Simply Sewing issue 29

+ REE MPLATES

PLUS FAT QUARTER GIFTS FOR BABY

F SIZE TE FULL

s!

Make u

FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC

easy-sew kimake d's idress n a day!

ISSUE TWENTY NINE

NEW! COTTON + CHALK

summer wardrobe IN SIZES 6-20

+ LAYERED SKIRT

RUFFLE BLOUSE LAPTOP BAG Maxi and midi leng th s!

SEW YOURSELF 5 NEW OUTFITS! ISSUE 29 PRINTED IN THE UK • £5.99

Wearable shapes for a stylish summer wardrobe

HOW TO: Make a jersey dress Transform a shirt Sew perfect seams Machine embroidery

SNOW WHITE A favourite with ▼

To celebrate pairing with John Lewis to offer

EVENTS

STUFF

CROSS-OVER CASUAL

T

he new Dartmouth Top pattern from Cashmerette offers two takes on the cross-over classic – a fixed wrap or a modern ruched front. Each offers three sleeve lengths and has a banded neckline. Fabric choices really transform the drape of this style, so have fun experimenting with jerseys!

Approx £12, shop.cashmerette.com

WIN! N 2 MEGAN NIELSE

!

S N R E T T A P G IN W E S ENTER TODAY AT .com sewingmag www.simply petition rules See comon p6

*Codes valid until 25 May 2017 on purchases of the Flint and Rowan patterns only at www.megannielsen.com

INSPIRATION

Photo: www.colettepatterns.com

IDEAS

brides thanks to its associations with innocence and purity, a white dress can be anything but plain.

ACCESSORIES WEBSITES The chic choice for spill-free fashionistas, it’s no wonder so many celebs have been snapped in white, from Naomie Harris to Emma Stone. We love this elegant white Colette Peony. See how to sew the look at www. simplysewing.com

SUMMER READY

Every wardrobe needs versatile summer staples like the new Flint and Rowan patterns from Megan Nielsen. Flint can be made as wide-leg cropped trousers or shorts, while the Rowan bodysuit or tee has three necklines and The new Marrakesch collection has sleeves to pick from. Get 20% off the patterns using the codes SIMPLYSEWINGFLINT SIMPLYSEWINGROWAN us dreaming of and sunnier climes! at www.megannielsen.com*, and enter our Flint and Rowan pattern giveaway at www.simplysewingmag.com Subscribe at www.simplysewingmag.com

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Pinboard

THE HERO’S CLOSET: SEWING FOR COSPLAY AND COSTUMING Gillian Conahan (£15.99, Abrams Books) Coming from a cos player who also happens to be editor-inchief of Vogue Patterns magazine, expect high standards of authenticity with this book, packed with essential step-by-steps and inspiration. www.abramsbooks.com

mini profile JENNY BLAIR A touch of hoop art might be just the thing to liven up your walls, and Jenny Blair’s cute embroidery kits will give you a flying start.

The self-taught artist, stitcher and business owner fell for the art of embroidery early on.

“I was nine when I was first introduced to embroidery,” she says. “My teacher at primary school challenged us to embroider a pegbag.

I remember the panic wondering how on earth we were supposed to do that, and then the absolute delight that followed discovering I could! It’s been a love affair ever since.”

Jenny worked as a midwife for years before becoming a full-time sewist. “Being creative has followed me on the sidelines for all of my adult life, and five years ago I left my post as a midwife to focus solely on this. I’ve never looked back.” Her home in rural Scotland keeps Jenny well-stocked with ideas. “Living in a small town at the foot of a National Park, I don’t need to go far to be inspired by nature’s bounties. I consider myself very lucky indeed!”

Jenny relishes the chance to head out with a sketchpad. “A lot of my designs are made up of several drawings layered together,” she says. “The majority of them start off in my sketchbook as a rough drawing which I will refine by hand and then edit and add in colour in Photoshop. The fun part of the design process is finding out whether it works when it is stitched. This is where practicality wins over design, which can be a challenge for me!”

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Jenny’s bestselling product to date has been her Bright Blooms Embroidery Kit, “I think because it is so bright and colourful, a modern take on a simple classic design,” she says. “My favourite is Homeward Bound. I just love bears, they make me think of ‘home’ somehow, and I love the pale colours. I found this really soothing to stitch up.”

