Table of contents for Issue 134 in Simply Sewing

We’re so excited for summer! The office is buzzing with holiday chatter, and everyone's bringing out their favourite vibrant prints and patterns. If you’re as obsessed with floral midi dresses as I am, you’ll love our Maisie Dress (p18). We’re also thrilled to launch our brand-new Parker Tee – a stylish, gender-neutral pattern that’s super easy to sew (p42). And if you’re looking to give your seams a professional finish, the Janome Overlocker Guide (p16) included in this issue couldn’t have come at a better time! Plus, don’t miss your chance to grab the brand-new Great British Sewing Bee book (p14) if you subscribe this month!…

Read through the 36 exclusive pages of your bonus gift – the Janome overlocker sewing guide! This must-have booklet will guide you through how to master using an overlocker with expert advice, top tips, how-to, and set-up guide. Plus, find five easy and practical projects to make yourself using an overlocker – a handy machine cover, fashionable headband, sustainable makeup pads, beautiful napkins, and a baby burp cloth. This booklet is a sewing room keep-sake you'll use for years to come. See more at janome.co.uk…

One of my earliest and most cherished memories is of watching the 1950s Disney version of Cinderella. The scene where Jax and his mouse friends, along with the birds, assembled Cinderella's pink dress for the ball was pure magic. I was always mesmerized by how they interpreted the picture in the book, laid out the fabric, and cut the pieces. This early experience significantly influenced my current path. Family's heritage I come from a family of sewists. Both my maternal and paternal grandmothers sewed, as did my mother, aunts, uncles, and father. I've always been passionate about transforming flat fabric into three-dimensional creations. For me, it's like solving a puzzle. Although I'm a pattern designer working on various projects, my favorite aspect remains the process of sewing itself. It's a…

TABLECLOTH YOU WILL NEED ■ Oilcloth – see instructions for sizing■ Cotton fabric or bias binding – see instructions for sizing■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ The standard width of oilcloth is 135cm but you can buy extra-wide cloths, which go up to 175cm wide. ■ A tablecloth for a circular or oval table will hang much better if you cut it in a curve. For a more professional finish, it’s worth taking time to shape it properly to shape and bind the edges. MEASURING UP Step one Measure the top of your table; you’ll need the length and width or diameter. Step two Decide the depth of the overhang. 15-20cm all the way around is about right. Step three Add the overhang depth to each side and…

DYED NAPKINS YOU WILL NEED ■ Cotton or linen napkins■ Turmeric powder■ Pan■ Glass Bowl■ Water DYEING THE NAPKINS Step one Add 3 tablespoons of turmeric to a pan with 6 cups of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Step two Take off the heat and pour into a glass bowl, then submerge the napkins in the dye for 1-2 minutes –the longer you leave them, the deeper the colour will be. Step three Rinse, then leave to dry. Becki is a creative designer in the New Forest. Inspired by nature, when she's not in her studio you'll find her out walking her sausage dog.See more @becki_clark_…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 2.5-3m of 140cm wide fabric■ 2cm elastic, twice the length of the waist■ 2m bias binding■ Tape measure, straight ruler and curved ruler■ Fabric marking tools■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED ■ Minerva Core Range Washed Slub 100% Linen Fabric in Fern Green from minerva.com NOTES ■ Seam allowance: 1cm■ Hem allowance: 4cm■ Garment is drafted on folded fabric SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Linen, cotton, ramie DRAFTING THE TOP Step one Draw a line at right angles to fold at top of fabric. Measure across 15cm and mark point A. Measure 5cm down fold and mark point B. Use a curved ruler to connect A to B to create boatneck. 01 Step two Draw an 8cm line at a 15 degree angle from A to…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Jersey fabric: 1.75mx115cm■ Elastic tape: 3cm x your waist measurement■ Top and trousers or jeans, to use as a template■ Tailor’s chalk■ Ruler or pattern master■ Pattern paper■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit RECOMMENDED FABRIC ■ Stretch fabrics such as cotton jersey NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. ■ We recommend using a stretch stitch to sew the seams. If you don’t have a specialist stretch stitch use a narrow width zigzag stitch which will give the stitch a little stretch. ■ You will need more fabric if you would like the shorts or top to be longer, or if you are making the pyjamas larger than a UK size 16. TO MAKE THE TOP MAKING THE PATTERN Step one Fold the…

