Simply Sewing issue 52

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ISSUE FIFTY TWO

NEW: DRESS + TOP!

NEW SERIES!

sewi n g BEE EXCLUSIVE interviewS WITH HIT BBC2 SHOW

EASY-SEW

PATTERNS IN SIZES 6-20

MAKE IT!

✓ Infinity scarf ✓ Quilted slippers ✓ Make-up bags

DIY: SCARF TOP + RUFFLE SKIRT

+BONUS

Girl's pinafore dress pattern!

L b a g-meaarn king!

Everyday wardrobe staples to sew in a weekend SEW YOURSELF: Pashmina top Upcycled shirt Quilted oven mitts Baby towel

UNSUNG HERO We might not want ▼

IDEAS

INSPIRATION

to admit it, but the humble seam ripper is a sewing tool we just couldn’t live ACCESSORIES WEBSITES without. Thanks to these nifty little things (because, let's face it, we all have more than one!), we never have to share our wobbly stitching with the world. So, let’s give this unsung sewists’ essential the love it deserves with this cute laser-cut necklace, made by Becky Queen of Frocks. It’s time to wear our seam rippers with pride!

Approx £22 from www.beckyqueen offrocks.com

EVENTS

STUFF

MADE FOR MAKERS

In need of a little stitching motivation?

Hang this cheery A4 print –ilustrated by Emma Rees of Dainty Forest and then digitally printed on premium uncoated paper – up in pride of place above your sewing or cutting table to remind you of your maker credentials. With its cute stork scissors, dainty buttons, thimble and candy-coloured threads, it’ll have you itching to get your own kit out to get creative with. Makers gonna make, after all! £13, www.andsotoshop.com

GOOD AS GOLD

Put your me-made glad rags on – it’s I AM Patterns’ third birthday, and they’ve released a capsule collection to celebrate! I AM Friendly's five chic patterns are dedicated to all the seamstresses that have supported I AM since the beginning (that’s you!), so it would be rude not to add them to our stash, right? Visit www.backstitch.co.uk

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Pinboard FAR, FAR AWAY

We’re already dreaming of all the adventures we’ll have when the weather turns warmer, so there's no better time to add Elizabeth Olwen’s new collection for Cloud9 Fabrics, Faraway Places, to our stash. Inspired by her travels and her eternal wanderlust, it features a dusky palette that reminds us of summer sunsets. Find stockists at www.hantex.co.uk

Go oRganic

Swap the sewing room for the kitchen – but not before stitching up a set of cute kitchen makes in Haerae’s cookingthemed prints! Emma’s Kitchen gives vintage kitchenalia motifs a modern twist with pots, pans, utensils and even fridges in retro pastel hues, printed on GOT's certified organic basecloth. For stockists visit www.hantex.co.uk

out & about

SKILLS, SHOWS & EVENTS 8 FEBRUARY - 2 JUNE Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution.

Discover the fashion, design and art of the iconic Chelsea Set designers of the 1960s, including Mary Quant. www.ftmlondon.org

10 MARCH Make a piped box cushion. The Makery, Bath.

Learn how to make a smart box cushion with contrast piping and a zip fastening at this four-hour workshop. www.themakery.co.uk

7-10 MARCH The Creative Craft Show. SECC, Glasgow.

Multi-crafters will love this varied show, with plenty of shopping and demos for knitters and stitchers alike. www.ichfevents.co.uk

14-17 MARCH

What's cooking? Kitchen accessories in cute retro prints, that's what!

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Sewing For Pleasure, The Creative Craft Show and Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch.

NEC Birmingham. Get a combined ticket to visit three events for an inspiring craft-filled weekend. www.sewingshow.co.uk

FRESH PRINTS

When Liberty London calls, we answer – especially when it comes to fabric! Its #LibertyOpenCall to discover the next print design talent had a whopping 5.1K entries, and four winners were chosen via an online vote – Natasha Coverdale, Duncan Grant, Emma Hill and Catherine Rowe. Their stunning prints will be on the Liberty shelves in Spring/Summer 2019. Go to www.libertylondon.com

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student bedroom

bedroom brights

Give a teenager the bedroom of their dreams with happy-go-lucky prints, pom poms and tassels!

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

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SLIPPERS

Who knew you could make your own footwear so easily?

Once you've mastered this easy quilting technique, you'll be wanting to make a set of pom pom-adorned sliders for all your friends, too. You'll enjoy saying "I made those!" when the compliments start rolling in. You're welcome.

BOOK CUSHION

Keep up your reading resolutions with this handy book cushion, designed with a perfectly sized pocket to store your latest tome (or tablet) within easy reach. This would make an ideal gift for kids who need a little more encouragement in the literature department.

the staple tee PSSTo:r fabric and

leaf f ion, and be r e v o Turn spirat r fnished n i g n styli share you agged t o sure t Tee with us ag Staple plysewingm #sim

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COVER STAR

THE staple tee

Meet the simplest project you'll ever sew!

The beginner-friendly Staple Tee can be made as a tee or dress for everyday wear.

purple reign

Make a statement with Portia Lawrie's founce-detail midi skirt – just hack your favourite skirt pattern with her how-to.

PATTERN HACK ✂

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THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE 2019 New year, new series – that's right, the Bee is back! We head behind the scenes with judges Esme and Patrick, and new host Joe Lycett, to find out more about what this year's series holds, from tricky upcycling challenges to sewing innuendos.

Written by Sarah Gane.

A GOOD READ

A

fter a long wait – nearly two years! – and an online petition to save it, the fifth season of the nation’s favourite craft show is back and better than ever. New host, comedian Joe Lycett, and judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young welcomed a new batch of competitors into the sewing room we know and love.

