Sew Reporter May week 3 | Edition 12

So what's been happening this week in the world of sewing? I know how busy I get trying to fit everything in each week and I use my time at the weekend to catch up on what's been happening all-things-sewing-wise. This got me thinking that a quick summary of what's going on would be really useful to read with your brunch over the weekend. Save all that searching and scrolling through blog posts, cherry pick what you want to read in the time you have!


What have the bloggers been posting?


Tilly at Tilly and the Buttons posts a tutorial on making an ironing board cover. What Katie Sews makes a self drafted dress. Lauren at Guthrie and Ghani reviews transparent sewing thread and fray check plus the next tutorial in the simple sleeveless top blog series - adding in pin tucks.  Fiona at Diary of a Chainstitcher makes a denim McCalls 6696 shirtdress. At the Coletterie there is a post on how to make an elastic waisted Mabel Skirt, the Aster blouse is released plus Seamworks giveaway winner and photo round-up. 

This week I had my latest  #SewingCityGuide for Norwich posted on the Sewing Directory website. Marie at A Stitching Odyssey makes a 1920s Kimono Robe for #vintagepledge, posts a tutorial on matching up your waistline either side of a zip and #FabricFriday. Rachel at House of Pinheiro posts about the Indiesew summer collection blog tour. Heather at Closet Case Files posts What's Doing vol. 45 and off the shoulder Nettie dress tutorial. Kestrel Makes posts a stash interview with Carol Ferraro for #vintagepledge and announces the vintage pattern parcel winner. GingerMakes makes Fehr Trade Steeplechase leggings.

At By Hand London its the world of pleats. Jane at Handmade Jane makes a Simplicity 4238 top. Randomly Happy posts the second week of her handmade wardrobe for Me-Made-May'15 and a knit Morris blazer. Lladybird makes a B5526 shirt and ginger jeans plus Burdastyle Alison Swimsuit. Charlotte at English Girl at Home posts the next update in the naturally dyed wardrobe series with turmeric.

Zoe at 'So, Zo ...' posts a round up of Me-Made-May'15 days 14 - 20, Me-Made-May'15 Tilly and the Buttons giveaway plus a Where's Wally? Dolores Batwing top. Roisin at Dolly Clackett makes a modified By Hand London Flora dress. Lucky Lucille posts her beautiful block printed repeat pattern project and a Hollyburn Broken Arrows skirt. At Dixie DIY the Bonnell Dress is released. Scruffy Badger makes a scuba circle skirt and tropical reef running shorts. AlmondRocks makes a vintage jacket from 1969. At Grainline Studios Jen knits three hats. SewCaroline posts a Memorial Day sale on patterns, with free shipping and 40% off.


Shops and businesses

20% off all sewing classes at Sew Over It throughout May. Plus there are fabric and pattern suggestions for summer sewing.

At The Sewing Directory, Fiona posts a tutorial on how to make a scatter cushion with button opening and really useful posts on sewing for charity and the top 10 sewing books. Enter and win precuts from Secret Garden Quilting.

Alice at Backstitch now stocks the Aster blouse from Colette patterns, the Camas Blouse from Thread Story Designs and three Megan Nielsen patterns. Plus a massive sale!

Annie at The Village Haberdashery now stocks Reel Time by Zen Chic and the Morris Blazer and Moss skirt by Grainline Studios, plus there are posts on getting to know Sew Liberated, the Quilt Market Spring 2015 and Kona matching with Fragments by Dear Stella.

Eternal Maker is having a Bank holiday weekend sale with 15% off.

Books

Merchant and Mills Workbook of sewing patterns by Merchant Mills.

DIY wardrobe makeovers by Suzannah Stanley.

The encyclopaedia of Curtains by Catherine Merrick et al. 

Quiltmaking Essentials 2 by Donna Thomas.

Events

Me-Made-May'15 #mmmay'15 running throughout May.

Springfields Quilt show, Spalding from 5th - 6th June.

Dressmaking competition at Simplicity. They are searching for a Star Sewist, with three categories being judged including beginners, vintage and best dress. If you email them your details they will send you a pattern of your choice. Submissions by 31st May. Lauren from Guthrie and Ghani is one of the judges!

Fashion on the Ration continues at the Imperial War Museum, 5th March - 31st August.

Alexandra McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition continues at the V&A Museum, 14th March - 2nd August.

Riviera Style, Resort and Swimwear since 1900 at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London 22nd May - 30th August.

Nautical Chic by Amber Jane Butchart at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London 22nd May - 30th August.

Rayne Shoes for stars at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London 22nd May - 30th August.

Shoes: Pleasure and Pain at the V&A Museum, London 13th June - 31st January.

Patterns


Aster blouse by Colette patterns.

Bonnell Dress by Dixie DIY.

In paper patterns the Finlayson Sweater, Jutland Pants and Camas Blouse by Thread Theory Designs inc.

Print patterns now available for Brumby skirt, Darling ranges dress and Tania Culottes by Megan Nielsen.

Fiona at Diary of a Chainstitcher has a new great round up of the latest pattern releases in April.

