Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 118 i Simply Sewing

We are on our way out of winter and what better way to celebrate than by adding the Chloé Dress to your me-made wardrobe! Designed to conform to your figure, for a super-comfortable fit, the Chloé Dress is a perfect spring garment. Team it up with the chic Anäis top and the Easter Bunny and you will be all set for spring! Know anyone who’s welcoming a new baby into the world? Don’t miss our special baby gifts pull-out section with lots of lovely makes for the new arrival. We show you how to sew with denim and how to shorten/lengthen hems in our expert guides. Find out how to self-draft a raglan-sleeved maxi dress and a wrap top using just your measurements! Plus, don’t miss our fantastic feature on…

BUZZIN' FABRICS We are sew excited to introduce What Vicki Made's debut fabric collection − three colourful, bold eclectic fabric designs with complementing haberdashery. Vicki Reid, of The Great British Sewing Bee fame, is modelling one The Flowers designs above. The designs are handdrawn by Vicki and then digitally-printed onto Lenzing authorised Tencel cotton mix fabric to get a beautiful, buttery soft drape. See more on instagram @WhatVickiMade and turn the page for her other designs... VICKI'S DEBUT COLLECTION Fellow Bee Matthew models The Art − step into the gallery of iconic, bold, geometric designs, while Lauren dons a garment made with The Girls − an empowering and bold design of women. Woven damask labels and signature buttons complete the collection. Fine out more at whatvickimade.com CUTTING EDGE We love…

M8437 OVERALLS Denim and dungarees go together like peas and carrots, and we love this classic design from Brandi Joan for McCalls. These overalls feature adjustable racer back straps, a front feature bib pocket, buckles, and side snap closures. sewdirect.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Get stitching with our pick of the best denim-friendly patterns available today. 1 JAIME JACKET This pattern from The Modern Sewing Co. creates a casual menswear piece that’s designed to feel softly smart and easy to wear. It may look simple, but it’s packed with carefully considered details to elevate it above other shackets, such as a curved yoke, flowing seams, and plenty of pockets. modernsewingco.com 2 TYNNI CIGARETTE TROUSERS These cigarette pants from Named Clothing are a timeless design, with a high-waisted cut, straight legs, and optional…

BABY QUILT YOU WILL NEED ■ Lilac Washed Linen (Fabric 1): 1mx80cm■ Fine pale blue linen (Fabric 2): 1mx80cm■ Double gauze (Fabric 3): 1mx25cm■ Natural fibre wadding: 1mx80cm■ Lilac hand quilting thread■ Sewing thread to match Fabric 3■ Contrasting thread■ Erasable fabric marker■ Template plastic■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ The size of the finished quilt is 70x90cm CREATE THE TEMPLATE Step one Cut an 18x2.5cm strip of template plastic. Use a pen to mark 0.5cm in from one end, then mark every 2.5cm after that. Pierce each of the seven holes with a pin, then enlarge all but the first with the point of a pair of scissors, pushing them all through from the same side so that all rough edges are on top. 01 CREATE THE DESIGN Step…

BABY SHOES YOU WILL NEED ■ Mint leather: 30x15cm, 1.5cm thick■ Beige leather: 15x10cm, 1.5cm thick■ Two pieces of gold leather: 55x0.5cm, 1.5cm thick■ Craft knife■ Cutting mat■ Matching embroidery thread■ Leather punch: 2mm and 4mm■ Awl■ Bodkin needle NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates PREPARATION Step one. Choose your size and cut out all pattern pieces, cutting the sole from the beige leather and the remainder from the mint leather. Step two With the templates still on top of the pattern pieces, use the awl to indent the holes. Step three Punch the holes into the leather where marked, using a 2mm punch for the smaller holes and a 4mm punch for the larger holes. 01 Step four Cut in the tassels on the tassel piece along the…

