Simply Sewing

Well, this is a fun issue! Our cover garment is the cheery reversible Apron Dress, that you can make for you and your mini-me, from Wild Things Dresses. We have irresistible cat-themed gifts (in what might our fave fabric, ever!) and the Strip Tee fr

We love the Apron Dress Set, designed by Kirsty Hartley of Wild Things Dresses (wildthingsdresses. com) for so many reasons – it's fun, practical, and looks amazing on! Made in durable medium-weight fabrics like denim and linen and with a lovely big

Although imposter syndrome is an overused buzzword at the moment, in this context, it’s pretty fitting! I am not a sewer, unless it’s a button on a school skirt or untangling a cross stitch with my 6 year old. I’m originally from the seaside and my n

The Avenir Jumpsuit from Friday Pattern Company is a simple-to-make, woven design that can be sewn up in an afternoon. With billowy sleeves and wide legs, it's ideal for soft linens, with elastic gathers at the waist for a comfortable, easy fit. frid

Nature has to be one. I get up early to feed all our pets so they’re the very first things I start my day with here at Rose Cottage. I don’t think there’s a flower I don’t like, so flowers have to be number two! I pinch a lot of inspiration for work

When a new sewing site arrives on the scene, it’s not always easy to spot provenance. Luckily, Nicola Homer and Susan Howells of new Scottish sewing pattern design house Homer + Howells have experience, knowledge, and creativity in spades. The pair l

Coffee to go? This cute travel mug cosy will protect your hands when you're carrying hot drinks on the move. We got our Cookie the Cat bamboo travel mug from Rex London (rexlondon.com) – isn't it perfect for this fabric? Whether you're off for a pic

The Strip Tee is your everyday shirt with a twist! The distinctive coloured strip at the back is what sets this apart from your basic tee. If you make it without the strip, you still get a flattering and feminine T-shirt with capped sleeves and a com

Whilst we're looking forward to dressing up and going out again, you just can't beat snuggling up on the sofa can you? This Hug Hoodie comes from MadeIt Patterns, the stylish duo behind this issue's Strip Tee pattern (page 47). This is from their Lou

■ Cotton fabric: 53x18cm (21x7in) ■ Hot glue gun or fabric glue ■ Plain hairband ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit ■ Seam allowance is 1cm (3/8in) unless otherwise stated ■ We based our fabric measurements on the width of our headband ■ Ruby Star

■ Macramé rope or cotton rope: approx 18m (20yd) ■ Faux leather bag handles: one pair ■ Hessian ribbon: 65cm (26in), 105mm (4in) wide ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit ■ Seam allowance is 1cm (3/8in) unless otherwise stated ■ Make sure you fill l

■ Duvet cover: 140x200cm (55x79in) ■ A loose-fitting T-shirt that fits you ■ Bias tape 4m (4½yd) ■ Decorative tape for the waist tie: 2m (2¼yd) ■ Pattern paper *see notes ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit ■ Seam allowance is 1cm (3/8in). ■ *You w

Making and sewing your own clothes is the ultimate way of creating something that fits you perfectly – both your body shape and personality. But when it comes to tracking down the right patterns to reflect your style, sometimes you might be left feel

Through clever folding and a unique stitch that resembles a heartbeat, the blind hem stitch is a fantastic way to hem your garments. Your machine is capable of so much and this is a great way to test out some of the ‘mystery stitches’ that we all 'oo

■ An old shirt ■ Bias binding 1m (11/8yd) ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit ■ Seam allowance is 1cm (3/8in) unless otherwise stated Step one Lay your shirt out flat on a table and remove the collar and sleeves. 01 Step two Take a shirt that fits t

■ Pink, yellow, green, green-blue, and blue fabrics: F8 of each *see notes ■ White background fabric: ½yd ■ Binding fabric: F8 ■ Cushion inner (optional): 18x18in ■ Backing fabric: ½yd ■ Square wadding: 20in ■ Wadding: 20x30in ■ Inner such as calico:

■ Plain cotton fabric: 25x25cm (10x10in) ■ Felt in a light, neutral colour: 20x20cm (8x8in) ■ Embroidery hoop: 17cm (7in) ■ Fine yarns or stranded cotton ■ Layout or tracing paper ■ Thread to match your felt ■ Basic sewing kit ■ Download the template

■ Upholstery fabric: 1.5mx115cm (1¾ydx45in) ■ Piping cord: 120cm ■ Circle of foam the same circumference as the stool seat ■ Zip: 34cm (13in) ■ Pom-pom trim: 1.2m (1½yd) ■ Paper for pattern ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit ■ Seam allowance is 1cm

■ Fabric A: Brown plush fabric 60x55cm (24x22in) ■ Fabric B: Beige plush fabric 25x16cm (10x7in) ■ Fabric C: Ivory plush fabric 32x15cm (12½x6in) ■ Brown stranded cotton ■ Length of satin ribbon ■ Extra strong thread ■ Extra long pins ■ Polyester toy

■ Quilting cotton: 32x23cm (125/8x91/8in) ■ Lightweight iron-on interfacing: 32x23cm (125/8x91/8in) ■ Linen fabric: 50x50cm (20x20in) ■ Stranded cotton in rose gold (non-metallic) ■ Matching thread ■ Basic sewing kit ■ Use a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowanc

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 us

"It’s not the construction of this garment that makes it my favourite, in truth it has a slew of mistakes, but it's what it represents that makes it so special to me. It’s the first time I had the nerve to go 'off-piste’, the first time I felt confid