April’s MIY Maker (a bit belated…!)

I can’t believe I completely forgot to post this on here. (I managed to post it everywhere else!!)

So, it was a fairly close run vote, but Kath’s Fulwood dress won in the end. I do love the look of those pleats turned into gathers and have been inspired to make a version of my own. More on that soon.

In the meantime a well deserved congratulations to Kath.

A Review of the Roehampton Culottes from Beginner’s Guide to Skirts

Aimee (aka Wrong Doll on her blog and Instagram) is a prolific stitcher, I don’t know how she manages it alongside a full-time job!

She recently made the Roehampton Culottes from my book “A Beginner’s Guide to Making Skirts” and I instantly wanted to steal them!  They’re so my style; Aimee’s chosen the kind of fabric I’d have gone for and wears them pretty much how I would choose to.

Her review of the culottes project and the whole book makes heart warming reading for me but here are some choice words:

“Wendy’s book is split in two – the individual projects, followed by a techniques section at the end. This format empowers you to get into the driving seat and customise each pattern according to your whim.”

“Thanks to the mode of presentation and clarity of instruction, these Roehampton culottes are by far my most well made make to date.”

It’s so satisfying to know that I’ve played a small part in improving someone’s sewing skills like this. That’s what it’s all about folks.

Read Aimee’s full review here and get a signed copy of my book here.

A Review of the Longley Cardigan Pattern

Looking for that perfect in-between-seasons project?  My Longley cardigan pattern might just be for you and Fiona of Diary of a Chainstitcher blog has just made a gorgeous version which she’s blogged about along with a review of the pattern.

Spoiler: I think she loved it! Here are some of the lovely things Fiona says about the pattern.

“When the construction is as well thought out as this getting professional looking results is very satisfying.”

“The finishing of the Longley is a real selling point for me and I highly recommend it as a cracking pattern to try if you are looking for a similar style.”

Read her full review here. You can also read more reviews of the Longley pattern here and get your copy of the pattern here.

My Month on Social Media – April 2017

Not everyone does social media, but as someone who does, I can see its pitfalls:

it’s so quick that sometimes it’s easier to post something on social media than to give it more time and space in a blog post,

not everyone uses social media and I have no real control over who sees what I post as they’re now all controlled by algorithms (with the exception of Twitter)

and its advantages:

because I post regularly on social media it acts as a kind of diary.

So, for a while now I’ve been trying to think of a way to bring the 2 (blogging and social media) together and this is what I’ve come up with. A blog post at the end of each month to collect the highlights of my news and news I’ve found elsewhere and shared on my social media channels.

So, here goes……

INSTAGRAM

• I started doing the #100daysproject, where you set yourself a creative theme or challenge and post a photo a day of your progress. I set myself a #100daysofpattern challenge to continue the work I started on my screen printing course at the end of last year and have included some of my posts here: top centre is work I started at a collage workshop led by local Brighton artist Esther Cox, centre left is a one of my designs printed on a length of cotton poplin from Spoonflower that I’ll be sewing up very soon and centre bottom is one version of a pin print I started working on.
• Some gorgeous makes from my patterns old and new popped up on Instagram this month, my highlights were these 2 completely different Fulwood dresses (centre right) – I just love how the same pattern can produce such different results! Bottom left is Naz’s 2nd make from a new pattern I’ve been working on for a while (perks of being a MIY Workshop student), she’s a big fan of it already.
• We shot the last batch of samples for “A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing With Knitted Fabrics” this month (centre image and top left). I got the neon pink fabric paint out for that top left sample and I was soooo happy with the results, I can’t wait for you to see the finished thing.
• Finally I had a relaxing long weekend with the dogs back home in Sheffield for my dad’s birthday (top right and bottom right), highlights included visiting one of my favourite places – Yorkshire Sculpture Park. If you’re ever up that way (just off the M1 between Sheffield and Leeds), go visit; if you like art and the outdoors you’ll love it.

