Sew — Issue 103 — Xmas 2017

Keep a scissor

sharpener to hand

when cutting

sequin fabrics,

as these can dull

your blades.

tip!

45

(^) sewmag.co.uk
(^) here to
help

LISA COMFORT

Owner of London

store, Sew Over It,

whose mission is

to teach as many

people as possible

how to sew, either

in store or online.

sewoverit.co.uk

KATE UNDERDOWN

The co-founder of

online community

The Fold Line, which

offers a wealth of

sewing knowledge,

technique how-tos,

and inspiration.

thefoldline.com

4

top

Ecover delicate laundry

liquid, £3.49 for 750ml,

ecoverdirect.com

Many party outfits are sewn from

silk and other delicate fabrics that

require a lot of TLC, particularly

when they need to be laundered.

Sometimes it’s safer to dry clean

them, but you may get away with

running them through your washing

machine, provided you use a delicate

or hand wash cycle, cold water and

a mild detergent. Here’s a selection

of the gentlest products...

Lavender wool wash

detergent, £4.99 for

one litre, lakeland.

co.uk

Woolite detergent, £3.50

for 750ml, wilko.com

Classic cleaner

Q

I’d like to make

a smart outfit

for my office do,

but an evening gown

is a bit beyond me

• can you suggest
  something THAT’S
  a little easier?
  Janice Weber

Lisa says...

Christmas parties are the perfect

opportunity to get sewing and make

something truly special. But if the

thought of stitching a full-on evening

gown is slightly terrifying, there are

much easier options out there.

My go-to pattern for posh parties is

Sew Over It’s Elsie dress, which has

a flattering fitted bodice and dazzling

full skirt. I wear versions of this on

a day-to-day basis, but the key to

dressing it up for parties always lies

in the fabric. Choose a special cloth

such as brocade, silk taffeta, dupion or

damask, and it will do all the talking for

you. Luckily, these fabrics are stable

wovens that aren’t tricky to stitch.

Concentrate on achieving a beautiful fit

and take your sewing slowly – you’ll be

Christmas party ready in no time!

CAROLINE

BOARDWELL REID,

Managing director of

Croft Mill, a family-run

business in Lancashire

offering a wide range of

fabrics from local and

international brands.

croftmill.co.uk

Eco-friendly option

Sweet scent

Persil Silk & Wool washing

liquid, £3.75 for 750ml, find

stockists at persil.com

44

(^) sewmag.co.uk
Name brand
Delicate Laundry
Detergents
Sparkle - All Saints,
£10.95 per metre
Aqua corded lace,
£13 per metre
Soft dusky pink
satin backed crepe,
£10.50 per metre
Elsie dress pattern, £8.50
(PDF), £14.50
(Printed) sewoverit.co.uk
Sew SOS 103.indd 45 08/09/2017 14:12