), there’s a vintage gem for every skill level. From £5.65 each, www.simplicitynewlook.com

www.charityshop chic.net, known for her clever refashions of charity shop finds, has ventured into pattern design for the second time with a new collection that will take you from day to evening. All the styles are named after cocktails, so sewing one up will give us the perfect excuse to sip its namesake tipple! Pdf patterns £10 each, www.capitalchic patterns.com

FAB FARROW

W

e can never have too many A-line dresses in our wardrobe – it’s a style we reach for time and again. Grainline Studio’s version, the Farrow Dress, has diagonal seaming and in-seam pockets. Layer the longsleeved version with a cardi, or make a sleeveless Farrow in breezy cotton for summer. £15, www.backstitch.co.uk

DESIGN IT YOURSELF One of the joys of being a sewist is shopping for fabric and dreaming of all the lovely things we could make with it.

Sometimes, though, finding the perfect print can prove elusive – which is where bespoke fabric printer Prinfab comes in.

Simply upload your own dream fabric design (or pick from over 12,000 existing artworks) and choose one of 11 different fabric types, and your design will be printed using eco-friendly water-based pigment inks in the UK. It’s time to unleash your inner fabric designer!

Get started at www.prinfab.com

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Upload your own artwork for Prinfab to print or choose from 12,000 designs.

night sky bedroom GET 15% OFF AT SPOONFLOWER See page 26 for details

made of stars

Transform your bedroom into a haven of calm with a fresh look in dreamy constellation prints.

Designer: REBECCA REID Styling: LISA JONES Photography: JESSE WILD

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COSMETICS BAG

Keep lip balms, lotions and other bits and bobs from cluttering up your bedside table with a zip pouch. We’ve given ours a personal touch with zodiac-sign embroidery in back stitch, so it would make a thoughtful birthday gift for stargazers, too.

STAR CUSHIONS

When it comes to cushions, more is definitely more! Not only are they a simple way to brighten up a room with colour and print, but they also provide us with a comfy spot to take a well-earned rest after a day of sewing. We’ve made our quicksew star cushions in a calming colour palette of indigo, mint and cream for sweet dreams.

Psst:

Turn to page 3 9 for fabric and style insp iration, and don’t forget to share your Waterfall Jac ket with us using #simply sewingmag

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COVER STAR

THE WATERFALL JACKET Update your winter wardrobe with Cotton + Chalk’s Waterfall Jacket in sizes 6-20, designed for feece fabrics. With no closures, lining or fnishing needed, it won’t take long to sew your new favourite coat!

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MY SEWING WORLD

by Lisa Comfort

Lisa Comfort shares her stitching plans for 2017, from fresh home updates to new Sew Over It patterns.

H

appy New Year everybody! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, spending time with family and feeling festive. I have had such a perfect time that I’m slightly reluctant for it to end. However, I’ve got so many great things on the horizon over the next few months that I am excited to dive into 2017. But let’s talk selfish sewing first! Though I’m not usually very good at making (or sticking to) New Year’s resolutions, in 2016 I noticed a definite shift in my sewing that I’d like to continue to work on into 2017.

It’s all about downsizing. It all started with the My Capsule Wardrobe: City Break eBook, which we released in September. Since then I’ve realised having just a few key patterns to sew from that all work perfectly together can make creating a wardrobe and getting dressed every day so much easier and simpler.

My go-to pattern so far this winter has been our Alex Shirt Dress. It’s loose fitting and comfortable (perfect for those big Christmas dinners!) but, importantly, still stylish. You can’t go wrong with a classic shirtdress in my opinion. With thick tights and boots, it’s the perfect winter outfit. I’m planning to make another one in wool and maybe a brushed cotton version – I think that would be so snuggly! Secret pyjamas, anyone?

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Lisa Comfort wardrobe without a generous dose of shift dresses and Capri-style trousers. I love our Ultimate Shift pattern, and my longsleeved floral number is a staple in my wardrobe. I’ve got a few Ultimate Shift tops just waiting to be hemmed, too – they’ll perfect with the Ultimate Trousers!

HOME SWEET HOME As well as finessing my wardrobe, I’d also like to find more time this year for sewing for the home. I have been inspired by all the fun I’ve had decorating for Christmas, and now that we’re putting all the decorations away again I feel like an update. I’m thinking new cushions, and perhaps a simple blanket quilt for cosying up in on the sofa. Things at work are going to be very busy, so it will be nice to come home to some simple projects that I can wind down with in the evenings. Plus, it’s so lovely

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Find S ew O ver It patte rns, fabrics my new eBo an d ok at www.s ewoverit.co m

Staples like the Erin Skirt from my eBook are on my to-sew list.

“It will be nice to come home to some simple projects.”

I love a classic shirtdress! Our Alex Dress is my go-to pattern at the moment.

for “I’ve got more ideas the My Capsule Wardrobe eBook series in the pipeline!” to be surrounded by handmade things; for me it really does make a house feel like a home.

prints for I’m swapping busy year. neutral pastels this

MAKING PLANS Although my plans might be pared back for 2017, the same cannot be said for Sew Over It. We’ve got so many exciting projects on the cards – the first of which you will be finding out about very soon! We plan more than a year ahead these days and so I can let you know that we’ve got new online classes, lots of new patterns and more ideas for the My Capsule Wardrobe eBook series all in the pipeline.

Outerwear is definitely on the agenda this winter – if you’ve had your eye on the Chloe Coat from our workshops, watch this space! It’s the perfect coat for all seasons; make it to suit winter, spring, summer or autumn with your choice of fabric. I’ve already discovered that it’s frost-proof and really cosy when sewn in a boiled wool with warm interlining. And as coats go it’s so quick to make that I might have to sew another few in more colours. A lighter Chloe is on my list for spring, too. I’ve been saving the perfect fabric for months! Despite that, my fabric stash is looking a bit on the small side lately (practically unheard of!).