FACEBOOK

I have two Facebook pages; a MIY Collection one and a MIY Workshop one. Occasionally I share interesting things I’ve seen elsewhere on Facebook, my blog posts and this month links to my Sewing Dictionary and Fabric Dictionary. Have you seen them? They’re right here on my blog:

SEWING DICTIONARY     FABRIC DICTIONARY

TWITTER

Fabulous Granville #wrapskirt from #beginnersguidetoskirtshttps://t.co/XlQfdJN7kw

— Wendy Ward (@thatwendyward) April 3, 2017

On Twitter I shared this review of the the Granville Wrap skirt from ” A Beginner’s Guide to Making Skirts”,

Great zip tip. https://t.co/JIjbXjVmFO

— Wendy Ward (@thatwendyward) May 1, 2017

this great tip for zip ends from C-L Hardie (sewing producer on the Sewing Bee TV shows)

At last!! I’ve long loathed these mysogonistic “titles”.
Please Stop Trying To “Empower” Women With Cutesy Titles https://t.co/3eGDf18I5G

— Wendy Ward (@thatwendyward) April 27, 2017

and a polarising piece about feminism and labels which really is a thought-provoking read if you’re a woman, a feminist, running a business, or all of the above…..

PINTEREST

I have to confess I mainly use Pinterest for my own ideas / inspiration (I’m thinking I really should up my Pinterest game……..one day, soon…) and have most recently been collecting images that have been inspiring my print / pattern experiments…..

I’ve recently discovered John Piper’s beautiful collages thanks to Esther Cox

and have become a little obsessed with Ellsworth Kelly’s beautifully simple line drawings of plants and flowers.

I did also find and pin some great sewing resources recently,

such as this great illustration of how to sew a cuff placket.

Last but definitely not least, each April sees growing awareness for Fashion Revolution Day and this year I had a timely postal delivery of this Kickstarter project by Safia Minney (founder of ethical clothing company People Tree) that I backed way back last year.

Anyone who buys clothing from high street brands should read this book, but I know that most sewists in particular will find it useful (if not shocking). You can get a copy here.

So, that’s it, my April on Social Media. I’d love to know what you think?

New Class!!! Make a Wrap Skirt

All images taken from “A Beginner’s Guide to Making Skirts and © Cico books / Julian Ward Photography.

Join me for a day of dressmaking this summer. You will make the easy Granville wrap skirt from my latest book “A Beginner’s Guide to Making Skirts”.

This class is ideal for beginners and there are lots of different ways to make the wrap skirt; with ties or buttons, with pockets and even a reversible version so you can really make it to suit your own style. It’s quick, easy and a gorgeous flattering skirt that’s perfect for summer.

You’ll learn how to sew accurate seams, my favourite method for neat hems, how to sew darts, how to attach a facing or lining and how to make and attach a pocket (if you choose that option!).

By the end of the day you’ll feel confident using a sewing machine and leave with a unique-to-you handmade skirt, ready for wearing all summer.

Some materials will be provided, a full list of materials needed will be sent when you book your place.

• Suitable for absolute beginners.                                                                                            
• Class size limited to just 5 people.
• £95

To book your place email Wendy on miyworkshop@gmail.com or ring 01273 693451

Signed Books Available Again!

Good news, you can pre-order signed copies of both of my books again right now!

I have only ordered limited numbers, so when they’re gone they’re gone. Make sure you don’t miss out and pre-order yours now.

Payment will be processed at time of order and books will be dispatched week commencing 15th May.

Get your copies of Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking here and Beginner’s Guide to Making Skirts here.

Vote For April’s MIY Maker

Yes, I can’t believe it’s that time again, who will get your vote this month to be April’s MIY Maker? (By the way, you might have noticed that March’s MIY Maker is missing from the blog – as it was a special MIY March MIY Maker, you can find all the finalists and the winner over on my Instagram account.)

Here are the final four makers for this month (clockwise from top left):

• Rhiannon’s Brighton Skirt from my book “Beginner’s Guide to Making Skirts”
• Kath’s MIY Collection Fulwood Dress (with the pleats cleverly adapted into gathers – not sure why I’ve never thought to do that!)
• Andrea’s Shift Dress from my book “Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking”
• Verity’s Fulwood Dress.

Over to you, which of these lovely makes do you think deserves to be this month’s MIY Maker and win their next MIY Collection pattern for free?

Leave a comment with your favourite and I’ll announce the winner at the end of the day tomorrow (Monday 1st May). Voting is also open on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.