Table of contents for Issue 128 in Simply Sewing

Show off your sewing skills with this month’s stunning Cover Star The Danni Dress. Designed by Claire-Louise Hardie, this mini drape dress can be made with short or long sleeves with the option of on-trend colour blocking for the latter. The neckline lends itself to statement jewellery, either a necklace to dress it up or team it with statement earrings like this! Turn to page 32 for more styling and fabric inspiration. If you can’t decide which fabric to choose for your dress, flick through to our fascinating feature about the power of colour (p68)! Plus, we show you how to create customised Christmas Jumpers with the help of Cricut Iron On Vinyl™. Want to take your crafting creation to another level? Then enter our competition to win a Cricut…

SUSTAINABLE FASHION Annie Phillips' new book is giving us all the inspo we need to create our sustainable sewing plans for 2025. Upcycle: A Modern Maker's Guide to Sewing and Mending a Preloved Wardrobe will teach you how to create a more eco-friendly wardrobe, through expert advice and practical sewing projects, on ways to repair and repurpose old clothes. Offering a modern approach for the home dressmaker and fashion lovers, this book tackles the three core repair techniques: Upcycling, Mending, and Creating. Turn to page 13 for more info. THE FIELD JACKET The Paynter Jacket Co. make limited edition jackets four times a year (made to order) so there's no waste from over production. The Field Jacket is Paynter's first make-your-own jacket pattern in collaboration with Merchant & Mills. Get…

THIS MONTH... PICCADILLY PYJAMAS This new pattern from Nina Lee creates a chic sleepwear set with stylish accents – including a soft and open Mandarin collar and gently curved hems. Choose from shorts and a cap-sleeved shirt, or cropped trousers and a shirt with three-quarter length sleeves. Both bottoms have a flat-front waistband with an elasticated back, and are finished with a cute ribbon tie. ninalee.co.uk PATTERN INSPIRATION Snuggle up with our pick of the best nightwear patterns to make before bedtime. 1 PIPIT LOUNGEWEAR SET Though not strictly sleepwear, the Pipit loungewear set from Common Stitch is a timeless wardrobe staple that can easily be taken from day to night. It features fluted sleeves, a casual-fit top with a button front, and shorts with a comfy elasticated waist. commonstitch.com.au…

PSST: Turn the page for fabric and styling inspiration. Share your Danni Dress with us using #SimplySewingMag We love the stylish, comfortable and versatile Danni Dress. It is the epitome of comfy chic − perfect for a day in the office or lunch date but will also take you through to the evening. Sew a short-sleeved version for warm days or the longer-sleeved block-coloured version for the cooler ones. The recommended fabrics − stretchy double-knit jersey, Ponte Roma or Milano Rib − are warm and durable so you won't feel the cold, especially if teamed up with thick tights and boots. Don't forget to share your makes with us using #simplysewingmag on social media. YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric: Sizes 6-16: 2mx150cm Sizes 18-30: 2.5mx150cm■ Lightweight iron-on knit or bias interfacing:…

Brighten up your outfit with the Amber Bag made in a funky print. We love how you can add colour and joy to any casual outfit with this easy-to-make shoulder bag. This fully-lined bag, designed by Amber Makes, is the perfect size for all your essentials for a day out and comes with a handy zip pocket to keep your valuables safe. This pattern also shows you how to sew an adjustable strap, so you make it to the perfect length for you. See more Amber Makes sewing patterns and kits at ambermakesco.com…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 1 x piece of bondaweb 30x100cm■ 1 x piece of felt 50x70cm: pale blue/green■ 1 x piece of felt 50x30cm: white■ 1 x A4 sheet of felt in the following colours: bright red, pale blue, mid blue, dark green, mid green and pale pink■ Scraps of felt in the following colours: bright pink and black■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ All seam allowances are 1cm, unless otherwise stated■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates MATERIALS USED ■ 100% pure wool felt from cloudcraft.co.uk PREPARE THE FABRIC – STOCKING Step one Fold the large piece of blue/green felt in half and lay the stocking pattern piece on top. Pin and cut through both layers to create two Stocking Base pieces. 01 Step two From the red…

PYJAMA TROUSERS YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A: 1m*■ Elastic: 25mm width x 1m*■ Paper to create the pattern■ Pyjama trousers that fit your child■ Matching sewing thread■ Erasable fabric marker■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED ■ All seam and hem allowances are included NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance.■ *Fabric and elastic needed is dependent on the size of the pyjama. Our pyjama’s fit an 8-year old child.■ Pay attention to fabric placement if your fabric is directional.■ Line up the bottom short straight edge of your pyjama paper pattern along the cross grain when cutting out your fabric. CREATING THE PATTERN Step one Lay the paper flat with the pyjamas folded so that one side of the front of the pyjamas is showing. Smooth out the sides…

