Jennie Kermode When you’re doing a lot of sewing you will inevitably find yourself with scraps of fabric left over. These may seem too small to do anything with, but in fact there are many ways you can put them to use. These inventive solutions can reduce waste, save you money and …
Sewing costumes can be one of the most exciting things to do with your sewing skills, continually presenting interesting challenges and producing results that you can have lots of fun with. We talked to Marianne Wells, a keen costume-maker with over ten years’ experience creating fantasy based historical dress for …
People become involved with sewing in many different ways and for many different reasons. Helen Beaumont from Glasgow, who still considers herself to be a beginner, told us her story. “I’ve always been quite interested in sewing,” says Helen, who did embroidery on Friday afternoons at high school and who …
When money is tight, there’s no better way to save money than knowing how to do things for yourself. It’s here that sewing really comes into its own as a practical life skill. But many people remain unaware of the sheer variety of ways in which sewing can help you …
One of the most exciting things about learning to sew is discovering the vast range of fabrics out there. But how much do you really know about them? Find out with this fun Fabric Quiz. 1. The weather has been cold recently and you’re looking for a practical fabric to …
Getting to grips with sewing can be quite a challenge, but with hard work and dedication, it’s possible to achieve things you might never have thought yourself capable of. Saffron Greenwood, from Oxford, tells us how she Learned to Sew. “I started knitting about three years ago and that was …
To put it simply, a fabric without nap is a fabric that looks the same whatever way you turn it. A fabric with nap looks different, though this difference may be quite subtle, and not easy to detect at first glance. Strictly speaking, nap refers to the texture of a …
You may be disappointed by this, but the secret of shape wear is that there is no single secret! There are actually several different fabrics used for this purpose. Good shape wear has to do two things well – stretch/hold and breathe. Because of the latter factor, fabrics like nylon …
One of the hottest things in modern fashion is reconstruction. Ironically, the best way to get a totally new look is to wear something old – but remade. Fashion is a fickle beast but one thing that will always sell is the opportunity to look unique, and there customised clothing …
If you’ve read a lot of the articles on these pages, you probably think you’re pretty knowledgeable about sewing, so why not put your knowledge to the test in this fun Sewing Quiz? 1. The thread keeps breaking on your sewing machine. You’re sure it’s threaded correctly, the bobbins are …