Table of contents for Issue 125 in Simply Sewing

It’s here! Almost a year in the making and we’re finally launching our own dungarees pattern, which we hope you love as much as we do. Designed for all, we can’t wait to see this garment out in the wild. Share your makes with us on social media using #simplysewingmag. As the summer draws to a close we reflect on the joy of watching series 10 of the Great British Sewing Bee, rounding-up the series with a Q&A with the talented finalists. We also delve into the world of cognitive therapy to discover how the hobby of sewing boosts your brain (it really does!). All this plus easy-to-follow tutorials to making your own oven gloves, bread baskets and recipe holder, just in time for the Bake Off to return to…

GERTIE'S CHARMED SEWING Best-selling sewing author Gretchen Hirsch returns to her roots with a fresh look at fashion classics in Gertie’s Charmed Sewing Studio. Sewists, thrift shoppers, and fashion collectors will love making the book's three downloadable patterns (in sizes 2-20 and 18-34), and learning how to reproduce favourite vintage looks. Gretchen combines a bounty of sketches, historic images, process photos, and clear instructions to create an irresistible sewing guide and lookbook for the vintage fashion enthusiast. See p13. MAKE A STATEMENT Rosamund is the epitome of effortless chic. This oversized blouse features an optional sailor collar, button-up front, button loops, optional modesty panel, loose cuffs, and gathered sleeves, offering a perfect blend of comfort and style. madswick.com ON POINT We love these cute Maker Series of wooden pin badges!…

We believe it's all in the detail, don't you agree? And this beautiful Bethan Blouse has got heaps to show off. Give your wardrobe a boost with bouncy lightweight frills (turn to page 24 for our Top Tips for sewing with chiffon fabric) and set off a pair of jeans or skirt − elevating them from casual to smart casual. The frilled crossover neckline and sleeves give the blouse a delicate finish. Share your latest makes with us @SimplySewingMag. YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric:Sizes 6-16: 2mx150cm Sizes 18-26: 2.2.mx150cm Sizes 28-32: 2.5mx150cm■ Elastic: 1cm wide x your waist measurement■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ We recommend making a toile of the bodice before cutting into your fabric.■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise indicated. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light-…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Light weight cotton or rayon fabric: 145cm × 3m■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit MATERIALS USED ■ Party Spot - Lilac by Bee Brown. Party 2230 – Lilac - from Anbo Textiles Ltd. NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated.■ Overlock/zigzag stitch to finish seams.■ Measurements supplied are for guidance only. Please use your own desired length and width measurements. TAKING MEASUREMENTS Step one Take the following measurements: ■ For the Main Panel Width, take the following body measurements:■ Bust■ Waist■ Hip■ Select the widest of these three, add 16cm ease and divide by 4 (Example: Hip-120cm + 16cm = 136cm ÷ 4 = 34cm Main Panel Width, then add Seam Allowance.■ Sleeve Width is the same as Main Panel Width.■ Sleeve Length -…

No 30 BUCKET HAT YOU WILL NEED ■ Bucket hat■ Stranded cotton (we used DMC 32)■ Water-soluble stabiliser■ Pencil■ Embroidery needle■ Scissors NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates TRANSFER THE DESIGN Step one Trace the pattern centered on a piece of water-soluble stabiliser and trim the excess stabiliser away. You don't have to make thicker lines on the pattern, but it may be helpful. 01 Step two Peel off the paper backing and stick it onto the crown of the hat, centering the design on the front. 02 STITCH THE DESIGN Step one Using three strands of stranded cotton, stitch the design with back stitch. You'll need to work without an embroidery hoop, but the structure of most hats will make it easy for you to keep the right tension.…

HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF ACCURATELY ALWAYS MEASURE YOURSELF BEFORE you choose a pattern size to cut out. The sizes do vary greatly from pattern to pattern, so it’s always best to measure yourself accurately and then refer to the pattern’s size chart to find your size. The chart will usually be printed on the pattern envelope or on the instructions inside. Measure yourself in your underwear and preferably in the bra you’ll be wearing underneath your garment as this can alter the measurements slightly. Use a fabric tape measure as it’ll curve around your body well for accuracy. You can measure on your own if you stand in front of a mirror, but, for best results, ask a friend to help so they can check the tape measure is sitting…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Outer fabric: 0.5m■ Lining fabric: 0.5m■ 28cm zipper■ Medium weight interfacing: 0.5m■ 2 x 38mm rectangular loop■ 38mm cotton webbing: 150cm■ 1 x 38mm buckle slider■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated.■ If the zipper has been cut to size and has no stoppers on the ends, make sure not to accidently pull the zip-pull off the zip when opening and closing. Put a pin through both ends or make a small tack stitch to stop this happening. SUGGESTED FABRICS AND HARDWARE ■ Bag outer: Faux leather, canvas, denim or medium weight cotton■ Bag lining: Cotton poplin or polycotton■ Zipper: No.5 zipper (plastic or metal) Lauren Holloway runs her own…

We are so excited to share The Ultimate Dungarees with you (p28). Made for everyone − we hope you love them as much as we have designing them! They're such a popular and universal garment, the whole Simply Sewing team are making a pair! We also have The Bethan Blouse (p22) − with 10 Top Tips for sewing ruffles (p24) to match. We're sad the Sewing Bee series 10 is over but pleased to bring you some new interviews with the finalists (p17) where they share their experiences. For now, it's not long until the Bake Off is back on TV, so it's time to sew up some cool kitchen makes (p35) and get ready for Autumn...…

Throughout the series 12 talented home sewers (Ailsa, Alex, Comfort, Don, Georgie, Janet, Lauren, Luke, Marcus, Neil, Pascha and Suzy) created beautiful garments under the scrutiny of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant, but it was Luke who won the coveted title, and also won Garment of the Week in Diva Week. Among the challenges, the sewers kicked off the series with a theme of Back to Basics in week 1 celebrating the 10th birthday of Sewing Bee and producing the same challenges from the very first episode. They then went on to make a fleece and then a kit for an Olympic team in Sports week. Holiday week produced a blouse from a vintage tablecloth, holiday bag and garments for the French riviera. In Reduce Reuse Recycle week they…

THIS MONTH... UP YOUR DRAMA Add customisable ruffles along the neckline, skirt, and sleeves to create your own look. WATCH AND LEARN You get a beautifully illustrated instructional booklet and video. SIZE MATTERS With sizes 0-32 and three cup options, the Loring dress fits a variety of body types. LORING DRESS This floaty design was recently featured as the pattern of the month in the Cashmerette Club, and we can see why! It creates a simple pull-on darted dress with a v-neckline, a gored skirt with roomy pockets, optional sleeves, and an elasticated drawstring with fun tassels you can make yourself. Customise your Loring with optional ruffles at the neckline, skirt, and sleeves to create the exact level of volume you want. cashmerette.com Cashmerette Club is a monthly membership that…

TEATIME Add a touch of elegance to your kitchen with these matching tea towel and oven mitt. Anna Alicia shows you how. TEA TOWEL & OVEN MITT YOU WILL NEED ■ 50cm Liberty The Cottage Garden Collection in Emily Silhouette X (Fabric A)■ 50cm Liberty The Cottage Garden Collection in Newland Large Y (Fabric B)■ 50cm washed natural linen fabric (Fabric C)■ 50cm heat resistant insulating wadding■ Metal ruler■ Set square■ Rotary cutter■ Cutting board■ Awl■ 2.5cm bias binding maker tool■ Matching sewing thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates CUTTING OUT Step one From Fabric A, cut:One 48x66cm rectangle Step two From Fabric C, cut:One 48x66cm rectangle Step three Fold Fabric B in half with right sides (RS) together, and draw:Four oven mitt shapes using…