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…

DRESS A DRESS B PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x 2 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric:Sizes 6-16: 2mx150cmSizes 18-30: 2.5mx150cm■ Lightweight iron-on knit or bias interfacing: 35x75cm■ 12/80 Stretch machine needle■ Optional stretch twin needle for hemming (either a 4.0 or 2.5 width)■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated■ The dress can be sewn either with a zigzag/lightening stitch on a sewing machine, or with an overlocker SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Double-knit jersey, Ponte Roma or Milano Rib. This pattern is not suitable for fabric with a large amount of stretch Shop more of our dressmaking patterns online at gathered.how/sewing-shop BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Designed and printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Pattern designed by Claire-Louise Hardie. Supplied…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Main Fabric: 40x140cm■ Lining fabric: 40x140cm■ Wadding: 40x70cm■ 2 x Closed end zips No.3: 20cm■ 2 x D-Rings: 25mm■ Slide Buckle: 25mm■ Magnetic snap■ Matching sewing thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance throughout, this is included in the pattern pieces.■ Wadding will give the bag structure and softness. A fusible fleece is ideal as it’s the right weight and easy to work with. RECOMMENDED FABRIC ■ Main Fabric: medium weight such as needlecord, canvas, denim or twill■ Lining Fabric: quilting weight cotton fabric or lightweight waterproof fabric FINISHED SIZE: ■ 30x30cm Amber Makes is run by friends Amy and Rebecca. They create unique sewing kits. See more at ambermakesco.com © Printed in the…

If, like me, you're trying to squeeze in some last-minute sewing (before the schools break up) then you're going to love the quick-sew makes we've sorted for you this issue. Jump on the trend and sew the whole family matching PJ bottoms (p26 and p64) − cute family photos alert! Update plain sweatshirts with vinyl for a contemporary take on a festive jumper, and whip-up some scrappy baubles using fabric offcuts (p61). For the big event we've got you covered with an easy-wear drape dress (p30) to see you through from early-morning presents, right through to the post-lunch walk. However you choose to celebrate, happy holidays!…

DOWNLOAD Today! Sign up to our newsletter to download your digital copy of Handmade Christmas – for free! There are 20 easy-to-make gifts and decorations to sew for the season, from patchwork Christmas stockings and present sacks, to penguins! Create a lovely cosy feeling of craft and care and create a gift for those special people in your life for the festive season. Sign-up for yours at try.simplysewingmag.com/bonus-gift. Already a newsletter subscriber? Check your email inbox for the download, which will be included in your weekly newsletter.…

The long, dark winter nights are made for early, cosy nights in, so why not get as comfortable as you can in these relaxed-fit pyjama bottoms! They are a fab first make or a super quick one to get you back into dressmaking − and for lounging about it! Make them for yourself or loved ones − or kit the whole family out in matching Christmas pyjamas! Don't forget to share your makes with us online using #simplysewingmag YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric: 115cm wide: Sizes A-1: 2.5m 145cm wide: Sizes A-F: 2.3m 145cm wide: Sizes G-M: 2.5m■ 1.5cm of 25mm waistband elastic■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowances are included and are 1.5cm, unless otherwise stated.■ Pin or tack the main pieces together first to check the…

When one door closes another one opens. This is a great way to look at life when things aren't going to plan. But sometimes, that door needs to be thrown open yourself and that's exactly what work colleagues Rebecca Reid and Amy Gaunt did when faced with redundancy in 2020. Determined not to let their winning dynamic go to waste, they took the plunge and started Amber Makes together (ambermakesco.com), launching their first sewing kit in the May of that year. Now, the company sells a selection of sewing patterns and kits as well as sewing-themed gifts and essential haberdashery. Friends Amy and Rebecca explain that their cut-and-sew fabric panel kits are "designed to simplify the process of making a project." The kit contains pre-printed fabric pieces ready to be…

YOU WILL NEED ■ White plush fur fabric: 68x55cm■ Grey star print flannel fabric: 55x29cm■ Light turquoise plush fabric: 21x31cm■ Orange cotton fabric: 9x8cm■ Lightweight quilt wadding: 10x9cm■ 1 pair of 9mm black safety toy eyes■ 2 black buttons■ Small ball of light turquoise wool■ Polyester toy filling: 200g■ Extra-long pins■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Luxe Cuddle Seal in Snow and Cuddle Plush Solids in Aruba, both by Shannon Fabrics.■ Hang in There Starry Flannel Moon, by Dear Stella.■ Kona Cotton in Tangerine, by Robert Kaufman. NOTES ■ Find the templates on page 75 or download and print from gathered.how/ss-templates.■ Fabric measurements are W x H.■ Finished size: Approximately 31cm tall■ The templates include 6mm seam allowances, unless otherwise indicated.■ Arrows on the templates indicate direction of plush pile or pattern…

