Simply Sewing issue 75

UK'S NUMBER 1 SEWING MAG!

FOR CHRISTMAS

FOR KIDS

ISSUE SEVENTY FIVE

+INSIDE! TOY TEMPLATES

FRESH IDEAS EAS WITH WITHF FABRIC

3-IN-1 PATTERN

Exclusive JEWEL DRESS IN SIZES 10-20

make today! no pattern required

made to measure style

EXPERT GUIDE

3 STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM

ISSUE 75

PRINTED IN THE UK • £9.99

How to sew with jacquard fabrics

Indulge in luxury fabrics and winter fashion trends

*T&Cs apply

HOW TO SEW: Oven gloves Kid's play mat Gold tote bag Christmas apron

IDEAS

INSPIRATION

ACCESSORIES

WEBSITES

EVENTS

STUFF

MINI ME

Megan Nielsen Patterns has released a brand new pattern in its Mini range, the gorgeous Darling Ranges shirtdress.

It's modelled on the women's version of the same dress, but with some child-friendly modifications, including pockets and three sleeve variations. Buy the pattern as a 'mummy and me' bundle so you can be matchies! megannielsen.com

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Pinboard

LOVINGLY STITCHED

BY THE SEA

We've got 'one of everything from Poppy Treffry' written down on our Christmas wishlists after seeing these! How lovely are these sewing gifts? Give your sewing room a refresh with these gorgeous accessories, each sketched and stitched in Cornwall by Poppy and her team. Check out the other 'Sew Lovely' gifts at poppytreffry.co.uk

out & about

SKILLS, SHOWS & EVENTS With events opting to run virtually, we have the change to join in on crafty get-togethers all over the world!

27–29 NOVEMBER Tune in to the 2020 edition of the Digital Craft Festival for live Q&As, interviews, workshops, and demonstrations from over 120 makers. It's free, too! digitalcraftfestival.co.uk

follow the curve

This set of Clover rulers is perfect for drawing curved lines when designing or altering patterns. This set contains two curved rulers – a deep French curve for armholes and necklines, and a shallow hip curve for hemlines and shaped hip and waistbands. Each is marked with parallel 7mm and 12mm curve lines for consistent seam allowances. There's also a mini 15cm ruler included which is ideal for precision work. £25, clover-mfg.com

30 NOVEMBER – 24 DECEMBER Learn how to make beautiful homemade cards in a virtual card marking class series.

You'll make a new card every day! Book your place by searching 25 Days of Card Marking on eventbrite.co.uk 2 DECEMBER Try something new this holiday season with a festive sign painting workshop!

Perfect for gifts or decorations, and a skill you'll use all year round! Search Reach4Crafts on eventbrite.co.uk to book.

PUNCH NEEDLE EMBROIDERY FOR BEGINNERS Lucy Davidson (£10.99, Search Books) Punch needle embroidery is so aesthetically pleasing! Learn the techniques and put them to the test with the 12 projects included in this new book from a master of texture and design, Lucy Davidson. The technique of needle punching is inspired by rug hooking, and the repetitive nature of it makes it perfect for mindful crafting.

MAKING WITH MEANING Jessica Carey (£17.99, Abrams and Chronicle) Do you find that crafting and time for yourself slides to the bottom of your priority list when things get a bit hectic? This book from Jessica Carey is here to help you reflect on the importance of making time to prioritise yourself and your hobby. There are 20 crochet patterns to inspire you as well as essays focused on gratitude, creativity, and living with intention to encourage and support you.

SIMPLY STITCHED WITH EMBROIDERY Yumiko Higuchi ($19.99, Zakka Workshop) Embellish your purses and bags with these beautiful designs from embroidery artist Yumiko Higuchi. The book contains full-size templates for 20 embroidery motifs and nine bag patterns as well as step-by-step guides for the eight different stitches used. Create unique projects with these floral and animal designs.

STITCH 50 DOGS Alison Reid (£14.99, David & Charles) What better way to unwind than by hand stitching some plush pups? The book contains guides for stitching the most popular pooches, all you'll need is some felt, stuffing, and a basic sewing kit – and a bit of wool roving if you want to add some texture to your furry friend. The cute canines can be used to make brooches, bag charms, key rings, or you can even scale them up to make bigger plushes for family and friends.

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COVER STAR

THE jewel dress We may not know what the party season will look like this year, but it's always a treat to sew something special for ourselves.

THIS MONTH...

