July’s MIY Maker(s)

In a shock result Maria and Kate were neck and neck in votes on Instagram, my blog and email responses to my newsletter, so they are both MIY Makers for July!!

Maria’s Wisewood dress and Kate’s Brightside shrug are both beautifully made garments with great fabric choices. I suspect they would each look at home packed into a summer holiday suitcase too.

Well done to Maria and Kate, they can now both choose their next MIY Collection sewing pattern for free.

Have you got what it takes to be August’s MIY Maker? Post your makes using my patterns online and you might make the final 4. Full details of how to enter here.

Good luck!

MIY Makers Monthly Challenge Starts Today!

I love seeing all the MIY Collection makes that pop up on social media and I’m always impressed by how different they all look even if they’re made using the same pattern.  I see it happen in my classes too.

So, to celebrate this creativity and industriousness I’m starting a monthly MIY Makers challenge, here’s how it will work:

• share your make using one of my MIY Collection patterns on social media (Instagram / Twitter) using the #miymakers hashtag
• if you want to join in on Facebook you will need to post your photo direct to the MIY Collection Facebook page and use the #miymakers hashtag in the caption of your photo
• this is also open to my MIY Workshop students who use my patterns in classes, but you must post your photo, not me!
• at the end of each month I will choose my favourite make and that person will receive a voucher to get their next MIY Collection pattern for free (UK makers will receive a paper pattern / makers outside the UK will receive a pdf pattern).

Simple as that. So get making and sharing people!!

**NOTE: by taking part and sharing your photo you are allowing me / MIY Collection to re-use your photo in any future promotion. Not a bad thing as your handiwork will end up being shared and admired by many!**

Walkley Vest: Reviewed by Handmade Jane

Photo © Handmade Jane

The MIY Collection Walkley Vest was originally made by Jane in November (see her original review of the pattern here).

I was then over the moon to see it included in Jane’s best makes for 2015! I think my favourite (apart from her stripey Walkley obviously!) is that black dress….gorgeous.

If you’re starting to plan some Summer sewing (it’ll be here before we know it…) the Walkley is available in print, as a PDF pattern and coming soon as a complete making kit.

Tapton Skirt: Reviewd by Scruffy Badger Time

Winnie who blogs at Scruffy Badger Time made this very graceful asymmetric version of the Tapton Skirt just before Christmas:

Photo © Scruffy Badger Time

Here’s her review of the pattern. Sounds like it was a winner!

There are 2 variations of the Tapton skirt included in the pattern; this asymmetric one that Winnie chose and a simple a-line version. Both have only 4 seams to sew…..! A quick start to your 2016 sewing?!

The print pattern is available here, a PDF pattern will be available soon.

The Longley Cardigan Sewing Pattern: Recent Blogger Reviews

There have been some great reviews of the Longley cardigan recently. I guess January is cardigan time of year for a lot of the world and what could be better than a cosy, stylish, easy to wear, quick to make cardi?!

Rae Hoekstra, the US designer behind Made by Rae sewing patterns made this gorgeous version:

Photo © Rae Hoekstra

….and wrote a glowing review of the pattern! Read it here.

Published on the same day was a review by Anne who blogs as Compulsive Seamstress and has so far made 2 Longley cardigans:

Photos © Compulsive Seamstress

Read Anne’s review of the pattern here.

I love that both these bloggers aren’t stopping at just one cardi, Anne is onto her 3rd and Rae has lots more planned. Surely the sign of a great pattern?!

Inspired? The Longley cardigan pattern is available in print and now as a PDF digital pattern from the MIY Collection shop.

Introducing the Walkley Vest Dress

My straight neck vest and dress pattern is now the Walkley Vest Dress.

I’ve just updated the PDF version of the pattern and as well as the new name it uses my new sizing system based on body measurements and a full scale untiled version of the pattern if you prefer to print patterns at a copy shop rather than on A4 sheets to join together at home.

If you prefer a paper pattern, it’s still available here and will be updated soon with the new name and size labelling.

This pattern is a great summer project – the vest and dress are both really easy to wear – a loose-ish fit, but with some shaping at the waist so it’s not a completely boxy shape. It’s easy to add custom seams to your pattern (fully explained in the instructions) so you can mix and match fabrics and use up some of that stash!!

Lots of my beginner students have happily used this pattern and if you’ve done a bit of sewing before, get creative with those seams and make yourself a completely unique version. I love seeing what people make with my patterns so don’t forget to tag your makes #miywalkley or email me your pictures.

MIY Collection Fold Over Skirt in Sewing World’s “Pattern Showcase”

My MIY Collection Fold Over Skirt pattern has been picked to be featured in this month’s Sewing World magazine “Pattern Showcase” feature: I love this pattern – it’s so quick and easy and the skirt is super comfy. The a-line and asymmetric versions are both included in the pattern. A perfect sew for your summer holiday wardrobe……. Here’s MIY Workshop student Tam in the one she cut out and finished (apart from hemming) in class this week!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wendy Ward (@thatwendyward)

If you’re inspired to have a go, get your pattern here.

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…..

A New Website for MIY Collection

I spent a good chunk of my Christmas holiday designing a new website for MIY Collection – my sewing patterns and tools. It’s now live and even if I do say so myself, I think it looks pretty good!

To celebrate the launch of the new website I’ve reduced the price of all my patterns by 20% for 2 weeks only. That makes each pattern just £12. 

You can choose from:

• oh-so comfortable skirt
• easy vest and dress for spring
• drapey cardi
• super quick shrug
• cosy cowl. 

All my patterns are printed on proper paper rather than tissue paper and packaged in a sturdy bag with an A4 detailed instruction booklet. Better still, there are more styles waiting to be added this year!

I like Etsy, but it was never quite what I wanted and I felt never looked as professional as I’d have liked.  Hopefully this new site combines everything you need: easy-to-use online shop, detailed sizing info, thorough FAQ section and a link to my blog for access to a whole library of sewing tips and advice.

I really hope you like it. Happy sewing!

Make Your Own Leggings

That’s certainly what yesterday was all about!  Five students, five lots of very different fabric, five hours later…..four and a half pairs of leggings finished! Yes, one pair will be finished at my class on Tuesday evening thanks to a pesky bobbin running out at just the worst minute – don’t they always do that?!

Here’s what was finished yesterday…..

This is what the students thought of the day:

“Wendy as usual makes everything work, I could not believe that I would go home with a perfectly fitting pair of leggings and the day was such fun.” Brenda

“Fantastic course and a fab pair of leggings at the end of it.  Don’t know what all the fuss was about on the Great British Sewing Bee!” Naz

“I have had a fantastic day, Wendy taught me so much and the other girls were great fun.  I will certainly make more leggings now!” Joy

“Brilliant day, learned lots and was really good fun!” Mel

Of the four pairs that were finished by the end of the day, three were proudly worn home!  Now that’s a good day’s work.

This legging pattern will soon be available to buy from MIY Collection.