Hi Reader, Have you got my latest free seam and hem finishing guide yet? Read to the end to get the link. The Longest Yarn You have to see this if you're into crochet or knitting. The Longest Yarn exhibition is like Legoland model village but knitted and crocheted. It's a series of sets (60 metres) that walk through the story of how WW2 unfolded for Brits on the home front, from the announcement of war, to gas masks, rationing, bombing and taking shelter in the underground stations, through...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Woohoo! I did it! After six months of dedicated work, I’m thrilled to announce that I have officially passed my AET teaching qualification! 🎉 When I first embarked on this journey, I thought it would be a doddle. After all, I’ve been teaching sewing to adults for several years now, and I expected to have it all wrapped up in six weeks. However, I found this qualification was quite a challenge! The experience has been both enlightening and rewarding, pushing me to grow in ways I...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, The Great British Sewing Bee is back on our screens (in the UK) with 12 new contestants. Have you watched the first episode yet? For me, the greatest take-away is fabric choice. The weight, drape and weave of a fabric can make or break the success of your garment. Picking something flimsy, thin and drapey may feel lovely but can be incredibly difficult to work with - it shifts about while you cut, pin and stitch it, it frays when you look at it, puckers under some basic sewing...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Bookings are open for all my Surrey based courses, but you need to be quick as places do go quick. FIND A SURREY SEWING CLASS WITH VEE And if you're in or near Reading, then here's the link to book on to a sewing class at Reading College INTRODUCTION TO SEWING AT READING COLLEGE (MONDAY'S) GARMENT SEWING AT READING COLLEGE (TUESDAY'S) And if you can't wait until September and want to hone your sewing skills over the summer then join me at Reading Sewing Bee where I'm teaching a...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t find anything. I’d been digging for children’s clothes patterns from the 1940s—surely they existed? But the search kept coming up short. Then it clicked. Of course. READ THE FULL STORY During WWII, fashion barely shifted. Rationing, shortages, and utility over novelty meant styles held steady—and innovation was more about clever mending than creating something new. That led me to a slim book from the library—Make Do and Mend, a reprint of...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, My heart was pounding. I heard my name be announced. My turn. click the image to see montage of the catwalk I skipped up the steps and took my place on the Stitch Stage at The Stitch Festival beside the compere. I was one of 10 finalists for the Stitch Festival's Dressmaking Competition in the recycled category. My entry was my Scrappy Red Dress, made entirely from fabric scraps from previous projects. I took up my rehearsed 'model' pose while she read out my bio. Gosh, had I...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, As creatives, we're often guilty of taking on too much. We get caught up in the excitement of new projects, the thrill of social media, and the pressure to constantly produce content. But sometimes, it's essential to take a step back and reassess our priorities. For me, that moment came recently when I realised I was spreading myself too thin. Between teaching in-person classes, working at Chiltern Open Air Museum, costuming for Big Fish, running Sew Bee Yourself, fitting in family...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I sat on my sofa, just minutes before the class was about to start. I could hear my inner voice whispering all sorts of reasons why I shouldn't attend. "I'm too tired," "I just want to crash out and watch TV," "I can't be bothered," "it's going to be too difficult," "I won't be able to keep up," "the trainer will poke fun at my unfitness"... the list went on. But I knew that if I gave in to those excuses, I'd be letting myself down. I'd invested in this program to improve my...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I'm super thrilled to share the exciting news that my scrappy red dress has been shortlisted for The Stitch Festival's dressmaking competition in the upcycled/repurposed category! My eco-friendly garment was crafted from a bucket load of fabric scraps from past garment and costume projects, and I'm honoured my work be recognised. But what really sets this dress apart is the unforgettable memories I've made while wearing it - like the time I wore it to a friend's wedding and...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, As a costumer, I've had the privilege of working on various productions, but none have sparked my interest quite like the musical Big Fish. The story's climax features a funeral, and the director's notes left me curious - "bright funeral." I had to dig deeper to understand the concept. It wasn't until I delved into the character's personality that I grasped the idea. You can read what I decided to dress the cast in for this. READ MY LATEST BLOG POST Little did I know, this concept...
7 months ago • 1 min read