Sign up to our newsletter to download your bonus digital copy of Start Sewing – for free! Inside this fun and practical guide you'll find twenty one ways to upgrade your wardrobe with beautiful makes that you'll be proud to show off. The projects vary from clothes, accessories, shoes, bags and upcycling old garments, and they're all beginner friendly! Sign up for yours today at try.simplysewingmag.com/bonus-gift Already a newsletter subscriber? Lookout for the link to download your bonus gift in our weekly sewing newsletter.…

Growing up, I was always captivated by the sharp lines of menswear. Tailored pants, structured blazers, and crisp collared shirts exuded a timeless sophistication. When I began sewing, I gravitated toward incorporating these elements into my own designs, often pairing masculine shapes with feminine touches to create striking contrasts. This rust-colored corduroy suit is one of my proudest creations – a wide-leg pant and blazer set that embodies my love for gender-bending style. The blazer features sharp lapels reminiscent of menswear tailoring, while the flared pants bring a playful 1970s vibe. I paired it with a bold printed button-down shirt that celebrates both the confidence of menswear and the artistry of feminine prints. For me, sewing is about freedom: breaking the rules of what clothing is ‘supposed to be’. This…

Are you ready to take your sewing and dressmaking skills to the next level? Using an overlocker elevates home sewing to the next level. You can finish your seams with ease and achieve a really professional finish to help your me-made garments last longer. Together with our pals and sponsors at Janome, we’re put together this handy overlocker guide that will have you sewing like a pro in no time! From setting up and threading your machine, to choosing the right needle and checking tension, we’ve got it covered. We’ve even included five projects for you to practice on at home, so you can build your confidence as you sew!…

Threading an overlocker can be one of the most daunting things about owning one. Unlike a sewing machine where there is only a needle to thread, there are two needles and two loopers to deal with on an overlocker and lots of poking around inside the machine! The most important thing to remember is to refer to the manual about to thread your specific machine. Some machines will also have a handy video guide to help you. Most overlockers require you to thread them in a particular order for them to function – usually from right to left: lower looper, upper looper, right-hand needle, left-hand needle. Each looper/needle will have a different colour to help show which is which. This is a general threading guide for a Janome overlocker and…

Your machine’s manual will be invaluable when it comes to dealing with any issues with your overlocker. As with a regular sewing machine, often problems can be resolved by changing the needles and rethreading, so make that your first port of call. TIP: If you can’t find your overlocker’s manual, search the internet for your specific model. You can usually find it as a downloadable PDF. COMMON ISSUES SERVICING YOUR MACHINE ■ Make sure you regularly open up the looper cover and side cover and remove any fluff, thread or debris. ■ As a general guide it is recommended to change your overlocker needles after every 8-16 hours of sewing time. ■ Clean and check the blade regularly. ■ When not in use, protect your overlocker with a cover. ■…

MAKE UP REMOVER PADS YOU WILL NEED ■ Scraps of jersey fabric■ Scraps of towelling fabric■ Mug■ Erasable fabric pen■ Tapestry needle■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated.■ You can use an old towel or facecloth, instead of towelling. CUTTING OUT Step one From the towelling fabric, draw around a mug to create a small circle shape. 01 Step two Repeat for the number of rounds you wish to make. Step three From the jersey fabric, draw out the number of rounds you wish to make. Step four Cut out your circles from both the towelling and jersey. 02 MAKING THE PADS Step one Match up a jersey round with a towelling round and pin them together with the right sides…

