Simply Sewing issue 26

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FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC

9 gifts tofor sew school

ISSUE TWENTY SIX

24 PROJECTS TO SEW

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BABY PLAY MAT PETER PAN COLLAR Mak e as a skirt to!

5 NEW OUTFITS TO SEW TODAY!

PRINTED IN THE UK • £5.99

Fresh new looks for your everyday wardrobe

ISSUE 26

Scandi style

HOW TO: Sew with laminates Upcycle old jumpers Quilt by hand Add seamed pockets

TOThisTHE POINT set of nifty ▼

IDEAS

INSPIRATION

Prym point turners is our latest sewing gadget find. Turning loops and straps can be a fiddly and ACCESSORIES WEBSITES frustrating task, so these turning aids are being added to our craft kit pronto! The set includes point turners in three different sizes: small, for loops from 9.5 to 16mm; medium, for loops from 19 to 25mm; and large, for loops from 25mm.

Bring on the strappy summer frocks! £9.30, www.johnlewis.com

EVENTS

STUFF

A PRESSING MATTER

P

ressing well is the secret to making a professional handmade garment, so we wouldn’t be without our pressing tools. These are handmade by dressmaker Saima Salim, who designed them “based on bygone standards of quality and craftsmanship.” From £12.95, www.clothbound1.etsy.com

FROM THE HEART favourite coat. £10 each, www.

3. Warm your hands and your heart with these soft lambswool gloves, which feature half a dotty red heart on each palm. Approx £24, www.

V FOR VICTORY

Forget the flowers and chocolates – the best thing about Valentine’s Day is that it offers us the perfect excuse to sew up a romantic new outfit, like the slinky Trina pattern from Victory Patterns. This elegant design has an oh-so-flattering wrap closure, flowing shape and dramatic wide sleeves and can be made as a kimono-style top or floaty dress. We love its glamorous 1930s-Hollywood vibe. Pdf pattern £9.75, www.backstitch.co.uk Subscribe at www.simplysewingmag.com

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Pinboard PETAL POWER

We love filling our homes with fresh flowers, but we wish they weren’t such a temporary addition to our decor! Luckily, these pretty fabric and leather bouquets by Kate of Daphne Rosa are blooms we can treasure forever: “I make each flower by hand, cutting the individual petals out and then assembling them on wire.” We think they’re blooming lovely! From £12 each, www.daphnerosa.etsy.com

Button it

Add a hint of print to your next project with these patterned fabric buttons.

DOLL FACE Go quirky with cute-as-a-button handdrawn face motifs. Set of three approx £8, www.zouzoudesign.etsy.com

SAfEty first

We’re always looking for new ways to put our favourite crafty bits and bobs on display, so we love this ingenious idea from Paper Mash – a giant safety pin to hang our bright washi tapes, twines and cottons on show in our sewing room.

Choose a gold or silver pin to suit your space – there are cute smaller versions that hold five washi tapes, too. Giant pin £19.95 from www.papermash.co.uk

LIBERTY LOVELY Pretty up your me-mades with Liberty florals, available in four sizes. Sets of six or 10 from £6, www. pinkgreen.etsy.com

out & about

SKILLS, SHOWS & EVENTS 1-8 FEBRUARY Ken Russell’s Teddy Girls & Boys. The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford. Photos of London’s teddy girls and boys taken in the 1950s by film director Ken Russell. www.thenorthwall.com

PANSY POP These hand-drawn pansy buttons are perfect for spring sewing. Set of four £4, www.drawnby rhiannon.etsy.com

2-4 FEBRUARY Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts. EventCity, Manchester. Find inspiration and supplies and learn new skills. www.ichfevents.co.uk

SET SAIL Mix and match maritime motifs for a nautical-but-nice look. Set of four approx £8, www. dawanda.com

4 FEBRUARY 2017-1 JANUARY 2018 Lace in Fashion. Fashion Museum Bath.

A look at lace through the ages, from historic gowns to top designer frocks, including a dress from the James Bond film, Spectre. www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

24-26 FEBRUARY

Colourful washi tapes are too pretty to hide away in a drawer!

Spring Quilt Festival. Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate. Stock up on patchwork and quilting supplies, admire quilts on display and learn new techniques at the workshops. www.grosvenorshows.co.uk

BLUE BLOOMS Finish off a swishy frock with these vintage-look stripes and florals. Set of six £3.99, www.oak roomshop.co.uk

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school essentials

cool for school

Go to the top of the class with early learning essentials made in easy-clean laminate fabrics.

Designer: REBECCA REID Styling: LISA JONES Photography: PHILIP SOWELS

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APRON

Protect freshly laundered uniforms from spills with a pocket-front wipe-clean laminate apron.