BOOK EXTRACT YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: Sizes 6–14: 2.75m of 150cm wide fabric. Sizes 16–22: 3m of 150cm wide fabric.■ 1cm buttons: seven■ Iron-on woven interfacing of a similar weight to your chosen fabric■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES: ■ Download the pattern from gathered.how/sewing-downloads■ All seams should be sewn together with a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. SUGGESTED FABRICS: ■ For an extra-special make, look out for fabrics that include an embroidered border edge. You can cut the sleeve or hemline along this border to make it a unique feature on your dress! Try viscose, linen and linen blends, chambray or lightweight denim. CUTTING GUIDE 1 Bodice front – cut 22 Bodice back – cut 1 on fold3 Skirt front – cut 1 on fold4…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Grey plush fabric 55x38cm■ Blue plush fabric 40x33cm■ Yellow plush fabric 12x9cm■ Silver fabric 45x37cm■ Cream wool felt: 11x16cm■ Black wool felt: 6x3cm■ Green wool felt: 6x3cm■ Red wool felt: 6x3cm■ Yellow wool felt: 3x3cm■ Black & white stranded cotton■ Polyester toy filling 250g■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Shannon Smooth Plush in Platinum, Denim and Sunshine■ Kona Sheen cotton in Silver NOTES ■ Find the templates on page 71 and at gathered.how/ss-templates■ Fabric measurements are given width first, then height.■ Arrows on templates indicate direction of the plush pile. Plush pile runs downwards on all pieces except Top Body and Bottom Body, which run front to back.■ The templates include 6mm seam allowances.■ Tack before sewing.■ Clip notches in the seams to ease them,…

This month in our sister magazine, Gathered, discover how to overcome loneliness and how sewing boosts your brain. Plus, fall in love with letter writing again, bring more colour into your life, and learn how to read your palm! With simple projects to try, step-by-step guides and features about fashion, trends and mindfulness, Gathered is packed with inspiration to celebrate your individuality. Explore today on Apple News+, Readly, Zinio and Pocketmags. Find out more at gathered.how/gathered-magazine.…

LONG CROPPED PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x 2 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric:Long version: Size A-G: 3m of 112cm wide fabric or 2.8m of 145cm wide fabric. Size H-M: 4m of 112cm wide fabric or 3.5m of 145cm wide fabric.Cropped version: Size A-G: 2.8m of 112cm wide fabric or 2.6m of 145cm wide fabric. Size H-M: 4m of 112cm wide fabric or 3.3m of 145cm wide fabric.■ Lining fabric: 1m of 145cm wide fabric■ Iron on interfacing: 30cm■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise indicated.■ Baste side seams together first to check the fit. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Medium weight woven fabrics such as linen, cotton, canvas, denim or corduroy. BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Designed and printed in…

NADZIRAH NORAZMAN Originally from Malaysia, Nadzirah works full-time as a bioprocess engineer in the UK and sews in her spare time. She is married and lives with her husband and cat, Biscuit. She loves to sew feminine garments with lots of volume. Read more on p32. LINDA MAFUBA Linda is a Kent-based fashion designer. She makes custom womenswear under her brand, MYDEI. She has created a lightweight summer robe design for Simply Sewing readers that you can self-draft. Turn to p50 to find out how to sew it. BROGAN ALLARD Originally from Edinburgh, but now based in Leicestershire, Brogan shot to fame on Sewing Bee series 8, and now runs her sewing business Crafty Pie and has just released her debut book Dopamine Dressmaking. Turn to p56 to read an…

This cheerful bag designed by Lauren Holloway (laurenholloway.uk) is just the thing to add a pop of colour to your wardrobe! It has handy internal pockets and a comfortable (and adjustable) wide strap that can be worn across the body or over your shoulder. Add a cute pom pom and tassels and you are all set to hit the town! Make it using waterproof outer fabric for a practical wipe-clean version. Find the bonus pattern inside this issue of Simply Sewing. Share photos of your finished Soleil using #simplysewingmag…

