Saturday 28 March 2015

Sew Reporter Weekly | March week 4 | Edition 4


So what's been happening this week in the world of sewing? I know how busy I get trying to fit everything in each week and I use my time at the weekend to catch up on what's been happening all-things-sewing-wise. This got me thinking that a quick summary of what's going on would be really useful to read with your brunch over the weekend. Save all that searching and scrolling through blog posts, cherry pick what you want to read in the time you have!

What have the bloggers been posting?

Roisin at Dolly Clackett posts a Christine Haynes Emery dress. 
At Closet Case files it's Whats Doing vol. 37. and a Cozy Coco Sweatshirt.
Did you make that? finishes her ginger jeans. At Jennifer Lauren Vintage it's Me Made Maternity, the Felicity dress sew along continues with lengthening or shortening bodice pieces plus newly updated Bronte top pattern with additional sizes.

Rachel at House of Pinheiro shares her sewing plans for 2015 and makes a Lace inset Named Koko top.
The Scruffy Badger makes a Moneta dress and a Simplicity 1459 dress for her #vintagepledge.
What Katie Sews makes a Papercut Sigma dress.
Lucky Lucille posts about Pattern Resources and Fabric Resources. I posted about having a Spring Wardrobe clear-out this week. #mywardrobe





At Sewaholic its a Davie dress Q & A and last chance to get Lonsdale and Gabriola paper patternsLladybird makes a polka dot demin hollyburn skirtJane at Handmade Jane has been teaching the Mortmain dress at Badger and Earl in London and in a great post explains the one seam skirt.

VeryPurplePerson posts about the progress of an elementary graduation suit and second graduation suit. At my home Sew Over It, Lisa posts about fabric shopping in Delhi. Grainline  posts about sewing plansGinger Makes creates a Coco Jacket.

Elena at Randomly happy posts about how to sew the perfect T-shirt'So, Zo ...' sews a Brindille and Twig Free Raglan HoodieThe girls at By Hand London show you how to create skirts from their dress patterns. Tilly and the buttons posts about Your Makes and at the Coletterie it's a pattern hack: cross back Moneta. Charlotte at An English Girl At Home posts about #sewsolidarity and screen prints a Morrissey Tonic tee.

Books and Magazines

Love Sewing Issue 12 comes with a free Great British Sewing Bee pattern and Kimono Wrap dress pattern plus features on styling cushions, making bags, kids-wear, ideas for spring cleaning and holidays for stitchers. Available now.



Simply Sewing Issue 2 comes with a free cotton tea towel and book of project ideas to use it for plus 22 pattern templates, refashion your clothes, and features on baskets, boy's shirt, bunting, hand stitching, sewing for dining and several how-to's.
#simplysewingmag Available now.

Releases

Little Lady Liberty: Over 20 simple sewing projects for little girls by Alice Caroline.

Vintage Vibes: Traditional Quilts, Fresh Fabrics by Amber Johnson.

Shops and businesses

At The Sewing Directory, Fiona posted on organising your sewing space, how to use your motion free foot and a
patchwork coasters project. On Tuesday Fiona hosted a twitter chat evening for the Craft Blog Club and will be teaching a Craft and Creative Business course in France in July. You still have time to enter her five year anniversary competition to win a sewing machine and fabric, deadline 14th April. 

Alice at Backstitch blogged about the Duxford Quilt festival and the shop's first birthday celebrations.

Annie at The Village Haberdashery is going to colour match kona fabric solids for quilting projects and posted lots more customer makes. They have lots of new fabrics too (SevenberryAndover Chambray, Stripy knits, dressmaking fabrics and silks). Plus this week is Free Fat Quarter Week!

Fabric Godmother has new Cherry fabric and Roma Jersey colours, plus Josie also posted a feature on Painterly fabrics.

Events

Exciting new dressmaking competition at Simplicity. They are searching for a Star Sewist, with three categories being judged including beginners, vintage and best dress. If you email them your details they will send you a pattern of your choice. Submissions by 31st May. Lauren from Guthrie and Ghani is one of the judges!