Even in her spare time, stitching remains a constant companion. “Truth be told, I never really switch off from stitching,” she says. “It’s the perfect thing to perch on your knee in the evenings and relax with. I do love a good DIY home project too, though – we’re currently busy re-vamping our home to sell.”

Recent additions to the range have included a range of kits. “I’ve enjoyed introducing these and plan to add some more,” she says. “I’m also looking to expand the space I work in. My studio has become too small for my growing business, but our planned house move should help. My aims are for my business to continue growing in a way I can sustain – more kits, more designs, and more happy stitchers.”

See more at www.jennyblairart.etsy.com

Jenny’s favourite design is Homeward Bound: “I love the pale colours.”

FIX YOUR CLOTHES: THE SUSTAINABLE MAGIC OF MENDING, PATCHING, AND DARNING Raleigh Briggs (£6.50, Microcosm Publishing) This is the book we wish we had when we first discovered refashioning. With Raleigh’s quirky illustrations and chatty writing style, tricky mending jobs suddenly seem oh-so simple. www.microcosmpublishing.com

SEW YOUR OWN DOLLS: 25 STYLISH DOLLS TO MAKE AND PERSONALIZE Louise Kelly (£12.99, CICO Books) Once you’ve mastered the basic shapes of these dolls, you can go mad with stylish outfits, characterful details and on-trend accessories, and even add a few tattoos, too. www.rylandpeters.com

SEWING KNITS FROM FIT TO FINISH: PROVEN METHODS FOR CONVENTIONAL MACHINE AND SERGER Linda Lee (£16.99, Creative Publishing international) Make the leap to sewing with soft knitted fabrics with this comprehensive guide. It covers identifying and choosing knitted fabrics, and walks you through customising patterns to suit you, with troubleshooting tips to keep you on track. www.quartoknows.com WWW.SIMPLYSEWINGMAG.COM 11

work and travel

get to work

Add colour to your working day with a matching set of accessories for your commute. Let’s do this!

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

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LAPTOP CASE

Our laptop stores everything from plans and to-do lists to precious photos and favourite tunes, so keeping it protected when we travel is a must. We won’t settle for a boring plain case, though! Ours is pretty and practical, with a quilted outer, layer of wadding, secure zip fastening and sturdy straps.

NOTEBOOK COVER

As much as we love our digital devices, we'll still reach for a notebook when inspiration strikes – the problem is, we can never seem to find a pen when we need one! So we've sewn up a notebook cover with a pen pocket, in a print that'll make us smile every time we write (even if it's just a shopping list).

Psst:

Get 15% off jer sey fabrics at www.girlch arlee.com using code SIM PLY15 until 31 May 20 17.

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COVER STAR

THE LILY DRESS Update your holiday wardrobe with Cotton + Chalk’s The Lily Dress in sizes 6-20, a staple wrap dress with two lengths and bodice styles and an optional belt.

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MY SEWING WORLD

by The Fold Line

Kate Underdown and Rachel Walker of online sewing community The Fold Line look to the high street for summer sewing inspiration.

A

t this time of year, when the seasons are changing and summer is just around the corner, we like to sort through what we already have in our wardrobes and look for gaps so we can start planning our summer makes. Having scoured the high street for the spring/summer trends, here are some of our favourite looks with patterns to suit.

THE PENCIL SKIRT The pencil skirt shape is everywhere this summer, but it definitely has a more casual feel, with the cut fairly fitted and coming down to the mid-calf. We recommend the Berlin skirt from French pattern company Orageuse (www.orageuse.com). It comes in two length options and has really interesting pocket details. It’s going to be a wardrobe staple! Another great option is the Erin Skirt from Sew Over It, which is part of their My Capsule Wardrobe: City Break eBook. We really like the versatility of this pattern – it could be made as a casual skirt or as a smarter version for work.

Join our se wing comm unity and s your make hare s at www.th efoldline.com “We like to sort through what we already have in our wardrobes.”

Try the coldshoulder trend with Butterick’s 6452 and take your pick from a floaty dress or casual jumpsuit.

THE STAPLE JACKET If there’s one jacket worth investing the time to make this spring, it’s the Kelly Anorak by Closet Case Patterns (store.closetcasepatterns.com).