OVERLOCKER COVER YOU WILL NEED ■ 0.5x1m main outer fabric, quilting weight patterned cotton■ 1x1m detail/lining fabric, quilting weight plain cotton■ 0.75x1m light-weight wadding■ 1.2m bias binding, 2cm wide■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Bloom Together by Daisy Dots for Cloud9 Fabrics. NOTES ■ All measurements are h x w. ■ Measurements are designed to fit most standard size overlockers. CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric, cut: Two Front/Back pieces 21x29cm.One Top piece 32x29cm.Two Side pieces 21cmx32cm. Step two From the detail outer fabric, cut: Two Front/Back pieces 11x29cm.Two Side pieces 11x32cm. Step three From the detail lining fabric, cut: Two pieces 30x29cm.One piece 32x29cm.Two pieces 30x32cm. Step four From the Wadding, cut: Two pieces 30x29cm.One piece 32x29cm.Two pieces 30x32cm. CREATING THE OUTER Step one Lay out…

1 TAPESTRY NEEDLE Keep a tapestry needle on hand to weave in any loose thread tails. You won’t need to do this for all seams, only ones where they won’t be crossed with another seam, such as armholes, cuffs and waistbands. 2 PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE Get used to threading your overlocker. As painful as it may be, practice threading it over and over again so that you become used to it until you feel more confident. Make sure you thread your overlocker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually means starting at the right-hand side with the lower looper, and moving gradually over to the left. 3 TWEEZERS Utilise the tweezers that come with your machine to help when threading. Their fine point will make grabbing the threads and getting…

JULIAN COLLINS Julian works in public health, but loves to bring joy to the world through his colourful menswear creations. He is a Know Me pattern designer, BERNINA ambassador and sewing educator. Read all about his sewing journey on page 22. LINDA MAFUBA Linda is a Kent-based fashion designer. She’s the creative director and owner at MYDEI and makes custom womenswear. She has created a beautiful summer dress that you can self-draft at home. Turn to page 57 to try her design for yourself. SAMANTHA CHANDLER AND RUAN CLAYWORTH Samantha and Ruan are two Yorkshire sewists who found each other through their passion for sewing and created the Sew Frugal challenge together. Learn about them and their challenge on page 52. SHIMERE BALLOU Shimere has been sewing for over 25…

Get to professionally finish your garments and experiment with stretchy fabrics with Janome’s brand new overlocker! We have teamed up with Janome to offer one lucky reader the chance to win the Model ML454D. This overlocker has an improved fabric feed, with an 8-piece feed dog enabling fabrics to glide under the foot, for amazing fabric control. Most overlockers are quite noisy, especially at high speeds, however this model is very quiet, it has vibration suppression Hanenite feet to absorb the noise and bounce… it’s a WOW from everyone that has tried it! Check out Janome’s wide range of products on their website at janome.co.uk – and enter our competition now by heading over to gathered.how/sew_comps! See gathered.how/sew_comps to enter today! Promoter: Our Media Limited, a company registered in England…

ME2019 VEST AND TROUSERS This smart new pattern from designer Brandon Hayden, also known as Happily Dressed, creates a lined button-front vest and a matching pair of barrel leg trousers with a belted waistband, front and back yoke, pockets, front leg darts, and a zip fly. It’s the perfect design to try out several different techniques without feeling overwhelmed. sewdirect.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Ready to jump in and get making? Here’s our pick of the best new beginner-friendly patterns 1 HIGH TIDE SET This adorable vintage-inspired set from Matchy Matchy Sewing Club features a simple wide crew neck top with micro puff sleeves, plus options for a front button placket, two hem lengths, and a charming Peter Pan collar. You’ll also find a pair of A-line shorts with a cinched elastic…

APRON YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: 60x90cm■ Contrast fabric: 55x94cm■ Erasable pen■ Matching sewing thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTE ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance. CUTTING OUT Step one Lay the main fabric out flat then draw around a mixing bowl to create a curve at both the bottom left and right corners. Cut along the drawn curved lines to create the apron body. Step two From the contrast fabric, cut:Waistband/Ties: three strips 10x94cm.Bias binding: 25x94cm. MAKING THE BIAS BINDING Step one Fold the bias binding piece so the edges meet to form a triangle and press. Open out the fold – the pressed line is the bias grain. Step two Using a long ruler and rotary cutter, cut 4cm wide strips on the bias, starting from the pressed…