The Exeter Spring Quilt festival, Exeter begins next week 27th - 29th March.

Next month is the Creative Craft Show in both Belfast (16-18th April) and Shepton Mallet, Somerset (23rd - 26th April).

#Paperfest2015, a day event for designers, printers and makers, have announced the Key Note speaker will be Cath Kidston! Tickets are now available with the event being held on Friday 24th July in London.

Film Dior and I, continues nationwide.

Fashion on the Ration continues at the Imperial War Museum, 5th March - 31st August.

Alexandra McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition continues at the V&A Museum, 14th March - 2nd August.

Here are some Pins from this week. Tag events or blogs that you've discovered this week with #sewreporter

Twitter @brodrickstudio
facebook.com/theBrodrickDesignStudio
Instagram @thebrodrickdesignstudio
Pinterest.com/brodrickstudio

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see featured ... have a lovely weekend x

Saturday 21 March 2015

Sew Reporter Weekly: March week 3 | Edition 3


So what's been happening this week in the world of sewing? I know how busy I get trying to fit everything in each week and I use my time at the weekend to catch up on what's been happening all-things-sewing-wise. This got me thinking that a quick summary of what's going on would be really useful to read with your brunch over the weekend. Save all that searching and scrolling through blog posts, cherry pick what you want to read in the time you have!


What have the bloggers been posting?

Claire at The Thrifty Stitcher talks How to Successfully choose Fabric and her five favourite summer dress patterns. At the Coletterie, there is an article on How to Prevent DIY Anxiety and How to Bind Knit Edges.

At my home Sew Over It, the Cowl Neck dress sew-along finishes and the shop reveals it's top 5 specialist sewing shops in London. You can find my Sewing City Guides for London, covering general sewing shops here.

Marie at A Stitching Odyssey tells us about what she likes to wear when sewing. Zoe at 'So, Zo ...' tells us about the Copy your own clothes classes she is running with Tilly and the Buttons, announces this years Me-Made-May'15 and makes a Breton top.

This week I posted about making fabric daffodil flowers for Mother's Day and made the Oliver + S lullaby layette set for a baby shower gift.

Amy at Almond Rock combines a Simplicity 2444 bodice with a Sureau skirt from Deer and Doe in Cath Kidston fabric, plus a second version of this dress with a cleverly designed triangles button closure.

Rachel at House of Pinheiro has had a busy week making a Yona coat from Named patterns, pair of Simplicity 1371 trousers and reviews of the Dior & I film and Field Guide to Fabric Design book. 

Over at Did You Make That? its about options for discussing sewing patterns online, progress in making Ginger jeans and fabric fondling. Heather at Closet Case Files, tells us about her week and upcoming sewing classes plus makes a cascade duffle coat.

At Jennifer Lauren Vintage it's Me Made Maternity week 29, using JLV patterns and the use of diamonds on PDF sewing patterns. The girls at By Hand London have all made Sophia dresses to inspire you!

Sally at The Quirky Peach makes a New Look 6262 dress. SewCaroline tells us that she is now an Art Gallery Fabric designer. Jane at Handmade Jane makes a Barkcloth Simplicity 3983 skirt and Sew Over It TieLladybird makes a Colette Myrtle dress

Charlotte at English Girl at Home makes a Thread Theory Goldstream Peacoat, while Elena at Randomly Happy makes a Grainline studio Hemlock tee. Tilly at Tilly and the Buttons makes a pattern hack Liberty print Pussy bow Mimi blouse

Over at Sewaholic it's the Davie Dress, which has just been released. What Katie Sews makes a beautiful Grellow living room quilt.



Books and Magazines

Claire-Louise Hardy completes her 30-day #BeeMine Sewing challenge - Fashion with Fabric, Great British Sewing Bee book 3 makes.

Lauren at Guthrie and Ghani, reviews Fashion with Fabric, the Great British Sewing bee book 3 and makes a Tweed Mini Skirt from the book.

