Simply Sewing

Welcome to the latest issue of your go-to magazine for all things sewing! In this edition, we are excited to present you with a fabulous array of patterns to elevate your summer wardrobe − starting with our stunning cover star The Althea, your 4-in-1

We love a shacket for the summer months − handy to throw on when the sun goes down − or it isn't qute hot enough for short sleeves! The Friday Pattern Company's Beachcomber is a lined jacket with patch pockets and options for a hood or collar. We thi

The Janome DKS30 SE is described as ‘probably the easiest-to-use machine we’ve ever made!’ This attractive machine has all the features to make sewing simple and enjoyable. Fully computerised with a host of great features, including Janome’s new easy

You don't know it yet, but this booklet is the one thing missing from your sewing desk! We're delighted to have collaborated with Janome (janome.co.uk) as official sponsor of this ultimate guide to sewing. In this handy A4 keepsake you will learn all

We have teamed up with HarperCollins Publishers LTD to offer five Simply Sewing readers the chance to win a copy of the much-awaited book from Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant. In this passionate and revealing book about loving clothes but despairing o

We can’t get enough of this romantic design from Silversaga. Ophelia features whimsical layered puff sleeves which are modelled after the traditional virago designs of the 19th century, with plenty of flounce and a bias-bound edge. The pattern also i

We are in love with this breezy blouse and we are sure you will be too. Sew it in all four of its different guises and you will have a top for every occasion. Statement sleeves are all the rage and now the weather is warmer you can get away with volu

Making the jump of upgrading a passion or hobby into a fully-fledged full-time job can be a scary shift for anyone - but for Kathleen McVeigh and Dale Donaldson, the stakes of starting their business were even higher, thanks to an extra consideration

My dream was always to be a fashion designer. I told my mum at the age of eight that I wanted "a shop selling my dresses" when I was older. I am lucky enough to say that my dream came true for me in 2022, when I opened my first shop inside Manchester

Get set for summer with this gorgeous strappy sundress. A quick make that will make your friends envious as you soak up the sun's rays in your me-made outfit! Learn how to make these cute rouleau straps. Not quite warm enough to get your shoulders ou

Sign up to our newsletter to download your bonus digital copy of Get into Dressmaking – worth £9.99 – for free! Inside this handy bookazine you'll find step-by-step guides to fitting, fabrics, inserting zips and pockets, following pattern sheets and

Never lose your pins again with this gorgeous fabric flower-shaped pin cushion made from a mix of Seed Scatter, Rise Up and Sun Stretch, from the fabric range Bloom Together by Meenal Patel. There is always something so wholesome about a homemade sew

Do you enjoy creating your own garment designs? Simply scan the QR code for your free croquis PDF to print at home. Trace or photocopy the croquis figures before drawing on them so that you can use them multiple times. Draw the same garment multiple

You spent hours contemplating which fabric would be the absolute best pairing with your pattern. You took your measurements (again!) and carefully considered which size/s on your pattern to cut out. You might have even been especially good and spent

■ 3-3.5 metres of 140cm wide drapey woven such as viscose, crepe or silk■ 12mm waistband elastic the length of the waist■ 1.5-2m of 1cm wide bias binding (shop bought or make your own)■ Fabric marking pens or chalk■ Straight and curved rulers■ Matchi

■ Main fabric: 25x55cm■ Lining fabric: 25x55cm■ Felt: 25x55cm■ Zip: 30cm■ Strap webbing: 1m■ Metal D-ring: 3cm■ Slider■ Swivel clasp loop■ Matching thread■ Basic sewing kit ■ Outer: Bramble Lea Blue by Rifle Paper Co.■ Lining: Yellow cotton fabric. ■

■ A t-shirt with a pocket■ Stranded cotton■ Water-soluble stabiliser■ Pencil■ Chenille needle■ Scissors■ Embroidery hoop■ Basic sewing kit ■ Download the template from gathered.how/ss-templates Step one Enlarge or reduce the scallop pattern as needed

■ Tiger print fleece fabric: 100x50cm■ Ivory plush fur fabric: 45x38cm■ Grey fleece fabric: 10x13cm■ Green wool felt: 4x4cm■ White wool felt: 5x2cm■ Pink wool felt: 5x4cm■ Black stranded cotton■ Polyester toy filling: 200g■ Long doll needle■ Basic se

I started sewing when I was around eight years old. I remember trying to figure out a sewing machine on my own with the manual and making a pillowcase. But I didn’t properly start sewing until I was 17 when I fell in love with the Textiles department

All templates are available to download from gathered.how. Scan the code to go straight to the templates page! PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 69 ACTUAL SIZE PAGE 65 ACTUAL SIZE Thank you for making these pr

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

Your spool of thread sits at the top of the machine. The thread goes through a series of guides before it reaches the needle. These are usually numbered on the machine to make this easier (your manual will show you in detail how to thread your machin

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

Starting out on your sewing journey will inevitably lead to your first sewing machine. The machine comes with a range of accessories which will help you conquer most projects, and additional accessories won’t be essential in the beginning until you’v

YOU WILL NEED ■ Fabric A: WOFx80cm – outer■ Fabric B: WOFx90cm – lining■ Wadding: 1m■ Basic sewing kit FABRIC USED ■ CAPSULES Terra Kotta by AGF Studio (Art Gallery Fabrics). Stockists: artgalleryfabrics.com NOTES ■ Use a 1cm seam allowance.■ Use a

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! We’re all quilty of forgetting, but don’t fear − the key to achieving the best stitchi

■ If the sewn fabric is stretched, turn the dial counterclockwise (towards 2.2) ■ If the sewn fabric is gathered, turn the dial clockwise (towards 0.5). This is used to adjust the presser foot tension. If your fabric is stretching this may be the rea

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. A hem is where the edge of a piece of cloth is folded and sewn to prevent unravelling of the fabric and

When working with commercial sewing patterns, you will often be instructed to ‘finish the raw edges’ before or after sewing the seams. The stitch type you choose to finish the raw edges of a garment with will affect the appearance of a seam, the garm

Setting up your sewing area is always a fun job! The space we have available for our sewing will vary greatly – some may have an entire room, while others will have a small corner or clear space on the kitchen table to set up their machine. Whatever

Overlockers are machines used to finish raw fabric edges. They have grown in popularity in the last 50 years since domestic overlockers have become widely available and affordable to the home sewist. For complete beginners to dressmaking, there are l

Looking for some new patterns for your me-made wardrobe? Look no further than our very own Simply Sewing pattern shop. Now you can get instant access to your favourite patterns from our archive, alongside our latest releases. Each design comes with a

■ Pattern sheets x1 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet ■ Main fabric: 140cm width fabric x 2.8m■ Lining fabric: 140cm width fabric x 50cm■ Zip: 55cm■ Matching thread ■ Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, unless otherwise stated. Seam allowances are includ

■ Pattern sheets x4 (Tracing required)■ Instruction sheet Sizes 6–16 (150cm wide fabric only): ■ 1.5mx150cm Sizes 18–32 (150cm wide fabric only): ■ 1.6mx150cm Plus additional fabric for the sleeves: ■ Sleeve 1: 0.5m■ Sleeve 2: 0.9m■ Sleeve 3: 1.2m■ S