This gender-neutral pattern is sure to suit absolutely every body in the most stylish way. The Parker Tee will become an absolute staple of your wardrobe, and it's completely timeless meaning that you will be keeping it and wearing it for life! Decide to make it fitted for any occasion or choose an oversized style for a more relaxed look. This t-shirt can be given a casual or more formal look depending on how you accessorise it – jeans or dressy trousers! Sew your Parker Tee and tag us with @simplysewingmag. YOU WILL NEED ■ Knit fabric: 1.5mx150cm■ Jersey sewing machine needle■ Twin ballpoint machine needle (optional)■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light to medium-weight knit fabrics such as cotton jersey, ponte roma and viscose jersey. FABRIC…

COTTON REELS TOY PAGE 64ACTUAL SIZE All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! EMBROIDERED JEANS PAGE 69ACTUAL SIZE…

Whether you have yet to purchase, have one gathering dust, or have tentatively started using one, we’ll help you get the most out of your overlocker. It’s a great piece of kit, you’ll be glad to get to know it! WHAT IS AN OVERLOCKER? An overlocker, sometimes known as a serger, is a specialised sewing machine that uses a multi-thread chain stitch to bind fabric edges and seams, preventing fraying and creating a durable, professional-looking finish. Most ready to wear clothing will have been finished using an industrial overlocker but domestic overlockers are widely available and will elevate your home sewing. Unlike standard sewing machines, which are mainly used for stitching seams, the primary focus of an overlocker is to finish seams, to help with longevity and prevent fabrics unravelling.…

WHAT IS A ROLLED HEM? A rolled hem is a very small hem finish, suitable for lightweight to medium-weight fabrics, where the raw edge of the fabric is rolled under and stitched in place, creating a neat, durable, and often decorative edge. Rolled hems are commonly used on garments like lingerie, blouses, skirts, scarves, and ruffles, as well as for home decor items such as window treatments, napkins, and tablecloths. While rolled hems can be sewn by hand or with a sewing machine with a speciality presser foot, your overlocker can make sewing a rolled hem super easy. There are a number of adjustments you will need to make to your overlocker to sew a rolled hem. We will show how to set up a rolled hem stitch on a…

Put your overlocker skills to good use with some brand new patterns for your me-made wardrobe. Look no further than our very own Simply Sewing pattern shop for all your staple makes – with instant access to your favourite patterns from our archive, alongside our latest releases. Each design comes with a fully graded PDF pattern, step-by-step instructions and a size chart – all ready for you to download and print. Digital patterns are so quick and easy to use, try one today! Shop the full collection online at gathered.how/sewing-shop…

BLOSSOM GOWN Dance your way into the sunshine with a statement dress that balances bold design with thoughtful proportions. The Elsa Dress by Silversaga Patterns is a flattering dress that allows for freedom of movement. At the heart of the design are the ¾ length sleeves, featuring a dipped hemline at the back. The dress is shaped with darts and sits at a high waistline, with a curved waistline that mirrors the shape of the sleeves, creating a harmonious flow throughout the design. Find the pattern at silversagapatterns.com SOFTEST DREAMS Head to bed in comfort and style with the Fiske Sleepwear Set! Sew the camisole or nightgown, with Cashmerette’s wireless bralette inside for total comfort and complete your set with piped pajamas, a nightshirt, and two robe variations – cashmerette.com…

Sew a midi dress that will stay with you throughout the summer sunshine with The Maisie Dress! This soft and fluid frock is perfect to wear even during the hottest days. The gathered sleeves allow for movement and air to flow through while keeping you covered from the sun. Add an optional gathered waist if you'd like to add shape to your dress, or keep it straight for a simpler look – whatever you prefer! Create your Maisie Dress with lightweight but vibrant and colourful fabrics. You can follow our recommendation of oldies-but-goldies florals and ginghams, or pick your favourite prints and colours that suit your unique style. Don't forget to share your makes using #SimplySewingMag YOU WILL NEED ■ Version A Sizes 6-14: 2.6m of 145cm-wide fabric Sizes 16-30:…

