Tilly and the Buttons

Maria's Itty Bitty Baby Dress

2013-05-21T12:30:00.000+01:00

One of my bestest friends in the whole wide world recently had an ickle baba! So I just had to make a little something to welcome Maria Ines into the world. And it really is little. This is the Itty Bitty Baby Dress pattern from Made by Rae, made in some cotton I'm pretty sure I picked up at a stash swap once upon a time (thanks to whoever gave me this!), lined in... erm... polka dots and trimmed with polka dot bias binding. It's a super simple make, and one I'm sure I'll be making again as more of my friends catch the baby fever. Next time I think I'll make the straps a little longer, as once you tie them up they seem a little short. Perhaps I should have put a tape measure or coin in the photo like online fabric shops do to provide a sense of scale, but believe me when I say this really is itty bitty. It's just sooooo ickle and cuuuute! Eep!!!

[Soundtrack: 'What Goes Around' by Justin Timberlake]

What's On My Sewing Table...

2013-05-17T12:30:00.000+01:00

This is the kind of project I know I'm going to get a lot of wear out of this Spring/Summer - I'm making a Ginger skirt in a dark navy denim with a slight stretch and a lovely visible weave. My denim Beignet skirt is nearly falling apart from overuse and I practically live in my denim Miette. I need another. I'm going for version 2 with the curved waistband, using some... erm... navy polka dots for the facing. Yeah, I've got a thing for navy polka dots, as evidenced here, here and here. Oh and here. And not forgetting here. Some call it boring, I call it "signature style".

What's on your sewing table please?

[Soundtrack: 'Green Garden' by Laura Mvula]

Pattern Hack! Gathered Mathilde Blouse

2013-05-14T12:30:00.002+01:00

Want to avoid sewing the tucks on the Mathilde Blouse? I'm going to show you how to create a lovely, loose-fitting smock version by gathering the excess fabric at the top where the tucks would usually be and leaving the bottom loose. Super simple stylee!

1) Follow the Mathilde Blouse instructions past stay stitching the neckline. Skip over the tucks step and stitch the bust darts.

2) Thread your sewing machine in a contrast colour thread - this will make it easier to identify and rip out the gather stitches later. Set the stitch length to 4mm.

3) On the top edge of the front bodice, sew three parallel rows of stitches about 5mm apart. Try to avoid the 15mm / 5/8" seam line as this is where you'll be sewing your "real" stitches later. Leave a few inches of loose thread at the start and end of each row. These are your gather stitches.

4) Gently pull on the top threads and use your fingers to distribute the resulting gathers evenly across the seam. You want to gather it so the top edge of the bodice becomes the same width as the bottom edge of the yoke.

5) Pin the top of the front bodice to the bottom of the yoke, right sides together.

6) Baste (4mm stitches) the pieces together, with about 10mm seam allowance. Use your fingers to keep the gathers even while you're stitching. Check the gathering is nice and even - you can unpick the basting stitches and try again if it's not.

7) Once you're happy with the gathering, thread your machine in matching thread and set the stitch length to normal (2 - 2.5mm). Stitch the bodice to the yoke for real.

8) Remove the basting and gather stitches. Finish the seam using zigzag stitch or an overlocker/serger. When it comes to pressing, be careful not to press over the gathers or you could lose the fullness (erm... as I kinda did here - doh!).

Ta da! A pretty gathered smock version.

Liberty Tana Lawn fabric courtesy of Sewbox.

Pinterest for Sewing Inspiration

2013-05-12T08:00:00.000+01:00

Pinterest have invited me to be part of their #PinItForwardUK campaign to help introduce Pinterest to the UK. If you're a regular reader, or an IRL friend, or sit in my office, or have ever been on one of the courses I run in my day job, you'll probably be aware that Pinterest is one of my FAVOURITE THINGS EVER so I'm delighted to continue that evangelism in this blog post. (And no, I'm not getting paid to say this.)

I'm sure most of you know what Pinterest is, but in case it just sounds like yet another social media tool that you don't have time to get your head around, let me explain why it's so awesome. Pinterest is basically an online tool for keeping track of things that inspire you. If you find a picture, video or article online that you like and want to refer back to later, you can "pin" an image from that web page to one of your virtual pin boards. Plus you can follow other people - or selected boards they've created - to check out what's inspiring them. You can also use it as an image search engine. The major point of difference to other social platforms is that it gives primacy to imagery, which means it's perfect for crafters, fashion enthusiasts, designers, photographers... and yes, dressmakers!

I use it all the time to make a note of sewing patterns I want to make, interesting garment details, fabrics that catch my eye and general sewing inspiration for future projects. I also use boards to keep track of the gorgeous Miette Skirts and Mathilde Blouses that pop up across the interwebs. I also reeeeeally enjoy scrolling through my feed to see what other people are pinning. In fact, getting my Pinterest fix is one of my favourite things to do in the world. No, I don't get out much!

Oh and of course I have the obligatory kittens board. Yay, little fluffy kitties!

You can join Pinterest here.

Do you use Pinterest to keep track of your sewing inspiration? Or do you use more traditional scrapbooking methods or other tools?

Polka Dot Picnic Blanket Skirt

2013-05-07T07:30:00.000+01:00

Look, I made another Picnic Blanket Skirt! Inspired by an image I saw on Pinterest that I just couldn't get out of my head, I knew I needed a polka dot skirt to wear with my Breton top collection. So I whipped this little baby up in a couple of hours. I particularly love the buttons - they're beautiful flat-top polished wood - yum. I finished the insides with French seams, which works great with the light-to-medium weight cotton that I used.

This make doubled up as preparation for a class I was teaching at Ray Stitch. The participants were all lovely and we had so much fun! A professional photographer popped along to take these photos for Ray Stitch. Other workshops I've got coming up are now listed on my dedicated workshops page if you're interested - the next one will be the Mathilde Blouse.

I love the fact that this skirt works well both with and without tights. Perfect for Spring when you just don't know whether it's gonna rain or shine. I'm currently itching to make a Summer dress in what is just the most gorgeous fabric - you're gonna love it! But is it too early to make a Summer dress?

Are you dreaming of Summer sewing too?

[Soundtrack: 'Isis' by Bob Dylan]

It's Ann!

2013-05-03T12:30:00.000+01:00

What an amazing lady! Ann Rowley kept her cool during challenge after challenge, methodically and meticulously stitching her way to glory. 75 years of sewing experience really showed, as did her yoga practice. Yes, I took up yoga after meeting Ann. And yes, I sat at her feet during the breaks to feed off her sewing wisdom. Let's hear from the wonder woman herself...