There are anoraks in all variations on Sew Over It’s the high street and a rain coat is never versatile Erin Skirt a bad thing to have in your wardrobe, is a staple for both workwear and especially for us in the UK! There’s weekend looks. a fantastic sew-along online too that holds your hand at every step in the making process. We also really like the look of the new anorak jacket (2403501) from Stoff & Stil (www.stoffstil. co.uk). It comes with two length variations and has a three-piece hood, deep patch pockets and a tie belt.

THE COLD SHOULDER The cold-shoulder look is everywhere on the high

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We love t Orageuse’she modern details o n Berlin ski rt pattern .

r “Another key trend fo spring/summer 2017 is the statement sleeve.” street, with tops, dresses, jumpers and even jackets having this feature! We found two great patterns for this look. The first is the McCall’s 7510 (www.sewdirect.com) which features three sleeve options and would look great in lightweight cotton. The second is the Butterick 6452, a relaxedfit dress or jumpsuit. There are lots of options to make this your own, and because of the cut there shouldn’t be too many issues with fitting.

ny yellow Sew Stoff+Stil’s sun y days! mac for not-so-sunn

THE STATEMENT SLEEVE Another key trend is the statement sleeve. This comes in lots of different formats, including flared sleeves, bell-shaped sleeves and sleeves with pleats or ruffles… you name it, the sleeve has it!

The McCall’s 7542 comes with five different sleeve options so there are loads of ways you can make it. The construction is fairly simple and there are lots of fun things you could do with colour blocking or using different fabrics for the sleeves. The second top on our sewing list is the Dove blouse by Megan Nielsen (www. megannielsen.com), which also comes with several variations to try, including flared and short sleeves – a simple and fun make to top up your spring and summer wardrobe.

This summer is all about the sleeve!

McCall’s 7542 has five options to try, including these pretty pleats.

Tick off two key summer looks, the cold shoulder and the statement sleeve, with the McCall’s 7510.

Keeping us inspired...

We love Pinterest but do fnd there is such a wealth of images that it can sometimes take a while t fnd what we’re after.

Recently we discovered a fantastic website called Craft Gawker that shows a curated selectio of DIY tutoials from fantastic makers. It’s well woth checking ot! Visit www.craftgawker.com

Experiment with sle e sty les with the Dove blouseevpa ttern.

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Craft Gawker is our latest online obsession!

We’ve found so many inspiring DIYs to try.

dancing queen

Transform tulle fabric or a pair of voile curtains into Portia Lawrie’s pleated midi skirt for maximum pirouette potential.

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Refashion

A GOOD READ

MAKE, WEAR, LOVE

Love to make, forget to wear? It happens to us all, but one sewist is determined to help us relish the garments we create. Meet Zoë Edwards, the instigator of Me-Made-May.

Written by Judy Darley.

me - ma d e - ma y in f o u n de r zo ë a c. m a h a n d ma d e e r jo in s t h g u a d ’s ë o z it h a n in t h e fu n w y m u m . b o u t fit ma d e

Zoë Edwards dreamed up the first Me-Made-May challenge “to test myself and see how far could rely on the items I’d made.”

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Photos: www.sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com

B

rowse your favourite sewing blogs and scroll through social media in May, and you’ll likely discover even more sewing inspiration than usual, as sewists across the world proudly wear and share their beautiful handmade garments in aid of Me-Made-May. Zoë Edwards, the woman behind the growing Me-Made-May phenomenon, discovered the joys of sewing early. “My mum and nan were seamstresses at various points of their lives, so sewing as a way to acquire or alter clothes was presented to me as ‘normal’ from a very young age,” she says.

“As it was a job rather than a pastime for them, however, they didn’t show it to be particularly fun or joyous! My mum is very petite, so a lot of her sewing consists of raising hems and sleeve lengths – not very exciting I’m sure most sewists would agree!”

Zoë adds, “I have always been creative, and after trying a number of creative outlets and disciplines in my teens while attempting to figure what I wanted to do in life, I eventually came back to clothing and sewing as the one for me. I got a degree in Fashion Design,

A GOOD READ

Photos left: www.sew-seamless.com; Photo right: www.nobleanddaughter.com

Blogger Elena Cresci of Sew Seamless says her favourite aspect of the challenge is rediscovering“the handmade pieces you made years ago but don’t wear as much.”