DOORSTOP YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A: 25x55cm■ Fabric B: 25x40cm■ Fabric C: 65x90cm■ Fabric D: 65x90cm■ Wadding: 65x90cm■ Polyester fibrefill■ Doorstop filling: 1kg plastic pellets■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit MATERIALS USED Fabric A: Scattered Showers, Warm. From Day Trip by Dana Willard for Art Gallery Fabrics. Fabric B: Plotted Farm Spices. From Spices Fusion by AGF Studio. Fabric C: Magija, Olive. From Tallinn by Jessica Swift for Art Gallery Fabrics. Visit hantexonline.co.uk NOTES ■ Download the ttemplates from gathered.how/ss-templates.■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. MEASURING UP Step one Download, print and cut out the templates for the Pineapple Body, Pineapple Base, Large Leaf, Medium Leaf and Small Leaf. Step two From Fabric A cut:Body: 25x40cm.Pineapple Base: one from the base template. Step three From Fabric…

CUSHIONS YOU WILL NEED ■ 53cm square of floral cotton fabric for each cushion■ 53x67cm of dotty cotton fabric for each cushion■ One ball of yarn in a contrasting colour■ 10cm square of cardboard■ Darning needle■ 50x50cm cushion pads■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, unless otherwise indicated. MAKING THE CUSHION Step one Cut the piece of dotty fabric into two 53 x 33.5cm pieces. Together, these will form the back of your cushion. Step two Fold over and press one of the 53cm edges to the wrong side (WS) by 1cm and then again by the same amount. Set your sewing machine to straight stitch and sew along the hem in matching thread. Repeat this step for the second dotty fabric piece. 01…

Celebrity fashion history is woven with unforgettable dresses – garments that defined eras, symbolised cultural shifts, and left lasting impressions on the red carpet and beyond. From Audrey Hepburn’s chic black Givenchy dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Jennifer Lopez’s plunging green Versace gown, these iconic pieces continue to inspire designers and makers today. Whilst there’s some celebrity dresses you probably wouldn’t want to recreate (Lady Gaga’s meat dress anyone?), we explore how to sew some of the stars’ best loved dresses. Get ready to bring these legendary looks to life! CLARE DANES Claire Danes’ white pleated angel dress in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet symbolised purity and ethereal beauty. Featuring soft pleats, a fitted bodice (and all-important wings!), it enhanced Juliet’s innocence and left…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 1.5m cotton fabric■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated.■ For our model, the panel measurements are:Length - 100cm.Width - 35cm.■ The dress is made up of four equal panels. Two side seams, One centre front seam, One centre back seam and Two shoulder seams. MATERIALS USED ■ Kaleidoscope Ace Lawn – anbo.co.uk TAKING MEASUREMENTS Step one Take the following measurements:BustWaistHipShoulder Neck Point (SNP, where the Shoulder meets the Neck) SNP to desired length of dress Neck Opening (from SNP) CREATING THE PATTERN Step one Use the measurement from the widest part of the body and add ease. Hip + 10cm ease = 100cm. Step two To get the width of each panel, divide the total measurement in step…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Denim jeans■ Water-soluble stabiliser■ Water-soluble pen■ White stranded cotton■ Chenille needle■ Basic sewing kit NOTES Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates. TRANSFERRING THE DESIGN Step one Trace the sparkles and flowers patterns onto water-soluble stabiliser and cut around the shape. Stick the patterns down onto the jeans near the side hem and under the pockets. Use a water-soluble pen so the ink vanishes from the white thread. 01 STITCHING THE DESIGN Step one Use all six strands of white stranded cotton throughout the project. Stitch the sparkles with star stitch, coming up at the outside and down through the centre. 02 Step two Embroider the dots with French knots, wrapping the thread around the needle twice. 03 Step three Make the bows with two lazy daisy stitches…