Jacquard of all trades With stunning woven patterns and a variety of finishes, jacquard fabric is a great choice for a variety of projects Written by Sophie Tarrant

STRUCTURE AND STYLE A wide waistband with three buttons at the back adds extra detail.

PERFECT FLARE This skirt is perfect for thicker woven fabrics that hold shape.

ZIP CLOSURE A discreet back zip closure keeps this design secure and sleek.

THE ELEONORA SKIRT

This one-third circle skirt from Named Clothing is ideal for thick woven jacquards and brocades. It features a pleated front, wide waistband, and above-knee length that flares out. namedclothing.com

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PATTERN INSPIRATION

FABRIC INSPIRATION

Some patterns are ideal for the delicate weave and bold patterns of jacquard fabrics – here's a few of our favourites.

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Jacquard fabrics feature some of the most striking designs. Bring garments to life with this selection.

1 This brocade fabric features a modern design with hints of gold lurex to add a touch of sparkle. richmondmillfabrics. etsy.com 2 This pretty floral fabric combines shades of teal and pink for a sophisticated vintage look. minervacrafts.com 3 This cute cloqué fabric features a raised heart design and a slight stretch, perfect for comfy garments. myfabrics.co.uk 4 This tsunami fabric is the perfect medium-weight material for all sorts of projects. fabricgodmother.co.uk 5 We adore the bold zebra design on this mustard fabric from My Lush Fabric. mylushfabric.etsy.com

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1 6 2 4 1 ETTA DRESS

The Etta dress from Tilly and the Buttons is an elegant fitted design shaped with darts at the bust, waist, and shoulders. It has a choice of lined cap sleeves or darted three-quarter length sleeves, high-back or stunning V-back neckline, with an optional collar and faux pockets. tillyandthebuttons.com 2 ANTONINA SKIRT

This unique design from Lenaline Patterns features a flared silhouette with an asymmetrical crossover front secured with a button. The structured style of the Antonina skirt is ideal for thicker woven jacquards and heavy silks. lenaline.com

4 OOLONG DRESS

The pretty Oolong dress from Colette is a flowing, bias-cut design with a vertically ruched bodice and a knee-length, six-gore skirt. It's lined for a flattering, smooth fit with short, gathered sleeves and would work perfectly in a lightweight jacquard silk or satin. colettepatterns.com

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5 8652 SKIRT

This vintage-inspired pencil skirt from Simplicity is ideal for patterns or solids and works particularly well in crisp heavyweight fabrics such as bouclé, jacquard, chintz, damask, denim, and gabardine. There are three different variations to choose from, including the option to add pockets. sewdirect.com

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3 BLAIR BLAZER AND DRESS

The Blair pattern from Homer + Howells would be ideal made up in a bold jacquard fabric, with several options to choose from including a blazer, shirt dress, and blouse.

It has a boxy, oversized silhouette with a dropped shoulder and a stylish doublebreast fastening. homerandhowells.com

6 ELSIE DRESS

The Elsie design from Sew Over It is the perfect party dress, with a gently curved V-neckline, flattering princess seams, dramatic pleats and a nod to 1950s fashion. It's perfect for showing off your fanciest of fabrics. sewoverit.co.uk

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christmas gathering

time spent together Even if Christmas looks a bit different this year, we can still make it special with these little touches made in the Jingle Mingle range for Cloud9 Fabrics.

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

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cake band

Put the finishing touch on your Christmas cake with this homemade cake band. This quick project is the perfect way to add a little extra decoration to your baked goods and is something you'll use again and again.

joy to the world bunting

This jolly bunting really brightens up a room – so much so we're thinking we might just keep this up all year round.

This is another simple but effective make, so you could hang different seasonal greetings all over the house!

NO PATTERN NEEDED!

✂

sew stretchy

You can't beat a pair of leggings for comfort! Make your own with this easysew from Karoline Darhling Hughes.

added flare

Transform an old shirt into a stylish new peplum top for yourself with this project from Debbie Wainhouse.

WEARING HISTORY Long gone are the days when Lauren Maringola would hide her vintage stash, now she shares her passion with the world.

Written by Lottie Storey

A GOOD READ the history of fashion and clothing in a tactile and technical way. And Lauren has the creds to match her enthusiasm. “Wearing History is now my day job. I previously sold vintage clothing and worked in theatrical costuming – both of those things can be sort of irregular, so I started this company in my off-season from theatre work. I've been doing it for over a decade and I only recently have felt like it's hit that sweet spot of ‘yeah, this is what I'm supposed to do full-time’.”