New releases

Pretty, Organised: 30 Easy-to-Make Decorative Storage Ideas to Declutter your Home by Jane Hughes


Shops and businesses

At The Sewing Directory, Fiona announced the winners of the Cloud Craft sewing supplies and Fashion on the Ration books. Plus it's The Sewing Directory's five year anniversary this month with a competition to win a sewing machine and fabric. Fiona has also posted a guide to Embroidery stitches, written an article about running your own business for sewmamasew and interviews Deborah Simms, semi finalist of the Great British Sewing Bee #GBSB series 3 about 'Finding your own style'. You can find my Cross Stitch guide for The Sewing Directory, here.


Alice at Backstitch talks about the new Named pattern collection and expanded range of Aurifil thread she now stocks.

Annie at The Village Haberdashery shares customer makes #tvhhaul (there is very cute mouse and an amazing arctic penguin quilt), Easter project ideas and now in stock: Yoyogi Park by Heather Moore and Sun Print Mercury by Alison Glass.  

Fabric Godmother has some 1950s inspired fabric and pattern combinations for you and some beautiful nautical themed fabricslinens and floral stretch cottons.

At Sew Over It, the new summer Grace dress class has been announced and the first class is already fully booked!

Jobs

Colette are hiring a Technical writer/illustrator and project manager.

Sewaholic are hiring Communications and Customer Services co-ordinator.

Events

The Country Living Spring Fair continues in London, 18th - 22nd March.

#Paperfest2015, a day event for designers, printers and makers, have announced the Key Note speaker will be Cath Kidston! Tickets are now available with the event being held on Friday 24th July in London.

The Sew for Pleasure fair continues in the NEC, Birmingham, 19th - 22nd March.

The Exeter Spring Quilt festival, Exeter begins next week 27th - 29th March.

Fashion on the Ration continues at the Imperial War Museum, 5th March - 31st August.

Alexandra McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition continues at the V&A Museum, 14th March - 2nd August.


Patterns

Davie Dress by Sewaholic.


Here are some Pins from this week. Tag events or blogs that you've discovered this week with #sewreporter

Twitter @brodrickstudio
facebook.com/theBrodrickDesignStudio
Instagram @thebrodrickdesignstudio
Pinterest.com/brodrickstudio

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see featured ... have a lovely weekend x

Saturday 14 March 2015

Sew Reporter weekly: March week 2 Edition 2



So what's been happening this week in the world of sewing? I know how busy I get trying to fit everything in each week and I use my time at the weekend to catch up on what's been happening all-things-sewing-wise. This got me thinking that a quick summary of what's going on would be really useful to read with your brunch over the weekend. Save all that searching and scrolling through blog posts, cherry pick what you want to read in the time you have!

What have the bloggers been posting?

Charlotte at English Girl at Home kicks off this week with some marbled Carolyn Pajamas for the PJ party hosted by SewCaroline last Monday and a red quilted Linden Sweatshirt. Jane at Handmade Jane completed the #GBSB book tour a Fashion with Fabric book review and 
tells us about her silk crepe de chine purchases at the Knitting and Stitching show

Sew Busy Lizzy talks about 'so tired sewing' moments while at What Katie Sews it's a second pair of Ginger jeans and kitty patterned Holly dressCloset Case Files gave us an update and discussed what Serger to buy (overlocker) plus an ankle zipper jeans pattern hack. Charlie at This Blog is Not For You has made a Sew Over It pencil skirt, while the Quirky Peach has made a black polka dot Rigel Bomber

Dixie DIY has made Oceanside shorts by Blank Slate patterns and a Juniper Jersey plus version 3 of the cut-out dress. AlmondRock makes a Librarian blouse from Christine Haynes. Rachel from House of Pinheiro has made the Florence Tulip dress from the new Named pattern collection, Ticket. Zoe from 'So, Zo...' concludes her review of children's pattern companies and talks about copying your clothesGrainlines Studio tell us about their new employee Kendra and review Fabric for fashion: the complete guide and swatch book plus a split hem Linden sewing tutorial.

