Simply Sewing issue 31

+ EE PLATES R M

LEARN NEW SKILLS:

SEW WITH DENIM

F

TE R E P 52 PA

M ak

FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC

e me!

ISSUE THIRTY ONE

NEW! COTTON + CHALK

beach cover-up quick-to-sew

+ SUMMER BAG MAXI DRESS BLOUSE TOP

ultimate

sun dress TO SEW TODAY! MAKE YOURSELF 6 NEW OUTFITS n Fre e pat t6e-r20 in sizes ISSUE 31 PRINTED IN THE UK • £5.99

Breezy garments to sew for summer travels

HOW TO: Garment pressing Scallop stitch Refashion a shirt into a top Sew with chiffon

DOWN TO A TEE We adore the easy ▼

INSPIRATION

EVENTS

STUFF

X MARKS THE SPOT

P forever beautiful. From £3.50 each, www.roseandgrey.co.uk

erk up a plain wall with this world map printed on cross stitch fabric in a wooden frame, which you can personalise with cross stitch motifs, dates and places in your favourite hues to remind you of your round-the-world adventures. And if you are more of a homebody? This map could be the motivational wish-list you need to make wanderlust become a reality! £24.95, www.allthingsbrightonbeautiful.co.uk

* Printed pattern approx £14, PDF approx £11. Discount code applies to Kalle pattern only. Code valid until 31st October 2017.

IDEAS

simplicity of the new T-shirt dress hot off the cutting board of Denver-based True Bias. You can whip up ACCESSORIES WEBSITES this dress in two styles – version one has a mid-calf hem and slit at the back, and version two sits neatly a couple of inches above the knee. Whether you go for the long or short option, this is sure to be one of your go-to dresses this season. Approx £9, www.truebias.com

STELLAR SHIRT

Yes, we may already have several button-up shirts in our wardrobe, but Closet Case FilesÕ new Kalle shirt pattern includes too many stylish design details to pass up on! There are options galore to mix and match; take your pick from three button plackets, two collars, two pleat styles and three lengths, including a sassy cropped version and a slinky button-up summer dress. Get 15% off the pattern using SIMPLYSEWING* at www.closetcasepatterns.com Subscribe at www.simplysewingmag.com

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Pinboard Get comfy

Sit back, relax and take a wellearned break from stitching on a quirky printed cushion.

SEW ON TREND

Forget shopping on the high street for the latest looks Ð weÕre all about sewing our own in fabrics we love. The new Simplicity collection includes plenty of on-trend styles to mix and match this summer, from wide-leg trousers to pair with our fave stripe tees (8299) to an off-the-shoulder maxi dress (8296) and a jersey bodysuit with a statement frill neckline (8344). See more at www.simplicitynewlook.co.uk

box fResh

Get set for a summer of sewing with these colourful new storage box designs from Korbond. TheyÕre just the ticket if youÕre looking for a gift for a newbie sewist, or for a new addition to your own collection. The gorgeous travel-themed prints include the Japanese Kiku flower, white tropical Tahitian blooms and exotic palms. £32.99 for an extra-large box, available from Tesco, SainsburyÕs and Amazon. www.korbond.co.uk

PRICKLY PAL Try the cacti trend with no green fingers required (and no prickles!). £22 each, www.thefoxintheattic.com WILD THING Add character to any room with a menagerie of screen-printed animal cushions. £17.99 each, www. sistersguild.com

out & about

SKILLS, SHOWS & EVENTS 26 JULY Pattern making on a mannequin. Fashion and Textile Museum, London. Learn how to create simple bodice shapes, necklines and sleeves with this day workshop. www.ftmlondon.org

UNTIL AUGUST

CLOUD NINE Go for Scandi-style simplicity with this monochrome gridprint cloud made in soft organic cotton. £18, www.bobby rabbit.co.uk

Stories in Stitch. Hampton Court Palace. See your favourite classic stories brought to life through the art of hand embroidery. Prebook at www.royal-needlework.org.uk

SWEET TREAT Treat yourself to something sweet while reclining on this deliciously pink biscuit cushion. £32, www.nikki mcwilliams.com

10-13 AUGUST Festival of Quilts. NEC Birmingham. Learn new quilty skills, see the work of talented quilt artists from around the world and stock up your stash. www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk

17 AUGUST

A new sewing box = a great excuse to buy more notions!

