Innholdsfortegnelse for 53 i Simply Sewing

“It’s time all of us to start making, upcycling and treasuring our clothes,” says fashion designer, lecturer and Great British Sewing Bee judge Esme Young. We couldn’t agree more. This month marks our 4th birthday and we couldn’t be prouder to be providing a platform for you to be inspired, engaged and educated by your hobby. Whether you’re fine-tuning your dressmaking skills, learning to mend your clothes, or upcycling them into new ones - everyone’s welcome. And if you’re brand new to sewing, come on in - you’re going to love it. WWW.SIMPLYSEWINGMAG.COM #SIMPLYSEWINGMAG facebook.com/simplysewingmagazine twitter.com/simplysewing_ pinterest.com/simplysewingmag instagram.com/simplysewingmag…

MAKING MATTERS The founder of Melilot patterns, Norway-based Mari Melilot, is a designer on a mission: to change how people relate to their clothes through sewing. Her collection is all about discovering the joys of making by hand, honing your personal style, and embracing a slow, thoughtful approach to fashion. Find the patterns at www.melilot.no COLOURFUL LIVING Does your home ‘spark joy’, Marie Kondostyle? Penelope Hope’s jubilantly colourful designs certainly will! Founder and designer Nadia Newton creates prints inspired by her travels – think palm tree, pineapple and marble motifs, on homewares and by-the-metre fabrics. See www.penelopehope.com SKILLS BOOST W Do you know your quilting from your quilt sandwich, your blocks from your binding? Discover a new craft or refresh your knowledge with Beginner’s Guide to Quilting, a…

1. Obviously, we’d much rather sew than cook – but these utensils, hand-painted with water-resistant, food-safe varnish, might tempt us into the kitchen. £24 for a set of three, www.hollyhorton.etsy.com 2. Get the mint trend all tied up (sorry) with this quirky handmade knot pillow in 100% cotton – it comes in a rainbow of different shades, too. £19, www.wonderlinashop.etsy.com 3. Mint, pastels, geometrics – this contemporary handmade cushion cover, available in a variety of sizes, ticks off three of our fave things in one. From £22, www.cottonandpebble.etsy.com…

Every sewist knows there’s no such thing as having too much haberdashery, especially when it comes to threads as they’re often the first things you’ll run out of! Fancy adding some new treats to your stash box? We’ve teamed up with Gütermann - one of the most experienced producers of premium sewing threads in the world - and Groves to put together this colourful bundle. Two lucky winners will receive a box of seven metallic threads, a bumper 10-colour rainbow thread box (with bonus tape measure!), a gorgeous fat quarter bundle from the new Ring a Roses: Blooms fabric range at Gütermann, plus a handy pincushion from the Hobby Gift range at Groves. For your chance to win one of these bundles enter our competition at www.simplysewingmag.com. Browse Gütermann haberdashery…

Sure, we might love sewing with cosy jerseys and snuggly knits – but we are so ready for summer frock season! We can't wait to stock up on drapey viscoses and breezy cottons ready to start on our spring/summer me-made wardrobe. And where better to begin than The Amélie Dress? With her chic square neckline, vintage-inspired fit-and-flare silhouette and optional fluted sleeve, there's no sunny occasion we wouldn't wear this versatile dress to. Weekend barbecue? You'll find us there in an Amélie made in a ditsy floral cotton. Special occasion? You bet we'll be bringing out the luxurious crepes for a show-stopping style. YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: Dress A: 3mx115cm (3¼ydsx45in) Dress B: 3.5mx115cm (4ydsx45in) ■ Invisible zip: 56cm (22in) ■ Elastic: 10mm wide x 60cm (3/8inx24in) ■…

Those new to machine sewing may have only used the universal needle, but it isn’t always the right one for every project. Sewing with the appropriate needle for the fabric, thread and stitch type can help prevent stitching problems and broken needles. SIZING IT UP Needles are labelled with two numbers – the larger number is the European metric size, and the smaller number is the American size. The lower the number, the finer the needle. The table on the right gives you a rough guide to sizes. NEEDLE TYPES Needles differ by the shape of the point, eye and shaft thickness. Here, we take you through 12 of the common needle types you’ll need for a variety of projects. THE ANATOMY OF A NEEDLE UNIVERSAL This needle has a…

