Table of contents for Issue 138 in Simply Sewing

Summer is almost over and we’re starting to get excited about a cooler season to begin – and our cover star, the gender-neutral Barn Jacket, has that perfect autumn aesthetic (page 22)! Stay active with five great makes to make your workouts more enjoyable – find them on page 37. This issue, you also get an exclusive booklet with no less than seventeen contemporary makes for your home – learn more on page 33. And this month, we don’t have one, but two competitions! Enter to have a chance to get one of three fun and gorgeous label bundles from The Cosy Club Handmade, or have a chance to win a premium fabric cutting board from Sew & Stow! Learn more on page 15. Happy sewing! And share your makes…

PARADISE WEARS Sewing clothes to fit a pregnancy bump? Want to make sure you'll wear it afterwards? Let us introduce you to The Humla Romper by Paradise Patterns. It's the perfect piece to wear as your body changes (and a great me-made for non-pregnant people too!) as it's so floaty and breathable. Upon first glance, it looks like a short dress but it's romper-style makes it much easier to wear – no risk of flashing! It has generous ease and elastic in the upper bust channel to help with fit. Get the pattern at paradisepatterns.com SPANISH STYLE Embrace the Iberian fashion with La Flamenca collection by Maison Fauve – a celebration of freedom, fiery sun, and unapologetic movement. Their capsule is filled with deep, baroque reds, polka dots and draped…

GATHERING APRON As practical as it is pretty, this gathering apron from Sew Liberated lets you collect eggs, herbs, or anything else your heart desires in its huge front pocket. It’s decorated with modern pintuck details, adjustable bust shaping, and a criss-cross back closure – we just adore it! sewliberated.com PATTERN INSPIRATION Make detailed stitch techniques the star of the show with our pick of the best embellished patterns 1 221 ENGLISH SMOCK Inspired by the traditional English smocks of the late 18th century, this loose-fitting Folkwear pattern is suitable for children to adult men and women. Choose between a pullover blouse or a button-front frock, both featuring instructions for classic hand-smocked embellishments. folkwear.com 2 M8591 ROMPER, DRESSES, AND HEADBAND Shirring is ideal for children’s wear, offering plenty of comfort…

YOU WILL NEED Cotton poplin remnants 140cm wide (in Hypnotik Blue 1m, Juicy Green 1m, Poppy Tangerine 0.25m, and Sandy Sand 0.5m) Elastic - 3cm wide - approx 20cm Matching thread Basic sewing kit TAKING MEASUREMENTS Measure from your high waist, to your ankle. (A)* Measure your chest at the fullest part. (B)** Multiply B by 1.5 then divide by 2 (C)*** NOTES: ■ Before you start: Choose lightweight fabrics of the same or similar weight and composition. You can opt for bold contrast like I have done here; or a more tonal harmonious palette. For the bold look here I picked larger pieces in 2 key colours (the blue and the green) and smaller pieces in 2 accent colours (the sand and the orange) and combined them into larger…

YOU WILL NEED 2.5 - 3m of 140cm wide fabric A pair of wide leg high waisted trousers Tape measure, straight ruler and curved ruler Fabric marking tools Matching thread Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED: Emerald Leopard Viscose Fabric, £11 per metre from Lamazi Fabrics – lamazifabrics.com NOTES: Hem: 3cm. Waist: 3.5cm. Side hems: 2cm. SUGGESTED FABRICS: Light to medium weight woven fabrics such as viscose, silk, crepe or cotton lawn. DRAFTING THE TROUSERS Step one Select a pair of comfortable wide leg high waisted trousers. Place one leg inside the other right sides (RS) together so the front crotch curve can be clearly seen. Flatten the curve as far as possible and lay on top of a single layer of fabric. Step two Position the trousers so that the…