Here are some Pins from this week. Tag events or blogs that you've discovered this week with #sewreporter

Twitter @brodrickstudio
facebook.com/theBrodrickDesignStudio
Instagram @thebrodrickdesignstudio
Pinterest.com/brodrickstudio

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see featured ... have a lovely weekend x

Sew Reporter Weekly: March week 3 | Edition 3

So what's been happening this week in the world of sewing? I know how busy I get trying to fit everything in each week and I use my time at the weekend to catch up on what's been happening all-things-sewing-wise. This got me thinking that a quick summary of what's going on would be really useful to read with your brunch over the weekend. Save all that searching and scrolling through blog posts, cherry pick what you want to read in the time you have!


What have the bloggers been posting?

Claire at The Thrifty Stitcher talks How to Successfully choose Fabric and her five favourite summer dress patterns. At the Coletterie, there is an article on How to Prevent DIY Anxiety and How to Bind Knit Edges.

At my home Sew Over It, the Cowl Neck dress sew-along finishes and the shop reveals it's top 5 specialist sewing shops in London. You can find my Sewing City Guides for London, covering general sewing shops here.

Marie at A Stitching Odyssey tells us about what she likes to wear when sewing. Zoe at 'So, Zo ...' tells us about the Copy your own clothes classes she is running with Tilly and the Buttons, announces this years Me-Made-May'15 and makes a Breton top.

This week I posted about making fabric daffodil flowers for Mother's Day and made the Oliver + S lullaby layette set for a baby shower gift.

Amy at Almond Rock combines a Simplicity 2444 bodice with a Sureau skirt from Deer and Doe in Cath Kidston fabric, plus a second version of this dress with a cleverly designed triangles button closure.

Rachel at House of Pinheiro has had a busy week making a Yona coat from Named patterns, pair of Simplicity 1371 trousers and reviews of the Dior & I film and Field Guide to Fabric Design book. 

Over at Did You Make That? its about options for discussing sewing patterns online, progress in making Ginger jeans and fabric fondling. Heather at Closet Case Files, tells us about her week and upcoming sewing classes plus makes a cascade duffle coat.

At Jennifer Lauren Vintage it's Me Made Maternity week 29, using JLV patterns and the use of diamonds on PDF sewing patterns. The girls at By Hand London have all made Sophia dresses to inspire you!

Sally at The Quirky Peach makes a New Look 6262 dress. SewCaroline tells us that she is now an Art Gallery Fabric designer. Jane at Handmade Jane makes a Barkcloth Simplicity 3983 skirt and Sew Over It Tie. Lladybird makes a Colette Myrtle dress. 

Charlotte at English Girl at Home makes a Thread Theory Goldstream Peacoat, while Elena at Randomly Happy makes a Grainline studio Hemlock tee. Tilly at Tilly and the Buttons makes a pattern hack Liberty print Pussy bow Mimi blouse. 

Over at Sewaholic it's the Davie Dress, which has just been released. What Katie Sews makes a beautiful Grellow living room quilt.

Books and Magazines

Claire-Louise Hardy completes her 30-day #BeeMine Sewing challenge - Fashion with Fabric, Great British Sewing Bee book 3 makes.

Lauren at Guthrie and Ghani, reviews Fashion with Fabric, the Great British Sewing bee book 3 and makes a Tweed Mini Skirt from the book.

New releases

Pretty, Organised: 30 Easy-to-Make Decorative Storage Ideas to Declutter your Home by Jane Hughes

Shops and businesses

At The Sewing Directory, Fiona announced the winners of the Cloud Craft sewing supplies and Fashion on the Ration books. Plus it's The Sewing Directory's five year anniversary this month with a competition to win a sewing machine and fabric. Fiona has also posted a guide to Embroidery stitches, written an article about running your own business for sewmamasew and interviews Deborah Simms, semi finalist of the Great British Sewing Bee #GBSB series 3 about 'Finding your own style'. You can find my Cross Stitch guide for The Sewing Directory, here.

Alice at Backstitch talks about the new Named pattern collection and expanded range of Aurifil thread she now stocks.

Annie at The Village Haberdashery shares customer makes #tvhhaul (there is very cute mouse and an amazing arctic penguin quilt), Easter project ideas and now in stock: Yoyogi Park by Heather Moore and Sun Print Mercury by Alison Glass.  

Fabric Godmother has some 1950s inspired fabric and pattern combinations for you and some beautiful nautical themed fabrics, linens and floral stretch cottons.

At Sew Over It, the new summer Grace dress class has been announced and the first class is already fully booked!

Jobs

Colette are hiring a Technical writer/illustrator and project manager.

Sewaholic are hiring Communications and Customer Services co-ordinator.

Events

The Country Living Spring Fair continues in London, 18th - 22nd March.

#Paperfest2015, a day event for designers, printers and makers, have announced the Key Note speaker will be Cath Kidston! Tickets are now available with the event being held on Friday 24th July in London.

The Sew for Pleasure fair continues in the NEC, Birmingham, 19th - 22nd March.

The Exeter Spring Quilt festival, Exeter begins next week 27th - 29th March.

Fashion on the Ration continues at the Imperial War Museum, 5th March - 31st August.

Alexandra McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition continues at the V&A Museum, 14th March - 2nd August.


Patterns

Davie Dress by Sewaholic.


Here are some Pins from this week. Tag events or blogs that you've discovered this week with #sewreporter

Twitter @brodrickstudio
facebook.com/theBrodrickDesignStudio
Instagram @thebrodrickdesignstudio
Pinterest.com/brodrickstudio

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see featured ... have a lovely weekend x

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.