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…

IN 13 GENDER NEUTRAL SIZES PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Knit fabric: 1.5mx150cm■ Jersey sewing machine needle■ Twin ballpoint sewing machine needle (optional)■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC SUGGESTIONS ■ Light to medium-weight knit fabrics such as cotton jersey, ponte roma and viscose jersey. NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated.■ Test various lengths and widths of zig zag or stretch stitches on scraps of your fabric to make sure they work and the stitches won’t pop under stress. BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING ©Designed and printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Supplied by Our Media Company Ltd, Bristol, BS1 4ST. For individual, private use only and not for commercialor manufacturing purposes. Not for resale. CUTTING LAYOUTS STITCHING TERMS RS/WS:…

HOW TO ADJUST THE DIFFERENTIAL FEED UPPER BLADE This cuts through the fabric and works best when it is sharp. It is important not to put pins through your overlocker as they will dent the blade, causing it to snag your fabric. The blade should be changed if you run over a pin to prevent cutting issues. Refer to your manual to learn how to do this. PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT SCREW This is used to adjust the presser foot tension. If your fabric is stretching this may be the reason why. It is usually best to save this adjustment until after you have tried everything else. Consult your manual for guidance and only adjust the screw a small amount before testing the stitch again. TENSION DIALS Used to change the tension…

As with a regular sewing machine, the tension is likely to need to be adjusted for each different type of fabric used. Having good knowledge of thread tensions is important if you want to produce neat overlocked edges in a range of fabrics. For best results, a lighter weight fabric will require a looser tension, and a heavier weight fabric will require a tighter tension. As a rule, if the tension is too loose, you will need to increase the number on the tension dial and if the tension is too tight, you will need to reduce the number. You can refer to your machine’s manual for specific guidance around tension settings for you own machine model. For our Janome machine, it is recommended to set all four thread tension…

HEADBAND YOU WILL NEED ■ Jersey fabric: 0.5m■ Tapestry needle■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated.■ Make sure your fabric is not too thick, as you will be sewing through a lot of layers. Use a cotton, rayon or bamboo jersey for best results. CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric, cut two strips each 13x55cm. MAKING THE HEADBAND Step one With right sides (RS) together, fold one long strip in half lengthwise. Pin in place. 01 Step two Stitch using a 1cm seam allowance on your overlocker. Repeat for the second strip. Step three Turn both of the tubes through to the RS and press them flat with the seam centred along the back. 02 Step four Lay out…

NAPKINS YOU WILL NEED ■ Cotton fabric – either use one fabric or a selection of coordinating fabrics■ Tapestry needle■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Refer to your overlocker manual for the settings required for a rolled hem.■ Use wooly nylon thread in your upper and lower loopers for a denser finish. CUTTING OUT Step one From the cotton fabric, cut out as many 30x30cm squares as required. 01 SETTING UP THE OVERLOCKER Step one Set up your overlocker for rolled hems. For our machine, we need to firstly disengage the lower cutting blade. 02 Step two Push the cutting width adjustment dial in as far as it will go and move the switch to R (for Rolled Hemming). 03 Step three Remove the left-hand needle, as we…

BURP CLOTH YOU WILL NEED ■ Main jersey fabric: 0.5m■ Backing jersey fabric: 0.5m■ Plate or bowl■ Erasable fabric marker■ Tapestry needle■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. FABRIC USED ■ We used a fleece back sweatshirting for the backing, with the fleece side facing out so that it was nice and soft. CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric, cut one strip 20x54cm. Step two From the backing fabric, cut one strip 20x54cm. MAKING THE BURP CLOTH Step one Place the Backing fabric right side (RS) up and place the Main fabric RS up on top of it. 01 Step two Use a cup or bowl to draw a round shape over each corner. Use an erasable pen when…

Are you ready to test your new skills? Download the The Carmen Hoodie as a bonus pattern to sew at home! This exclusive digital pattern, designed by Claire-Louise Hardie, comes in ten gender neutral sizes, and is formatted as a PDF onto A4 sheets so you can easily print it at home. Its classic design, with a simple yet effective colour-block finish, is great for practising all of those overlocked seams! Simply search for ‘Carmen Hoodie’ at gathered.how or scan the QR code below to access your bonus pattern. Download The Carmen Hoodie pattern today!…