Sewing City Guides: promoting independent local sewing businesses

Please visit The Fold Line for the most up to date maps: https://thefoldline.com/2017/02/25/the-ultimate-guide-to-fabric-shops-in-london/

I'm excited to tell you about a new project i've been working on over the last few months. I don't know about you but I'll take any opportunity to visit fabric shops and when i'm visiting friends or on holiday I like to check out the local sewing scene. Each time I visit somewhere new I would spend a while searching online for any shops close by. I also get asked quite often during the sewing classes I teach about where I shop for fabric and haberdashery. 

I decided that guides to local independent sewing businesses would be really useful for the sewing community. Although some sewing bloggers have lists of their favourite shops to visit I thought a complete and up-to-date list would be even more useful. 

Over the last few months i've been creating Sewing City Guides to make it easy to find local independent sewing businesses when you visit a UK city. They include a map of the area and details of shops and what they sell (fabric, haberdashery, wool, machines and if they do classes too).

Sewing City Guides are free to download. You can also print them out and take them with you or view the map and details on smart phones while you are out and about. So far I have put together guides for London (in 5 separate maps because there are so many shops - Central, North, South, East and West), Cambridge and York. My aim is to have a guide for all major UK cities and there surrounding areas. I am currently writing guides for Exeter, Birmingham, Brighton and Edinburgh.

Sew Over It party

After a few weeks of hectic renovations and a holiday I thought i'd come back to the blog with a quick post. Coming up in the next few weeks i'll be posting about my maxi dress from a freehand pattern cutting class with Chinelo Bally, Mathilde top and my first attempt at pattern drafting an entire dress!

On Friday I spent a fun evening at the Sew Over It shop with lots of lovely sewing bloggers. Lisa hosted a great party with cocktails and cakes. We also had fun making lampshades too. It was great to catch up with friends and meet some new faces too. 

Here are some photos of the evening ...

Enjoying some cocktails, wine and party food!

Lisa and Tugba gave us a demonstration on how to make our lampshades.

Lisa provided all the materials including a selection of beautiful fabrics from the shop. I chose a lovely red, pink and peach floral fabric on navy to make my lampshade. We all paired up with a 'lampshade sewing buddy' to help us put it together. I paired up with Nissa and we took it in turns to make our lampshades.

Rachel (House of Pinheiro), Ami (Little Tailoress), Nissa (Sew Short Nissa), Charlie (This Blog Is Not For You) and Fiona (Diary of a Chain Stitcher) making lampshades at our table.

Here are our finished shades, such a simple and satisfying make, even after a few cocktails!

Tilly (Tilly and the Buttons), Emmie (Vintage Ink Fairy) and Lauren (Crafty little bugger) making their lampshades.

Ta Da! Here is the finished shade. I can't wait to have it in my lounge (once the renovations are complete of course!)

A big thanks to Lisa for hosting and Alex and Tugba for helping out on the night. Everyone had a great time and hope that we'll get the chance to meet up again soon!

#NYlon2014

So yesterday was great fun meeting up with lots of like-minded sewing bloggers and dressmakers at the lovely V&A Museum in London (71 in total, what an amazing turn-out!).

And here is my outfit for the day - vintage pattern and vintage floral viscose fabric which I paired with modern purple belt.

The day started off with chatting and getting to know everyone. I know a lot of bloggers write about how nice everyone in the sewing community is but really yesterday could not have been more of a better testament to this! Although I didn't get chance to talk with everyone, the lovely ladies that I did meet were so nice and friendly - to name a few Charlotte, Aileen, Louise, Ingrid, Jodie, Alison ... and plenty more that I haven't linked up with yet and also not forgetting a big thanks to Rachel for organising this day with help from Jennifer, Stevie and Clio and i'm sure others who I didn't get the chance to meet ... 

After a good chat we had our photos taken outside in the V&A courtyard as a whole group and then in smaller groups to show off our outfits! And above is my favourite photo of the day, look at all those stunning handmade dresses!

It was then on to Goldhawk Road for some fabric shopping. Unfortunately I couldn't attend the afternoon but I hear that it continued to be a success. I look forward to seeing what will be made from these purchases.

Overall a great day, can't wait for next year! : )