Table of contents for Issue 127 in Simply Sewing

Strike an elegant pose in this month’s cover star pattern! The sophisticated Clara Dress is a classic pattern making it a timeless choice that doesn’t go out of fashion, ensuring the time spent sewing it will be well worth it. Made in jacquard fabric the dress is sure to impress and elevate your party wardrobe! Check out our fabric and styling inspiration on page 22. We are also so proud to share the gorgeous Jesse Top and the cute Erik the Gonk pattern, plus six makes for the season. We are also giving away three Daylight lamps − the perfect tool to aid sewing in the darker months − turn to page 17 for your chance to win one! Don’t forget to share your Simply Sewing makes with us on…

ATELIER JUPE We love the beautiful colours and botanical prints in the brand new Autumn/Winter collection from Atelier Jupe. We especially love this right-on-trend wool fabric print with beautiful colours and vibes of decadence and opulence. The soft winter fabric in a mixture of wool also comes in another colour variant. Perfect for sweaters and coats to cuddle up in over the colder months. This is a knitted fabric and machine washable on a wool setting that's low in temperature. Shop the full Autumn/Winter collection at atelierjupe.com BEACHCOMBER JACKET It's jacket season! So get your fabric scissors and sewing machine at the ready! Sew the perfect jacket for all of your adventures with the Beachcomber − a lined jacket with patch pockets and options for a hood or collar. Get…

Have some hygge time and sew this adorable festive plushie using your free pattern this month. Erik The Gonk will make a lovely cuddly companion, perfect for snuggling up with on the couch while watching TV or reading a book. The round plushie body means he can easily stand as a decoration on a shelf too. He adds a touch of whimsy and charm to your Christmas décor. Why stop at one? Create a 'family' of gonks in different colours, or make them as gifts for loved ones! Find more Christmas decoration ideas at gathered.how…

ADVENT YOU WILL NEED ■ 0.5m plain cotton in the following colours: Pale blue, Mustard, Red, Yellow, Green, Lilac, and Dark blue■ 1m plain pink cotton■ 2m plain white cotton■ 1m cotton batting/ wadding■ Wooden dowel 50cm■ Iron on vinyl numbers■ Erasable pen /pencil■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ All seam allowances are ¼”, unless otherwise stated. MATERIALS USED ■ Iron on vinyl numbers for advent calendars, rowingvinyl. etsy.com PREPARING THE FABRIC – STOCKING Step one Cut the patchwork pieces as follows: 4” squares - 2x red, 2x pink, 3x green, 3x lilac. 3½” squares - 3x yellow, 2x green, 2x lilac. 2” squares - 16x mustard, 16x pale blue. 2”x7” rectangles - 2x pink, 2x dark blue. Step two Cut the backing pieces as follows: 12”x21” rectangle…

SELF-DRAFT YOU WILL NEED ■ 1-2m of 140-150cm wide fabric (depending on size)■ 2.5cm waistband elastic the length of the waist minus 20%■ Metre ruler■ Fabric marking tools■ Two small 2.5cm squares of interfacing■ Contrast thread for topstitching■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC ■ Mid Blue Chambray from Springfield by Modelo Fabrics − visit hantexonline.co.uk for stockists NOTES ■ Seam allowance: 1.5cm for skirt, 1cm for tie■ Hem allowance: 2.5cm SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Cotton chambray, cotton poplin or lightweight denim CREATING THE PATTERN Step one Take your hip measurement. Add 6cm for seam allowance and 10cm for ease. Divide this measurement by 4. E.g. hips 100cm + 6cm + 10cm = 116cm / 4 = 29cm. Step two Decide your chosen length and measure from the waistline to point…

No 32 STARRY SCARF YOU WILL NEED ■ Wool scarf ■ Yellow stranded cotton ■ Embroidery hoop ■ Chenille needle ■ Scissors PREPARING THE SCARF Step one Place one end of your scarf in an embroidery hoop but avoid over-tightening the hoop. You can stitch each star as you go or use tiny tabs of washi tape to mark where you want them. STITCH THE DESIGN Step one Thread your needle and tie a knot at the other end. Trim the knot leaving a tail of about 1cm. Come up through the scarf (point 1) and go back down about 1.5cm away (point 2). 01 Step two As you stitch, it helps to imagine drawing a star. Using the images as a guide, come up (point 3) to the right…

MY FAVOURITE THING When it comes to my love for sewing, nothing excites me more than working with fun printed fabrics. As a contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee, I’ve had the chance to challenge my abilities and explore my creativity, but it’s my everyday wardrobe that truly reflects my passion. I have an ever-growing collection of shirts and t-shirts, each one crafted from vibrant, quirky fabrics that never fail to brighten my day. Among my favourites is a blue and white bamboo striped shirt, adorned with shogi tiles that I wore in the first episode of series 9. This particular shirt holds a special place in my heart because it’s made from an upcycled cotton garment that was given to me by a friend after it had been…