These disc earrings tick the texture and colour trend bo›es, £8, uk.accessorize.com Keep hair (stylishly) out of the way while you stitch with cute clips, £6, uk.accessorize.com Bring a little sunshine to your outfit with a splash of yellow, £18, www.oliverbonas.com Mix and match bright beads for an eclectic boho vibe, £10 each, www.lauraashley.com Classic indigo denims will let your shirt do the talking, £19.50, www.marksandspencer.com Swap your neutral everyday handbag for a bold-and-bright one, £25, uk.accessorize.com Red patent adds detail to all-white trainers, £29.50, www.marksandspencer.com Classic suede boots will go with even the most colourful of outfits, £49.50, www.marksandspencer.com…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A: Velour, 1mx115cm (39½x45in), for the main bag ■ Fabric B: Faux leather, 50x115cm (19¾x45in), for the bag base ■ Fabric C: Lining fabric, 1mx115cm (39½x45in) ■ Medium-weight iron-on interfacing: 50x90cm (19¾x35in) ■ Rigid iron-on interfacing: 50x115cm (19¾x45in) ■ Zip: 15cm (6in) ■ 4 x large gold eyelets ■ 2 x gold magnetic snap fasteners ■ 2 x 2.5cm (1in) wide gold snap hooks ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads ■ Use a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated. CUTTING OUT Step one From Fabric A cut: Upper outer panel: two 44x45cm (173/8x17¾in). Handle top: 60x5cm (235/8x2in). Step two From Fabric B cut: Lower outer panel: two 44x14cm (173/8x5½in). Base outer: one using template A. Handle…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Linen fabric: 7.5x7.5cm (3x3in) ■ Quilting cotton A: 20x20cm (8x8in) ■ Quilting cotton B: 20x30cm (8x12in) ■ White perle cotton size 8 ■ Black stranded cotton ■ Toy stuffing NOTES ■ Use a 6mm (¼in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated. ■ Download the template from www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads NEEDLE WEAVING Step one Stitch a series of vertical lines within the shape you want to fill. Come up at the top of the shape, down at the bottom, then up at the bottom of the shape and down at the top. Repeat until the shape is filled. Make the stitches close together or further apart, but be sure to space them evenly. Bring the needle up at one edge of the shape and begin weaving the embroidery thread through…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A: 50x27cm (20x10½in), for the head, body and outer ears ■ Fabric B: 45x20cm (18x8in) for the legs, arms, and face ■ Fabric C: 15x13cm (6x5in), for the inner ears ■ Fabric D: 18cm x 11cm (7x4½in) for the bow middle, 5x4cm (2x2in), for the bow ■ Black stranded cotton ■ Polyester toy stuffing ■ Velvet ribbon: 40cm (16in) ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit FINISHED SIZE Approx 36cm (14in) tall. NOTES ■ Download the templates from www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads ■ Use a 5mm (¼in) seam allowance throughout unless otherwise indicated. ■ The templates include seam allowances where necessary. ■ Fur pile should run downwards, indicated by arrows on the pattern pieces. CUTTING OUT Step one Download, print out, and then cut out the templates. Step…

"As part of my personal journey to a more sustainable wardrobe, I decided on 1st of January 2015 to stop buying clothes and focus on sewing my own meaningful wardrobe. This was also the year I got married and so I had a fantastic opportunity to make the most important dress of my life sustainable as well. As our wedding was on a beautiful little Caribbean island, I wanted a simple, short dress that would not look out of place with bare feet on the beach. With sustainability in mind, I was aiming to use as few resources as possible, so I chose to refashion a used dress I bought on eBay. Almost no new materials ended up in final outfit, as I reused not only the fabric, but also…

With the latest series of The Great British Sewing Bee in full swing (how fab is their new host Joe Lycett, by the way?), there's never been a better time to start sewing. Whether you're new to dressmaking, or you're looking to expand your handmade wardrobe, check out our shop at www.simplysewingmag.com/pattern. We've given it a makeover and added your favourite patterns from our archives (see page p42). Until next time, tag your photos on Instagram # simplysewingmag - we love seeing your makes! * GIFTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PAPER GIFTS ONLY AVAILABLE ON UK NEWSSTAND.…