Thanks for joining us, Ann! What are your favourite things to make for yourself?
"I make everything I wear except for underwear, nightwear and t-shirts - all these are too boring! I most enjoy working with wool, jackets and coats. Basically anything that challenges me. But I also knit, crochet, embroider and quilt – anything that uses my hands and a needle."

Do you have a favourite pattern?
"No, I don’t use the same pattern twice – I bore easily..."

What are your top sewing tips?
"Preparation, preparation, preparation. Make sure you have everything you need before starting and that you understand the pattern. Work slowly and methodically and enjoy the process."

What would you say to anyone who has seen the show and is thinking of learning to sew?
"Have a go! It’s not rocket science, and the more you sew the better you will become."

How did you find taking part in the show?
"One of the most interesting and challenging things I’ve done! Incredibly hard work – I’ve never worked against the clock before – but a real test of my abilities."

How did you find watching yourself on television?
"Strange to see yourself as others see you, but not too toe-curling..."

What was your best moment on the show?
"The finale!"

Your worst moment?
"Those awful pockets in the second episode. My mind went totally blank – Patrick’s 'You could do better' was the understatement of the show."

Your funniest moment?
"Reading Alison Pearson’s column in the Daily Telegraph. And Stuart..."

Your fondest memory of taking part?
"Meeting all the other contestants - such a wonderful and caring group. It’s great to see the impact that this series has had and I really hope that it will start some sort of revival and help to spread the joy of sewing."

What are you doing now or what plans do you have for the future?
"I’m doing a patchwork class and a crochet block-of-the-month. Nice change of pace after the the show and I love going to classes. I continue to help with sewing problems on Stitcher's Guild, a lively, international community of needle women (and a few men)."

Congratulations, Ann - you are an inspiration to us all!

The Marielle Skirt

2013-05-01T12:30:00.001+01:00

A few months ago I was invited to contribute a sewing pattern to Sewing World magazine. Well, it's out now in the May 2013 issue! This is the Marielle Skirt, a high-waisted, hip-hugging side-button skirt. I made it in a navy linen blend fabric with white ribbon trimming, polka dot facings, and red bias binding. The design was inspired by cross-between Edwardian skirts, art deco lines and sexy sailors (what?). I'm planning to make another version for myself in yellow gabardine or similar weight fabric... although I'm struggling to find some - any leads?

I do believe this model has been off rolling in the hedge... the crumpled fabric and guilty grin gives it away!

[Soundtrack: 'These Days' by Nico]

Guthrie and Ghani is Open for Business!

2013-04-28T14:17:00.000+01:00

OMG you guys, yesterday was one of the best days EVER!!!! Lauren opened her Birmingham haberdashery, Guthrie and Ghani, and the place was MOBBED! Talk about roaring success, this was unbelievable!! Lauren has worked so hard refurbishing the building, getting the stock in, sorting out workshops - it's so wonderful that it's all paid off.

When I told Lauren I'd come along to the first day, I expected it to play shops a bit, hopefully a few people would turn up and need serving, maybe have a cup of tea and a catch up with Lauren and the gang... err, no chance! As the taxi drew near 169 Alcester Road, I was keeping my eyes peeled in case I missed the building... again, no chance!

Me: "161, 163, oh... umm... I guess it must be that building there with the QUEUE OF PEOPLE DOWN THE STREET."
Taxi driver: "Woah. What IS this place?"
Me: "Umm... it's a fabric shop."
Taxi driver: "Err... okay. [WTF?]"

This was the moment I jumped onto the cutting table and told everyone to wave to the camera

Embarrassed to be labelled a diva, I slipped past the queue and squeezed my way through the crowds to be reunited with Lauren and Stuart. The next five hours were spent signing autographs (crazy, non?!!!), being photographed, cutting fabric and writing out till receipts. Quite a few of my lovely blog readers were there (so great to meet you IRL!), and so many people were kind enough to say that we'd inspired them to get into sewing, from shy, giggling 5 year olds to pensioners. Debi and David flew in from Scotland especially, and one family had driven all the way from Devon as a surprise birthday treat for their young daughter. The queue outside was long, and the queue for the till was even longer - it went along three walls of the shop! But there was such a wonderful atmosphere in the place, everyone chatting, smiling, laughing, snapping shots and talking fabric, that people didn't mind hanging around for 3 hours or more to be part of it.

Having a giggle; and Lauren wearing her Miette skirt

At one point as I was head down cutting, I heard a familiar voice say across the crowds, "You'd better cut that right!", looked up to see gorgeous Sandra who'd come straight over from her cleaning shift at the hospital. Ann popped by too - I'd forgotten how much I missed her warmth and energy.

It was seriously inspiring to see the impact that the show has had on people's interest in sewing. Furthermore, it was incredible to see Lauren realising her dream. I must admit at one point I totes welled up and nearly started blubbing from excitement at her success (I don't think she spotted that!).

Huge congratulations to Lauren, and thank you to everyone who came along and made it such a special day. Best day ever?

Your Mathilde Blouses: Part 2

2013-04-23T07:30:00.000+01:00

I'm still jumping up and down every time I see a new version of the Mathilde Blouse. You guys are just so creative! Definitely time to celebrate what you've been making and find out about the inspiration behind your designs...

First up is Lauren! Lauren was one of my pattern testers and this is her second version of the blouse.
"The thing I love most about the Mathilde Blouse pattern is the crisp clean lines of the tucks at the front. They were a little tricky to get right but the detailed instructions were fantastic at taking you through step by step and I couldn't have done that bit without all the clear pictures.
There are so many options for customisation as well. I wanted to highlight the division between the yoke and front bodice and I did this by choosing a contrasting piping. I also edged the sleeves with the same contrast fabric as I think it breaks up the print a bit more and adds a lovely detail. Choosing pretty buttons also allows you to put more of your personality on the blouse and make the back a feature. I love little capped sleeves, especially as its coming into Spring so I aimed to keep mine a little puffy and full, like the sleeves in the original design. It's one of those patterns that makes you think of so many variations, but at the same time, you wouldn't feel like you were wearing the same blouse all the time."

Mai made a second version in a beautiful ballet slipper pink sandwashed silk - swoon!

"I chose the fabric because I wanted a complete contrast to my crazy blue and black abstract version, and I wanted it to look more like a vintage piece, slightly faded and 1930s, and the perfect companion for some wide-legged trousers. I wanted a tiny splash of colour for the buttons, but still quite muted - though they all look different, they're all made from the same small square of cotton kimono fabric. I've never worked with sandwashed silk before, and I discovered that 1. the suede-like surface marks really, really easily, so you may well need to give it a gentle wash at the end of the making process to freshen it up! 2. use the lightest, gauziest interfacing you can find 3. the beauty of the silk makes it all worthwhile!"