Over at my home Sew Over It, the Cowl Neck sewalong begins, the Knickers pattern has been released as a PDF pattern for Mother's Day plus Lisa tells us about her fabric shopping trip to India. At A Stitching Odyssey, its a leopard-print Walkaway dress, inspired by the #GBSB. Tilly from Tilly and the Buttons has made a Liberty print Pussy Bow Mimi Blouse and given us an update on her blogging plans

At Jennifer Lauren Vintage, the Felicity Dress sewalong begins with selecting fabric and stabilising. Emmie at At My Oh Sew Vintage Life, posts part 4 of Vintage Guts and at 'Sew, incidentally ...' it's UFOs (unfinished objects). 

Did You Make That? discusses rules to ignore in sewing and Made with Moxie talks about the future plans for her blog. At By Hand London it's a nerdy sewing tips post about sewing godet panels for the latest Sophia dress. At 'Ginger Makes ...' it's an update on a tailoring class and SewCaroline shares her Selfish Sewing Week make

Randomly Happy updates us on how her handmade wardrobe is getting on. Over at Sewbon, it's a Bridgetown dress and Rosin at But it can't be from Dolly Clackett knits a Dilly cardigan. Lauren at Guthrie and Ghani tell us about her make - a Grainline Linden Sweatshirt.

Books and Magazines

Claire-Louise Hardy completes her 30-day #BeeMine Sewing challenge - Fashion with Fabric, Great British Sew Bee book 3 makes.

New releases
Surface Design for Fabric by Kimberly Irwin



The Shops

Backstitch are now stocking the 12 new Named patterns, from collection Ticket. 

At Guthrie and Ghani, Lauren has been busy at the Knitting and Stitching Show demonstrating in the Homestyle theatre.

At The Village Haberdashery, now in stock: the BHL Sophia dress, Bear by Bonnie Christine collection of fabrics and Davie dress from Sewaholic. The latest post for getting to know Indie pattern companies, is about Tilly and the Buttons.

20% off Intro to Sewing and Intro to Dressmaking at Sew Over It, London with SEWINGBEEITS until 18th March.

Events

Selfish Sewing Week 9-15th March by Imagine Gnats, IndieSew and Kollabora, a week long celebration of your sewing makes!

Matt was announced the winner of the Great British Sewing Bee #GBSB 2015 in the final this week, thanks to his avant garde dress. How was your #GBSB final party? Check out Fiona's comprehensive summary of everything featured in last weeks episode from the Sewing Directory.

Fashion on the Ration continues at the Imperial War Museum. See the competition Fiona is running at the Sewing Directory.

Alexandra McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition opens today at the V&A Museum.

Patterns

New pattern collection, Ticket, from Named Clothing.



Here are some Pins from this week. Tag events or blogs that you've discover this week with #sewreporter

Twitter @brodrickstudio
facebook.com/theBrodrickDesignStudio
Instagram @thebrodrickdesignstudio
Pinterest.com/brodrickstudio

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see featured ... have a lovely weekend x

Saturday 7 March 2015

New - Sew Reporter Weekly: March week 1 edition 1


So gals and guys, what's been happening this week in the world of sewing? I know how busy I get trying to fit everything in each week and I use my time at the weekend to catch up on what's been happening all-things-sewing-wise. This got me thinking that a quick summary of what's going on would be really useful to read with your brunch over the weekend. Save all that searching and scrolling through blog posts, cherry pick what you want to read in the time you have!

What have the bloggers been posting?

Jane from Handmade Jane has been making the Granville shirt from Sewaholic and has some Mother's Day gift ideas for you. Lots of Your Makes, an update on progress and Essential Sewing Toolkit from Tilly and the Buttons (including two new patterns coming soon!). SewCaroline has been chatting about her Downtown Tunic (offer code for pattern). 

The girls at By Hand London have been busy giving the Charlotte skirt a new outing with plenty of style inspiration (it can now be purchased as a PDF), a back split pattern hack plus fully lined faux-wrap Kim skirt pattern hack. 

