Hints and Tips
Marilyn Monroe move over – Great British Sewing Bee week 9
The start of Movie Week saw the remaining four contestants making a Marilyn Monroe inspired halter dress with pleated skirt and then a 1920’s flapper dress as their final challenge. Both options meant sewing with tricky fabrics. I’ve a few tips and tricks to make these special fabrics easier to handle. Prevent curved and bias…
Read MoreGreat British Sewing Bee – Top Tips For Choosing and Sewing Specialist Fabrics
Things are hotting up in the Great British Sewing Bee Studio as contestants tackled another set of patterns testing their skills and fabric choices. Below are some of my top tips for sewing similar projects using specialist fabrics requiring extra care. If you choose transparent but crisp fabrics such as organza or a…
Read MoreTop tips for Reuse, Repurpose and Recycling Garments
Last night we saw our intrepid contestants of the Great British Sewing Bee turning a mix of garments into a bomber jacket and the final challenge, turning sweater knits into a winter dress (which seams incongruous whilst we are having such sunny weather, but of course, this was filmed last year!). Re-purposing old, previously…
Read MoreBoned Bodice – aka The Great British Sewing Bee
We saw the contestants of The Great British Sewing Bee tackling a boned bodice in their first challenge of week 5. It can be a tricky garment to make and so I’ve got my ten top tips to share. Check the size you are to make and make sure it suits your measurements as…
Read MoreWhich Needle for What Fabric Demystified!
Ensure your outfits are perfectly stitched every time – use the right sort of needle! Problems with stitching are rarely caused by the wrong tension and more often caused by blunt or the wrong type of needle. Having the right sewing machine needle helps stitch evenly, prevents snags, unwanted gathering or visible needle holes etc.…
Read MoreBeginner’s Guide to Sewing
If you are just starting out or need to refresh some basic sewing skills, take a look at our basic guide here. We will continue to add more tips, so do keep coming back for more! PATTERNS Sizing Choose a pattern by your measurements and NOT by your ready-to-wear size (it may not be the same size).…
Read MoreTop Ten Tips to Improve Your Sewing
No matter how experienced at sewing, there is always something new to learn. Here are my Top Ten Tips to Improve Your Sewing and to make it all as stress free as possible! 1. Choose the right pattern size Firstly, remember the right pattern size might NOT be the same size as you’d buy ready-to-wear…
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