Category Archives: Guides
Thread Sewing Machine: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
You've put the thread through the needle, slipped the fabric under the foot and pressed [...]
How to Sew a Bubble Hem: Measure, Gather and Finish
You've cut a skirt from the size on the envelope, gathered the hem beautifully, and [...]
Sewing Supplies for Kids: A UK Age-by-Age Checklist
You've opened a children's sewing kit, spread the contents across the kitchen table and realised [...]
Palazzo Pant Sewing Pattern: A UK Sewing Guide
You've found a wide-leg pattern, laid out a length of lovely cloth and started wondering [...]
Sewing Machine Notions: What to Keep and Use
The usual advice about sewing machine notions is to buy a bigger kit. I'd start [...]
What Is Pattern Matching in Sewing: Seams and Checks
You've laid out your fabric, opened the paper pattern and reached for the scissors. Then [...]
Colour Swatches Green: 8 Resources for Makers in 2026
You've matched a sage linen on your phone, ordered three metres, and unrolled it beside [...]
Sewing Kits for Teens: How to Choose the Right One
Pupils at Key Stage 3 in England received an average of just 17.7 hours of [...]
Shirt Dress Patterns for Sewing: Choose, Fit and Finish
You've got a Saturday set aside, a length of poplin you really like, and a [...]
What Are Sewing Notions? Types, Uses and Buying Tips
Sewing notions are the small tools, fasteners and supporting materials used to construct, finish, fasten, [...]
How to Preshrink Fabric Before You Cut and Sew
Your new fabric is unrolled on the table, the pattern is weighted down, and you're [...]
How to Calculate Fabric Yardage for Any Sewing Project
You've laid out your pattern, checked the length on the envelope and started cutting, only [...]
Sewing Patterns Shirt Guide for Better-Fit Garments
You've found a shirt pattern with the collar you want and the right sort of [...]
Cotton Fabric for Shirts: A Practical Buyer’s Guide
You're standing at the counter with three bolts that all say 100% cotton, a shirt [...]
Dressmaking Patterns Online: A Practical Guide for UK Makers
You've opened a row of tabs for dressmaking patterns online, found a dress you like, [...]
How to Store Sewing Patterns and Keep Them Safe
You pull a pattern envelope from a drawer and the corner crumbles in your hand, [...]
Working with Ostrich Feather Trim: A Practical Guide
You've finished the shawl, pinned up the party dress or found the perfect felt hat, [...]
What Is Interlock Fabric: A Practical Guide for Sewists
Interlock is a double-knit weft fabric made by intermeshing two rows of knitted loops, so [...]
Cotton Dressmaking Fabric UK: A Practical Buyer’s Guide
You're standing in a UK fabric shop with a pattern envelope in one hand and [...]
How to Waterproof Cotton Fabric Without Ruining It
You've finished a cotton jacket or tote, the forecast changes, and the first proper shower [...]