Originally designed as workwear, made for serious graft, dungarees also known as overalls or jumpsuit are well-known for their durability, comfort and ease of movement. Traditionally they'd be made from durable cotton or canvas in plain dark colours, but now you can make a pair of these popular overalls in a fabric of your choice. Complete with four, handy pockets the Ultimate Dungaree pattern is our fave yet! With its fuss-free silhouette and simple tie-strap design and no fiddly fastenings, we've created a pattern that's simple to sew. So, if you're a total beginner, this is a great starter pattern − just be sure to make a toile (from an old bedsheet or practice fabric) before cutting into your chosen fabric to make your final garment. Don't forget to share…

A GOOD READ As sewists, we all already know that sewing makes us feel good. It’s long been recognised that engaging in a creative hobby, such as sewing, brings great benefits to our mental health. However, did you know that whilst sewing you’re not only boosting your mood but also your brain power? Whilst we all know the importance of taking care of our physical and mental health and the steps we should take to do so; our cognitive health is often overlooked. Natalie Mackenzie is a cognitive rehabilitation therapist on a mission to change that. Natalie hopes to raise awareness of the importance of measuring cognitive health in a meaningful way, so that people can add cognitive health to their needs. The good news for us, is that we’re…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric (mid weight cotton): 50cmx50cm.■ Lining fabric (mid weight cotton): 50cmx50cm■ Medium weight iron on interfacing: 50cm x 50cm■ Two colourful chunky zips to match the fabric, at least 30cm long■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated■ To make it easier to cut the rectangles, we would recommend using a quilting rule to mark out the fabric.■ If you can’t find zips 30cm long, buy longer ones and cut them down. MATERIALS USED: ■ Main fabric: Sweets by Pigeon Wishes (UK supplier Grid Fabric)■ Lining fabric: Pastel Grid by PBS fabrics (UK supplier Grid Fabric)■ We used green and red zips from Frumble Fabrics CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric, cut: 2 x rectangles 16x30cm.…

TOY ROBOT PAGE 67 ACTUAL SIZE All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! PAGE 67 ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 67 ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 67 ACTUAL SIZE STITCH BUCKET HAT PAGE 65 ACTUAL SIZE Thank you for making these projects from Simply Sewing. The copyright for these templates belongs to the designer of the project. They work hard to create projects for you to enjoy, so please don’t re-sell or distribute their work without permission. Please do not make any part of the templates or instructions available to others through your website or a third party, or copy it multiple times without our permission. Copyright law protects creative work and unauthorised copying is illegal. We appreciate your help.…

MY FAVOURITE THING I’ve always loved creating and fashion. Growing up, I would rummage through my grandmother’s chest filled with old scarves, wrapping them around myself to make outfits. My father says I’ve never matched a day in my life and it works. My parents encouraged my creativity and I spent years playing with colour and personal expression. As a teen, they let me design my room, so I painted each wall a different vibrant colour. Now, sewing is how I express myself. I learned from videos and trial and error after I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2018 and had to find a low-impact hobby. My husband bought me a sewing machine and remarked that lack of experience is never a barrier for me. I was able to create…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x 1 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric: Sizes 6-16: 2mx150cm Sizes 18-26: 2.2.mx150cm Sizes 28-32: 2.5mx150cm■ Elastic: 1cm wide x your waist measurement■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ We recommend making a toile of the bodice before cutting into your fabric.■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise indicated. FABRIC RECOMMENDATIONS ■ Light- to medium-weight fabrics with plenty of drape and movement such as viscose, Tencel, or crêpe. BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Designed by Alexandra Bruce and Caroline Akselson (Selkie Patterns). Supplied by Our Media Ltd, Bristol BS1 4ST. For individual, private home use only. Not for commercial/manufacturing purposes or resale. CUTTING LAYOUTS DIAGRAMS STITCHING TERMS RS/WS: Right side/wrong side of the fabric.…