Shivani was my first ever customer, and a blouse aficionado, so I was itching to see her version - and it didn't disappoint:

"The moment I saw the Mathilde Blouse, I had to have it. It's everything I could ask for from a blouse. It's perfect for dressing up a pair of jeans, and there's so much scope for personalisation - I already have ideas for a contrast yoke, shorter sleeves, sleeveless for summer, gathers instead of the vertical tucks. The instructions are genius: I love the tick-box approach - it's so satisfying to tick things off as you along, and it really helped break down the sewing into manageable stages (an ideal way to manage sewing over the week, when you have limited time). Cotton lawn is my fabric of choice, so I'm delighted it works so well with this pattern. This is the first of many Mathildes."

And last but not least, gorgeous Zoe in her gorgeous animal print design!
"In recent years I've tended to opt for fitted retro-style blouses, so I was a little concerned how I'd feel in the blouse, but I totally love it! The beautifully drafted bateau neckline and subtly gathered sleeve heads are my favourite features. I'd love to see some versions with contrast fabrics used on the yoke and cuffs, or with lace or ricrac inserted in the yoke seam. I was thoroughly impressed by the amount of work and attention to detail Tilly put into making the pattern, instructions and everything else that went along with releasing it as flawlessly and user-friendly as humanly possible. IMO, she has seriously put some of the well-known sewing pattern companies to shame in these regards!"

Gah!!! Aren't they all gorgeous? And there are plenty more in the Mathilde Maker Gallery and Pinterest gallery!

It's Lauren!

2013-04-21T11:21:00.000+01:00

Say hello to Lauren! Lauren has been sewing nearly all her life, making bags and clothing which clearly reflect her pretty, feminine style. But don't let the florals give you the impression she ain't tough - she's a marathon-running, hammer-wielding hardcore woman, turning her dreams into reality! Let's find out more...

Hi Lauren! Tell us - what are your favourite things to make for yourself?
"I love making little tops and blouses, they are relatively quick to stitch up (compared to a jacket or a men's fly that is!) and don't use a huge amount of fabric. I like spending time adding lots of little details to them, I think it's a great way to show off your style and personality and I'll rarely follow a pattern exactly. I like changing the neck line, altering the sleeves or adding darts."

What are your top sewing tips?
"I'm not a very technically accurate sewer! I tend to just think things through and figure it out as I go along, thinking about what order I need to stitch things in first. Sometimes I'll have to pin or hold seams together and turn things out the right way to check it's all going to work out. So I guess my top sewing tip is to just take things a step at a time and think it though before you sew."

What would you say to anyone who has seen the show and is thinking of learning to sew?
"Don't be put off by how perfect we were all trying to be to impress the judges. In real life, no one will be that particular, so just go for it. The rewards are huge!"

Lauren's Miette skirt

How did you find taking part in the show?
"It was really challenging but I feel so lucky to have been able to take part. I've met such an amazing group of people and the challenges that I managed to get through have hugely increased my confidence in being able to make more different types of clothes."

What was your best moment on the show?
"Apart from meeting amazing new friends, in terms of the challenges, the best moment was when I got the number one slot on the child's dress. I felt like I had been close so many times so I was really chuffed they picked me."

Your worst moment?
"The worst moments were having to say goodbye to my new friends each week as they were sent home. I wished we could have all stayed to the end and they just decided the winner that way. The long filming days were really hard too. After one long-almost 18 hour day, I can remember bursting into tears because I couldn't find one of my bags. It didn't take much to push me over the edge at that point, it was pretty exhausting."

Your funniest moment?
"There are so many! The whole thing seems like one funny moment when I look back on it. Between Stuart's one-liners and Claudia's silly comments and dances, there was always giggling going on."

Your fondest memory of taking part?
"Meeting the most amazing bunch of people ever. I've never had close friends that are as passionate about sewing as I am and I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to meet these people and stay friends with them afterwards."

What are you doing now or what plans do you have for the future?
"I have a bit of a fabric addiction and have always dreamed of just being surrounded by fabrics, ribbons, buttons and trims. Over the past year, my husband and I have been working really hard on renovating a 19th Century Mock Tudor building in Moseley, Birmingham, and on Saturday 27th April I'll finally get to live the dream and open my own haberdashery, fabric and yarn store, Guthrie and Ghani. It feels so surreal that its actually happening. I'm so excited to share my passion with people and inspire them to be creative and see what they make. We also have a gorgeous studio above the shop where I'll be able to share my sewing skills by teaching workshops. I can't wait to spread the sewing bug. I'm addicted, and it feels good and I want other people to feel the same!"

So excited for Lauren that the doors to her dream haberdashery will open next weekend. I'll be there on Saturday morning - come and say hello!

It's Jane!

2013-04-18T12:30:00.000+01:00

She's alive! She's well! She's making handbags! A few of you were thoughtful enough to express concern for Jane's welfare after she made an unfortunate exit from episode one... there was even a rumour circulating on Twitter that I'd eaten her, but let's not discuss that... Where were we? Yes, Jane. Jane of the car print mini skirt fame. She's well! And she's here!

Thanks for joining us, Jane. Tell us - what are your favourite things to make for yourself?

"I love making handbags best."

What are your top sewing tips?

"Do not rush. Enjoy the time and effort." [Isn't it funny how contestants have come to think of taking your time as the secret to successful sewing?!]

What were the best and worst moments for you on the show?

"The best bits for me were, firstly, going from first reserve to being a contestant on the show, and then seeing my sports car on the TV. The worst moment was being sick, I would have liked to have stayed longer."

Funniest moment?

"Reading about myself in The Times."

Fondest memory?

"The fondest memory for me was meeting a good crowd who all enjoy sewing."

What are you doing now or what plans do you have for the future?

"My girlfriend and I have started our own handbag business, Sentimental Bags. It's going very well! Taking part in the show has been fun, I have made a hand bag of the same fabric as my skirt, with the classic cars print fabric. Many people have recognised it!"

Aw thanks Jane - and good luck with the handbag business!

Out and About...

2013-04-16T12:30:00.000+01:00

My friends! I hope you're having a good week. The last couple of weeks for me have been a bit of a whirlwind, my head is spinning, but it's all very exciting. I've reduced the days I work at my day job in order to free up a bit of time to take up more sewing-related opportunities. I've worked so hard on this blog for the last three years, all in my spare time (read: no social life), so it's wonderful to be able to take up some of these new opportunities to collaborate with others and share the sewing bug in different ways. Some day soon I'm going to take a day off (phew!), but until then let me share a few dates coming up that may be of interest to some of you...

