Corset Making Adventures

The Party Dress BookInspired by The Great British Sewing Bee, and with Simon Henry’s “Party Dress Book” as my guide I have created my first corset / basque.

In true upcycling manner, it was made from an old bridesmaid dress and with the addition of a cute cotton lining it’s totally reversible –  turning it inside out  gives a completely different look. Continue reading

How to Straighten the Edge of Woven Fabric

Before you start laying your pattern pieces onto your material, it is important to make sure you have a straight edge to your fabric.Uneven fabric edge

One of the easiest ways to get your fabric straight is to find a weft thread (close to the edge) that runs across the width of the fabric – a pin can help to pull out and isolate the thread. Pull the thread gently – your fabric should start to gather up. If your thread breaks, find the broken end and pull again. Continue reading

Getting to Know Your Sewing Pattern Symbols – A Guide for Beginners

Before you cut out your pieces of fabric it helps to know a little about how your fabric is constructed and what your pattern symbols mean. Here are some of the main symbols you may come across.

Pattern symbols

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