Looking for something to throw on before heading out for a coffee with a friend, or the weekly pub quiz? The Anäis Top (UK size 6-30) is perfect for casual occassions! It has long sleeves, creating a smart chic casual tunic top and fun tassels if you desire a more decorative style − a good way to dress up the top without wearing jewellery. You'll want to make multiple version for all the seasons. We opted for a pretty lightweight printed floral swiss cotton from Higgs & Higgs (higgsandhiggs.com) for a floaty look to keep us cool all summer. Go for a medium crepe or linen for a structured look to layer-up with a vest and cardi in the winter months. YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: 2.4mx115cm wide fabric…

The great thing about sewing your own clothes is the ability to adjust them to fit your unique body shape. If you know you have longer or shorter legs than standard, for example, you can adjust your sewing patterns to accommodate this while they are still in paper form. You can use the original pattern pieces as a guide to measure against yourself to see where you might need to add or remove length and then make a simple adjustment to them. ESSENTIAL KIT ■ Your pattern pieces■ Blank paper■ Paper scissors■ Sticky tape■ Ruler (ideally a French curve or Pattern Master)■ Pencil LENGTHENING PATTERNS Step one Cut out your paper pattern pieces as normal. Trace first if preferred. Step two Identify how much you need to lengthen the pattern…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 1.5m of lightweight, floaty fabric■ 1m bias binding■ Ruler/ tape measure■ Marking tool■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise stated FABRIC USED ■ Blue viscose lawn from Sew Me Sunshine CUTTING OUT Step one From your main fabric cut: Main bodice: Measure your waist in centimetres and the distance from your shoulder to your waist. Cut a rectangle of fabric the width of your waist x twice your shoulder to waist measurement (you can add an extra few cms to the waist measurement for extra coverage if you prefer). Bottom Panel: Two rectangles your waist measurement x 10cm. Ties: Four rectangles 40x10cm Neck Binding: One 75x2.5cm strip that is cut on on the bias. CREATE ROLLED HEMS Step one…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Green plush fabric: 55x50cm■ Pink plush fabric: 55x35cm■ Purple plush fabric: 55x35cm■ Yellow plush fabric: 20x20cm■ Soft quilt wadding (about 1-2mm thick): 78x38cm■ Black wool felt: 2.5x2.5cm■ Polyester toy filling: 200g■ Black stranded cotton■ Long doll sewing needle■ Extra long pins FINISHED SIZE ■ Approximately 45cm tall FABRICS USED ■ Cuddle Plush by Shannon Fabrics. NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Fabric measurements are W x H.■ 6mm seam allowance is included in the templates.■ Arrows on templates indicate direction of plush pile.■ Fasten off at the beginning and end of stitching, unless otherwise indicated.■ Tack before sewing. CUTTING OUT Step one Download and print the templates. Step two Place and pin the pattern pieces onto the wrong side (WS) of the fabric and draw…

When I first finished this skirt, I could only cry looking at it. Hot angry tears, aimed only at myself. I painstakingly stitched each of the seven panels multiple times to ensure perfect pattern matching. There was so much unpicking, but it was pristine and I was so proud. Then I attached the waistband and saw that all my obsessive pattern matching was for naught. The front panel was cut off-grain and I was all out of fabric. Through gritted teeth and literal tears, I finished the buttonholes and hem. But when I put it on, it was barely noticeable. I’d struggled so hard over such minute details, making my hobby so unnecessarily stressful. At that moment, I determined I needed to challenge the perfectionism that was stealing the joy…

As the world awakens from winter and the bulbs we planted last year start to push through the soil - much to my daughters' joy - I look forward to some springtime sewing and the joy it brings me! Spring - with its blooming flowers and vibrant colours is such an inspiring sewing time - and our patterns this issue have been especially chosen to reflect the energy and freshness of the season. From The Chloé Dress to the Velvet Pouffe, there's no shortage of ideas to infuse your wardrobe and home with the spirit of spring! Celebrate the beauty and creativity that springtime sewing brings!…