Thursday 25th April 2013 - Learn to Sew: Tilly's Bow Belt
I'll be teaching a beginners' evening class at The Village Haberdashery (West Hampstead, London). This class will introduce novice stitchers - or those who need a refresher - to the basics of sewing, from threading the machine to stitching curves and corners. After getting to grips with the sewing machine, we will make a gorgeous 1950s inspired bow belt for you to take home. I'm so excited to teach this class!

Saturday 27th April 2013 - Guthrie & Ghani grand opening
Lauren is opening a fabric shop in Birmingham! She has worked so hard for nearly a year now renovating the premises, and I have no doubt it will be beautiful. I'm so proud of her! I'll be there from about 11am to early afternoon to help her out on the first day, cutting fabric, serving customers or whatever she needs. Yes, I'm going to play shops. No, I haven't grown up yet. Come along!

Sat 25th to Sun 26th May 2013 - Make a Mathilde Blouse
If you've sewn a few things before but are scared of sewing the Mathilde Blouse on your own, or if you just fancy having a giggle sewing with other enthusiasts, come and spend a weekend at Ray Stitch (Islington, London). I'll guide you through each step in the construction of this button-back blouse, including creating beautiful tucks or gathers, setting in puffed sleeves, and finishing it all off with elegant French seams. And we'll eat some cake.

Saturday 1st June 2013 - Make Your Own Pattern & Skirt
Learn to make a gorgeous gathered button-down skirt with practical pockets – aka the Picnic Blanket Skirt! Also at Ray Stitch, the class starts as a very gentle introduction to pattern making, guiding you through drafting a simple pattern to your own measurements. Then we’ll sew the skirt, learning techniques, tips and tricks along the way, including gathering, constructing a waistband, stitching pockets, forming buttonholes and finishing it all off neatly. This is a great class if you are comfortable using a sewing machine and looking for a nice Summer project. (I'm also looking forward to teaching this class in April too, but it's sold out!)

Saturday 15th June 2013 - Beginners' Dressmaking: Miette Wrap Skirt
I'll be back at Lauren's shop teaching my Miette sewing pattern. This is the perfect class if you know how to use a sewing machine and are looking for an easy project, even your first. Miette is a gently flared wraparound skirt that ties at the front in a delightful bow, with optional large patch pockets. We’ll cover the basics of using a sewing pattern and constructing a garment, from making a waistband to finishing seams and hemming.

That's all for now - phew!

It's Mark!

2013-04-14T12:30:00.000+01:00

Here he is, the man himself! HGV mechanic by day, sewing enthusiast by night, Whitby Goth Weekend fanatic all day long... yes, it's Mark! He may have only sewn four zips in his life (two during the shoot), but Mark's sewing arsenal is clearly vast. Just look at what he's made!!! Over to Mark...

What are your favourite things to make for yourself?

"18th Century clothing. Apart from the underwear, far too uncomfortable - no elastic!!!"

Do you have a favourite sewing pattern?

"Yes, a 1720s frock coat pattern."

What are your top sewing tips?

"Don't rush things, and if it doesn't go right, go have a cuppa, then come back and start again!"

What would you say to anyone who has seen the show and is thinking of learning to sew?

"Go for it, don't be afraid to have a go, what have you got to lose?"

How did you find taking part in the show?

"Very tiring, I had loads of fun and it was great meeting everyone."

How did you find watching yourself on television?

"Can't believe I was really that grey and managed to get my hands nearly clean!!!!"

What was your best moment on the show?

"It's got to be 'The Dolly Spotty Dress'." [Voted star piece in episode 1]

Your worst moment?

"Bloody zips!!"

Your funniest moment?

"Claudia's secret moments!"

Your fondest memory of taking part?

"Meeting everyone for the first time and having such fun."

What are you doing now and what plans do you have for the future?

"Well I have now made three pairs of 1840s trousers with button flies, fully lined; with matching waistcoats made from patterns drafted from myself, all lined and quilted; two 1840s frock coats - one single breasted, one double breasted - all fully lined and quilted. Plans for the future... who knows where we go from here... Hollywood???"

I'm sure Jerry Bruckheimer will be on the phone soon! Thanks Mark, and special thanks to Donna too, Mark's lovely wife seen in the photos above (tough luck, ladies, he's taken!).

Souvenir Blouse

2013-04-09T21:00:00.000+01:00

Look, I made myself a souvenir! When I left the show, Claudia tried to stuff an overlocker into my bag, but I assured her some leftover fabric would do just fine. I whipped up a blouse for myself similar to the one I made for my model (yup, whipped - I can speed sew now!). Some of you may have recognised the pattern I was using on the show as similar to the Mathilde Blouse - it was actually an early incarnation of what was to become the pattern I published earlier this year (with a few slight differences in shape, size, sleeves etc). The version I made for my model had red fabric-covered buttons, but for mine I went for yellow for a change. Oh and of course the version I made for my model had ~~only one cuff~~ a choice of sleeve styles hehe!

The fabric has a lovely drapey quality that works really well with the elegant puff of the sleeves. It looks really elegant tucked into a pencil skirt, but can also be worn smart-casual with jeans. Crikey, I think this might be one of my favourite self-made garments ever, y'all! If you want to make your own, you can download the pattern here. Take a look at this tutorial if you want to omit the tucks.

Miette - Hemming

2013-04-07T12:30:00.000+01:00

Last step in making our Miette skirts! Excited?

There are various fancy ways of sewing a hem, but the method I’m going to show you is super simple for beginners.

1) The skirt is 57cm / 22 ½” in length from waist to hem, with an extra 2.5cm / 1” hem allowance. You may choose to shorten it depending on how tall you are (being little, I always have to take my hems up) and how far on or above the knee you want the hemline to fall. Pin the hem up by 2.5cm / 1”, try it on, and adjust to your preference. Once you’re happy with the length, press the hemline to mark it, and trim if you need to. Make sure the back openings are exactly the same length.

2) Fold the raw edge under by 12mm / ½” and press. Then fold under another 12mm / ½” along the hemline you pressed earlier, press again and pin.

3) Stitch the hem in place close to the inside fold.

Give everything a good press, and you’re done! You’ve made a super lovely Miette Skirt!

I'd love to see your finished Miette. Leave a link to your bestest pictures on Pinterest, Flickr or your blog. I'll add some of them to the Maker Gallery.

Just catching up? Download the pattern and take a look at the previous steps.

Miette - Attach the Waistband to the Skirt

2013-04-06T12:33:00.000+01:00

Right, let’s get the waistband onto the Miette skirt so we can do it up. Catching up? Download the pattern and check out the previous steps.