I’ve become more picky about what I buy, and if it won’t work with my stash then I somehow work up the strength to leave it at the shop. This means pastel solids are in, whereas wonderfully crazy prints are often sidelined. The old Lisa would be shocked!

I’d love to know your favourite fabrics for winter and what you’ve got on your sewing table. Tag us @sewoveritlondon and share your sewing plans!

I want to sew up our Chloe Coat for every season, in every hue!

Keeping me inspired...

I can’ t wait to up te my home with handmadda e touches.

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2017 is promising t be a big year fo Sw Over It and I’m cotinually excited by what we have in stoe. I want t release a lot moe patterns, which means planning and sampling new designs – my favorite thing! I love scrolling throgh Pinterest o my lunch break, and imagining how I can mix and match modern street styles wth clasic vintage infuences t create gogeos, wearable clothes.

Find us o Pinterest at www. pinterest.com/wearesewoverit Here’s to a new year filled with travel, sewing and exciting new projects!

transform it!

under wraps

Jennie Jones revamps a cable knit jumper into an on-trend roll-neck poncho for cosy layering.

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transform it!

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UPCYCLE QUICK PROJECT

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A GOOD READ

“The Craftsy platform makes it possible for students of all levels to learn from the best.”

A brand new year is the perfect excuse to pick up a few fresh sewing techniques. Happily, the plethora of online classes means that you won’t need to leave the house! Here are our top ten.

Written by Judy Darley.

W

e love a sewing course.

Whether we’re taking the chance to brush up on our stitching skills or learning something new, they’re the perfect excuse to devote some quality time to fabrics and thread!

Busy lives can make it difficult to commit to a weekly lesson, but this is where the wonder of online courses come in. There are countless classes to choose between, so to make things a little easier, we’ve picked out our top ten to inspire you.

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A GOOD READ BEST IF YOU’RE A NERVOUS SEWIST

BEST IF YOU NEED A BIT OF EXTRA HELP A Beautiful Mess was launched by sisters Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson in 2007.

The stylish site includes a number of e-courses, so including a sewing course was a natural step. “We discovered that a lot of our readers were interested in learning more but felt a bit overwhelmed anytime we would share a tutorial that required a little basic knowledge on using a sewing machine.” As a result, they invited Rachel Denbow (bove) and Katie Shelton (below) to develop Sew With Us “as a resource for anyone feeling lost with threading their machine, or those who felt they had basic skills but wanted a friendly and fun challenge to take it to the next level.” Emma adds: “Our aim is to help students break through any fears they may have. We believe in making, so we love helping others on their own journey.”

Find the Sew With Us e-course at www.abeautifulmess.com “To help students break through any fears they may have and achieve those maker goals.”

Hop over the to the Melly Sews site to discover a free class designed for absolute newbies – ideal if someone in your life is sew-curious, but somewhat nervous of venturing too close to a sewing machine. Melissa is an experienced sewing instructor with a lovely no-nonsense tone that’s immensely reassuring. The class comprises of videos and diagrams and even sets homework (“practise sewing straight lines!”), so you’ll be ready to take on a project in no time.

“I wanted to offer this course to help people who want to learn to sew, pick up that skill and also come to see my site as a resource for them,” says Melissa. “I spent many years teaching in public high school, and wanted to continue that on the internet.” Happily, the Melly Sews site is also home to step-by-step garment tutorials (we love the Skirting the Issue – Pencil Skirt tutorial), as well as some stunning free patterns. “I love sewing,” Melissa says, “because I can take any idea I have and make it into a reality for me or for others to wear.” Show up for class at www.mellysews.com

“I want peo p as a go-to sele to see my website wing resourc e.”

BEST FOR YOU’RE A BEYOND-BASICS SEWIST At Whipstitch, Deborah Moebes runs a range of classes you can join at any time. “In 2017, I’ll be offering Learn to Sew; Learn to Quilt, Learn to Design Sewing Patterns, Sewing Knit Fabrics; Slip Covers; and Launch Your Sewing Business,” says Deborah. “I’m also adding one new class, Garment Fitting & Pattern Adjustments.” Masterclasses start from $29 (approx £22).

Deborah is also rolling out a handful of shorter masterclasses at a lower price point, including Working with Zippers; Buttons & Buttonholes; Waistbands; Gathers & Pleats; and Hems.

“I love sewing because I see how it connects us to one another, throughout time and through our own family history,” says Deborah. “I love the creative challenge of making clothing and designing sewing patterns.

Teaching has given me the chance to fall a little more in love with sewing by seeing it again through students’ eyes.” Deborah describes her masterclasses as being “for the next wave of seamstresses beyond the beginner level, who want additional focussed instruction to improve their skills.” Find them at www.whip-stitch.com “I love sewing because I see how it connects us to one another, throughout time and through our own family.”

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show us yours with #simplysewingmag

hello dolly

Jo Carter shows you how to sew your own doll duo inspired by Russian nesting dolls.

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S The Freja Dress Jacket refashion Kitten plushie toy Ikat saddle bag Easy-sew sweatshirt Oilcloth backpack Simple foral skirt Baby play mat And more...

+ FREE PATTERN Brand new! Apron-style dress with flattering pinafore top and cross-over straps, in sizes 6-20.

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* CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PAPER AND FABRIC GIFTS NOT AVAILABLE WITH DIGITAL EDITIONS.

Exclusive-TO-US ApROn DRESS

n i y a t S touch!

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