YOU WILL NEED Old wool sweater, blanket or textured toy fabric Elasticated fabric Canvas belt Soft toy stuffing White sewing thread Sewing needle Black embroidery thread Tapestry needle Basic sewing kit NOTES Use a 1cm seam allowance, unless otherwise indicated. CUTTING OUT Step one From the wool fabric, cut: Body: Two. Ear: Four. 01 MAKING THE PUPPET Step one Pin two Ear pieces with right sides (RS) together, then sew around the curved edge. Turn through to the RS, then repeat with the remaining two Ear pieces. Step two Pinch an ear along the length to create a crease down the centre. Sew across the bottom of the ear to secure the crease in place, then repeat with the second ear. Step three Pin the ears to the RS of…

YOU WILL NEED Long-sleeved sweatshirt Fabric paint marker Stranded cotton Needle Scissors Backing (optional) Thread Guide DMC Colours: 316 Metallic Heather 832 Modoré 3821 Metallic Mango 320 Fern 524 Pebble Green 160 Stormy Blue 3810 Persian Blue 402 Pottery 3712 Blush 3770 Eggshell MARKING THE DESIGN Step one Use a paint marker to plan ten “spots” around the cuff for the centres of your daisies, making sure they are evenly spaced, with enough room around the edge to add your stitches. Follow the instructions supplied with the marker to seal the design. STITCHING THE DESIGN Step one Next, using a doubled floss (twelve strands total), add straight stitches around the paint dots. One petal is one stitch. Follow the circle of the centre dot and stitch approximately ten stitches to…

VERSION A VERSION B PACK INCLUDES Pattern sheets x2 (Tracing required) Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED Version 1 Sizes A-E: 2.5m of 140cm-wide fabric. Sizes F-M: 3m of 140cm-wide fabric. Version 1 Sizes A-E: 3m of 140cm-wide fabric. Sizes F-M: 3.5m of 140cm-wide fabric. 5-7 x 25mm buttons for fastening. 0.5m medium weight iron on interfacing. Matching thread. Basic sewing kit. NOTES Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. All seam allowances are included on the pattern pieces. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS Medium to heavyweight woven fabrics such as canvas, cotton drills, twills and denims, Shop more of our patterns online at gatheredshop.com BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Designed by Becky Perry; illustrations by Terry Evans for Prima UK, January 2024. Supplied by Our Media…

PATCHWORK TRIM BLANKET YOU WILL NEED Fabric A: WOFx120cm – binding* Fabric B: 150x150cm – blanket* Erasable fabric marker Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED Boscage range by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics. Stockists: artgalleryfabrics.com. Cotton waffle fabric provided by Minerva, minerva.com. NOTES WOF = Width of Fabric. Use a 1cm seam allowance. *Border fabric depends on the size of the blanket and how deep you want the border to be. Our border is 3cm deep and made from double-fold binding. Adjust the amount as needed. CUTTING OUT Step one From fabric B, cut:Binding: six WOFx18.5cm. Trim off the selvedges. MAKING THE BINDING Step one Take the Binding strips and sew them end to end to create one strip. Press seams open. Step two Fold the Binding in half lengthways…

FABRIC RUG YOU WILL NEED 3m of fabric (see instructions for details) Thread Sewing machine Scissors Washi tape NOTES If you’re using fabrics in several different colours and patterns, choose a thread colour that matches the dominant shade so that the stitching blends in. MAKING THE RUG Step one The rug is made with strips of fabric plaited together to make a braid. For a 75cm-wide rug, you will need to make a braid approximately 35-40m long. If you are using lengths of fabric for this project, you will need 3m to make a rug this size; if you are using old clothes, three large men’s shirts or four women’s T-shirts will be about enough. If you are using up leftover fabric scraps, you can just keep going until they…

