Simply Sewing

It's that time of year when we're buzzing for The Great British Sewing Bee and we've got lots to shout about our fave reason to hog the sofa. Don't miss our exclusive extract from the new book to accompany the series, where the experts share their kn

Juliet Uzor is a London-based author and school teacher with a massive love of sewing clothes and sharing fun sewing and DIY craft videos on her YouTube channel. Turn to page 44 to make her fab self-drafted waterproof poncho project. Shontae Buffingt

Petra and Eva’s fave picks from their extensive and unique collection The Emily Trousers have a wide, loose-fit with a small pleat in the front, side pockets and an elasticated waistband. There’s also the option to add elegant ribbons to tie up the

C&T Publishing (£15.99, Search Press) If you’re looking to reduce your wastage and make some eco-friendly changes to your home life, look no further than Sew Sustainable. With 22 stylish projects to reuse and reduce, including Japanese furoshiki wrap

With a new series of the Sewing Bee returning to our TV screens comes a brand-new book! Following on from The Techniques, this month saw the launch of The Great British Sewing Bee: The Skills (Quadrille, £16.99). It’s all about building confidence an

FRESH IDEAS WITH FABRIC EDITORIAL EDITOR Charlie Moorby SENIOR ART EDITOR Lisa Jones PRODUCTION EDITOR Jessie NewtonSENIOR TECHNICAL EDITOR Roisin McKenna PHOTOGRAPHY Steve Sayers, Dave Caudery and Jesse Wild SUBSCRIPTIONS CALL +44 (0)3330 162 149QU

The way you fasten a garment is critical in creating a professional-looking finish. You need to consider not only how you apply the various kinds of fastening but also where you position them so that the garment does not pucker or gape. The right cho

Just at the point some are thinking of retirement, I took on what has arguably been the biggest challenge of my career. It started with a party. A colleague and friend Sarah Gresty, BA Fashion Course Leader, from Central Saint Martins (who took over

PAGE 69ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 69ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 50ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 50ACTUAL 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

I remember all too well how exciting (and yes, more than a little bit daunting!) it was when I cut out a sewing pattern for the very first time. So, I’ve put together the kind of guide I wish I had when I was starting out. Inside, you’ll find all the

Stitching two or more layers of fabric together is called seaming. It’s the basic skill needed for dressmaking and there are several different seam types. The most important thing is that you stitch the same distance from the raw edges for a neat and

While sewing a straight line might sound like an easy feat, stitching darts can be a tricky challenge due to the importance of these bust shaping tucks. Stitching a precise dart is important if you want your garment to fit well. Your stitching line n

Adding a zip closure is a key element of dressmaking, used for everything from floaty dresses to trousers. It may seem like a difficult step for beginners, but if you follow the process step-by-step you’ll have a super-neat zip inserted in no time! H

Say goodbye to stretched edges, wavy hems, gaping pockets, and wonky waistbands! We’ve rounded up of some of the most innovative interfacing products available to help you to choose the best type. It is recommended to match the interfacing to your fa

When you’re struggling to master a seam or a fabric isn’t playing ball, a specialist presser foot could be the solution. In this guide, we’re looking at the different types of presser feet for inserting zips. Zips are often the most feared closure fo

Hems are the crucial finishing touch for every garment and many home sewing projects, so it’s important to choose, work, and finish them properly. They can be worked by machine or by hand – here, we show you how to hem using your sewing machine. We’v

High-quality pressing is the secret to a perfectly finished garment, and pressing as you sew is key. There are differences between ironing and pressing – and when you’re sewing, it’s pressing that you need! Ironing is the process of sliding the iron

When was the last time your machine was serviced? For some of us, it might have been a few months ago, and for others a few years, but, more commonly, it’s never! The key to achieving the best stitching quality and prolonging the life of your machine

Also called reverse stitch, this is done at the beginning and end of a seam to prevent it from coming undone. It’s also used to describe an embroidery stitch where the stitches are worked backwards. The way a fabric hangs under its own weight. This c

SIZES 6-30 US 2-26 EUR 34-58 ■ Pattern sheets x2■ Instruction sheet Main fabric: ■ Size 6–20 top: 0.9mx150cm■ Size 16–30 top: 2mx150cm■ Size 6–20 dress: 1.3mx150cm■ Size 16–30 dress: 2.8mx150cm Single-fold bias binding: ■ Size 6–20 top (curved hem):