Even with my young family in tow, it appears I'm the one who gets the most excited about Christmas. I really enjoy the seasonal change! I love packing away my summer dresses (cue: under-bed storage boxes) and digging out my cosy autumn wardrobe. There's so much on my wish list, but I'm going to ease myself in with a super-easy floaty cardigan (page 53) and pom pom scarf (page 29). For the big event, we've got a brand new and totally gorgeous party frock (page 22). This beginner-friendly silhouette is so easy to glam-up with a luxury fabric such as jacquard. It's not as tricky to sew as you'd think! See page 18 for some top tips.…

It will be here in a blink of an eye - yes, we are talking Christmas! If you’re searching for the perfect, memorable and useful gift for a crafty friend or family member – or perhaps you want to treat yourself over the darker months – then a lamp from Daylight is the bright answer. With a wide range of floor and table lamps available you can illuminate your sewing space so you can carry on with your beloved hobby stitching your creations through the dark winter days and nights. These lamps have been specially created with crafters in mind and are designed to provide optimal lighting no matter where you are. Our top recommendations for sewists include the Slimline 4™ Floor and Table Lamps (enter our competition on…

I started sewing when I was quite young, thanks to my grandma who was always making costumes for us and mending our clothes. She would let me help out a bit and give me little projects to do, like making bags, slippers, and stuff for my sisters' dolls. Looking back, those projects were pretty simple, but I always had this urge to make them, as Esme would say, impactful! I’d come up with what my grandma called “out there” ideas, like making a bag out of leaves or a full-on superhero costume with muscle padding. Instead of telling me it was too ambitious, she’d help me figure out how to make it happen. As I got older, I didn’t make much time for sewing − maybe a few college projects,…

Are you looking for that perfect knockout top to dress up jeans or trousers? As we head into the busy social time of the season with lots of festive get togethers this top will be your go-to garment! The Jesse Top is a fun project to sew and will reward you with a beautiful multi-wear top. We especially love the sleeve ties, that add extra interest and draw the eyes down the arm. Make it in your colours to give you a glow! There is such an amazing choice of fabrics prints available today, you are sure to find the perfect one for you. Don't forget to share your makes with us using #simplysewingmag YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: ■ Sizes 6-20: 115cm width x 1.7m, 145cm width x 1.5m■…

YOU WILL NEED ■ 2m jersey fabric■ Sewing machine (or needle and thread if you're hand sewing)■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated■ Using jersey fabric means there’s no need to hem the edges, making everything super-speedy CUTTING OUT Step one Lay out your fabric, folding it in half width-wise. One side will become the front of the cover up and the other side will be the back. Step two Cut directly down the middle of the front side all the way to the edge of the fold, creating two front flaps. Step three Next, cut 7.5cm directly across the fold on either side of the flaps, creating the gap for the neck hole. SEWING THE COVER UP Step one With right…

All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! WOOL STOCKING PAGE 33 ACTUAL SIZEATTACH PART A TO PART BBEFORE CUTTING FABRIC ACTUAL SIZEATTACH PART B TO PART A AND CBEFORE CUTTING FABRIC ATTACH PART C TO PART BBEFORE CUTTING FABRIC SNOWBALL GAME PAGE 39 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…

DRESS A DRESS B PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x 2 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED Fabric: ■ Version A: 4m of 90cm wide lace with scalloped edges■ Version B: 2.5m of 150cm wide fabric■ Invisible zip: 55cm■ 1m matching lining (version A only)■ 2m bias binding (version A only)■ 40cm lightweight iron on interfacing (version B only)■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1.5cm, unless otherwise indicated■ Finished back lengths: Version A approx. 105.5cm Version B approx. 94.5cm SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Version A: Lace, either guipure, nylon or cotton■ Version B: Medium-weight fabrics, such as jacquard, linen or cotton Shop more of our patterns in our online shop at gathered.how/sewing-shop BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Dress pattern…

LUKE-MATTHEW IVESON Luke-Matthew, the winner of Sewing Bee 2024, celebrates self-expression and gender-inclusive design through vibrant drag costumes and everyday wear. Read more about how they got into sewing and their passions on page 26. TONY WHITE Tony is a secondary school English teacher who also teachers some Textiles. As well as sewing, he enjoys yarn crafts such as knitting, crochet, spinning and weaving. Check out his favourite make yet on page 82 JAKE EDWARDS Jake is a non-binary communications professional who took up sewing in 2023 after my mum gave me her old sewing machine. I love to LARP (live action role play) and make costumes for events. Read more about Jake’s interests on page 44. SCARLETT HAWKES Scarlett is a Liverpool-based upcycler who brings new life into secondhand…

TRANSAT DRESS This gorgeous design from Maison Fauve can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion. Team it with a pair of casual pumps and a cardigan for a BBQ on the beach, or a pair of killer boots and a statement necklace for more formal affairs. It features pleated shoulders, front and back V-necks, a slit in the middle front, and a comfy belted waist. maison-fauve.co.uk PATTERN INSPIRATION Get ready to party with our pick of the best jacquard-friendly patterns. 1 MR LONDON WAISTCOAT This design from Sew La Di Da Vintage creates a dapper 1930s-inspired waistcoat that’s updated to fit modern tastes. It’s cut to give a slim-fit silhouette, with faux pockets, button fastenings, tabs, and a contrasting trim at the back. sewladidavintage.com 2 BUBBLE DRESS…