We love the Drinkmate OmniFizz – it adds sparkle and bubbles to your favourite drink, not just water! One lucky winner will be able to sit back and plan their next sewing make with their fizzy drink of choice as we’ve teamed up with Drinkmate to offer an OmniFizz soda maker to one Simply Sewing reader. Drinkmate’s OmniFizz is one of the leading home carbonation systems in the world – cited as Best Overall Soda Maker for 2024. It’s patented, proprietary technology allows you to carbonate any kind of beverage safely and quickly. Most other home carbonation models only carbonate water. Drinkmate OmniFizz allows you to carbonate juice, tea, cold brew coffee, wine, and even cocktails with a press of a button. No electricity is required and Drinkmate features a…

Diving into the craft of sewing has played a significant role in shaping the person I am today. I started sewing in December 2018, and since then, I haven't taken a break. Sewing has become therapeutic for me, and I enjoy creating garments. I wouldn't have developed my current style, confidence, and skill set without this craft. We need to go back to my childhood to gain insight into my fashion sense. Before I started sewing, I didn't believe I had a fashion sense. As a child, most of my clothes were hand-me-downs, imitations of others, or whatever my mother could afford. My mom had a simple yet practical approach to clothing. She preferred that I wear primarily solid colours to match most of my wardrobe. She also believed that…

BABY PILLOW YOU WILL NEED ■ 1m fabric of your choice (we chose one plain piece and one patterned)■ Matching thread■ Extra large bag of polyester stuffing■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise stated■ The finished item should measure approx 51 x 35.5cm CUTTING OUT Step one First cut out the templates and assemble according to the diagram. Step two Cut two pieces on the fold from your main fabric. 01 MAKING THE PILLOW Step one Unfold the two fabric pieces and place right sides (RS) together. Pin in place. 02 Step two Using a 1.5cm seam allowance, sew your pillow together. Leave an opening the size of your hand in the upper right-hand corner. 03 Step three Trim your…

FELT MOBILE YOU WILL NEED ■ Mobile hanger■ Different coloured felt■ Metallic faux leather■ Matching sewing thread■ White embroidery thread■ Hot glue gun■ Soft toy stuffing■ Tapestry needle■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ When hanging this mobile in a nursery or young child’s bedroom, always make sure it’s kept well out of reach. Avoid suspending it over a cot or crib, and always make sure it’s properly secured to the ceiling. CREATING THE SHAPES Step one Using the templates, cut out all the pattern pieces – you’ll need two for each shape. Step two Pin the two felt pieces for your first shape together, aligning the edges. Sew around the outside, as close to the edge as possible, leaving a gap for stuffing as indicated…

Sewing is having a resurgence. More and more people are starting to have a go at making their own clothes and for the first time in years, we are seeing men all over picking up the hobby. We chat to three male sewists who have been having a big impact on the sewing community. Tony Rea (@tonyr.maker) is a 54-year-old postman living in North Cornwall with his wife and two daughters and one of this year’s Sewing Bee Finalists. “I’m a self-taught sewist, I started around four years ago when I took a gap year at the ripe old age of 50.” He says. “It was then I revisited my crafting and sewing seemed to come out on top!” And the reaction to becoming a sewist aged 50? “When people…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 1.5m main fabric – we used a crushed velvet■ 1.5m cotton lining fabric■ Two flat pink buttons: 4cm wide■ Matching thread■ Six 250g bags of soft toy stuffing■ Long upholstery needle■ Strong upholstery thread■ Tailor’s chalk■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ The template does not include seam allowance (see template for details). CUTTING OUT Step one Using the template, draw an ellipse shape onto the lining fabric. Add a 1.5cm seam allowance, then cut out. Repeat five more times to make six shapes in total. 01 Step two Place the main fabric right side (RS) down on a flat surface, then place a lining shape on top, RS down. Using the lining as a template, cut an ellipse shape from the…

