April Dressmaking Q&A in Love Sewing Magazine

In this month’s (April) Dressmaking Q&A for Love Sewing magazine I’m answering questions on some of the most common problems encountered by every newbie / beginner sewist I’ve ever met:

• how to choose your first sewing machine
• how to make your seam allowances really neat
• the best ways to start and stop sewing on your sewing machine.

Remember, if you would like to see your question answered, send it to me on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #dressmakingSOS or send me an email and I might use it in a future issue!

My Dressmaking Q&A in March’s Love Sewing Magazine

This month in Love Sewing (issue 11), I’m answering questions on pre-washing your fabric, cutting on the grain line and pattern sizing.

Even better, across the page from me is the lovely Claire-Louise Hardie, aka the Thrifty Stitcher who is the behind-the-scenes sewing producer of the Sewing Bee with an in-depth piece about one of my favourite subjects…..sizing!

Remember, if you would like to see your question answered, send it to me on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #dressmakingSOS or fill in the form below.

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February’s Dressmaking Q&A for Love Sewing Magazine

In this month’s (issue 10) Q&A I’m talking about:

• what garment to make for your first dressmaking project
• how to sew in a straight line (not as easy as it sounds, especially for newbie sewers!)
• the mystical tension setting on your sewing machine which always seems to bamboozle sewers new and experienced.

Remember, if you would like to see your question answered, send it to me on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #dressmakingSOS or fill in the form below.

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My New Q&A Series for Love Sewing

I now have my own Q&A column in Love Sewing magazine!  The first one is in the January issue (number 9).

If you would like to see your question answered, send it to me on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #dressmakingSOS or fill in the form below.

Remember though……I only get 100 words per question so the more focussed your question, the more likely it is to be answered!!

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Last Summer Frock Making Workshop for this year

On the hottest day of the year so far, the third Summer Frock Making workshop was timely and delivered yet more lovely frocks.  Here they are:

Clare’s first foray into sewing knitted fabrics turned out beautifully and she was pleasantly surprised by how easy jersey was to work with!  Clare used a lovely drapey viscose jersey from C&H Fabrics.  You can buy this MIY Collection pattern here.

Joy and Hannah both made the simple shift dress, both with pockets.  This was the first time Hannah had made something to wear and the first time she’d done any sewing for 15 years!  Joy is a knitting convert (!) and will be adding this lovely frock to the cardi she made at my Sewing with Knits workshop.  Hannah’s spotty fabric was from John Lewis, Joy’s cotton/linen mix grey fabric that has a really nice sheen is from Ditto.  This pattern will be available to buy soon from MIY Collection.

Jo is another knitter and crocheter and is dipping her toe into the dressmaking water!  I think she’s made a fantastic start with this fitted shift dress.  If you look closely the fabric print has lots of sewing related illustrations and works really well in this dress – a simple style to suit an intricate print.  This fabric was from online fabric shop Frumble.  They have a whole range of sewing related prints, I’m particularly taken with a scissor one……

All 5 students worked extremely hard to produce some beautiful dresses by the end of the day.  Hannah happily went off home in hers.  I’m eagerly awaiting pictures of Mary’s as we had a last minute change of mind over some sleeves!

Here’s what the students thought of the day:

“From the friendly atmosphere, the patient and detailed help and guidance to the utterly splendiferous finished frock (even if I do say so myself!) it has been an absolute pleasure and delight to go on the course today!  I heartily recommend it to the less experienced and slightly clueless but enthusiastic sewing machine users (like me), to those who want to try something new.  Thank you again for such a lovely day and you’ll be seeing me again in the future!”

“Thanks Wendy, the class was a lot of fun and it was great to get back into sewing.  It’s so wonderful to be going home with a dress and I look forward to coming back soon!”

“Fantastic dress making day with Wendy.  Can’t wait until this pattern is available so I can make another one of them!”

“Really enjoyable day.  It was the first time I had used knit fabric and I finished a dress and am pleased with the results!”

You might see a “Party Frock Making” workshop appearing towards the end of the year!!