PEG BAG YOU WILL NEED Sturdy fabric (see instructions for size details) A wire hanger Matching bias binding Erasable fabric marker Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTES Try swapping out your standard sewing machine presser foot for a binding foot to help you sew close to the binding edge. CUTTING OUT Step one Measure the width of the hanger you want to use for your peg bag, as this will determine the width of the finished bag. Add 2cm to the hanger-width measurement – this is the width you need to cut for the main peg bag piece. Cut the length to 80cm. BINDING Step one The raw edges of the peg bag opening are finished with bias binding. First, open out the binding and align the raw edge of…

CURTAIN YOU WILL NEED Curtain 15mm ricrac (to your required length) Thread to match ricrac Thread to match curtain Basic sewing kit NOTES Match the bobbin thread to your curtain colour for a neater finish. If you notice that the bobbin thread shows up while you’re sewing the trim and zigzag stitches, adjust the thread tension on your sewing machine and test it on some scrap fabric before continuing. PREPARING Step one Prep your curtain by pressing out any creases. Then carefully measure the outer perimeter of each curtain (apart from the top edge). Cut out some ricrac trim to that measurement, plus an additional 2cm (to allow for folding at the corners and ends). Step two Lay the curtain on a flat surface with the right side facing upwards.…

CUSHIONS YOU WILL NEED FOR EACH CUSHION Fabric A: 75x45cm – front and one envelope back Fabric B: 65x45cm – appliqué and one envelope back Bondaweb: 35x35cm Cushion pad: 46cm Paper for the template Erasable fabric marker Matching thread Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED The fabrics used are from Rico Design. For stockists visit rico-design.com. Rico Design Druckstoff Nature Matters Striche pink-neon. Rico Design Druckstoff Nature Matters Punkte senf-gold. NOTES Use a 1cm seam allowance. Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates. CUTTING OUT Step one From fabric A, cut: Cushion Front: 42x42cm. Envelope Back A: 30x42cm. Step two From fabric B, cut: Envelope Back B: 30x42cm. Step three Print out the template then create a mirror image by holding the template up to a light source and drawing over the outline…

There’s something about the golden afternoons of September that make me slow down a little and take stock. This issue is all about reflecting on what we love, what we’ve made, and what’s next on our sewing tables. Our cover star The Barn Jacket, a timeless silhouette reimagined for everyone is the kind of piece that invites mindful making and a quiet pride in every seam. Whether you’re sewing to slow down, to express yourself, or simply because you love it (yes, all three count!), we hope this issue feels like a welcoming place to land as the season shifts. Join the conversation on socials @SimplySewingMag and let us know what you’re making next.…

With summer almost over, it's time to get excited for jumper season! And what better than with a great gender-neutral jacket that's sure to fit absolutely every body, so that you're ready for nice forest walks where all the tree leaves turn to warm, beautiful colours. The Barn Jacket comes in two different versions for you to choose from - with two hem lengths. Sew simple patch pockets at the front or decide to make more secure and aesthetic pleated pockets – the choice is yours! This is a casual jacket that you'll be able to wear again every year, so it's a great wardrobe staple to invest in. However you sew yours, share your photos with us online using #SimplySewingMag YOU WILL NEED Version A Sizes A-E: 2.5m of…

Looking for some simple home décor inspiration? Look no further than the bonus book included with this issue - Simply Handmade. This exclusive 36-page booklet is an exciting collaboration with Your Home magazine. Inside you'll find 17 projects to revamp your home and add a dash of colour to every room. We've gathered a variety of projects for all sewing abilities, from an easy-sew doorstop, to a full bedroom set. Find more interior inspiration at yourhomestyle.uk and home projects to sew at gathered.how…

YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: approx 118x120cm (see notes) 3cm wide ribbon: 90cm 1cm wide ribbon: 60cm Tailor’s chalk or fabric pen Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTES Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated. If drafting directly onto fabric, note down your measurements so you can make the top again! The amount of fabric and ribbon required will depend on your measurements. If the fabric isn’t large enough to fit the entire pattern, add a seam down the centre of the bodice. Play with the location or depth of the tucks to change the shape of the top. SUGGESTED FABRICS Light- to mid-weight woven fabrics. Aims used a mid-weight cotton Sashiko-ori blue fabric from her shop indybindy.com.au MEASURING UP Step one Bodice width: Measure from one elbow crease, across…

