November’s MIY Maker

October’s MIY Maker

September’s MIY Maker

Bestselling Books!

In the midst of drafting patterns, making samples, writing instructions and drawing illustrations for book number 3 it’s heartening to see books number 1 and 2 doing so well; both in Amazon’s top 10 bestselling Dressmaking books!

August’s MIY Maker

Naz’s bright and beautifully fitting shift dress from my 1st book “Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking” won your vote this month!

Well done Naz who can now choose her next MIY Collection sewing pattern for free. That dress is going to be quite an act to follow….

Reckon you can be September’s MIY Maker? Post your makes using my patterns online and you might make the final 4. Full details of how to enter here.

I look forward to seeing your makes!

Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking T-shirt in Making Magazine

The simple t-shirt from my book “The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking” is featured in the current Making Magazine (issue 61 – June 15). It’s the perfect project for this time of year – it’s quick to make, you can mix and match different knit fabrics making it a great stash buster and you can’t really have too many t-shirts, can you? Just click on the image above to download your pdf copy of the pattern. If you fancy a t-shirt dress, the pattern lengthens easily into a great little dress for layering over leggings or chucking on over your bikini on holiday…..

See You at The Spring Knitting & Stitching Show?

It’s the Spring Knitting & Stitching show at Olympia in London next week from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th.  The show opens at 10am every day and is open late until 7pm on Thursday, then 5.30pm Friday and Saturday and 5pm Sunday.

I’ll be there with signed copies of my book “The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking”, MIY Collection dressmaking patterns and sewing tools and my scissor accessories.  Find MIY Collection in the main hall on stand L16 near Fabrics Galore and M Rosenberg fabrics (now that will test my fabric shopping willpower!)

I’m also teaching at the show for the first time this year:

• Thursday 3.30-4.30pm Customising with Easy Appliqué £12 – tickets still available.
• Saturday 3.30-5pm Sew Knits on a Sewing Machine £15 – sold out.

See you there!

Photo © Julian Ward

New Dressmaking Workshop Dates – Now Booking!

As my timetable of Sunday workshops for the first half of 2015 booked up so quickly, I’ve added some extra dates for 3 of the most popular workshops.

There is a change though, I’m trialling some mid-week workshops and they’re happening over the Easter holidays.  Full details below!  To book your place, email or ring 01273 693451.

Tuesday 31st March – The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking ***

Come and make a garment from Wendy’s sewing book. You will be taken step-by-step through using one of the 6 patterns from “The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking” and should have a new t-shirt, skirt, dress, trousers or jacket to take home at the end of the day! Just bring fabric and thread. Price includes a copy of the book to take home. Suitable for beginners and those with a bit of sewing experience.                                                                                         • Class size limited to just 5 people       • 10.30am to 4.30pm      • £85

Wednesday 8th April – Make your First Garment in a Day ***

Got a sewing machine and happily doing a bit of sewing but want to have a go at making clothes? Do sewing patterns bring you out in a cold sweat?! Come to this workshop to re-cap some good sewing machine basics and use one of Wendy’s easy-to-follow, tried and tested sewing patterns and make a shrug, skirt, vest or t-shirt dress by the end of the day. Just bring fabric and thread. Price includes a pattern to take home. Suitable for beginners and those with a little bit of sewing experience.                                                                                                • Class size limited to 5 people          • 10.30am to 4.30pm          • £75

And last, but not least, the ever-popular……

Friday 10th April – Sewing with Knits ***

Sewing with stretchy jersey fabrics is easier than you might think.   At this workshop you’ll learn the best ways to cut and sew knitted fabrics using just a regular sewing machine.  You can choose from a range of Wendy’s patterns specifically designed for jersey fabrics for you to whip up something to wear by the end of the day. All you need to bring is some stretch knit fabric of your choice and matching thread.  Suitable for beginners and those with a bit of sewing experience.                                                                                                     • Class size limited to just 5 people 
   • 10.30am to 4.30pm       • £70

*** IMPORTANT: ALL WORKSHOPS THAT USE WENDY’S PATTERNS COVER THE FOLLOWING MEASUREMENTS: bust 84-101cm (33-40″), waist 68-85cm (27-33.5″), hips 92-109cm (36-43″) if your measurements are outside of this range contact Wendy to see if the workshop will still be suitable for you.

My Jacket & More in Mollie Makes Sewing Book-a-zine

The Mollie Makes team have a brilliant book-a-zine out this month devoted to sewing clothes and accessories.  Obviously that gets a thumbs up from me, but a double thumbs up because I’m all over it!!

There I am on the list of contributors on the cover….

…..and  seem to have found myself in the company of some well known “celebrity” stitchers on the contents page!  

The magazine is packed full of projects, reviews, tips and inspiration.  There’s a review of my book “The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking”, keeping good company with the Sewing Bee book:

 

A slightly abridged version of the Zip Jacket project from my book is included with the magazine (all the projects are pdf download patterns):

I even squeezed my mug onto the very last page with an interview:

Get yourself a copy – it’s great value at £7.99 with 20 projects included. That should keep anyone busy for a while!

And the Winners are……

……Hilary Malam and Kelly Adcock!!  Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered and for all your brilliant answers to the competition questions. They will be forming the foundations of some blog posts over the coming months.

So, you might see your biggest sewing and dressmaking problem answered in print soon…….