Get your child involved by letting them pick out their favourite fabrics and colours – they’ll love the bright print, and you’ll love how easy it is to clean!

PEN ROLL

Give budding artists all the colours of the rainbow to choose from with this handy roll with space for 20 pens. It has a secure button closure and rolls up neatly for colouring on the go, so they can draw their next masterpiece at school, home or away.

COVER STAR

Psst:

Turn to page 37 for fabric and style insp iration, and don’t forget to share your Freja dress an d skirt with us using #sim plysewingmag

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the freja dress

Take inspiration from simple Scandi style with Kirsty Hartley’s Freja Dress, a classic pinafore dress and skirt pattern for your everyday wardrobe in UK sizes 6-20.

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MY SEWING WORLD

by Cassandra Macindoe

Cassandra Macindoe of The Stitchery and Storybook Patterns shares an insight into her sewing story so far.

M

eaningful. This is my word of the moment.

And it’s got me asking questions: Why do I sew, design, make and teach? Why do I run a sewing studio, when the work required often outweighs the financial gain? Why does it matter? These are the musings that fill my sewing world. And I’m still processing them, but maybe I can share some conclusions so far.

I love sewing. I love the freedom of expression that comes with choosing my own fabric, in whatever colour, texture or print that makes me happy and allows me to be myself. I love the recent explosion of independent pattern companies, and the online community that comes with it – it’s supportive and encouraging in a practical way, which we all need.

And, on top of all that, sewing for myself means I can make clothes that fit my own unique shape, rather than trying to fit into a high street shape – we are all wonderfully unique, and sewing reflects that.

Being able to express who I am through my sewing, and encouraging others to do the same, is my answer to the question of why I sew. Sewing your own clothing is about forging your own unique path and writing your own story, stitch by stitch. I do what I do because I want to empower others with this truth – you are creative, you are unique and your story matters. As my favourite author, Brene Brown, says: “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”

As a business owner, designer and maker, my most difficult obstacle has been comparison – looking at all the things I am not rather than

Find my so cially mind ed indie patt brand at ww ern w.storybook patterns.com “You are creative, you are unique and your

story matters.”

e a momenctt sto k ta to t ea r g s It’ past proje . n o ck a b k o lo

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My workshops encourage students to express their creativity and personality through sewing clothes.

“At times we all need to take a few moments to slow down and take stock.” everything I’ve become and accomplished. But I’ve learned that comparison is the thief of happiness. As I write this article, I spent some time looking for some images to include. I’ve found a few that took me down memory lane and provide a good reminder of how far we’ve come. It can be easy to forget, but at times we all need to take a few moments to slow down and take stock of our many achievements.

Every business owner has a story.

Unfortunately, the real story and the one that the world sees are rarely the same. My desire is to be real and to own my story. And sewing is one of the ways I do that. I hope you’ll be encouraged to be yourself, tell your story, and find meaning in what you do. You won’t regret it.

See more ofCassandra’s Glasgow sewing studio, The Stitchery, at www.thestitchery studio.com. To find out more about her socially-minded pattern company, Storybook Patterns, take a look online at www. storybook patterns.com

pattern Look out for my new on! g so collection, launchin I find it so inspiring to help others discover the joys of creating unique garments.

Keeping me inspired...

I love that my stude s aren ’t afraid to take on newntpr ojects.

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My students at Te Stitchery inspire me every day wth their creativity and selfexpresio – they’re corageos and unafraid t fail. Tey are my reaso fo doing what I do. Recently, I’ve also fond inspiratio in Brene Brown’s bok, titled ‘Te Gifts of Imperfectio’.

And, in a business cotext, Megan Macedo’s call ot t business owners t ‘be yorself’ is speaking my language. Visit www. meganmacedo.com

One of my students shows off her Grainline Scout Tee.

Anna got a real ‘buzz’ from sewing her bee-print version of my Overture pattern!

PSST: patches,

rful Add colou titching s p o t r o y embroider ting thread to as in a contr ur sweatshirt. yo customise

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No sweat!

Sew the sports luxe trend with this simple cropped sweatshirt with ribbed details by Rosee Woodland.

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bags of style

Learn bag-making skills with Debbie Von GrablerCrozier’s pocket-front saddle bag in on-trend chambray and ikat fabrics.

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curious cat

This mischievous moggy is the purrfect playmate (and loves to curl up for a snooze, too!). Sew your own cuddly kitty with Jo Carter’s tutorial.

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A GOOD READ

“What I love about making toys is that you see the enjoyment of them being used.”

PLAYTIME

Few sewing projects match soft toys for their speed, quirkiness and sheer fun. We chat to the designers who are devoted to creating characters and costumes no child could resist.