Buying clothes for children is often a task that can be as challenging as it is cute. Not only do the outfits need to be durable enough for play and running around, but because children have a very speedy development, many buyers may want to spend as little as possible to escape investing in pieces that will be outgrown in months, or even weeks. CHEAP CLOTHES BUT AT WHAT COST Despite the ease of buying cheap, easily replaceable clothes, it comes with moral guilt for some shoppers, as fast fashion is commonly described as a key contributor to the environmental crisis. The claim that there is enough clothing on the planet to dress the next six generations is one of several that frequently circulate. Along with research stating that globally,…

MORE OPTIONS TO CONSIDER There are plenty of other ways to get your products out there Social media: Why not use your brand’s Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest accounts to arrange sales? With the launch of shops through the above social platforms, it’s never been easier to make your favourite social media platform a one-stop-shop for selling all of your products. Look out for Facebook groups for makers too, such as NOT ON AMAZON. Email newsletter: Your newsletter subscriber list is yours to market to however you like, and you can even arrange purchases through email. A direct link between you and your customer, these contacts are gold. eBay: The world-famous auction site is better known for second-hand goods, but handmade products and craft supplies are fair game too. Communities and…

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…

HANGING PLANT POT YOU WILL NEED 50cm outer cotton fabric 50cm waterproof fabric or cotton fabric and Vlieseline Lamifix waterproof coating for the lining 50cm of firm iron-on interfacing Matching thread 4 x eyelets Cotton rope or cord Leather or faux leather scraps Scissors Pins Sewing machine PREPARING THE PIECES Step one Cut two pieces measuring 25x25cm from the outer cotton fabric, and the same from the lining and interfacing. Iron the interfacing onto the back of the outer pieces. If you’re using cotton fabric for the lining, iron the Lamifix to the right side (RS) to make them waterproof. Step two Cut two small 5cm squares out from the bottom two corners of all your pieces. MAKING THE PLANT POTS Step one Take the pair of outer pieces and…

LINEN PLACEMATS YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE ONE PLACEMAT Medium-weight patterned fabric: 31x44cm Linen fabric: 50x110cm Matching thread Basic sewing kit FINISHED SIZE Placemat: approx 45x32cm. CUTTING OUT Step one Cut two pieces of linen fabric each measuring 46x59cm. SEWING THE PLACEMAT Step one Lay your placemat linen piece out face-down, if it has a right side (RS), and fold each edge over by 3.5cm. Press the crease, then fold over again by 3.5cm and press again. 01 Step two Unfold the second fold along each edge and then fold each corner in so that the first crease meets the crease of the second fold. 02 Step three Press each corner to crease then unfold the corners. Step four Turn the linen over. Bring the edges of one of the…

POT HOLDER AND OVEN GLOVE YOU WILL NEED 0.5m fabrics in two co-ordinating ginghams 0.5m fabric in a contrast stripe or plain Heatproof wadding Paper/card, for the glove template Matching thread Matching bias binding Basic sewing kit NOTES Make a matching tea towel with leftover fabric – just use an existing tea towel as a size template and hem the edges. TIP: Use the fold of the bias binding as a guide for your stitching. POT HOLDER CUTTING OUT Step one Cut two 20cm squares from the gingham fabrics for the main pot holder, and two 20 x 16cm pieces from the contrast fabrics for the pocket Step two From the heatproof wadding, cut two pieces measuring 20cm square and two measuring 20 x 16cm. MAKING THE POCKET Step one…