1) Pin the (interfaced) waistband to the top edge of the skirt, right sides together. The centre panel of the waistband spans the front skirt (both pieces) - align the centre panel side seams with the skirt side seams. The gap in the waistband should go on the right side seam (if you’ve put it on the left, it’s not the end of the world).

Note that the back edges of the skirt are not meant to match any of the waistband seams (see photo). And don’t worry that the waistband doesn’t lie flat on the skirt, as the waistband is straight, while the top of the skirt is slightly curved – just make sure the edges are aligned.

2) Stitch the waistband to the skirt along the top edge. Tip: Take care that the pressed down seams don’t fold the wrong way as they move through the machine – you can hold them flat either side of the needle, minding your fingers! If they do get sewn down the wrong way, it’s not the end of the world, you can just unpick those few stitches with a seam ripper and sew fresh stitches.

Now press the waistband up and away from the skirt.

3) Place the facing on top of the waistband, right sides together, matching side seams, and pin the raw edges together (the raw edge of the waistband should now be at the top) and pin all along the ties. Make sure the gap in the waistband seam lies exactly on top of the gap in the facing seam.

Stitch all the way around the waistband and ties from the point where the bottom of one tie meets the skirt, to the same point on the opposite side, pivoting when you reach 15mm / 5/8” before the corners of the ties (read this if you need to brush up on pivoting a corner).

4) Before we turn the waistband and ties right sides out, we need to get nifty with the scissors and iron so we end up with a nice, smooth-looking finish from the outside. If we leave the seams as they are, they’ll feel (and possibly even look) a bit bulky from the outside of the garment and won’t lie flat. So the aim of the game is to reduce some of that bulk.

Trim both seams down, leaving one of them slightly wider than the other so the raw edges aren’t lying directly on top of one another.

5) Snip off the corners of the waist ties. Be really careful not to cut through your stitching. You may want to reinforce the corner with some extra stitching if you’re concerned about it coming apart later.

6) Clip the seams down shorter above and below the gaps in the waistband and facing, taking out a little rectangle if you need to, so the seams don’t show through the gap when the skirt is turned right sides out.

7) Press the trimmed seam open. This will help define the seam line and make it look a bit smoother on the outside.

8) Now we’ve done the prep, we’re ready to turn the waist ties right sides out. My method of doing this is to use a long stick with a smooth end, such as a chopstick or knitting needle (don’t use the sharp end or it could pierce a hole in the fabric). Hold the smooth end of your chosen implement against the end of the waist tie, then gradually smooth the wrong side of the waist tie over it.

It’ll bunch up more and more, and feel like a bit of a chore for a while, but eventually you’ll see the end of the waist tie emerge out of the top of the tube. (No giggling now!)

Grab this end, discard the stick, and gently pull it through (don’t yank it too hard!) so it’s right side out and looks a bit like a deflated snake.

9) Now we need to make the corners of the waist ties look a bit more like corners. To do this, you can use a pin to gently coax it into something that looks vaguely like a right angle. (Mind you don’t rip a hole in the fabric, obvs.)

10) Press the waistband and ties to flatten and neaten them.

11) Where the skirt joins the waistband, press the seam up towards the waistband.

12) Where the waistband joins the facing, press the seams open on both wrong and right sides.

13) Fold the facing to the inside of the skirt, wrong sides together, rolling it a couple of mm further so the facing won’t show on the outside, and press it down. (Tip: You can use the steam of your iron, without touching the iron to the fabric, to soften the seam a little before rolling it with your fingers – this will make it a little easier to “mould”.)

14) Press the raw edge of the facing under by 15mm / 5/8”, wrong sides together. Pin it to the inside of the skirt, ensuring the fold line overlaps the waist seam.

15) Stitch the facing to the waistband at this seam. If you’re a patient stitcher, you could slip stitch it by hand. Or if you just want to get it done as soon as possible, you can just topstitch it by machine - the stitching will show on the outside, but life’s too short to worry about that kind of thing, IMHO. Alternatively, my personal favourite way of doing this is to “stitch in the ditch”. This method requires a bit of precision, but is quite fun when you get the hang of it. What you do is stitch from the right side, exactly within the seam line (the “ditch”) so that the stitching is hidden. It’s a good idea to first check that the stitching is going to catch the seam on the other side (which it should do if you rolled your facing in by an extra couple of mm). This is how I do it...

Insert some pins in the right side of the skirt, exactly within the seam line – then look at the inside of the skirt and check that the pins are holding down the seam on the other side. If they’re not, adjust, press and repin as needed.

Then carefully stitch from the right side, exactly within the seam line.

16) Reinforce the gap in the right side seam by sewing a rectangle around it. You can do this by machine or by hand, it’s up to you. Just double check that your hole is big enough for the waist tie, when folded in half lengthways, to pass through it.

Phew! That was a long post. But you're so nearly there! All that's left is the hemming...

Miette - Construct the Waistband

2013-04-05T12:30:00.000+01:00

Next step in sewing your Miette wraparound skirt is to put together the waistband. Catching up? Download the pattern and check out the previous steps.

You should have cut six waistband pieces. Three of these will form the waistband on the outside of the skirt, the other three will form the facing on the inside of the skirt. You should also have four waist tie pieces.

The pattern includes two dots to indicate the side opening – this is the gap that you will pass the waist tie through when you wear the skirt. Make sure you’ve marked these on the fabric in a chalk pencil or washable pen. The gap only goes on the right side seam, but rather than working out which is which at this stage it’s probably easier just to mark them all.

1) Apply interfacing to the wrong side of the three waistband pieces (leaving the three facing pieces as they are).

2) Pin the three (interfaced) waistband pieces together at the side seams to form one long strip. Stitch the left side seam.

3) On the right side seam, stitch the side seams leaving the a ¾” / 2cm gap between the dots – stitch from the top edge to the upper dot and back tack; then stitch from the bottom edge to the lower dot and back tack. It’s important to back tack securely as, when you wear the skirt, this seam will come under a bit of strain each time you pass the waist tie through the hole. You may even want to stitch two rows on top of each other to reinforce the seam, just to be on the safe side.

Your waistband should now look like the diagram above.

4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the (non-interfaced) facing pieces, making sure that the gap in the facing seam is the same size and position as the gap in the waistband seam.

5) Stitch a waist tie to each end of the waistband. Stitch a waist tie to each end of the facing. The waistband and facing should now comprise five sections each.

6) Press all the seams you’ve just stitched open on both right and wrong sides.

Good work! Next step is to attach the waistband to the skirt...

Miette - Join the Skirt

2013-04-04T12:30:00.000+01:00

Okay peops, let's get these flat pieces of fabric looking more like a skirt. Catching up? Download the Miette sewing pattern (possibly the easiest garment sewing pattern in the world) and check out the previous steps.