“An annual Flickr group was one of the first additions, we’ve tried (and then abandoned) Facebook groups and pages, and have embraced Pinterest, along with Twitter and Instagram hashtags, as ways to communicate, share and comment on each others’ and our own experiences of the challenge,” says Zoë.

“I also organise sewing-related giveaways to celebrate each week of May.” Zoë is keen to emphasise that Me-MadeMay is far from being a competition. Rather, “it’s a personal attempt to achieve a better relationship with your handmade creations, which you may or may not choose to share with the creative online community,” she says. “To participate, visit my blog and leave a comment at the bottom of the ‘Sign up’ blog post which publishes on 1st April.

“It’s a personal attempt to achieve a better relationship with your handmade creations.”

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Participants then need to copy, paste and complete a pledge in which they fill in the specifics of their own challenge, so that the month is both appropriate and challenging for them.”

The majority of the participants pledge to aim to wear one self-stitched or refashioned garment each day for the duration of May, “but it doesn’t have to be that at all,” she insists, suggesting that “if you haven’t been making things for very long, you may pledge to wear a self-made item every other day, or if you already wear one or more self-made items most of the time, you could up the ante by pledging to wear two or more self-made garments each day, pledge to try making a new type of garment by the end of the month to wear on the final day, or pledge to finish all your UFOs by 31st May.” The fluidity of the challenge is one of the reasons it’s so popular – you can adapt it to suit yourself. “There are nearinfinite ways to amp things up for yourself.”

For Charlie Wensley of www.nobleand daughter.com, taking part offers her the chance to gain “a more analytical view of the clothes I’ve already made. In general, I make clothes that I love and reflect my personal style ideals. These items, however, do not always fit with my life. By making a pledge to wear something I’ve made every day of May 2016, I was forced to think laterally, come up with new outfit combinations and wear items that I previously might have deemed too special for the school run!”

Likewise, Elena Cresci of www.sew-seam less.com says: “The best part about it is rediscovering all the handmade pieces you made years ago but don’t wear as much any more. A lot of my older items aren’t exactly

high quality, so it’s a nice pick-me-up to know I’m much better at sewing now I’ve ventured outside the comfort zone of cheap cotton!”

Participants can choose to document their challenge with daily photos of their memades and share them with the other participants, but even this is optional.

“A common misconception about Me-MadeMay is that it’s all about taking and sharing daily outfit photographs,” says Zoë. “I’d like to stress that the challenge is acting out your pledge. However, many participants do choose to document their challenge with daily, weekly or as-often-as-you-like photos and share them on their blog, or on Flickr, Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter.”

A BUZZING COMMUNITY Kimberly Payne of www.straightstitch designs.com is a regular participant in Me-Made-May. “It’s something that I look forward to every year,” she says. “My main goal at the start of the month is to wear a different handmade garment every single day.” Thanks to being an indie pattern designer and blogger, she has a wardrobe full of handmade garments to choose from.

“They’re mostly my own patterns but a huge variety of other designers as well,’ she says.

“What this means for my Me-Made-May is that I actually get to pick and choose garments for the month.”

Due to the increasing popularity of Instagram, Zoë says that there’s been a drop in participation on the Flickr pages over the last couple of years, “so I won’t be setting up a Flickr page going forwards. If you’re a member of Instagram, check out the last challenge’s official hashtag #MMMay16 to see thousands of inspiring photos.”

The growing online community ensures that there’s plenty of sewing inspiration and encouragement up for grabs. “As the month goes, it can help motivate you to keep going with your pledge if you’re finding it tricky or your enthusiasm is waning,” says Zoë. “Plus, it

The frog Chorus

Children will love joining Jo Carter’s cuddly amphibian duo for aquatic adventures and singalongs aplenty!

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FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC

workshop MACHINE EMBROIDERY

Every issue, our sewists present classic projects and techniques.

S Drop hem skirt Floaty maxi dress Liberty fabric bag Pom pom scarf Casual wrap dress Cute lunch bag Puppy dog plushie Denim cushion And more...

3 FREE +patterns

maxi drEss + BAG + skiRt Sew a flattering drop hem skirt, floaty maxi dress (both in sizes 6-20), and Liberty fabric bag!

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

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