KNOT PILLOW YOU WILL NEED 1.4m of 1.4m wide fabric Matching all-purpose thread Basic sewing supplies and sewing machine Scissors Rotary cutter, quilter’s ruler and mat (optional) Large safety pin Polyester stuffing, 1.4kg Long, thin wooden stick or pole Hand sewing needle Fabric glue PREPARE THE FABRIC Step one Wash and dry your fabric. Step two Cut it into nine 11 x 114cm strips. 01 CREATING THE TUBES Step one Sew each strip together, short end to short end with right sides (RS) together, creating one long 11cm x 11m strip of fabric. 02 Step two Fold over the fabric lengthwise, RS together, and sew along the raw edges on the long side to create an 11m long tube. 03 Step three Turn the tube of fabric RS out using…

LAUREN MACDONALD Lauren is a London-based designer, maker and founder of textiles studio Working Cloth. She’s best known for making quilts, and is the author of two non-fiction books. Turn to page 26 to read all about her sewing journey and how her passion started. GEMMA ELLEN SMITH Gemma is a Norfolk-based sewist and Egyptologist with a love of 1950s Hollywood glamour and alternative fashion. She spends the majority of her free time creating vintage inspired-garments. She tells us about her favourite make on page 82. NICOLE VASSELL Nicole is a London-based writer who has been contributing to Simply Sewing since 2021. As well as sewing, Nicole frequently writes about culture and lifestyle, with a love for music and theatre. Turn to page 58 to read her interview with Cactus…

There’s a photograph of me, age 4 – my pink-cheeked, chubby face is set against the marbled blue backdrop inextricably linked with school photos from the 1990s. I am wearing a frothy white wedding dress and an ivory net veil that has been carefully pinned to my wispy ponytail with a little pearly comb. A grin is plastered across my face. The outfit was from a junk bazaar. It was $10 and I begged my mother for it. Somehow, I also persuaded her to let me wear it for picture day. And though the first time I used a sewing machine was a decade or so on from my ‘glamorous’ preschool portrait, I can pinpoint the greatest two factors for my later career here. The first, a ridiculous love of…

Mix elegance with fashion to create this chic Jada Blouse, that you'll love to dress up or down depending on the occasion! Use lightweight woven fabrics to get a nice drapey feel, such as cotton, lawn, voile or chambray. And don't shy away from the full summer feel with bright colours and prints. The details on this blouse give it an even more sophisticated finish with cute and comfy cap sleeves and some beautiful pintuck details at the front. Patterns with pintucks can look tricky but it is completely beginner-friendly, we promise! Don't wait any longer, choose your fabric and sew your Jade Blouse today! And don't forget to tag us in your photos on socials @simplysewingmag. YOU WILL NEED Fabric: 110cm or 150cm width x 1.5m Single fold bias…

YOU WILL NEED 0.5m green gingham fabric (lining and ruffle fabric) 0.5m pink gingham fabric (main fabric) 30x50cm piece of wadding/batting, 2cm thick 30cm zip in pink or green Bias binding tool (optional) Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTES All seam allowances are 1cm, unless otherwise stated. Optionally you can use an interfacing (eg felt) between the lining and outer fabrics. MATERIALS USED Neon gingham from Fabric Godmother. Chunky zipper from Frumble. PREPARING THE FABRIC Step one From the main fabric, cut: 4 x rectangles 30x25cm. Step two From the wadding, cut: 4 x rectangles 30x25cm. Step three From the lining/contrast fabric, cut: 1 x rectangle 11x115cm (for ruffle). 1 x rectangle 5x20cm (for zip pull). 2 x pouch pattern pieces. Step four Sandwich each piece of wadding between two…

YOU WILL NEED Jeans or trousers Size 5 Perle cotton embroidery thread (we used DMC 725, 4120, 4124, and 734) Ruler Vanishing ink pen Embroidery scissors Size 22 chenille needle NOTES Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates. TRANSFERRING THE DESIGN Step one Fold the hem of the jeans up 6cm. Using a vanishing ink pen, draw or trace circles on the turned-up, wrong side of the fabric. A two-pence coin or US quarter is a great size for this, but you can make your flowers any size you like. 01 Step two Fill the turned-up cuff with circles (you can do only the fronts or all the way around). Next, mark a dot in the centre of each circle. 02 STITCHING THE DESIGN Step one Turn the jeans inside out to…

