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FOR KIDS! APPLIQUé ISSUE 50
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FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC
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ISSUE FIFTY
9 NEW LOOKS!
Easy-sew DIY: SCARF + CLUTCH BAG
MAKE IT! ✓ Blanket cape
FOR WINTER IN SIZES 6-20 + SWEATSHIRT
✓ Giant pouffe ✓ Sequin collar
THE ART OF
refashi o ni n g recycling your clothes to save the planet
Make f yor ho o me!
On trend faux fur homewares + accessories NEW SKILLS: Easy patchwork Sewing with oilcloth Appliqué Using interfacing
PURE AND SIMPLE How to accessorise ▼
IDEAS
INSPIRATION
a me-made outfit? With sewing-themed ACCESSORIES accessories, WEBSITES of course! We love the minimal look of Neta Hilel's wrap-around needle rings, which come in 14k gold and sterling silver and, she says, are "inspired by those with a creative spark, who love to make and love to wear their passion on their sleeve – or, in this case, around their finger!" Obviously, we'd have to treat ourselves to the matching necklace, too... From £60, www. netahilel.etsy.com
stopping frock, Simplicity’s winter pattern collection has you
EVENTS
STUFF
WILD THING
Be it in our fabric stash or in our home, we'll take any opportunity to fill our lives with Liberty fabrics! And now there's a new print for us to get our hands on, designed in collaboration with the Natural History Museum in celebration of its Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. With leopards, tigers, monkeys and toucans amongst tropical fronds, the Devans Jungle print is available on kitchen accessories and more. Roarsome! www.nhmshop.co.uk
BLOOMING NORA
From the bloggers’ fave Cleo pinafore to the cosy Coco top, Tilly is our go-to for when we want to fill our everyday wardrobes with me-made joy, so we’re firing up the sewing machine ready for our next Tilly pattern fix! Her new Nora pattern is a modern sweater with a boxy, slouchy fit and three variations, including a summer tee, and the Ness is a classic fly-front skirt with denim-inspired design details. Find them at shop.tillyandthebuttons.com Subscribe at www.simplysewingmag.com
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Pinboard Pyjama party
There ain't no party like a pyjama party! Cosy up your sewing list with these comfy PJ patterns. 238 ®
THE FAB FOUR
Megan Nielsen is helping us sew our way to a dream capsule wardrobe with her four new patterns – the Dawn Jeans, with straight leg, wide, tapered and shorts options; the Wattle Skirt's three classic styles; the Jarrah Sweater; and the floaty Floreat dress and top. Cancel all plans – these just got bumped to the top of our sewing list! www.megannielsen.com
Stash happy
Online sewing community The Fold Line is already our go-to for inspiration, pattern reviews and chatting all things sewing with like-minded makers, and now we can top up our pattern supply there, too! Their brand-new shop stocks a huge selection of patterns from both independent designers and commercial brands, showcasing the best of pattern design from around the world, with PDF and paper formats available and worldwide shipping. Hurrah! Browse the range at www.thefoldline.com
DELUXE LOUNGING Throw back to the glamorous nightwear of the 1920s and 1930s with this vintageinspired robe from www.folkwear.com CHIC SET Level up your skills with The Piccadilly Pyjamas, with two styles to make, bias binding details and a button closure, £14 from www. sewingquarter.com
out & about
SKILLS, SHOWS & EVENTS 17 JANUARY-7 FEBRUARY 2019 Learn to Make a Coco Top or Dress. Great Denham Community Hall, Bedford. Make a Tilly and the Buttons' Coco at this friendly beginner class. www.sewme-wearme.com
FAMILY VALUES Family movie nights just got comfier with this fun onesie (3244) for all ages – made in matching fabrics, of course! £11.99, www.jalie.com
18-20 JANUARY 2019
PIPED PRETTY Upgrade your loungewear look in the Tofino trouser – the piping makes them extra-special to sew, and to wear. www.sewaholic patterns.com
Newark Quilt Show. Newark Showground. See quilt displays from well-known quilters and textile artists, take a workshop and stock up on supplies. www.grosvenorshows.co.uk
31 JANUARY-28 FEBRUARY 2019 Draft your own sewing patterns. The Thrifty Studio, London. Draft a personalised bodice and skirt pattern block on this five-session course. www.thethriftystitcher.co.uk
2 FEBRUARY-14 JULY 2019
Discover a new place to shop for patterns with The Fold Line's online store (as if we needed an excuse!).