Unless stated otherwise, all seams are sewn with a 15mm / 5/8” seam allowance. Don’t know what a seam allowance is? Read up on sewing construction essentials.

You should have four skirt pieces – two front skirt and two back skirt pieces.

1) Stay stitch the top edges of the four skirt pieces - this will help prevent the curved edges from stretching out.

2) Place the skirt front pieces right sides together, matching notches, and pin along the centre front seam (the seam that’s totally straight). If you've added pockets, double check their bottom edges are matching. Stitch the centre front seam.

3) Place the skirt front and the skirt back pieces together at the side seams, right sides together, matching up notches, and pin. Stitch the side seams (note there is a very slight curve at the top for your hips).

4) Trim the seams down a little. If you’ve added the pockets, there’s a lot of layers of seams there all lying on top of each other, so it’s a good idea to trim a couple of layers down even further to reduce some of the bulk.

5) Next we’re going to “finish” the centre front and side seams, ie. bind the raw edges to neaten them and to help prevent fraying. You can use the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine, an overlocker if you have one, or even pinking shears if your fabric isn’t likely to fray. Depending on how thick your fabric is and whether you’ve added the pockets, you may want to bind them all together or finish the seams separately.

6) Press the centre front seam open and press the side seams either open or towards the back, on both wrong and right sides.

7) Now we’re going to neaten the raw edges of the back opening (on the back skirt pieces opposite the side seams). Turn the raw edge under by 15mm / 5/8”, wrong sides together, and press. Turn it under by another 15mm / 5/8” and press again. Pin in place.

8) Stitch close to the inside fold. Repeat on the other back opening.

Good work – it’s starting to look a bit like a skirt now! In the next post we'll construct the waistband...

Buy the Miette sewing pattern for instant download to print at home.

Scalloped Neckline Dress

2013-04-03T18:00:00.000+01:00

Arrrgghhh... watching myself on telly last night was weird, y'all! Cringe! It brought back all the trauma of sewing under such stressful conditions. Did you catch the bit when I said, "You forget the complete basics under so much pressure... like which way to stitch" - that's exactly what it was like! Your lovely tweets, comments and emails of support really made it more bearable to watch - I truly appreciate how thoughtful you are :)

The twittersphere last night was rather shocked at how harsh the judges were. IRL they were actually rather complimentary too, but that doesn't make such nail biting telly viewing, does it? I really hope that viewers won't let the tough feedback put them off from giving sewing a go. This is such a great opportunity to spread the sewing bug to the masses, so with potential stitching converts in mind, I just wanted to get on my soapbox and say a little something... [clears throat]

Learning to sew my own clothing has brought so much happiness to my life. Sewing has:

- Allowed me to create my own dream wardrobe, exactly as I imagine it in my head;
- Reconnected me with my creative side, allowed me to flex a different side of my brain from the one I use at work, and indulge in a sense of childlike experimentation and play;
- Helped me feel more empowered as a maker and less reliant on other people, experts, factories or shops to make, sell or fix stuff for me;
- Shifted my relationship to consumption, removing my previous compulsion to shop, to acquire things, and helping me to lead a more ethically and environmentally responsible life;
- Encouraged me to appreciate the aesthetics of everyday things, the beauty of the lines on the coat of someone walking in front of me, the folds of the dress on the person sitting opposite me on the tube;
- Made me feel part of a global community of awesome like-minded people who don't just buy stuff - we make stuff.

And you can make stuff too! Go on. Sign up to a sewing class. Read my free Learn to Sew posts. Buy or borrow a sewing machine. Try a super easy sewing project, such as my Miette skirt. Subscribe to some sewing blogs or start your own. Experiment. Have fun! In real life there isn't a Savile Row tailor standing there waiting to scrutinise your seams, so who cares if it's not perfect? It probably looks much better than something you'd get on the high street. It really isn't that difficult to start making clothing that you will love to wear.

Speech over, back to the show.

With eight contestants making three projects each, there wasn't much time to linger over the projects. I thought you might like to see my dress... well, okay, it's not the actual dress, it's a practice one I whipped up in about five minutes the day before the show - hence the wonky button tabs! - before deciding to redraft it to the flared version you see on screen (which I didn't have time to practise). The real dress was made in beautiful red silk matka, the bodice lined with a scissor-print cotton. While the dress fits me well, on the show I didn't have time to do a full bust adjustment on my gorgeous and curvalicious model, just frantic redrawing of darts, hence the... err... embarrassing baggy nipples! Urgh, those boobs still bring me out in a cold sweat... Shame Patrick isn't a fan of the scallop (who doesn't like a scallop?) as they were the pièce de résistance!

Finally I just want to give a shout out to my fellow contestants, who I love to bits. Their work was seriously impressive, even if you only caught a fleeting glimpse of most of it. This is what I saw from my sewing table:

- Ann was sitting there calmly making tailors tacks. With a ticking clock. That's yoga for you.

- Sandra stitched about 20 buttonholes!!! Seriously. Her dress was amazing.

- Stuart was criticised for the balance being off - err... try getting that right on a model you've just met in 7 hours while talking to a camera crew at the same time! He did a fantastic job, his dress was just lovely.

- Jane's car print skirt was awesome. I want one. How cool did she look driving in that head scarf?!

- Lauren's gave a shout out to indie designers with her super cute Macaron dress. Gorgeous.

- Michelle is an amazing stitcher who took a risk working with silk. In my view, life's too short not to take risks. Love Michelle. Still shocked she was picked to leave first.

- Mark had only sewn about three zippers in his life as his specialism is C18 clothing. This was his fourth zipper. He did such an incredible job on that dress!

Right, that's enough gushing. Stay tuned for next week's show. Again I have no idea what's in the edit and what's lying on the cutting room floor, but from my memories of filming, it's gonna be a corker! Until then...

"Yes Patrick, but as handsome as you are, please can you go away so I can get on with this?" [Not actual quote]

Tilly pops a cake into her mouth hoping no one is looking. Oh the shame!! (Yes, I took a photo of my telly.)

Miette - Sew the Pockets

2013-04-03T12:00:00.000+01:00

If you're looking for what is probably the easiest garment sewing project ever (not counting a sack, I'm talking stylish please), the Miette skirt pattern is for you, my friend. If you want to put in a little more effort, add the patch pockets. They don't require any more skill, just an extra step. In return you get to carry sweeties around with you all day, plus they look kinda 1970s chic, non?

Adding the pockets? Great! That's where we need to start sewing...