Ever since I was a child, I was always made to feel like my body was a problem. I was bullied in school for being the "fat kid" and that continued into adolescence as my body developed curves much faster than the other girls. I never dressed like my peers because I could never find their trendy clothes in my size. At my high school prom, I had to wear a frumpy black dress because the pretty ballgowns did not come in larger sizes. My staple wardrobe of jogging bottoms and zip-up fleece tops carried me through to adulthood and left me feeling incredibly unfeminine. After my divorce in 2018, I was at rock bottom. Fast forward to 2020, and the lockdown, when the sewing machine I bought on a…

FROM THE EDITORS Welcome to our special Simply Handmade homewares book, an exclusive collaboration between Your Home and Simply Sewing. We’re Mel and Charlie, editors passionate about creating stylish, personalised spaces, filled with handcrafted pieces. We’re thrilled to bring you this collection of 17 step-by-step projects designed to inspire and delight. Whether you’re looking to refresh your living space with handmade cushions, curtains, or charming accessories, or you’re just beginning your sewing journey, this booklet has something for everyone. Each project has been carefully selected and curated to blend practicality with style, so you can add your unique touch to every corner of your home with ease. Sewing is more than just a hobby - it’s a way to express creativity and bring warmth and character into your everyday life.…

TEA TOWELS YOU WILL NEED Kitchen tea towel: white Stranded cotton: 1 skein of dark grey Machine thread: 1 spool each of blue, pink Embroidery hoop: 18cm diameter Masking/Painter’s tape: 2.5cm wide Sewing Machine with a standard foot (optional) Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED French Knot, Holbein Stitch, Machine Straight Stitch, Running Stitch, Scallop Stitch, Stem Stitch. NOTES To prevent the thread colours running in the wash, make sure they are colourfast (i.e. the thread dyes won’t run when wet). Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates. STITCHING THE DESIGN Step one Begin by sewing the horizontal paper lines. Mark horizontal lines on each towel using painter’s tape, about 2.5-3cm apart. You can mark all the lines at once or move the tape as you go. Sew the lines using blue thread,…

DOORSTOP YOU WILL NEED 3 x 25cm cotton fabrics, in three different colours/prints Fabric scrap for the handle Medium-weight iron-on interfacing Wool for the pompoms Cardboard or pompom maker Soft toy filling A large pebble or weighted beans Matching thread Basic sewing kit PREPARE THE PIECES Step one Press the iron-on interfacing onto the wrong side (WS) of the three cotton fabrics, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Step two Next, draw and cut out the triangle templates as below. You need to draw one equilateral triangle, with each side measuring 21cm, for the doorstop base template, and one isosceles triangle measuring 21cm at the base and 24cm each side for the doorstop side template. Use these templates to cut out your fabric triangles – you need to cut them 1cm larger…

HOT WATER BOTTLE COVER YOU WILL NEED Brushed cotton flannel fabric: 75x112cm Medium wadding: 80x40cm Satin ribbon: 1m, 1.2cm-1.5cm wide Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTES Seam allowance is 1cm unless otherwise stated. MATERIALS USED Robert Kaufman Mammoth, Junior Brushed Cotton Flannel Fabric, in Summer. CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric, cut: Main Body: Four 40x26cm. Pocket: Two 21x26cm. Ribbon Tab: 6x10cm. Step two From the wadding, cut: Main Body Wadding: Two 40x26cm. Pocket Wadding: 21x26cm. 01 PREPARING THE POCKET Step one Lay out your Pocket Wadding and place one of the Pocket flannel pieces, right sides (RS) up (if there is a RS), on top. Place your second Pocket flannel piece on top of that, RS down. Pin along the longer edges and sew with a 1cm…