DELUXE SCARF Sew this luxurious and cosy winter scarf designed by Jessica Entwistle. It will bring a smile to anyone's face. POM POM SCARF YOU WILL NEED ■ Main fabric: 30x150cm■ Lining fabric: 30x150cm■ Yarn: 2 x 50g balls■ Pom pom maker: 85mm■ Erasable pen■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit MATERIALS USED ■ Light pink fake fur.■ Light grey wool felt.■ Sirdar Snuggly Crofter yarn in 0190. NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance.■ A walking foot will make stitching thick fabric easier. SHAPING THE SCARF ENDS Step one Working on the scarf outer and scarf lining fabric pieces, mark the 15cm centre point along each of the short ends. Mark 20cm in from each end along the long edge, for both the top and bottom edges. Step two Draw…

When I was 17 years old, I started to question my gender. I remember my first week of college, having come from an all-girls school to a mixed gender environment for the first time, feeling awful in my fitted sweater vest and long hair. I pulled a bin bag full of my brothers’ old clothes down from the loft, and that became my wardrobe. It was amazing how quickly people understood what was happening with me just from my clothes, and thus a lifelong journey with my gender began. It wasn’t until December 2022 that I began learning to sew; growing up watching my mum applique sofa cushions didn’t inspire me to sew. In primary school, I jammed every sewing machine I used, desperately trying to finish a pencil case…

YOU WILL NEED ■ A handful of fabric scraps ■ 1m Medium weight cotton fabric ■ 0.5m Clear/white organza ■ 12mm wide bias binding ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ Seam allowance is 1cm, unless otherwise stated ■ Use a lint roller to clean up the loose threads from the fabric ■ Use fabrics with a design to make your collage stand out! MATERIALS USED ■ Lightweight cotton fabric scraps CUTTING OUT Step one From the main fabric, cut: Outer: two 38x30cm Straps: two 75x10cm Step two From the clear/white Organza, cut: Overlay: two 40x32cm LAYERING YOUR SCRAPS Step one Take one of the Outer cotton pieces to the ironing board and place wrong side (WS) facing upwards. Step two Layer your scraps all over the top…

TIP: Choose a co-ordinating print for the neckline and cuffs for that extra drama. YOU WILL NEED ■ 1-1.5m Main fabric ■ 0.8-1m Contrasting fabric ■ 0.8-1m lightweight fusible interfacing ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTES ■ All seam and hem allowances are included in the drafting process ■ Seam allowance 1cm ■ Hem allowance 2cm ■ More fabric will be required for larger sizes SUGGESTED FABRICS ■ Lightweight drapey fabrics are ideal for this make, including viscose challis, georgette, satin, chiffon, double gauze. ■ We used viscose slub stretch from Northern Monkey Makes for the main body and viscose challis from Minerva for the panels. DRAFT THE FRONT AND BACK Step one Draw two base rectangles: Width = ½ x Back Shoulder + 5cm (for drop shoulder…

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…

TOP PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x 1 (Tracing required) ■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED Main fabric: ■ Sizes 6-20: 115cm width x 1.7m, 145cm width x 1.5m ■ Sizes 22-30: 115cm width x 2.2m, 145cm width x 2m ■ Hook and eye ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit NOTE Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. Seam allowances are included in the pattern pieces. FABRIC SUGGESTIONS Light weight woven fabrics with a good amount of movement, such as linen, rayon or cotton lawn. Shop more of our dressmaking patterns in our shop at gathered.how/sewing-shop BODY MEASUREMENTS WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING © Designed and printed in the UK for Simply Sewing. Supplied by Our Media Ltd, Bristol BS1 4ST. For individual, private home use only. Not for commercial/manufacturing purposes or…

PACK INCLUDES ■ Pattern sheet x1■ Instruction sheet YOU WILL NEED ■ Plum plush fabric: 68x45cm■ Grey plush fabric: 18x22cm■ Check flannel fabric: 48x40cm (extra allowed for pattern matching)■ Ivory long faux fur fabric (minimum of 80mm pile): 10x18cm■ Peach wool felt: 13x12cm■ Green wool felt: 10x8cm■ Red wool felt: 7x7cm■ 2 wooden buttons■ Polyester toy filling: 250g■ Weighted toy beads: 200g■ Small grey pom pom■ Basic sewing kit FABRICS USED ■ Cuddle Plush Smooth in Merlot and Silver, both Shannon Fabrics.■ Mammoth Junior Brushed Cotton Flannel in Dove, by Robert Kaufman■ Long pile fur fabric and wool felt (find similar on Etsy). NOTES ■ Finished size 50cm tall.■ Fabric measurements are given width first, then height.■ Arrows on templates indicate direction of plush fabric pile. Note that fabric pile…