Make your own espadrilles. The Makery, Bath.

Whip up your own pair of stylish summer espadrilles with this workshop for keen crafters of all abilities. www.themakery.co.uk

WHAT A HOOT Brighten up your home with a new feathered friend, designed by Pui Lee. £39.99, www. limelace.co.uk

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boho beach

totally beachin'

Accessorise golden sands and sunshine with boho beachwear sewn up in shibori-print voile.

Designer: JESSICA ENTWISTLE Styling: LISA JONES Photography: PHILIP SOWELS

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BEACH COVER-UP

As much as we love soaking up the sun, we always keep a lightweight cover-up in our beach bag to throw on when we're feeling the heat. Ours is made in breezy voile with a zingy pom pom trim (because we'll take any excuse to raid our stash of embellishments!). We'll be wearing it with jeans and a vest top on cooler summer evenings, too.

PASSPORT HOLDER

Make your passport easy to spot amongst the travel reads and snacks in your bag with a bright holder to avoid those I've-lost-my-passport panics. We've added bright blue corners to remind us of the azure skies we'll be leaving behind when we head home.

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COVER STAR

THE ZARA DRESS Sew a jersey summer staple with Cotton + Chalk’s The Zara Dress in sizes 6-20, with a feminine cross-front skirt, shaped high-low hem and two neckline styles.

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MY SEWING WORLD

by Samantha Claridge

Samantha Claridge shares how her life-long obsession with beautiful fabrics has inspired her sewing projects, blog and business.

B

e it new fashion trends and products, or even just certain colours, I get obsessed with things really easily. It can be anything, but it is usually short-lived and all-involved. The only obsession I have had for as long as I can remember that I still havenÕt shifted is for fabric. DonÕt get me wrong Ð the type, colour and styles that I love change constantly as my crafting and sewing tendencies shift, but the love for working with and collecting fabric never wanes. It is the one obsession that drives me to keep working in this industry. It was the thing that made me say yes the day my mum asked me to buy a business with her, it is the thing that made me want to start a blog, itÕs the thing that gets me in trouble with my bank manager and it is the thing that makes me work my butt off to keep my business going, even at the hardest of times.

COMFORT AND STYLE For me, the fabric can make or break a sewing project. If I donÕt love the fabric, enthusiasm is hard to muster Ð and I donÕt know about you, but I find it hard to make a good job of something if my heart isnÕt in it. I find it fascinating that something as simple as fabric can have such an impact on my emotions.

I have items of clothing that I just canÕt part with because I love the fabric, and fabric that I canÕt bear to use, because what if I donÕt like the thing I make with it?

But the feeling you get when pattern, fabric and sewing machine come together to create something so special that it can change your mood… goosebumps.

My mum insists that it goes back to my childhood and deciding on what to wear was based on how ‘snugglyÕ the fabric was.

I am still a comfort bunny when it comes to

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Find fabrics , patter www.sewcra ns and more at ftyonline.co .uk “The love for working with and collecting

fabric never wanes.”

lace! M y sewing Everything in its p nty of storage. room features ple

A small selection of prints from my evergrowing fabric stash.

Decisions, decisions!

“I am lucky that the career I have lets me indulge all my passions.”

h the Matching fabric wit pleasing! perfect notions is so

things I wear, and if something is uncomfortable or itchy it doesnÕt last long in my wardrobe. I guess itÕs just another reason why fabric is so important to me Ð comfort should never be undervalued.

Unlike many things that my passion comes and goes for, I canÕt see my love for fabric going anywhere soon. Aside from the clothes I make and wear, the jobs that I have mean that I get to work with it every day. Whether it is buying new fabrics to sell for Sew Crafty or sewing up samples for myself, my friends or for magazines, I am lucky that the career I have lets me indulge all my passions.