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Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams. V&A, London. Get inspired by one of the 20th Century’s most influential couturiers, with garments, sketches and photos spanning from 1948 to the present day. www.vam.ac.uk
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Le Smoking Jacket
KEEP IT SIMPLE With only three pattern pieces, you'll have a drawer full of cosy Ultimate Pyjamas sewn up before you know it! PDF £7.50, www. sewoverit.co.uk
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Scandi home
comfort zone
Get your cosy on with home accessories in the softest faux fur for a luxe twist on Scandi style. Designers: JESSICA ENTWISTLE Styling: LISA JONES Photography: JESSE WILD & PHILIP SOWELS
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HYGGE VIBES
The Danish concept of hygge is all about contentment, cosiness and enjoying the simple things in life – and we're feeling very contented indeed after sewing up this set of home accessories in luxe faux furs from Stoff & Stil (www. stoffstil.co.uk). Try mixing different fabric weights, textures and prints for a contemporary take on the Scandi look (and then settle down for some well-earned hygge time!).
CUSHION TRIO
Creating a comfy living space all starts with the sofa – and the more cushions the better! So turn up the snuggle factor with our set of three cushion styles to make. If you've never sewn with faux fur fabric before, the plain circle cushion is the perfect place to start – then try another with a pom pom trim! And, to complete the set, make a cotton cushion extra-special with gathers and a self-covered button detail.
COVER STAR
THE JODIE JUMPER Learn to sew raglan sleeves, a hem band and cufs, and a cute patch pocket detail with this cosy winter wardrobe staple.
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PSST: fabric and
rleaf for , and be e v o n r u T iration ished p s n i g stylin your fn e r a h s sure to with us t r i k S a Cressid plysewingmag #sim tagged
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the cressida skirt
Sew Jennifer Lauren Handmade's 1950s-inspired Cressida Skirt in UK sizes 6-20, with two button styles, belt loops, a ft-and-fare silhouette – and pockets!
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MY SEWING WORLD
By Jennifer Lauren
Pattern designer Jennifer shares her pregnancy sewing plans, with comfy PJs, cute undies and foaty frocks!
M
y sewing plans for 2019 are a little less ambitious than they usually would be, since we’ll be welcoming another addition to our family in February! Sewing time will of course be much more limited than usual, so it’s a top priority to make that count, especially in the lead-up to the birth. I remember after my son Oscar was born, feeling not only like I was not myself anymore, but that my wardrobe reflected that exact feeling right back at me. It was a bit deflating to head back to my wardrobe for my good old staples only to find they didn’t fit, weren’t flattering and weren’t in the least bit suitable for life with a new infant. I don’t want to repeat that mistake again this time around – getting dressed in the early days of bringing a new baby home really does feel like an accomplishment, and feeling good in what you’re wearing is the cherry on top. I’m determined to keep my vintage aesthetic, while also making things that are practical to wear daily. I’m not really all that interested in sewing for just one relatively short season of my life, so I’m avoiding maternity patterns. I want to know that the things I’m investing my time and money into now will get worn past this current stage of my life. So, with that in mind, I’ve identified a few wardrobe holes that desperately need filling! Pyjama pants! I practically lived in PJs for the first few weeks after Oscar was born. I had made a beautiful pair a few weeks before he was due and they’ve been worn almost everyday since. In fact, they are so loved that the knees are sagging and faded, and the elastic is wearing through the waistband casing, so it’s definitely time for a replacement pair (or three). I’m keen to give the Caroline PJs by Closet Case Files (www.closetcasepatterns.com) a go – because, POCKETS! Going by how much I’ve worn my last pair of PJ pants, these are going to go down a treat. The Quincy Dress. My Quincy pattern fills so many gaps in my handmade wardrobe for this stage of my life, as it works as a relaxed-fit dress with access for breastfeeding. The dress also looks great without cinching in the waist (perfect for growing bellies, as well as post-pregnant bellies) and I will have access for nursing as well. Once that part is over with, I can just cinch the waist in and have my favourite fit-and-flare vintage silhouette. Plus, because
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Find my coll ection of sew ing www.jennife rlaurenhand patterns at made.store
"Feeling good in what you’re wearing is the cherry on top."
are my go-to The Nixie Briefs the moment. t a n er tt a p s ie d un
"Having a full draw of comfy and pretty makes is high on the agenda."