Lauren’s husband helps out with graphic design and shipping, but this is mainly a one-woman show. “Depending on the day, (Far left) Find the WWII Homefront Overalls, Playsuit, and Trousers pattern on Lauren's website.

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nthony T Hincks said: "The thing about being vintage is that it never goes out of fashion.” And the same goes for dressing vintage. While no one has quite agreed on what is classed as ‘vintage’, we can all agree that looking to the past can provide inspiration aplenty. Pre-Internet, vintage clothes shops, flea markets, and antiques fairs were your best bet for finding pre-loved clothes from another era. But now? With a whole world (wide web) available at our fingertips, the vast array of options can be overwhelming.

One woman who knows her bloomers from her bell-bottoms is Lauren Maringola, founder of Wearing History. Part blog, part business, Wearing History is a place for Lauren to share her historical and vintage fashion research, and a place for sewists to buy patterns from the past – part of Lauren’s sewing pattern line.

So, how did it all begin?

“When I was growing up, I was fascinated by fashion history and times past, but until the advent of the Internet I was sort of the ‘weird girl’ among my friends,” Lauren recalls.

“As I got older, and my friends grew interested in modern-day popular culture, I privately started amassing a collection of fashion history periodicals and clothing, and

eventually sewing patterns. With the Internet I found other people like me, and it was so exciting to put into words what my passions were so other people could possibly read it.”

Lauren began writing her blog in around 2007: “I remember I was blown away when I reached a few hundred blog followers, and I'm still shocked today that people are actually interested in what I enjoy and what I have to say and have learned!”

Lauren’s favourite fashion eras are Edwardian, the 1910s, and the 1930s. “The Edwardian era was just so fluffy and over-the-top,” she smiles, “but it's also when we started to get the classics we have even now in terms of separates and sportswear. There was immaculately tailored suits with fun details like buttons and buttonholes that didn't actually do anything but look pretty. The 1910s were just crazy with wild patterns and silly hats. And the 1930s were so sleek and elegant. I also love 1930s sportswear because it really was when wearing trousers and sports shirts took off for women. It was a great time for clothes.”

"I privately started amassing fashion history peridocials and clothing."

HITTING MY STRIDE With vintage never really going out of fashion, it’s no surprise Lauren’s site is so popular with sewists seeking to rediscover

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chilly chick Lucy Ward's fluffy penguin toy is the perfect squishy cuddle partner.

You could sew a whole colony!

adventure avenue Spark little one's imaginations with this quick-sew play mat from Anna Alicia.

We love the idea of customising this!

my favourite thing

back to basics Sewing Bee's Matt Gage has a go-to summer shirt pattern that takes him back to his early days of sewing.

"I started sewing five years ago, and at the time I really hadn’t a clue what I was doing. It took me a whole afternoon to work out how to thread the thing! Patterns often didn’t make any sense and the instructions seemed as if they were written in a foreign language.

At the time I had just started to make drag costumes for friends, but I wanted to make clothes for myself and create a me-made wardrobe. I wanted to learn how to sew a shirt – a simple, loose fitting, comfortable, and colourful summer shirt. I got in touch with my friend James, a cutter at Budd Shirtmakers in London. He was keen to show me how to make my own and drafted a shirt pattern for me from my measurements. He then spent an afternoon teaching me the skills of shirtmaking.

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This was an invaluable experience, much better than staring at sewing instructions for hours. Having someone guide me through the steps, giving me tips along the way, was fantastic. I learnt so much that day.

My wardrobe is now full of shirts from that same pattern, all in different materials, of course – stripes, African print, flamingos. I also made matching shorts to go with one variant in a wonderful Alexander Henry sailor print. I’m so confident in using this pattern now that I even adapted it to fit my model on Sewing Bee for holiday week.

Looking back, it seems simple compared to what I’ve done since, but wearing it always brings me back to my early sewing days."

Find Matt on Instagram @mattgagesewing.

S Floaty lace dress Drop hem top set Log cabin cushion Cosy coatigan DIY Colourblock jumper Fox plushie toy Silk scarf wrapping John Scott column and more...

V-neck lace dress pattern

+ PATTERNS

WORTH £17.98

Drop hem top pattern

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ON SALE THURSDAY 26 NOV

* CONTENTS AND GIFTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY VARY ACCORDING TO TERRITORY. PAPER, FABRIC AND TOOL GIFTS NOT AVAILABLE WITH DIGITAL EDITIONS.