What is it about fabric that you love? Is it the history, the print, the texture, or how it makes you feel when you wear it, use it or snuggle up under it? When you start your next sewing project, just take a moment to think about that and see how it makes you feel.

Samantha blogs at www.liveitloveitmakeit.com

Hello, hexies!

I spend my spare time snapping projects to share on my craft blog.

Keeping me inspired...

Vibrant trims will give my wardrobe a colour boost.

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I am always inspired by color in my wok. Matching threads and creating color combinatios is always something that has pleased me. At the moment I am really loving ading color t my wardrobe wth trimmings and embellishments, from patches t pom pom trims. It is a great way t introduce color in a subtle way if all-over color is a little overwhelming. I love that embroidery has made a comeback recently, to. It’s a great way t individualise yor wardrobe, making yor clothing unique.

I’ve been trying the embellishment trend with sew-on patches.

sun seeker

Seek out a summer adventure in Portia Lawrie’s breezy belted maxi, sewn up in foaty viscose for a boho vibe.

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show us yours with #simplysewingmag

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a good read

Photos: www.modkidboutique.com

Patty’s patterns are influenced by the fun, wearable clothes her kids love. “My girls have inspired dozens of my clothing designs.”

Patty meticulously tests her sewing patterns, like the Aubrey dress, to make sure that “every line and every curve” match up.

GRAPHICALLY GORGEOUS Pattern and fabric designer Patty Prann Young is flling the world (and our sewing stash!) with her vibrant designs. She shares her plans for new fabrics, notions and patterns.

W

hen we speak with designer Patty Prann Young, sheÕs distracted by a recent studio move. “We moved out of our standalone brick and mortar shop that we were in for the past five years,” she says. “Most of our items are in storage and I work mostly on my laptop in our little home office at home, but as everything is temporary, it hasnÕt been ‘prettiedÕ up yet.”

However, none of this chaos is enough to slow down the creative powerhouse, as we discover when we ask about her design 70 WWW.SIMPLYSEWINGMAG.COM

process. “IÕm very precise about everything I do, which IÕm sure is partly due to my Type-A personality, but also influenced by my educational background in graphic design,” she comments. “I spend hours upon hours making sure that the sewing pattern pieces are absolutely perfect Ð every line and every curve must match with its counterpart perfectly or IÕm not happy.”

Patty refuses to release a new sewing pattern until sheÕs “absolutely sure, through rigorous testing, that itÕs flawless in every way.” In addition to the patterns themselves,

Patty also designs all of her pattern booklets, including the covers, diagrams, charts, and so on, as well as all of the promotional ads, catalogues and her sunny website. “So having a graphic design background has been a huge plus!” Training in photography has been similarly beneficial. “I shoot every pattern cover and promo photo, so that has been a huge advantage in my business too.”

INSPIRED BY FAMILY Even with so many roles to juggle within her own company, Patty never loses sight of the

a good read driving force at the heart of it all: her family, specifically her children. “After my youngest daughter was born 12 years ago, I decided to quit my corporate job as creative director for a marketing agency in Florida to raise my kids and pursue my creative endeavours,” she says. “At the time, I wasnÕt quite sure what those endeavours were, so I dabbled in a few design and craft-related activities.”

Before long her focus sharpened on the area that would become the basis of her thriving brand. “I started designing clothing for my kids and my mom would sew the designs I came up with.” One vital part of that changed when Patty and her family moved across America from Florida to Illinois. “I didnÕt have my mom nearby anymore to collaborate with, so I took a beginner sewing class and used YouTube to learn more specialised techniques,” she says. “My mom came for vacation one time and taught me to install zippers and create buttonholes. I was hooked and a business was born!”

Today Patty runs MODKID LLC in collaboration with her husband. While Patty takes control of the creative side, “always dreaming up new ideas” for gorgeous sewing patterns covering everything from childrenÕs clothes to home accessories, Jon is more of “a numbers guy, super pragmatic, businesstype.” The two having such different skill sets helps to keep the business powering forwards. “Jon and I are like yin and yang,” says Patty. “My business literally would not exist without Jon Ð it would just be a hobby if he wasnÕt involved. He handles all of the finances, deals with distributors and vendors, orders supplies, and pretty much keeps me in check, so all I ever have to do is design.