What image does the word ballerina conjure in your mind? For most of us, it’s like the opening of a musical jewellery box: an elegant dancer on pointe, with arms aloft and dressed in a beautiful tutu. It’s hard to think of ballet without this iconic garment. Swan Lake wouldn’t be Swan Lake without an abundance of white tulle. For while the most important aspect of ballet is the dance, the role of the tutu should not be underestimated, and nobody knows that better than leading costume maker Amanda Hall. Swan Lake tutus made by Amanda and the team at the Royal Opera House can be seen on stage between March and June and in a live screening to local cinemas in April. Amanda has been sewing costumes for the…

HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF ACCURATELY ALWAYS MEASURE YOURSELF BEFORE you choose a pattern size to cut out. The sizes do vary greatly from pattern to pattern, so it’s always best to measure yourself accurately and then refer to the pattern’s size chart to find your size. The chart will usually be printed on the pattern envelope or on the instructions inside. Measure yourself in your underwear and preferably in the bra you’ll be wearing underneath your garment as this can alter the measurements slightly. Use a fabric tape measure as it’ll curve around your body well for accuracy. You can measure on your own if you stand in front of a mirror, but, for best results, ask a friend to help so they can check the tape measure is sitting…

SIZES 6–30 (US 2–26/EUR 30–54) PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: 2.4mx115cm wide fabric or 2.2mx140cm wide fabric■ Iron-on interfacing: 40cm■ Two tassels (optional)■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTE ■ The seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise stated. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS Light to medium weight woven fabrics such as cottons, crepe, rayon or linen. BODY MEASUREMENTS © Printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Supplied by Our Media Company Ltd, Bristol, BS1 4ST. For individual, private use only and not for commercialor manufacturing purposes. Not for resale. STITCHING TERMS RS/WS: Right side/wrong side of the fabric. The right side usually has the print, design or texture and the wrong side is usually plain or duller in appearance. Machine tack: Use a long…

BRI OOMS Bri is a queer, disabled sewist who works as a sewing content creator and communications advisor. She’s an Oregon gal, but she currently lives in The Netherlands. See her fave make on page 82. KAMALI AZUBIKE OBIAGU Kamali is a gifted sewist, a devoted mum, and a loving wife. Her confidence and pride in her African American ancestry infuse her creations with cultural richness. Read her column on page 22. MARK FRANCIS Mark runs his growing sewing business teaching, holding talks and workshops all over the country as well as selling patterns, cosplay goods and working on commissions. Find out more on page 44. TERRANCE WILLIAMS Terrance Williams is a sewer, designer and small business owner based in Dallas Texas. Turn to page 44 to read more about…

Spring is here! It's time to revamp your spring wardrobe with a bright and easy-to-wear dress. Made from light-to-medium weight knit fabrics the Chloé dress is super comfy to wear. The stretch in the fabric allows for easier movement and flexibility, which is especially useful if the dress is being made for an active person. The Chloé has a flattering silhouette, as the fabric conforms to the body's shape, can withstand stretching and movement without losing it's shape, making it the perfect choice for a dress that will get regular use. Knit fabrics are generally easier to work with because they don't fray like woven fabrics, and also tend to require less fitting as they naturally stretch to fit the body. This makes the sewing process smoother and more forgiving…

