My exciting news…I’ve written another  sewing book Everyone has their favourite items of clothing that they love because they fit them perfectly and look great. This practical guide for home dressmakers explains how to remake your wardrobe favourites without having to unpick and ruin the originals.  Discover how to create a wardrobe full of your favourite items that you know will fit perfectly and can be remade again and again in various fabrics simply by using a combination of techniques including tracing and measuring to create your own dressmaking patterns. To get a truly a ..read more

Exciting news coming soon! I’ve been beavering away over the last year on something that’s almost ready to reveal. I can’t wait to share this project soon, but it’s not quite ready yet….   Stay tuned though, I’ll be revealing all on 19th April at 10 am.   Make sure to sign up to the newsletter below if you’d like to hear my news updates. Sign up now ..read more

Have you ever tried cloning your clothes? Imagine being able to make multiple versions of your favourite clothes without having to take the original apart….. If this sounds like you, read on for a couple of free video sessions on how to clone your clothes My favourite dress clone   As a costumer, I’ve had to clone a garment many times when it’s been ripped beyond repair, or melted by an enthusiastic Laundry assistant prepping for that show that night….. It’s an essential skill for costuming and is my favourite method for creating patterns when I sew for myself. Often when I find a dres ..read more

New to sewing and need to change the sewing machine needle? I’ll show you how in this step by step tutorial, and share some top tips about sewing machine needles too…   Sewing machine needles are not a purchase for life! If you’ve still to purchase a machine, head over to this post to help you choose   They should be changed for every 8 hours of continuous sewing, and for each new project or different fabric. EG if sewing denim, and you try and use the same needle for chiffon, you will very likely snag the chiffon.   Most brands of domestic sewing machine needles are generally ..read more

Ever wondered how to construct a classic tailored waistband with canvas like they do in traditional menswear? Join me and my membership club on Tuesday march 5th at 19:30 GMT for a live zoom class with bespoke tailor and part time Lecturer Greg Dunn who will be showing us exactly how to make a traditionally tailored waistband. Can’t make the live zoom class? No worries, a recording replay will also be sent to those who sign up for the class, so you can watch along at your own pace later on. It’s just £7.99 to join me, Greg and my elevator club members tomorrow night ( session is inc ..read more

For day 11 of my 12 days of sewing series, I wanted to share my top tips and tricks for choosing and getting the most out of an adjustable mannequin.     So you might be thinking that to choose your size you merely get one that matches the biggest part of you right? Well that coulod mean that the mannequin or dress-form will be too big all over for you.     Watch the video to learn more and see my process when working with an adjustable mannequin.     Happy stitching all CL :) Download my fit buddy measurement form Download my how to create a fit buddy handout ..read more

It’s day 9 of my 12 days of sewing series, and I couldn’t do a sewing series without helping anyone who is an absolute newbie too.   Maybe you’ve just got a sewing machine, or you’re thinking about getting a sewing machine? Or maybe you’re teaching someone to sew? If so then download my free Make friends with your sewing machine beginners handbook.   It’s a 12 page booklet all about getting started on the machine, and includes hyperlinks to some of my beginner sewing videos too.   Keep it somewhere safe on your computer to refer back to, or even print off a copy. And do feel fr ..read more

For day 8 of my 12 days of sewing series I’m sharing how to make your own lining pattern pieces when the original pattern is unlined   One of the ways your can extend the life of the sewing patterns you’ve invested time fitting is by re-making them and tweaking the style. For example making an unlined jacket into a lined one, will create a very different outcome.   I’m asked all the time how to do this by my students, so in this video lesson I show you how to you can easily make your own lining patterns   Happy stitching all CL :) PS- There’s a little written tutorial to acc ..read more

It’s day 7 of my 12 days of sewing series and today is all about altering either ready to wear trousers or a previous make   Altering clothes as a costumer was my speciality, and I’m passionate about being “thrifty” with our resources. One thing that can really transform a slightly outdated trouser leg is to change it’s shape. Recently I altered some bootcut jeans to straight legs and will now wear them again, so they’re no longer languishing in my cupboard   In this video lesson, I show you a little theory about avoiding twisting by keeping on grain, plus I walk you through taperin ..read more

Day 6 of my 12 days of sewing series was facebook live all about some of my favourite sewing and fitting books.   I’ve linked all the books shared during the live below.   Happy stitching all CL :) Books I shared in the video   The Reader’s digest guide to sewing   Fabric for Fashion– the swatch book   All new fabric Savvy by Sandra Betzina   The art of sewing: basic tailoring   The singer reference library guide to Tailoring   The Perfect fit book (singer/apple/creative publishers)   The fitting book   Ahead of the curve by Jenny Rushmore ..read more