However, because he is so close to the business and knows everything that goes on, he knows all of my successes and my failures.

Nothing is a mystery around here.”

Another strand of the business unfurled when Patty started devising fabric designs for Riley Blake Designs (www.rileyblake designs.com). “I met Cindy, the owner, and Jina, the former creative director, at a sewing industry ‘speed datingÕ activity a few years ago,” she says. “A row of professionals sits at a table while another row of professionals moves from chair to chair. From what I recall, we had only three minutes to chat business with one person, then we had to move on to the next person.” When Patty sat down in front of Jina, she took her chance. “I casually

said ‘IÕd love to designs fabrics for you guys.Õ Hey, I knew I only had three minutes, so there was no time for chitchat! And to my delight, she responded ‘And we would LOVE to have you!Õ” By the time Patty had made it round to where Cindy was sitting, the only thing left to do was make a date to meet up again and finalise the details. “We had a great chat, they perused my portfolio and we discussed ideas for substrates, future collections, and so on.

When I arrived home a couple of days later, I already had a contract from Riley Blake waiting for me.”

FROM PRINT TO PAGE The aim at the core of the business stems from PattyÕs delight in designing fun, fabulous clothes. “I adore coming up with an idea and watching it come to fruition,” she enthuses. “Taking designs from pen and paper to a full 3D item is fascinating to me.

But, IÕd have to say my favourite part is seeing my designs on other people, whether theyÕre kids or women. I love coming upon blogs that feature my designs, or on some occasions even running into people wearing my patterns out and about. ItÕs exciting!”

The next piece of PattyÕs creative empire to fall into place was a publishing contract.

“My first book was called Sewing MODKID Style, which came out in March 2012 from Wiley Publishing,” says Patty. “I met the acquisitions editor, Roxane Cerda, at the release party for another sewing book. She introduced herself, offered to buy me a drink, then asked me if I would be interested in writing a sewing book.” Roxane and Patty swiftly became fast friends Ð “we have very similar personalities” Ð and worked closely together throughout the process of writing, editing, releasing and marketing that first book. “Soon after, Wiley sold the craft division, including my book, to another publisher. Roxane went on to work for C&T Publishing / Stash Books and again approached me about writing more books.”

Patty has since published four titles with C&T Ð two colouring books and two sewing titles. “MODKID Summer Fun is what they call a ‘Pattern PackÕ, a smaller, booklet-type publication with full-size sewing patterns, instructions and diagrams for 18-inch doll clothing. Then a couple of years later, I wrote Patternless Sewing MOD Style, which was released in July 2016, and that was a fullblown book, perfect-bound, with 24 garment

Patty (right) designed fabrics for Riley Blake after meeting owner Cindy at a sewing networking event.

“TAKING DESIGNS FROM PEN AND PAPER TO A FULL 3D ITEM IS FASCINATING TO ME. BUT, I’D HAVE TO SAY MY FAVOURITE PART IS SEEING MY DESIGNS ON OTHER PEOPLE.”

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Above: MODKID’s temporary home is an office in Patty’s basement, which “hasn’t been ‘prettied’ up yet” but has everything Patty needs to get creative, including sewing machines, sergers and a cutting table.

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CUT OUT & KEEP

STITCH y r a r lib

No_ 01

SCALLOP STITCH

Sew up a journal cover and embroider a zingy pineapple motif with Mollie Johanson’s scallop stitch masterclass.

Game on

Keep travellers of all ages entertained on long journeys with Jessica Entwistle’s two-in-one travel game. LetÕs play!

THRIFTY MAKES No.27

S Shift dress Rufe sleeves Jersey top Denim bag Baby kimono Shirt dress Turtle plushie Beach cover-up And more...

+ 4 patterns

COLLECt and sew the set!

Sew yourself a stretch dress, matching top, ruffle sleeve blouse and fluted sleeve shift dress.

ON SALE THURS 13TH JULY WWW.SIMPLYSEWINGMAG.COM

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

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