ANIMAL BIBS YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric (for front of bib): 34x24cm■ Contrast fabric (for back of bib): 34x24cm■ Appliqué fabric (for the animal): assorted scraps■ Bondaweb: approx 30x30cm■ Bias binding: 150cm■ Press fastener■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance unless otherwise stated.■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates CUTTING OUT Step one Choose which animal you want to appliqué then trace around all the templates for its face individually and cut them out. Step two Cut one bib piece from the main fabric for the front and one piece from the contrast fabric for the back. Step three Trace the animal’s features onto the paper side of the Bondaweb. Press them onto the wrong side (WS) of the fabric scraps and cut out the shapes.…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Recycled original: a man’s shirt■ 1.5cm elastic: for length, measure child’s leg circumference, minus 2.5cm, then double it. NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Seam allowance is 1cm MAKING THE ROMPER Step one Pin the pattern pieces to the shirt. Place the pattern piece for the top part so there is a button about 3cm from the upper edge. Step two Cut out the pieces with a 1cm seam allowance. Cut through the shirt, cutting out the front and back at the same time. Step three Place the front and back right sides (RS) together and sew the shoulder seams and the side seams. Step four Zigzag stitch round the neck. Fold over the neckline by 1cm to hem, then topstitch. Step five With RS…

DRAFT YOUR OWN! YOU WILL NEED ■ Approx 2m of 150cm wide fabric■ A raglan-sleeved t-shirt dress that fits you■ Tracing paper■ Bias binding 1-1.5cm wide■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ We recommend using a medium weight knit fabric such as ponte roma or ribbed jersey.■ Use a 1cm seam allowance throughout and a 1.5cm hem allowance. CREATING THE PATTERN Step one You will make the pattern pieces by tracing your chosen dress. Fold the dress in half lengthways and firstly trace the front piece onto your tracing paper. 01 Step two Flip the dress over and trace the back. Step three Trace the sleeve - it may be easier to trace the sleeve back and the sleeve front separately and then stick them together along the centre…

Create this cute little fella as an extra special Easter gift or Easter decoration with a personal, handmade touch − not to mention the sustainable eco-friendly option, reducing the need for mass-produced, plastic decorations. Follow the easy-to-follow paper pattern, designed by Jo Carter, free with this issue of Simply Sewing. Once you make one, there will be no stopping you − you will have a whole warren of rabbits before you know it! Want to sew more soft toy animals? Visit Jo's website at twoowlsdesign.co.uk…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Socks■ Stranded cotton in five rainbow shades plus black (we used DMC 351, 3340, 743, 958, 208, and 310)■ Iron transfer pen■ Tracing paper (or copy paper)■ 7.5cm Embroidery hoop■ Embroidery needle■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates TRANSFER THE DESIGN Step one Trace the pattern onto tracing paper with an iron transfer pen. Place the traced design face down on the side of one sock and press with a hot iron. Repeat for the second sock. 01 TIP: Fold the corner of the paper back so you have an easy way to know which side of the paper should go face down. Step two Place the sock in the embroidery hoop The design will stretch a little which is good as…

TOY FLOWER PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! TOY FLOWER PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE TOY FLOWER PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE TOY FLOWER PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE SOCKS PAGE 67 ACTUAL SIZE Thank you for making these projects from Simply Sewing. The copyright for these templates belongs to the designer of the project. They work hard to create projects for you to enjoy, so please don’t re-sell or distribute their work without permission. Please do not make any part of the templates or instructions available to others through your website or a third party, or copy it multiple times without our permission. Copyright law protects creative work and unauthorised copying is illegal. We appreciate your…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A (plain fabric): 40cm square■ Fabric B (print fabric): 30cm square■ Fabric C (for tail): 9cm square■ Stranded cotton (dark brown)■ Polyester toy filling■ Thin batting: 28x16cm■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Essex Linen in Grey, Robert Kaufman.■ Dottie in Pool on Cream from Mod Basics, Birch Organic Fabrics.■ Essex Linen in Natural, Robert Kaufman.\■ Floral Collection from Flower Sugar, Lecien. NOTES ■ Finished size 43cm tall (from foot to ear)■ All seam allowances are 5mm, unless otherwise stated.■ Wash and press fabrics well before cutting out.■ Templates include seam allowances.■ Arrows on the templates indicate print direction for marking and cutting out. Jo Carter is a soft-toy designer. See her full range of patterns, kits…