S

ewing a toy with a particular child in mind is a pretty special thing. Get it right, and you’ll be making a friend that goes with them everywhere, a costume to set their imagination free, a companion for nights when the dark is scary, a confidante and a partner in all kinds of mischief. Magic! But there are a few things to bear in mind before you get the fabric and threads out – a home-sewn toy needs more than just love to make it a suitable gift for a little one to treasure. We speak to some expert toy makers to find out how to make sure your handmade toys meet safety standards and earn a place in a child’s heart.

ONCE UPON A TIME… Jo Carter of Two Owls Design (www.two owls.typepad.co.uk) creates toy patterns for a wide array of magazines (including Simply Sewing!) as well as for the children in her life.

“I used to knit lots of toys as a child and sew the odd one or two on my mum’s sewing machine – a little mole made from a craft kit was my favourite,” she remembers. “I took

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Photos, top left & right: www.sewwhatsnew.co.uk; Top centre & bottom right: www.amuru.etsy.com; Centre: www.pcbangles.etsy.com; Bottom left & centre: www.twoowls.typepad.co.uk

Written by Judy Darley.

a year out after my A levels and got a job at a business that was subsequently taken over by a company that designed and produced soft toys for the sales and promotions industry. They trained me to design and make prototype samples that would go on to be factory produced in the Far East.” Jo worked with the company for ten years, and over that time made a vast array of curious objects, “including unusual animals such as honey badgers, manatees and cats in ninja outfits, along with drinks bottles and cars.”

Anna Machul of Amuru (www.amuru.etsy. com) tried making jewellery, sewing purses, crocheting scarves and more before finally discovering toy making. “One day, inspired by an illustration in a children book, I made a felt rat in a knitted sweater and that was it!

Immediately my head filled with ideas.”

Making toys seemed like a natural progression for Great British Sewing Bee winner Matt Chapple (www.sewwhatsnew. co.uk). “We have two children and lots of our friends have growing families,” Matt says.

“I make a lot of clothes, especially for my daughter, but the challenge is that they grow out of them super quickly. What I love about making toys is that you see the enjoyment of them being used time and time again.”

Angela Jardine of PC Bangles (www.pc bangles.etsy.com) has made a variety of beasties, from lions to mice. “Looking back too many years to count, I’ve always dabbled in toy making,” she says. “My very first bear was a large ted with joints made from a cereal packet! He had very little stuffing as my

Photos: www.twoowls.typepad.co.uk

A GOOD READ

“I think it’s important to have that connection with a character when I’m stitching away.” pocket money wouldn’t run that far.” When her three sons were small, Angela relished making them fantastical costumes for their dressing up box, “anything from stone-age fur boots to elven cloaks. Great fun!” Angela returned to teds about eight years ago when she realised that they could be in any colour or fabric that caught her eye. “I dived into a pile of brightly coloured mohair – bliss.”

Eco-conscious maker Anna uses recycled fabrics and materials to sew her collection of whimsical characters.

Photos: www.amuru.etsy.com

A PINCH OF PERSONALITY Jo reminds us that most of a toy’s personality is achieved with the elements added at the end, such as embroidered facial features, face shaping and other details. “I loved putting belly buttons on some mermaids I made recently,” Jo says. “Eyebrows are often just a couple of straight stitches, but can make a difference in giving a toy a friendly look.”

Face-shaping stitches can also help to emphasise or create a bit more character.

“These are internal stitches made by hand, often between the eyes to pull them in slightly and align them,” says Jo. “They’re also sometimes added between the mouth and eyes to create more of a smile and rounded cheek area.” This is where the magic really happens. “It can transform a good toy into a really special one,” Jo says. “Taking time to carefully stitch on a smile and add faceshaping stitches to give a warmer expression is a personal touch that can set it apart from

Can you spot any familiar faces here? Jo Carter has designed a menagerie of toys for Simply Sewing, from lions to hedgehogs. mass-produced toys.” Anna agrees that the personality of her stitched characters “lives in details.

Depending on where I place his eyes and other face features, sometimes a bear may look grumpy, or have a cheeky smile. It’s a matter of millimetres and I let him be how he wants to be. My foxes are particularly fun because their faces are so expressive.”

For Angela, the personality of her ooak (one-of-a-kind) toys is all about their faces, especially their eyes. “I think it’s important to have that connection with a character when I’m stitching away, and I’ll usually make the head and set their features in place before I work on anything else,” she says. “It’s key to get the eyes correctly placed so they appear focused and look directly at you to let the character shine through.” She has her own specific skills to bring her animals to life. “I use a lot of needle sculpting to create chubby toes and faces,” she says. “I also love creating needle felted faces for my bears. I love extra texture and the 3D effect that you can add.”

THE SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY It’s critical to put safety first when making toys for children, Matt says. “Whatever you WWW.SIMPLYSEWINGMAG.COM 79

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