BLANCA BLAK Blanca describes herself as an all-grown up earthling and believes strongly that ageism is never in style! Read about how her love of fashion led her to start sewing and making her own clothes in Column on page 28. CLAIRE-LOUISE HARDIE Claire-Louise is a former Sewing Producer for The Great British Sewing Bee and an online Sewing Educator who loves making clothes fit and inspiring beginners to get started. Check out her Cover star pattern − The Danni Dress on page 30. AMBER MAKES Rebecca Reid and Amy Gaunt set up their thriving sewing company Amber Makes when faced with redundancy in 2020. Read what inspires the dynamic duo to create their sewing kits and how teamwork makes the dream work on page 34. MALLORY STEWART Mallory is…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Sweater (cotton jersey style)■ Cricut Iron-On Vinyl or Smart Iron-on Vinyl™■ Scissors■ Tape measure■ Cricut weeding tool■ Cricut heat mat or towel■ Pencil■ Lint Roller■ Greaseproof paper■ Cricut EasyPress™ or iron■ Cricut heat-resistant tape■ Cricut Maker 3™ or Cricut Joy Xtra™ (Optional)■ Computer, tablet or smartphone with Cricut Design Space™ downloaded (Optional) NOTES ■ Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates■ Cricut is available from cricut.com, Hobbycraft, John Lewis, Very and Amazon.■ Find Cricut help and inspiration at help.cricut.com and @cricut_uk■ Find more Cricut tips from us on Instagram @simplysewingmag■ It is possible to download the images, trace, and cut by hand. CREATING THE DESIGN Step one If using a Cricut machine: measure your sweater to decide how large you'd like your snowflakes or fairy lights to be.…

Shopping on Instagram late one night… and most of the pieces I wanted to own were made by the men and women wearing them! What? Sewing is a thing? The next morning my dusty sewing machine was taken out of the hall closet and stared at me while I searched for the manual, thread, and a cloth napkin to see if the old girl was still running. Online deadline It took three months to make a denim shirt, and two pairs of fly-front casual trousers with pockets. I found a challenge on Instagram to give me a deadline and motivation and they offered some prizes which looked great. Well, sometimes good things happen to bad sewists because although I didn’t win prizes those pieces are still loved and worn five…

TIP: You need less than half a metre of fabric for this make - great for scraps! YOU WILL NEED ■ 0.5m fabric■ Set of 19mm bow tie clasps■ Lightweight iron-on interfacing■ Loop turner or chopstick■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated FABRIC USED ■ Liberty London Strawberry Thief Augusta Linen Cotton Fabric Navy from minerva.com CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric, cut:Bow: two 25x14cmBow Centre: one 4x8cmCollar: one 5x55cm Step two From the iron-on interfacing cut: Bow: two 25x14cmBow Centre: one 4x8cm MAKING THE BOW TIE Step one Apply the iron-on interfacing to the wrong side (WS) of the fabric.Step two Take one the of the Bow pieces and measure the centre point on each short end. Fold the…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Six old wool blankets■ Old brushed cotton sheet■ 75x100cm wadding■ Spray starch■ Rotary cutter■ Cutting mat■ Long quilting ruler■ Walking foot for sewing machine■ Tapestry needle■ Basting spray■ Perle cotton thread■ Erasable fabric marker■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1.25cm seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise advised. PREPARE THE FABRIC Step one Starch the blankets using the spray, then press until flat. Be careful not to leave the iron in one place as this may scorch the wool. Step two Using the cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler, and taking care to avoid holes or blemishes in the blankets, from Blanket One, cut the following: three 15x15cm piecesone 15x27.5cm piece Step three From Blanket Two, cut:one 15x15cm pieceone 15x27.5cm piece two 15x52.5cm pieces Step four…

N° 33 SCRAP BAUBLES YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric scraps■ Paper-backed fusible web (9cm square)■ Wool-blend felt (2x10cm square)■ Glitter/metallic felt or other wool felt (3.5x5cm)■ Stranded cotton■ Wadding■ String or perle cotton■ Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates PREPARE THE FABRIC Step one Cut your fabric scraps into 1.5 cm squares. You will need 36 squares in total, but it helps to have a few extra so you can arrange them as you like. 01 Step two Iron the fusible web to one of the felt squares. Peel off the paper backing. 02 Step three Arrange the squares of scrap fabric on the fusible web adhered to the felt in your chosen design. Keep the pieces as close together…

All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! SNOWMAN TOY PAGE 57 ACTUAL SIZE FABRIC ORNAMENTS PAGE 61 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 As a child, I sat in my Auntie’s sewing room, carefully watching her sew. The intricacies of the craft intrigued me, as did the precision and attention to detail. I was drawn to its fluidity and non-exactness. At the age of 10, I began learning to sew knowing one day I would make my grad dress. Sewing bags and pouches quickly evolved into more difficult projects and I dove into garment sewing. It became an outlet for me. When I began my grad dress, I didn’t feel the external pressure you would expect. I took it on as a puzzle I needed to solve by thinking dynamically. I mapped out six months for my grad dress, and after two toiles, I cut into my good fabric. My…

PYJAMAS PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x 1 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric:115cm wide: Sizes A-1: 2.5m 145cm wide: Sizes A-F: 2.3m 145cm wide: Sizes G-M: 2.5m■ 1.5cm of 25mm waistband elastic■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowances are included and are 1.5cm, unless otherwise stated.■ Pin or tack the main pieces together first to check the fit and mark any alterations needed before sewing.■ Sizes J-M will only fit on 145cm wide fabric if cut on the fold. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light to medium weight woven fabrics, such as cotton lawn, brushed cotton, cotton poplin or viscose. Shop more of our dressmaking patterns in our online shop at gathered.how/sewing-shop BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Designed and printed in the UK for Simply Sewing.…