If you're catching up, download the pattern and check out the previous steps in the Miette online instructions to assemble your pattern, choose your fabric and cut out the right size.

You should have cut out four pocket pieces. Two of these pieces will show on the outside of your skirt – we’ll call these the “pockets” – and the other two will line the inside of the pockets – we’ll call these the “facings”.

If your fabric is relatively thin, it may stretch out, so it's a good idea to stay stitch the long diagonal seams before sewing to help keep them the same length.

1) Place each pocket on top of its matching facing, with the right sides of the fabric touching, matching up the notches. Pin together at the long diagonal seam and bottom seam.

2) Stitch the pocket and facing together at the bottom seam and long diagonal seam only. Repeat with the other pocket. Unless stated otherwise, all seams are sewn with a 15mm / 5/8” seam allowance. Don’t know what a seam allowance is? Read up on sewing construction essentials.

3) Trim the seams that you have just sewn to about half the width. This will help the edges lie flatter when we turn the pockets right sides out.

4) Press the seams open with your iron. Turn the pockets right sides out, and press again. Pressing will really help your seam line look nice and neat - read all about it.

5) Now we’re going to topstitch the top diagonal seams of the pockets. Topstitching means stitching on the outside of the garment, close to the seam line, to hold the seams down. If you’re worried about wonky stitches, use thread which matches your fabric so any wibbly bits are hidden! If you are a more confident stitcher or just like living on the edge, you may choose to topstitch in a contrast colour thread as a design feature. You could even play around with one of the fancy stitch settings on your machine.

Topstitch along the long diagonal seam, about 6mm / ¼” from the edge.

6) Pin the pockets to the skirt front pieces, the facings against the right side of the skirt, matching up notches. Note: Make sure you’re matching up the raw edges of the pocket and skirt exactly. The pockets aren’t meant to lie completely flat against the skirt – some ease is included so you can get your hands inside.

7) Now we’re going to create temporary “basting” stitches to hold the pockets in place before sewing the skirt together (we'll rip the basting stitches out later). Thread your machine up in a contrast colour thread and set the stitch length on your machine to 4mm – sewing longer stitches in a different colour will make it much easier to rip them out later. Baste stitch the short top edge and sides of the pockets to the skirt, using a smaller seam allowance (about 1cm / 3/8”) so that the real stitches we do later won’t fall directly on top of them.

8) Reset the stitch length on your machine to 2 – 2.5mm. Topstitch the bottom edge of the pockets to the skirt (again, it’s your choice whether you use matching or contrast thread), 6mm / ¼” from the edge.

Each of your two skirt front pieces should now look something like this. Next step is joining the skirt pieces together...

Miette - Choose Your Size and Cut Fabric

2013-04-02T12:30:00.000+01:00

Let’s get our fabric cut out and ready to sew our Miette Skirts. This pattern is so easy to fit, you’re gonna love it!

1) Choose your pattern size

Measure your waist – usually the smallest part of your middle, or wherever you’d like the waistband to sit.

Find your waist measurement on the "pattern size – body measurements" chart. The left hand column tells you which pattern size you are. Don’t worry too much if you’re between sizes – the beauty of this skirt is that it does up with waist ties, meaning that the size is adjustable! (If your size isn't covered, read up on grading a sewing pattern.)

The flared A-line shape means the waist is probably the only measurement you need. But if your hips are particularly curvalicious compared to your waist, you may want to measure them too to be on the safe side. If they’re more than 3 sizes larger than the hip size of your pattern size, you may want to combine the two sizes - step 3 of this post shows you how.

Now that you know your pattern size, you know which lines to cut on the pattern – your size will be indicated by a particular style of dashed, dotted or full line and the size number.

2) Lay out your fabric and pattern

Wash, dry and press your fabric before cutting. Fold it in half lengthways, right sides together, selvedge to selvedge and smooth it down. Find out what I mean by "selvedge" and why we're doing this here!

Cut roughly around your pattern pieces with paper scissors. Lay your pattern pieces on your fabric. The layout will depend on the width of your fabric – play around with them until they fit on the smallest length of fabric.

Align the long double-pointed grainline arrows so they are parallel with the selvedges. Pin the pattern in place. Read more about aligning the grainline here.

3) Cut your fabric

Cut out your fabric with fabric scissors on the lines which correspond to your size. The pattern pieces tell you how many to cut of each – 2 x Front Skirt, 2 x Back Skirt, 6 x Waistband (3 of these could be contrast fabric), 4 x Waist Ties, and optionally 4 x Pockets (2 of these could be contrast fabric). Read more about cutting and marking fabric.

4) Add in the markings

Mark the notches (the little lines perpendicular to the cutting lines) with a short snip (less than 1cm).

Mark the dots on the waistband with chalk or washable pen. The way I do this is to stick pins in the dots, through the pattern and fabric pieces, then mark all layers of fabric at the points where the pins pass through them.

5) Cut out interfacing

Cut three pieces of interfacing to the waistband pattern. Read all about interfacing and what it's for.

Now we’re ready to start stitching! Thread your sewing machine and read up on basic sewing construction techniques if you need to. Then we'll soon be on our merry way...

Designing Your Miette

2013-04-01T18:00:00.001+01:00

So what fabric are you going to use to make your Miette skirt?

What to think about when choosing fabric:

* Miette will look lovely in medium weight linen, cotton (including twill and gabardine) and denim.

* Fabrics that have a bit of body or structure will give the skirt a fabulous strong shape. Just be careful not to pick anything too thick or heavy that would create bulk, as you need to be able to pass one of the waist ties through a gap in the side seams to do the skirt up.

* The grainline runs parallel to the skirt side seams, meaning that any patterns or visible weave on fabric will flare out at an angle rather than fall horizontally. So if you're choosing a patterned fabric, you may want to think about how the pattern will fit together along the centre front line. Or if you don't want to think, just pick something plain or with a small print!

And some design ideas:

* Try a solid colour for a bold look - how about duck egg blue, hot pink or mustard yellow? (Mmm... mustard yellow...)

* Topstitching in a contrast colour and fancy stitch looks fantastic. Or try hand embroidering a design on the pockets.

* Make the facings of the waistband and pockets (the parts that go on the inside of the skirt) in a contrast fabric. Cut 3 of the 6 waistband pieces and 2 of the 4 pocket pieces in this fabric.

* If you're confident at matching patterns, how about creating a chevron effect on the centre front seam by using striped fabric?

* Sew contrast buttons on the pockets.

* Add piping to the waistband seam or a trimming to the hemline.

For more inspiration, check out the fantastic Miettes that are already in the Maker Gallery.

What design ideas do you have for the Miette Skirt? I can't wait to see!