Over at my home Sew Over It it's been all about fashioning the new Cowl dress PDF pattern and at Guthrie & Ghani Lauren has made a Francoise dress. At Grainline the Cascade Sew-along continues and Jennifer Lauren Vintage gives us an update on her business progress and rebranding, Me Made Maternity and Felicity Dress sew-along. Not to be missed is Fiona's Diary of a Chain Stitcher post on this months Indie Pattern Update!, see below. 

It's a McCall's 6696 shirt dress from Roisin at But it can't be from Dolly Clackett. At The Quirky Peach it's Deer & Doe plantain tunic sweater and Gertie's Vintage Tee sweater. SewBusyLizzy has posted about making the Eliana Dress from Pauline Alice. At Did You Make That? its thread stashes and blog writing tips. Over at A Stitching Odyssey it's the #vintagepledge and giveaway. At 'So, Zo...' a Ditsy floral Mimi Blouse an useful guide to independent Children's sewing patterns

At Closet Case Files its a reminder about the Carolyn Pajama Party and elastic waistband finishes. Randomly Happy loves the Hudson pants she made from True Bias. Like me, Emmie from My Oh Sew Vintage Life has been making baby gifts this week, using the Lua sleep sack pattern. More on mine what I decided to make soon, I don't want to spoil the surprise! 

English Girl at Home has been giving us more details about her interesting #naturallydyedwardrobe, i'm a big fan of using natural resources sustainably so can't wait to see how this turns out. A proud day this week when I harvested my last lot of purple sprouting broccoli from the veg patch ... I digress! From VeryPurplePatterns cropped top and culottes Burdastyle patterns plus an Ensis Tee from Papercut patterns. 

Rachel at House of Pinheiro discusses how to become a better sewist and Almond Rock challenged herself to make a lace dress ahead of the Sewing Bee episode (Butterick 5351).

Books

This week has seen the book tour for the Great British Sewing Bee book 3, which accompanies the current series. 
Read the posts from those taking part: 
Monday 2nd - Did You Make That? 
Tuesday 3rd - House of Pinheiro
Wednesday 4th - Elena Cresci | Seamless
Thursday 5th - Cut Out + Keep
Friday 6th - A Stitching Odyssey
Saturday 7th - What Katie Sews today
Sunday 8th - Handmade Jane tomorrow

Claire-Louise Hardy was up to day 20 yesterday of her 30-day #BeeMine Sewing challenge - Fashion with Fabric, Great British Sew Bee book 3 makes.

The Shops

Backstitch have had a busy few weeks with new patterns, fabric and classes plus a new feature on their blog 'From Where I Sew'.

Guthrie and Ghani have plenty of inspiration in their Maker Gallery post. 

At The Village Haberdashery it's the February winners of #tvhhaul and the new Star Block of the Month #starbotm plus Ludlow fabrics by Dear Stella are now in stock

20% off Lace dress class at Sew Over It, London and don't forget about #SOIshowoff competition, see last month's winner here.

Events

Paul and Deborah left the Great British Sewing Bee #GBSB this week, leaving just 3 for the final, Lorna, Matt and Neil. Who's having a #GBSG final party next Thursday? Check out Fiona's comprehensive summary of everything featured in last weeks episode from the Sewing Directory.

On this weekend is the Spring Knitting and Stitching show at Olympia, who's planning to go along and add yet more to their fabric stash!?

On Friday the Imperial War Museum opened it's door to a new exhibition, 
Fashion on the Ration. I can't wait to go and will tell you more about it when i've been.

Not long now until the very much anticipated Alexandra McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition opens at the V&A Museum on 14th March. Another exhibition I will definitely be going to see!

Out of London its the Spring Quilt festival at Duxford, near Cambridge, and i've seen Alice from Backstitch instagrammin' photos of her setting up there.

Patterns

I couldn't do it better myself, so take a look at Fiona's comprehensive round up of all the new Indie pattern releases over at Diary of a Chain Stitcher.

Here are some Pins from this week.

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see featured ... have a lovely weekend x