Hi Reader, I have 2 sewing rooms in my house. Upstairs is usually where I cut and prep fabric. Downstairs is mostly sewing and construction. But they weren’t functioning properly. I was fed up with shimmying around the ironing board to get into my sewing room. There was fabric and sewing supplies all over the place. Boxes and piles in the way of cupboards, drawers and shelves. I thought it would be a morning’s project but what followed involved moving furniture, sorting fabric for Vinted and...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Her: You could take a leading role. Me: What?? Me?? NO! I can’t do that! Her: Why not? Me: well...... [scrambling to think of a valid reason] .... I can’t sing Her: You can learn to sing. Me: [mind blown] Really!? This was the conversation I had backstage with Sam, the leading lady of The Boyfriend, the first musical I was in and only the second show I’d ever been in. I was an ensemble member. Up to then I had assumed that singing was something you were naturally good at. I had no...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, ‘No mum’. That was my eldest daughter’s response to the suggestion I make her prom dress. Oof. That was crushing. The thing is, while my kids were growing up, I hadn’t really sewn much apart from rushed World Book Day costumes from random bits lying around. She had absolutely no idea that before she was born, I used to make competition ballroom dance dresses and bridal gowns. She probably imagined I was about to whip something up from musty old curtains or worn out sheets from the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, When you buy a place on one of my Summer Sewing Experience Days you will:- 🪡Discover the secrets of using a sewing machine with ease, so you can start sewing your dream projects without getting tangled or frustrated! 🧵Master the art of threading, stitching and adjusting your machine's dials, buttons, and knobs, so you can achieve perfect results every time - no thread nests, wonky seams or uneven stitches! 👕Create a practical and beautiful summer project under my expert guidance,...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I was recently approached by Winslet Patterns to become an affiliate for them. I only ever share products, tools, and patterns that I have actually used myself and would genuinely be happy to recommend. So before saying yes, I had a proper look through the collection, asked one of my daughters to choose a style she’d actually wear, and sewed it up. She chose a pair of high waisted wide leg trousers in a green linen mix from my stash. I was really pleased with how they came...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, My party dress was supposed to be a quick make. It was for my husband’s 60th, I had very little time, so I chose a ready-made pattern instead of drafting from scratch and some crushed velour from my stash. I adapted it for stretch, made a toile… But it didn’t look good. Something was off and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. So I asked AI and I’ve written a blog post about what happened including what AI got right, what it got wrong, and what actually worked. READ THE FULL...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, The moment right before you start sewing is often the hardest. Not threading the machine. Not cutting the fabric. Just… starting. In class this week, one of my learners had everything ready. And then she stopped and said: “I’m scared to sew in case I make a mistake.” So, I asked her: “What happens if you do make a mistake?” Her answer, and what came next, is something I see all the time. And it’s probably the one thing that keeps people stuck for the longest. I’ve written about it...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, The class looked up in surprise. I had just told one of the learners to send her brand new sewing machine back. She had bought it from Amazon for about £80 and brought it to class for its first outing. At first it stitched forwards perfectly well. But every time she pressed reverse to secure the seam, then tried to sew forwards again, the thread immediately jammed underneath. So we checked the usual suspects. Threading. Bobbin. Fluff in the bobbin case. But this machine was brand...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, She bought the last pair to match her blazer. They were several sizes too big. Not just at the waist. Everywhere. There was six inches to remove in total. This wasn’t a quick nip at the back seam. It involved redistributing width across multiple seams, adjusting the waistband, repositioning belt loops and accepting that the side pockets would become almost decorative. When she came to collect them, they fitted perfectly. She was thrilled. If you’ve ever bought something that almost...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I’ve sewn LOTS of buttons this past week. It was half term, and I was back in GSA’s costume department helping with alterations. What really struck me (again) was the designer’s ability to tweak existing stock into completely new looks. With a few smart changes, pieces were transformed into convincing Victorian for Onegin and delightfully quirky for High Buttoned Shoes. The buttons I stitched were added to waistbands for braces and to jackets where they completely shifted the...
4 months ago • 1 min read