If I ask you do you fancy making your own coat, what thoughts go through your head? I remember the first time someone suggested that to me and it was way out of my comfort zone. So what about you? Are you thinking - it's easy Jacqui I've already done it - if so, then kudos to you. Or are you thinking - I'd love to do that but it seems way too difficult? Whether you have already made a coat or if it's one of those projects you keep putting off until you are better at sewing then I'm hoping that today's episode is going to dispell any fears and motivate you to give it a try. Like with all garm ..read more

As promised for season 2 we have a number of BONUS episodes with expert guests. Do you ever find that when you try to buy clothes that they often fit one part of your body but not others? For example if buying trousers or jeans, you can get them to fit your hips but they are too tight or loose on the waist and too tight or loose on the thighs. Or if you are trying to buy dresses, if you get the size to fit your bust it's too big on the shoulders or drowns your bottom half, but if you try the size on to fit your waist and hips, it's too tight across the bust? You may have had the same experi ..read more

Hello my lovelies and thanks for joining me for this week's episode. As the weather turns a bit colder I thought it might be good to talk about sewing with thicker fabrics so today I have 10 tips for you plus a couple of bonus tips on working with these sometimes trickier fabrics. First I'd like to just cover a couple of things I wanted to remember to share with you. It is approaching winter here in the UK and whilst it has been quite a mild autumn the colder nights are just around the corner. We are also experiencing unprecedented fuel costs and so warm clothes and layers will definitely be a ..read more

If you have struggled to find the perfect garment to help you transition from the warm weather to the cooler temperatures then look no further. The trusty Duster Jacket also known as a long cardigan is the perfect make and the pattern I'm reviewing in this episode is a great for beginner dressmakers and experienced sewists alike. The Simplicity 8557 pattern includes 5 garments and is definitely in the easy to sew category. In this episode I give you some tips on sewing stretch fabrics if this is your first time making a stretch garment. I also talk through the versions I have made, my mistakes ..read more

When you hear the long list of different clothes that Melanie Keane has made it's hard to believe that she only started sewing when the UK Prime Minister announced the lockdown in 2020.  When I was planning for Season 2 of the Sew Mindful podcast I asked the Sew Much More Fun facebook group what topics they would like to hear about. Mel responded and said that it would be good to talk about the challenges of buying fabric as she had had some bad experiences and learnt a lot from them.  I was intrigued to hear about Mel's experiences and thought you might be too. So I was delighted th ..read more

In this first interview of season 2 I'm delighted to be talking to Mel Forrest of Mint Button Sewing School.  Mel was a primary school teacher for 15 years before leaving to pursue a 'portfolio career' in the home-sewing industry. She now teaches 1:1 sewing lessons and workshops. She also works part time as a retail assistant in a fabric shop - Home Town, Rochester. And if that wasn't enough you may also come into contact with her as a customer service assistant for the online sewing pattern shop, The Foldline. I found out about Mel through a blog post she wrote about an experiment she ..read more

Well it's been longer than I planned but better later than never!  The Sew Mindful sewing podcast is back for another season. Thanks for all of you that gave me the encouragement and friendly nudges to get back to my microphone. Have you missed me? Well, I've definitely missed talking with you and you have never been far from my thoughts. So this episode is a quick introduction to what to expect from the new season. It also includes a special offer for 20% off from the wonderful Erica Schmitz of MybodyModel so be sure to listen out for that. For more details on this episode and the links ..read more

In this episode I am speaking to the serene Sylvie Hart of Sylvie Hart Style about how to uncover your own style personality.  Sylvie helps women discover their inner style and create a wardrobe that aligns their style + lifestyle. And like me she believes that when we feel comfortable and confident in how we look, there is a ripple effect in who we aspire to be and what we can accomplish. In this episode we talk about my style journalling experiment that she coached me through and the surprising revelations that I got from it.  We also talk about some simple practical steps you can ..read more

Welcome to episode 14 of the Sew Mindful podcast. This episode will air on Halloween so if the thought of having your photo taken sends chills down your spine then this episode is just for you.  I am delighted to welcome back the inimitable Imogen Lamport of Inside Out Style who shares 13 great tips on how to turn your frightful photo experiences into sexy selfies that you’ll be proud to show off. For those of you making your own clothes, after taking all that time and effort to bring together your gorgeous creations it is only fitting that you should show them off and seeing them on a ma ..read more

Thank you so much for tuning in. This week my guest is the fabulous Jenny Rushmore of Cashmerette.  I have admired Jenny for a long time, as a regular consumer of the excellent information in the  Curvy Sewing Collective and following the Cashmerette Pattern brand as it has grown and flourished. I was delighted to get the chance to ask Jenny about her journey and her mission and she was so generous in opening up in our chat. She shares how as a curvy sewist she discovered sewing aged 30 and as she began to make her own clothes she realised it transformed not only what she was wearin ..read more