Introducing Miette - The Perfect Sewing Pattern for Beginners!

2013-04-01T09:00:00.000+01:00

I'm sooooooo excited to share the Miette sewing pattern with you!

Miette is a gently flared wraparound skirt that ties at the front in a delightful bow. The skirt has a wide back overlap (no danger of flashing!) and optional practical patch pockets.

If you've never sewn a garment before, this is the sewing pattern for you! It has been designed for and tested on beginners looking for an easy first sewing project. The wraparound design means that there are no fiddly buttons or zippers to install. Plus it's so simple to fit - all you need is your waist measurement, and even if you get that wrong you can loosen or tighten the ties. Perfect! If you find sewing pattern instructions confusing, you'll love the online photo instructions which translate all the jargon and show you every step in detail.

If you're an experienced stitcher, you'll love how quickly this skirt comes together. The print-at-home instructions include handy tickboxes so you can celebrate your progress - so satisfying! Miette is one of those great "blank canvas" projects that you can make your own with fancy topstitching, trimmings, embroidery... you could even design your own pockets!

This is a print-at-home pattern ready to download and start making right now! Over the next few days I'll be adding steps to the digital instructions. Sew along as they go live or whenever you're ready to start sewing.

Take a look at the pattern details, drool over the Maker Gallery, and buy Miette!

Buy Now for £7

With thanks to my wonderful pattern testers - Jane, Jo, Lauren G, Lauren T, Mai, Sarah and Oona.

Pressing Your Sewing Projects

2013-03-28T12:30:00.000Z

First up, a massive THANK YOU for your lovely comments on my last post. I'm getting soooo nervous now but it feels so good to have your support! Right, on with the post...

Thought using the iron was boring? Think again, my friend!

Call me a total saddo, but I find a bit of hot iron action really satisfying when I need to add shape to my projects. Pressing is a crucial part of sewing. It can make your project look miles better by flattening seams, adding definition to stitching lines, shaping darts elegantly, and generally making everything look much neater and more gorgeous. In this post I'll offer some tips on when to press, what to press and how to press...

When to press

Before you cut out your fabric, give it a press to smooth it out – this will help you get more accurately shaped pieces. If your pattern is creased, give that a press too on a low, dry setting (check the ink doesn’t run first!).

If you’re folding over the edge of the fabric to stitch it as a hem, for example, give it a press before stitching to flatten and neaten it.

Press each seam after stitching it and before stitching across it. You don’t literally have to get up after sewing every seam and go over to the ironing board – you can “save up” a few bits that need pressing and do them in one go, as long as the iron gets to them before you stitch over that part of the garment.

What to press

Press seams either open or towards the back of the garment.

Press darts towards one side (horizontal darts usually go downwards).

Avoid pressing gathers, for example on the head of a set-in sleeve, as it may ruin the lovely fullness you’ve created with your stitching.

If you're pressing a small tricky part such as a collar, you can hang the rest of the garment off the end of your ironing board so it doesn't get under the iron.

How to press

First, test your iron setting on a small swatch of your fabric. Different fabrics can tolerate different amounts of heat and steam – too high and they may become marked or even melt!

You can help avoid damaging your fabric by laying a pressing cloth over it to protect it from the direct heat of the iron. A piece of muslin, cotton or even a tea towel will do just fine.

When ironing your pre-made clothes, you usually move the iron back and forth to smooth out the creases. When pressing, on the other hand, you’re placing the iron onto the fabric, holding it static for a few seconds, then lifting it up and placing it on another part of the fabric.

Don’t be afraid of a bit of steam. As long as your fabric can take it, steam will soften your fabric and help you mould and manipulate it into the shape you want it to be. For instance, it can help you roll a facing to the inside of the garment, or it can make a pointy bust dart look a little more curved and a lot less rude.

Press on both wrong and right sides of the fabric to get a neat finish.

If you’re really fancy, you can use a tailor’s ham and seam roll (aka sausage). These are specially shaped dedicated pressing devices which look like cushions but are deceptively firm. A tailor’s ham will help you press curved parts of a garment such as darts or collars; a seam roll is a cylindrical shape which lets you press just the middle of a seam without creating a ridge on the seam edges. If you don’t want to buy them, you can make your own or roll up a towel tightly as a make-shift alternative.

And finally, at the risk of sounding like your mother, turn the iron off when you’re not using it, won’t you? Not only will conserving the energy help save the planet (sort of), but if you knock it over and burn yourself you'll probably be so absorbed in your sewing that you don't notice until the next day, by which time you have a massive scar. Or that's what I do, in any case!

Still awake?! Do you have any pressing tips of your own to share?

Tilly on the Telly!

2013-03-26T08:16:00.000Z

Soooo… have you heard about the forthcoming BBC2 TV show about sewing from the makers of Bake Off? Well… ooh… eep… arrgghh… yikes… [deep breath] I’m a contestant!!!

If you’ve seen the baking version or one its international equivalents, you’ll know what to expect. A diverse group of amateur sewists are put through a series of sewing challenges, under hot lights, high pressure and crazy timeframes. Their work is scrutinised by expert judges and their spirits boosted by a down-to-earth presenter. Contestants are eliminated each week until one is accorded the title “Britain’s best amateur sewer”. Mercifully, viewers are spared the unsavoury aspects so often associated with reality shows – no sob stories, no divas, no backstabbing, just normal people struggling to sew a dress in 20 minutes while talking to the cameras at the same time, with plenty of good humour and comedy errors.

Thank you so much to the lovely readers who encouraged me to enter the contest in the first place! I felt like I was representing the wonderful sewing bloggers of this community, so I've been bursting to tell you about it for months and months. I’m not the kind of person who dreams of being on the telly (okay, despite spending my childhood rehearsing for a career as a Blue Peter presenter), but we work so hard to spread the sewing bug across the interwebs that the opportunity to share the sewing love with the unconverted via primetime TV is just a dream. If the show can convince a few more people to try their hand at sewing for the first time, to slow down their fast fashion consumption, to experience the pleasure of making, to feel empowered by taking control of what they wear, then that will be a wonderful thing. Plus it’ll just be hilarious TV gold!

No, I can’t believe I got picked. Yes, it was crazy pressure. No, there will be no spoilers here! (Although I will be posting and tweeting after the episodes' first airings, so close you're eyes if you're waiting to catch up on iPlayer/YouTube.) And yes, I will be watching from behind a very large glass of vino... The finished show will be (almost) as much of a surprise for me as it is for you, as I have no idea how it’s been edited. But what I do know is that it's gonna be awesome! Everyone involved in the show is absolutely lovely - not to mention super talented - and we had sooooo much fun filming. I just know you’re gonna love it!