Yet, narrowing it down to the sewists we see on screen wasn’t an easy task. In fact, this time round there were more people than ever to choose from. “Applications were up 30-40% on previous years,” says Patrick, “The first day that the online applications opened we had a deluge of entries – people must have been ready and waiting.” So, without revealing any spoilers, it’s safe to say that the sewing skills on offer are some of the most advanced we've seen yet. “The standard is exceptional,” says Patrick. Fellow judge Esme agrees: “They were a really fabulous group of sewers. In fact, I was kind of terrified – I was thinking: ‘God, how are we going to decide?’” she laughs. “They were so great.”

EXPECTATIONS AND ALTERATIONS The boost in applicants comes as no surprise when you consider the huge impact of the previous series, though. According to Patrick, after the first couple of seasons of The Great British Sewing Bee, the number of sewing machines sold in the UK went up by about 300%. In fact, last season’s final got up to four million viewers! “That’s a huge percentage of the UK audience watching a show about

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sewing,” he adds. “The charm of The Great British Bake-Off is people who might be your friends or neighbours being challenged to make something. It’s the same with this show. It’s fascinating…” says Patrick of the enduring appeal of the series. “It’s a human emotional struggle to do something under the time pressure.” Tasks are the same as previous series, with the pattern challenges between 2.5 and 4.5 hours, and the made-tomeasure anywhere between 3-7 hours. The transformation challenge is continuing too,

“They just go for it and sometimes amazing things come out... we’re looking for personality." with just an hour and a half from start to finish. “It really is no time to understand the challenge you’ve been given, grab whatever needs to be grabbed, think about what you’re going to do, do it, finish it and pop it on a mannequin,” admits Patrick.

As you can see for yourself, the results were imaginative and altogether brilliant, wowing host Joe and the judges. “They just go for it and sometimes amazing things come out… what we’re looking for is not technical perfection, it’s a sense of their personality portrayed through these

transformations,” Patrick continues.

Setting each of the tasks on the show was a collaborative process involving the judges as well as members of the production team.

“We had the best challenge grid ever,” he reveals. “We’ve got some really good stuff.”

Yet, despite everything thrown at them, the competitors continued to rise to the challenge. “The first one was really tricky, really tricky, and they all managed it really well… we’ve raised the complexity of the sewing every year and it was easily the toughest first challenge. They by and large smashed it,” he says. “Everybody could have gone on quite far; and if they’d been in some previous seasons, they could have gone quite a lot further.” Contestants this time round are expected to know how to use an overlocker and a coverstitch machine. Fabric difficulty has gone up, too – sewers in the competition must handle woven fabric with and without stretch now, as well as jersey. This wasn’t the case in previous series – a marker of just how much the show has developed, and the stitching talents of the thriving modern sewing community along with it.

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Photos: BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon

Hurrah, the Bee's famously well-stocked haberdashery returns to our screens. How we'd love to delve into this yummy stash of fabrics!

STITCH y r a r b li

o N 22 Xxxxxxxxxx STITCH FEATHER STITCH

CUT OUT & KEEP

Pair delicate feather stitch with French knots and chain stitch blooms for Mollie Johanson's embellished infnity scarf.

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refashion

patch it up

A men's shirt, foral patches and a spare afternoon are all you need to make Debbie Ingle's tie-waist top.

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kitty pinafore PSSTe: et designer

r to m and share e v o n Tur rtley, afore a n i H P y t y t Kirs ed Kit wingmag h s i n your f #simplyse s with u

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Towel Hooded Poncho

kitty pinafore tiger tea party

Make a new favourite for your little one's everyday wardrobe with the sweet Kitty Pinafore in sizes six months to seven years.

Bring a party vibe to playtime with Anna Alicia's appliquĂŠ tiger cushion complete with a pom pom hat.

This tiger's got its hat on, hip-hip-hip-hooray!

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my favourite thing

DREAM MACHINE Claire-Louise Hardie shares the treasured machine that has revolutionised her sewing for both work and pleasure.

"I fell in love with this semi-industrial Janome machine while working on The Great British Sewing Bee series two, after using it to test for the nylon anorak challenge. I couldn’t justify getting one though, so it went back with the other loaned machines at the end of series.

Cut to summer 2017, and I’m working on tailoring alterations for the Slaughterhouse Rulz movie. We’re struggling with domestic machines on wool jackets, but have no space on location for an industrial machine. Bingo!

I remember the MC660p and, as I was moving on to run a workroom for Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, it was just what I needed!

As a professional stitcher, time is money, and being able to sew twice as fast means you can get things done in half the time. Not only

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did the machine cope with wool tailcoats and military uniforms, it sewed through delicate beaded lace as well. My tailors fell in love with it too and I had to queue to use it!

If you’re passionate about sewing, this machine offers the power of an industrial, and it combines industrial precision with all the delicate functionality of a domestic machine.

My favourite functions are the integrated accufeed system that made light work of that lace, and the fantastic buttonholes. Oh, and let’s not forget the scissor function!

It's often tucked under my cutting table when I teach, or out on location with me. This photo was at my studio, where I was sewing for pleasure and just enjoying my machine!"

See more at www.thethriftystitcher.co.uk

S SQ DRESSUAWRE NECK SLEEVE ITH TWO OPTIONS !

Square neck dress Quilted play mat Embroidered jumper Self-drafted tunic Sewing machine cover Baby skirt and bib Lamb plushie toy Bucket bag pattern and more...

3 GIFTS +For you!

EXCLUSIVE-TO-US paTtErns

✓ drESS pattErn ✓ shirt PattErN ✓ mEaSuring gUidE

PATTERN WORTH £9.50

✄

ON SALE THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY WWW.SIMPLYSEWINGMAG.COM

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