We’ve all gone a bit overboard with piling up cushions on our sofas, beds and chairs, right? For Anna and her husband Istvan, though, it was the beginning of a new, exciting venture – their handmade homewares brand, Linen and Stripes. “Our flat was full of my cushions and we had no more space for new designs, but I still had so many ideas,” she explains. “So Istvan suggested selling them online on Etsy. We launched the shop together in 2015.” What started out as a side project soon took off. “After a few months, sales were picking up and we started to sell more and more covers. So I quit my job 10 months after we opened our shop. We saw great potential in the shop and wanted to…

12 MARCH Introduction to Weaving. Backstitch, Cambridge. Learn all the weaving basics at this beginner’s workshop using a simple tapestry loom. www.backstitch.co.uk 4-6 APRIL The Creative Craft Show. ExCel, London. Get inspired, stock up on supplies and master new skills at this multi-craft show for stitchers, knitters and hobbyists. www.ichfevents.co.uk 12-14 APRIL British Quilt & Stitch Village, Uttoxeter Race Course. Browse exhibits and competition quilts, boost your stash and learn at the workshops. www.quiltandstitchvillage.com 16 APRIL Adapt Sewing Patterns for a Better Fit. Raystitch, London. Achieve the perfect fit with any sewing pattern at this invaluable class and learn everything from moving darts to making a toile. www.raystitch.co.uk…

SLIMLINE 3 FLOOR LAMP The Slimline 3 Floor Lamp is ideal – the third generation of this design spreads an even brighter light over a large area, with better diffusion allowing you to see intricate stitching in more detail. It now offers four brightness levels, and its flexible joints mean that you can place it anywhere around your desk and still angle the light towards your project. As it also uses LEDs that won’t get hot, you can sew under it for as long as you need. Slimline 3 Floor Lamp, £180 SEWING MACHINE LAMP This easy-to-attach sewing machine lamp may be small, but it’s certainly mighty. Pop it onto your machine to illuminate your seams. Sewing Machine Lamp, £33 HALO TABLE MAGNIFIER Sometimes our sewing needs a little more…

The joy of sewing is all in the details, whether it's super-neat topstitching, a perfectly pressed seam or a professional-looking hem – and this issue's Sarah Shirt from By Hand London is all about the details! The classic work shirt has been given an upgrade with two collar styles and sleeve options to choose from – a rounded Peter pan collar and pointed collar, and long, wide sleeves or short cuffed ones – for a satisfying sew. Its back pleat and swing fit means it'll be a dream to wear, too. YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric (for all sizes): Shirt A: 3.1mx115cm (3½ydsx45in) Shirt B: 3mx115cm (3¼ydsx45in) ■ Lightweight iron-on interfacing: 1mx90cm (11/8ydsx35in) ■ 10-15 buttons or snaps, 1-2cm (3/8-3/›in) in diameter ■ 2 pairs of poppers, for the…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Jumper or cardigan with pockets ■ Neutral cotton or linen fabric: 40x50cm (16x19¾in), for the embroidery ■ Felt: 2 x A4 sheets ■ Stranded cotton in a range of colours (see notes) ■ Embroidery hoop: 20cm (8in) ■ Embroidery needle ■ Erasable fabric marker or tailor's chalk ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads ■ Stranded cotton in various colours is needed for the cats’ fur, eyes and clothing, plus black and white for details and outline. ■ We used three strands of stranded cotton throughout. ■ The embroidery instructions are based on the white cat, but you can of course choose any colour thread for your cat’s fur and clothing. EMBROIDERING THE DESIGN Step one Trace the cat stencil onto the…

Sewing feels pretty magical sometimes, doesn't it? We'll never get bored of the sense of accomplishment that comes with transforming fabric into a beautiful new garment – especially when that garment fits us to a tee! So we've filled this issue's fold-out guide with everything you need to know about accurate measuring and fitting at a glance, from finding your size to bust and length adjustments, and even how to pattern-match fabric – plus a table for writing your measurements down in. You'll be fitting like a pro in no time!…

