My favourite fabric shop in Birmingham

I had a lovely Saturday before Christmas visiting my local fabric store; Barry’s in Birmingham.  Those of you who live in Birmingham and are addicted to fabric, will I am sure know this store very well! There is no pattern of fabric that they do not sell!  Anything you could wish for in terms ofContinue reading “My favourite fabric shop in Birmingham”

1950’s Sewing Patterns – A brief history

There is a trend today for making your own clothes, with programmes such as “The Great British Sewing Bee” encouraging would be sewers to throw caution to the wind and have a go! However this isn’t an entirely new phenomenon as sewing patterns have been in existence since the 1860’s. In wartime Britain, women couldContinue reading “1950’s Sewing Patterns – A brief history”

1950’s dresses – A brief history

I think sometimes that I was born in the wrong era. I feel much happier in a dress with a fitted waist and a full skirt. Not necessarily over the top with a petticoat underneath (I do the school run!) but something that makes me feel feminine at least. Jeans are comfortable and practical butContinue reading “1950’s dresses – A brief history”

Sewing for curvy people? Not always successful!

I started dress making when my son went to school and I was at a loose end.  I had always been creative, making curtains, cushions etc. but I decided I wanted to have a go at making my own clothes.  I enrolled on a sewing class and have never looked back. Not everything has beenContinue reading “Sewing for curvy people? Not always successful!”

Sew Brum -Saturday 31 October 2015

I had an interesting email from my local fabric store, Guthrie & Ghani in Moseley (you may remember, Lauren Guthrie was a finalist in the Sewing Bee in 2013) about Sew Brum, coming up in October.  http://www.guthrie-ghani.co.uk/events Sew Brum is organised by the sewing blogger Englishgirlathome  http://englishgirlathome.com/sewbrum/ and promises to be a lovely day ofContinue reading “Sew Brum -Saturday 31 October 2015”