Hello! This month on our Sewing Club Podcast we're all about the Titillating Tank by Gracie Steel. It's the perfect pick for anyone sewing a capsule collection wardrobe. This pattern really gives you a lot of bang for your buck, offering everything from a crop top to a sleek dress, with options for high, mid, or low backs and your choice of strap thickness. It’s a fantastic way to stretch your sewing skills (and your fabric!). Quick Details: Pattern: The Titillating Tank by Gracie Steel Size: E Fabrics: I used Pink Ecovera Rayon Spandex Jersey (95% Ecovera Viscose, 5% Elastane) and ..read more

Welcome back to Episode 4 of The Sewing Club Podcast! This week, we're diving into a must-have for any capsule wardrobe: The Clo Bias Skirt by Soften Studio. This bias skirt, with elasticated waist and waist ties, offers the ultimate blend of comfort and style. Whether you're dressing it down for a casual day or sprucing it up with a fancy fabric, it's a super versatile skirt. We're incredibly thankful to Melody from Soften Studio for ultimately deciding to release this pattern as it almost didn't make it out into the sewing world. Here's the quick rundown: Pattern: The Clo Bias Skirt&n ..read more

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Episode Three of our Sewing Club Podcast. This time around, we're getting into the Sia Dress by Marsha Style Patterns. It's a bit more involved than what we've tackled before, with its invisible zipper and lining, but it's been a fun challenge to sink our teeth into.  Here's the quick rundown: Pattern: The Sia Dress by Marsha Style Patterns Size: Small Fabric: Collette Lilac checked linen from Sewing Gem Sewing Label: A mix of Handmade Rainbow and Pink Hand   The Sia Dress packs in some really cool details - you can choose between short sleeves wi ..read more

We've been busy working away behind the scenes at Sewing Gem over the past few months, and we're absolutely thrilled to unveil to you The Sewing Podcast. So, what exactly is The Sewing Club Podcast, you might be wondering? Imagine a book club, but for sewing patterns. In each episode, Kylie (from Kylie and the Machine) and I will make and review a sewing pattern. We'll delve into every aspect, discussing what we found challenging, what we might do a bit differently next time, and all while sharing handy hints and tips for sewing it.  For our inaugural Sewing Club Podcast pattern, w ..read more

We now stock busks, coutil, flat steel bones and lots of other corsetry products at Sewing Gem. After applying 30 eyelets to a corset it seemed fitting to use this week's Tips On Tuesday to show you how to use the Prym Vario pliers for this task. So here's how!... 1.  Start by carefully marking the eyelets placement. This will depend on the size of the eyelet and how many are needed. A simflex is a really good device for this job. It's definitely a time saver! 2. A device for making a hole in your project will be included in your packet of prym eyelets. The particular devi ..read more

This weeks tips on Tuesday looks at how you can take up pants but leave the original stitched hem in place. This method is particularly useful if you have children who grow very fast as the hem is not cut when it is taken up. It is just a case of undoing the stitching to let down your hem and the pants will last a bit longer. Depending on the style it may look better to keep the original hem as this keeps the character of the pants.  1. First you will need to measure how much the hem needs to be taken up. Click here for a previous tips on Tuesday on working out how much the pants&nbs ..read more

This week is the second section of 'Tips For Taking Up Pants'. You can find the first section here. Once you have completed the measuring and marking stages that can be found in the previous blog follow the steps below: 1. Cut the excess off the bottom of the pants. This can be the scary / no turning back part!:)  2. Turn the pants inside out and press the hem up to the first line. In this case I pressed it up 1.5cm and I used a hot hemmer to help me. The raw edge of the pants should touch the marked line for where the pants will finish once hemmed. 3. Repeat this step again by tur ..read more

 I hate alterations, but when your short-legged husband asks you to take two pairs of his pants up it's hard to say no! :)  Over the next two weeks of tips on Tuesday I thought I would cover hemming pants. This week will be on pinning and measuring. Next week will cover the sewing. My go to book for alterations is Clothing Alteration Secrets Revealed by Judith Turner. There are some amazing tips and instructions in here for all sorts of alterations. Pinning and Measuring Pants 1. Get the person who's pants you are taking up to stand on a chair or a box to raise th ..read more

I've been busy making a pair of black linen pants with pockets. Here's a quick step by step run down on how the front pocket is assembled. The pocket has an outer and an inner pocket bag and a pocket facing.  1. Firstly interface the edge of the pocket on the wrong side of the front leg with iron on interfacing. I have used black here so that it can be seen in the photo, but you will need to use interfacing which is nearer to the fabric colour and will be less obvious.   2. Pin and sew the outer pocket bag to the front leg of the pants, with right sides together. 3. Clip the c ..read more

Previously we have covered how to create a lining pattern and sew a skirt with a slit. This week it's the final blog on how to hem a skirt or dress with a slit. Apologies for the furry towel background this week, we are away on holidays and I had to improvise and use a towel:)  There are two options that I'll run through here for hemming. The easier option which involves simply turning it up and the slightly more involved version which is using a mitred corner. With either option start by pressing up the hem either side of the slit, making sure they are the same length and one d ..read more