SOUTH READS OF WINCHESTER We sell both new and reconditioned sewing machines. We service and repair all makes of machine, a small haberdashery, machines on display to try before you buy. reads-of-winchester.co.uk  • enquiries@reads-of-winchester.co.uk SOUTH SEW BUSY Stockists of Makower, Robert Kaufman, Clothworks and Windham, ribbons, haberdashery, sewing goods and classes. sew-busy.co.uk SOUTH WEST BECKFORD SILK Silks & velvet. Natural, printed and dyed. Small quantities at wholesale prices. 01386 881 507 beckfordsilk.co.uk SOUTH EAST WISTERIA FABRICS In our Etsy Shop we have a great range of fashion, craft and quilting fabrics, ribbons, patterns and haberdashery. etsy.com/shop/wisteriamagic SOUTH EAST DOT TO DOT STUDIO Sewing classes and creative workshops for adults, teens and kids. Learn to Sew like a Pro... Visit the website for our full range of classes. Excellent…

We’ve all been there. You reach a critical point in your sewing project, and then you realise something’s not quite right. It means unpicking all your hard work and starting again. It’s painful to do, especially given how much effort you’ve put into it so far, but you know that in doing so what you’re creating will be much stronger as a result. As the founding designers of Ruby Star Society will know, out of such adversity comes strength. Each one of them – Melody Miller, Alexia Marcelle Abegg, Sarah Watts, Kimberly Kight and Rashida Coleman-Hale – have been designing fabric together since 2013 under the name Cotton + Steel. Part of RJR Fabrics since the beginning, the past two years presented some challenges for the company and, as a…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Fat quarter of unbleached cotton fabric (see notes) ■ Fat eighth cotton fabric (see notes) ■ Scraps of two floral patterned cotton fabrics, for the pots ■ Scrap of iron-on interfacing ■ Felt: 25.5x25.5cm (101/8x101/8in), for backing ■ Wooden embroidery hoop: 25cm (10in) ■ Stranded embroidery cottons: white, cream, light green, mid green, mint green, pale mustard, lavender blue, pale lavender blue ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads ■ We used a cross-weave blue-grey cotton, which has a bit more character than a plain cotton. ■ The floral fabrics are from The Fabric Fox, www.thefabricfox.co.uk ■ Fat quarter = 45.5x56.8cm (18x22in). ■ Fat eighth = 28x45.5cm (11x18in). CUTTING OUT Step one With tailor's chalk, draw around the templates…

CHLOË OWENS Textile artist Chloë salvages vintage fabrics, combining them with contemporary prints, and stitched designs over the top using her trusty sewing machine. Find out how to make her adorable set of baby gifts on page 69. ESME YOUNG Central Saint Martins lecturer, fashion designer and celebrated Great British Sewing Bee judge Esme Young talks to us about why it’s time all of us started making, upcycling and treasuring our clothes. Read more on page 64. RACHEL PINHEIRO Brazilian-born, Rachel has a distinctive sense of style which she mixes her heritage flair with classic tailoring. Explore her ever-expanding wardrobe at www.houseofpinheiro.com and find out what inspires her on page 50. ELISALEX DE CASTRO PEAKE Elisalex is the co-founder of indie pattern label By Hand London. Their patterns are inspired…

CHRISTIAN DIOR Oriole Cullen (£40, V&A Publishing) Relive the V&A exhibition, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, with this souvenir book that celebrates Christian Dior’s work, from the brand's inception in 1947 to the present day. Haute-couture gowns by Dior, and the designers that followed him, are showcased alongside Oriole Cullen’s expert commentary. It’s a must-have souvenir for any fashion devotee. www.vam.ac.uk FEMINIST CROSS-STITCH: 40 BOLD AND FIERCE PATTERNS Stephanie Rohr (£14.99, Lark Books) Add a little sass to your stitching projects with this book of 40 vintage-inspired cross stitch patterns for crafty activists, with subversive slogans, clever one-liners and affirmations to stitch for your wall or sew into handmade gifts. To get you started, there’s also a basics section with clear illustrations. www.larkcrafts.com THREADS OF LIFE Clare Hunter (£14, Sceptre)…

