This 100% Organic Cotton from Jaycotts.co.uk could not be more summery. It is cool and fresh and screams out to be made into a cool dress for yourself or a child.  I wanted to pick out one of the colours and add contrast elements and as it happened I had the plain fabric and lining left over from a previous post and they are exactly what wanted.   In this blog post we are going to learn a little bit about pattern matching and I will show you an easy way of sewing a lapped zipper   What usually happens with me is that I choose fabric and pattern c ..read more

  Choosing your iron is as important as choosing your sewing machine. A good sewist will set the ironing board up every time she sits down to sew.  Why is this important?  Put simply if you press every seam and every dart as you sew them you will end up with a far superior garment to one you did not bother to press as you went along. It is the different between Handmade and Homemade . Handmade is special, it is bespoke, and it looks and feels great to wear. A garment which is not put together with care will never look professional.  It stands to reason that your iron must ..read more

 Have you seen the high quality fabrics now on sale at Jaycotts If you haven't then you are missing out.     This fabric is made from 100% Organic cotton , there are many other  fabulous prints on  their website,  but it is the Simplicity  designs I want to show you today and give you some ideas what you can  make with them    This is my interpretation of how to use this fabric. However as I aim my blog at sewing newbies I feel that there are other patterns which would be easier and quicker to sew and would look every bit as good ..read more

Thoughts on machine embroidery   Whenever I mention that I am going to do some machine embroidery I get dozens of requests to see it in action. There is no doubt that these machines  are infinitely fascinating,  but have you thought of investing in one yourself?   When I first got my embroidery machine I was so entranced by it that absolutely anything I could find was covered in embroidery.   I am more conservative now, but I still use it an awful lot and I believe that if you love sewing they are definitely a worthwhile investment.      They are e ..read more

  When you think of Jaycotts what instantly springs to mind? Most people answer sewing machines, patterns or thread. Well yes, that is perfectly  correct , But when did you last look at their website, because they are now major suppliers of exceptionally high quality organic cotton fabric.  The fabric I used to make my dress  is a wonderful organic cotton. You can view the range available on Organic Cotton from Jaycotts  The photo above shows just a very small selection available , there are more on the link and even more instore The fabric I used for this d ..read more

If there is one garment worthwhile sewing it is trousers. If like me you struggle to purchase the perfect fit in ready to wear then this post is for you. I started sewing my own pants years ago and quite honestly will never buy them again. My Handmade Jeans in particular are the most perfect fit and I love them. The fabrics I use are high quality like the fabric in this post, but because they fit so well and they wash well the cost per wear is minimal  The fabric is Organic Cotton with lycra For my other pair I used a lighter colour- the denim fabric is available in other colours ..read more

A Shirtdress is timeless and classic, and I love mine, I wear them in lots of different ways throughout the year. I wear it as a summer dress or with a pullover underneath and thick tights or leggings  when it's cold.  But my favourite way to wear one,, especially when made in Denim, is to wear it as a coat over trousers and a simple Breton . A Shirtdress is so adaptable..  I chose to make view D which is the shorter version with the curved hem. I also made a pair of trousers using the pattern next to it,  but I feel that trouser making merits a separate post, so that is ..read more

I am so excited to be back blogging, and a little nervous too, but doesn't it feel great to be moving forwards at last THE SIMPLICITY PATTERN 8593 VINTAGE BLOUSE COLLECTION. The Fabric is an Organic Cotton fabric by Cloud9     Everything used in this post is from Jaycotts Jaycotts web site and I will give links as I write the post. For any queries or to place an order do not hesitate to contact them direct. I didn't quite know where to start so I was very grateful to Christi for Choosing the fabric and pattern for me. I would not have chosen this pattern actually but ..read more

Many brands of needles are available from many different places but they are all the same right?  A needle is just a needle so why pay more when you get them cheaper? The answer to the first question is no, they are not all the same.  The answer to the second question lies in the quality of the needle you want to put in your sewing machine.  A large proportion of the issues experience with sewing machines are caused by what is put in the machine: bobbins, thread and needles being the main culprits.  The sewing machine needle is not  humble at all. It is a very signific ..read more

I would like to show you how to work with difficult fabrics. In this case a Tweed which needs careful pattern matching.The thickness of the fabric also requires a lovely finish to the waistband - a faced waistband, which is a couture technique. The waistband also has an  abutted closure at the back. All this makes for a beautiful elegant skirt. To make a skirt with handsewn zipper and waistband , not to mention pattern matching, is a garment requiring patience and time. A project to be savoured and enjoyed.     If you have just a bit of sewing experience, this is definitely within yo ..read more