Comfort, style and pockets? Yes, please! Closet Case Files' Carolyn pattern is the ultimate pyjama set for pregnancy and beyond.
the pieces mix and match with The Mayberry Dress, I have outfits for all seasons and none of my dresses have to look the same. Underwear! We all need comfy undies, and since I doubt I’ll have much time for taking care of my undergarment situation for a long time, having a full draw of comfy and pretty makes (as well as using up some of my knit scraps) is high on the agenda. My Nixie Briefs are my go-to lingerie pattern at the moment – with hipster and high-waisted versions, and full coverage at the back that includes a higher rise for the hipster style, plus a cute side overlap, my underwear drawer will be in top shape for the year to come. Since I’m having a summer baby (I live in New Zealand), with a little tweaking to the bodice of the Felix Dress pattern by Grainline Studio (www.grainlinestudio.com) it’ll be a perfect dress for the warmer months. Adding buttons down the crossover section at the bust will allow easy access for nursing, and the gentle flowing skirt will make wearing it a breeze. Add a cardigan over the top and it’ll be a lovely transitional garment as well while I try to figure out what suits me and how to dress a postpregnant summer body again. I also think that the curved top of the Felix skirt really lends itself well to a pregnant belly – it's flattering and comfortable. As my new Sorrel pattern is a shift-style shirt-waist dress, it’ll be the perfect post-pregnancy dress with just a few little tweaks. Releasing the front open-ended darts and adding a lightly gathered skirt will give it a completely different look and feel (while still keeping that vintagevibe I so adore) and make it during and post-pregnancy friendly. I’ll have a tutorial up on my blog on how exactly to do this if you like this style and fancy making your own.
Keeping me inspired...
The floaty Fel ix Dr for New Zeala ess is perfect nd summers!
Dresing a post-pregnant body can be seen as challenging, but I do’t think it has t be. Yo do’t have t give up yor persoal style just because yo do’t ft into yor pre-pregnancy wardrobe anymoe. With some planning and a few alteratios, yo can use some of yor tried and true patterns t make a wardrobe that is just as much yo post-pregnancy, as it was befoe yo got pregnant. At the very least, making sure yo’ve got PJs and some lovely undies wll always brighten yor day!
Keep up with my maternity sewing progress on Instagram @jenniferlaurenhandmade
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precious metals
There's no need to choose just one metallic hue – make Lisa Lam's glam clutch in silver, gold and rose gold washable paper fabric.
happy meal
Made from simple log cabin blocks, you’ll have Lousie Orth’s patchwork placemat and coaster set sewn in time for dinner.
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xxxxx xxxxx
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my favourite thing
sweet success Jen Walker, aka Gingerthread Girl, shares the patternhack dress project that boosted her sewing confidence. "I first dreamt of this hack of the Nina Lee Kew Dress (www.ninalee.co.uk) in September 2017, when I picked up the paper pattern from Nina Lee herself at The Great British Sewing Bee Live. The original pattern has a buttoned-up front, but I decided to remove that and fit an invisible zip to the centre back. And it was fate that the Atelier Brunette Stardust fabrics were released, right at the time I was ready to start. I literally raced to my local haberdashery, Backstitch (www.backstitch.co.uk) for it. The pattern was a dream to work with – clear instructions steering me in the right direction through the whole make. Before committing to cutting this beautiful fabric I scribbled out my plans on a piece of paper. I cut the front bodice piece on the fold,
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instead of it being cut into two separate pieces, and then the back bodice vice versa. The skirt pieces were cut out in the same way. This was my first pattern hack, and it was one of those projects which came together exactly how I had dreamt. As I’m sure most people can relate, plans don’t always go this way! But when they do, boy does it give you a sewing confidence boost. I love the fit and finish, and it’s such a complete joy to wear. Projects like this give me the motivation and inspiration for more dressmaking. This dress was a real labour of love, but I absolutely adore the prettiness of this project." Find Jen’s tutorial for this hack at www.you tube.com/thegingerthreadgirl, and see more of her makes at www.gingerthreadgirl.co.uk
S
3 gifts for you! ESSENTIAL DRESSMAKING SKILLS BOOK ✄
+ EXCLUSIVE
polo neck dress and top
SIMPLE-SEW JERSEY STY IN SIZES 6- LE 20
PLUS Everyday backpack pattern with a stylish fold-over design and leather straps.
INSIDE! Tie-waist skirt Shopper bag Patchwork table runner
Quilted jacket
ON SALE FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER * CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PAPER AND FABRIC GIFTS NOT AVAILABLE WITH DIGITAL EDITIONS.