SEWING QUARTER Make a Simplicity pattern with Jenniffer Taylor and more with this show from 28th August. www.youtube.com/sewingquarter DITSY TULIP In need of sewing room decor ideas? Look no further than this craft room tour by Mel, aka Ditsy Tulip, at www.youtube.com/Handmade ByDitsyTulip SEW OVER IT We all love a good fabric haul video, don’t we? Get fabric envy with Lisa Comfort’s latest finds and find out what she’s been sewing at www.youtube.com/sewoverit THE FOLD LINE For The Fold Line's new Find My Sewing Pattern series, they search their pattern database for high street-inspired styles See www.thefoldline.com/category/vlogs STITCH SISTERS Join sewing-teacher duo the Stitch Sisters for one of their regular Coffee & Catch Up videos. www.youtube.com/stitchsisters…

BEE PINCUSHIONS When your sewing room is buzzing with activity, keep these helpful bee buddies close at hand for easy pinning. You could, of course, make them in classic yellow and black, but we've gone for floral stripes for a scrap-busting make. Get ready to stitch a few of these – your sewing pals will want one, too! SLOGAN BANNER We all know this famous saying, but whether we actually take its advice is another matter! So we'll be hanging this pennant banner, with its message written loud and clear in appliqué and embroidery. Now, where did we put that tape measure? SEWING MACHINE COVER Where would we be without our machine? It's seen us through more projects than we can count, so it's about time we show it some…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Lightweight woven fabric: 2mx115cm (2¼ydx45in) ■ Double-fold bias binding: 50cm (20in), for the back neckline ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1.5cm (5/8in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated. FABRIC USED ■ Fabric is viscose challis in Moonstone Green by Atelier Brunette, from Minerva Crafts. Go to www.minervacrafts.com Designer Portia says: "This is a great transitional piece – it can be layered up with tights and boots for when it’s still a little chilly, and worn with bare legs and sandals come the summer. Made from rectangles, the finished look of this dress belies the simplicity with which it is made." CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric cut: Body: cut four rectangles that are 1m (11/8yd) in length and one…

This print reminds us of vintage teacups, so will make the perfect blouse to wear to afternoon tea! www.sewingquarter.com Riley Blake Navy Jubilee, www.sewingquarter.com Soma in Aqua, www.sewingquarter.com Busy Blossom Boho Black, www.lisacomfort.shop Scattered Confetti , www.sewingquarter.com Riverside Wilderness, www.guthrie-ghani.co.uk Busy Blossom Navy, www.lisacomfort.shop With spring in the air (and the Sewing Bee back on TV!) there's no better time to use this pretty bee design, www.sewingquarter.com…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Skirt in your size ■ Erasable fabric marker ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit MARKING THE SCALLOPS Step one Measure the width of your skirt hem. Think about how many scallops you would like and divide the hem width by this number – this will give you the width of your scallops. For example, our skirt measured 56cm (22in) across and we wanted six scallops. 56 divided by 6 = 9.3cm. So the scallops on our skirt will each be 9.3cm in width. 01 Step two Calculate the length you would like your skirt to be, fold the hem up to this length and mark a line up from the fold (this will be the finished length plus scallops). 02 Step three Mark out your…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Outer fabric: 1 fat quarter ■ Lining: 30cm (12in) ■ Woven fusible interfacing: 1 fat quarter ■ Zips: 2 x 20cm (8in) ■ Zip foot (optional) ■ Faux leather scrap: 5x1.5cm (2x½in) ■ Stranded cotton ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED From the Winter Tales collection by Minki Kim for Riley Blake Designs. www.rileyblakedesigns.com NOTES ■ Use a 5mm (¼in) seam allowance unless otherwise noted. ■ Cotton ribbon can be used in place of faux leather if desired. ■ Using a zip foot will help you to get close to the zip teeth resulting in a neat finish. ■ If desired you can add a tab while sewing the main pouch and/or sew a cotton label to the pouch to finish. FINISHED SIZE…

