Christmas is just a few days away, and if you’re like me, you’re in need of some last minute gift ideas that you can sew for family and friends. I’m here to rescue you with a collection of gorgeous bag sewing patterns that are available in PDF form to download, print and make right away! …
Hey friends! I recently finished up a HUGE project and have made a list of Christmas sewing projects that I thought I would share with you, in case you’re looking for some inspiration! I have a few that will be Christmas gifts – which I’ll start with in case you’re looking for some Christmas gift …
Who here struggles with finding gifts for friends and family? Yeah, me too! Which is why I think it’s a better idea to create a list of Christmas gifts that you can sew for friends and family, and then space the projects out throughout the year. I know that some people dislike the idea of …
It’s getting close to that time of year (again) and you may be a bit like me, thinking about all the things your dad already has and what you could possibly get him that he doesn’t already have… Of course, it’s a tad late to be sewing up a big project in time for Father’s …
If you make your own clothes, a dress form will be handy for fitting garments as you make them and for draping and developing patterns. Choosing the best dress form for your needs is where it gets tricky. They can be expensive clothes hanging devices if you choose the wrong one for your needs – …
Oh my word, I am IN LOVE with my new sewing pattern! I should add that it is not a garment sewing pattern, but an accessory pattern that I suspect you will love as much as me. One of my pet peeves is having my sewing supplies (and my favorite art supplies) scattered across my …
I started this website back in May 2016. The plan back then was to create a website where people could come to learn more about creative hobbies. I interviewed art friends at the Art Studios I was based at in London’s Wimbledon, and I wrote up reviews of exhibitions too. Within a few months, ‘gurus’ …
It’s been a long time coming, but a while back I spent time at an exhibition, something I hadn’t done in several years due to the worldwide shutdown. The exhibition was ‘Viva La Frida’. Featuring many of the garments worn by Frida Kahlo as well as some of her most famous paintings, the Frida Kahlo …
If you are a complete beginner when it comes to sewing, you can learn easily enough using all the free sewing tutorials on my blog, which is a great resource for newbies. But what if you’re going to be offline for a while? Or just like to have an actual physical book in your hands? …
While I have previously written about a variety of sewing tools and equipment, I haven’t focused on the essential tools a sewing beginner might need when starting out on their sewing journey. And to be fair, the tools a sewing beginner needs will vary depending on which sewing discipline they plan to learn. Some people …
I love bow ties. I love them for myself and for others, and I’ve made quite a few in my time because they make great gifts. Today I’m sharing a tutorial on how to make a bow tie out of any fabric. In this tutorial, I’ll also be sharing the two ways I use to …
This padded glasses case tutorial was part of a DIY gift series I created for my YouTube channel in December 2022, and for some reason never made it to my blog. I love the padded glasses case I made in this tutorial, and usually have it with me when I leave the house so that …
I have quite a collection of pattern making books. Its my biggest passion and I love to have books around me on things I love. Some people will stick to just one book, and refer to it as if it’s their ‘bible’ for that topic, whereas I am a little freer, and love all the …
I love fashion. I love seeing what’s new in the shops and what’s trending on runways. But what I don’t like is that there are very few designers or stores where I can walk in and get a great fitting item of clothing. My body does not conform to the ‘standard’ sizing, with its long …
One of the joys of Christmas that I miss since moving away from the UK is having a Cadbury’s advent Calendar. That daily bit of tasty chocolate has long been a joy, even if the amount of plastic and card waste on the packaging is ridiculous! This year, I’m going to make myself feel better …
This tutorial on upcycling brogues into DIY mules came about after I popped onto Pinterest and searched for tutorials and found nothing. I also searched Google, and again came up empty. But why was I looking to refashion some mighty fine brogues you’re surely asking? Well, I have always wanted a pair of brogues, and …
As I write this, it is HOT. Spring skipped us this year and we went from almost 0ºc to 27ºc in the space of a week. I’m wearing shorts and a tank top but I feel like a summer dress would be better. I also have special event to attend in June – another wedding …
I often hear from people daunted at the thought of using a serger, as they see them as being a more complex machine compared to a traditional sewing machine, but sergers are actually great sewing machines and very easy to use once you know how. We can use them to finish off raw fabric edges before …
Fabric is an integral part of making clothing, but within the sewing community there is often confusion between the types of fabric available to us and the fiber content of fabrics. An easy way to explain what I mean is with the following: My friend Sophie C recently asked me what the best cotton would …
With fashion being a trillion dollar industry, it’s no real surprise that there are many different types of clothing manufactured within it. And with this comes the many variations, each designed to suit a variety of body types and fashion styles, so it’s no wonder that we as individuals find it hard to narrow down …