YOU WILL NEED For the skirt: ■ Main fabric (see notes) ■ Pom-pom trim to fit along long edge of fabric (see notes) ■ Elastic (see notes) ■ Felt and buttons for flowers (optional) For the bib: ■ Main fabric: 40x40cm (16x16in) ■ Toweling fabric: 40x40cm (16x16in) ■ Snap fastener ■ Erasable fabric marker ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ The main fabric for the skirt should be a rectangle of fabric to fit your child – the circumference of their tummy or hips (whichever is larger) by the desired length of the skirt, plus 2.5cm (1in) for hems. ■ The pom pom trim needs to be long enough to fit along the long edge of your skirt fabric. ■ Download the template from www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads POM POM…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A (dark grey): 70cm (28in) x WOF, for the roads ■ Fabric B (light grey): 70cm (28in) x WOF, for the appliqué background ■ Fabric C (red): 25cm (10in) x WOF, for the appliqué and binding ■ Fabric D (yellow): 25cm (10in) x WOF, for the appliqué and binding ■ Fabric E (orange): 25cm (10in) x WOF, for the appliqué and binding ■ Fabric F (green): 25cm (10in) x WOF, for the appliqué and binding ■ Fabric G (blue): 25cm (10in) x WOF, for the appliqué and binding ■ Fabric H (light brown): 13x13cm (5¼x5¼in) square, for the appliqué ■ Backing fabric: 44x44in (17½x17½in) ■ Wadding: 44x44in (17½x17½in) ■ Bondaweb ■ Walking foot (optional) ■ Matching thread for appliqué ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■…

MELODY MILLER | @MISSMELODYMILLER Melody Miller grew up in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, quite possibly the prettiest place on earth. Later, she felt just as much at home in New York City, where she studied industrial design at Pratt Institute. It's also where her love for vintage objects began. She found her way to fabric design and designed numerous collections for Kokka fabrics. In 2013 she dreamed up the idea for Cotton+Steel and became one of the five founding designers. Inspired by 1960s and 70s-era art and illustration (think Andy Warhol’s fashion illustration and screen prints), Melody’s style evokes retro vibes reminiscent of that bold and colourful time. She works in Photoshop and uses a variety of different techniques, layering colours like a screen print. The end result has…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Two blankets of the same size ■ Tapestry wool, 3 skeins (see notes) ■ Tapestry needle ■ Stranded cotton in black or white (see notes) ■ Embroidery needle ■ Ribbon scrap: 8cm (3in) ■ Water-erasable fabric marker ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the templates from www.simplysewingmag.com/downloads ■ Each of our blankets measured 156x140cm (61x55in) – if your blankets are different sizes, cut them so they are the same size. ■ The stranded cotton is for the dog’s eye so you will most likely want to use black or white depending on how light or dark your fabric is. ■ If your blankets are bigger than ours you may need to use more tapestry wool. PREPARING THE BLANKETS Step one Download, print…

MARKING PEN Transfer markings to your fabric, then wash them out when finished. TAPE MEASURE A flexible fabric tape measure will take accurate measurements. MARKING PENCIL Choose a colour that shows up on your fabric. SEAM RIPPER This sharp blade cuts through and unpicks stitches. PINS Stainless steel pins with sharp points are best. FABRIC CLIPS Use these instead of pins when sewing thicker fabrics. TAILOR’S CHALKS Chalk temporarily marks fabric and can be easily brushed away. THIMBLE Wear to protect your fingers when handstitching. PINKING SHEARS These cut a zigzag edge on fabric to neaten. SHEARS Keep a pair of sharp shears just for cutting out your fabric. SMALL SCISSORS Use for snipping threads and cutting notches. HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF ACCURATELY ALWAYS MEASURE YOURSELF BEFORE you choose a…

LADDER STITCH Used to join together and close two turned-under edges invisibly, such as on a dress lining or soft toy. Bring the needle up at 1 on one side of the seam, then in at 2 on the opposite side and out at 3, so the stitch is 3mm (1/8in) long. Push the needle back in the opposite side at 4 and out at 5. Repeat this to close the edges. SLIP STITCH This stitch is used most often for hems where you need to stitch a turned-under edge to a flat piece of fabric using small, almost invisible stitches. Bring the needle up at 1 on the turned-under hem then back in at 2 and out at 3. Make this horizontal stitch as small as possible so it…