Author Archives: didyoumakethat

Ella and I have a new garden bench and it’s become our favourite place to sit. I drag out a blanket and cushions and lie with my legs dangling over an arm rest as I proofread pages. Ella keeps a … Continue reading →

Last week I went to Oxford to talk to a bunch of Sewists about The Little Book of Sewing. It was SUCH a great event and I met fascinating people from sewing academics to sewing start-ups, teachers to parents to … Continue reading →

JL Martin – or Tinkymctiddles as she’s known on Instagram – is a writer, illustrator, coder – and, very recently, a sculptor of miniature models – models just like this! These tiny pencils, miniature baguettes and eensy-weensie rows of knitting … Continue reading →

Do you run an iron over your fabric before cutting out and, if so – why? I was thinking about exactly this question as I pressed some summer weight wool suiting to make yet another pair of culottes. Here are … Continue reading →

I bought this book for £1.50 from a shop on the Isle of Wight. What’s not to love? Liberty! Sewing patterns included! The Eighties! Not just a piece of history. There’s some pretty detailed information in this book, plus basic … Continue reading →

Last Thursday we celebrated publication of The Little Book of Sewing with a party at The Village Haberdashery – and what a party it was! I’d ordered photo-printed cupcakes carrying miniature images of the book cover but – doh! – … Continue reading →

Do you ever feel as though you were born to live in a certain decade of your life? I found my youth hard. I was too ‘fat’, I loved make-up despite the fact that my 20s were lived through the … Continue reading →

It’s publication week for The Little Book of Sewing! Have you been joining in the Instagram fun #thelittlebookofsewing? I’ve seen so many great and inspiring stories, including how this book inspired Kathy of Sew Dainty to launch her own jewellery … Continue reading →

When it came to cover inspiration for The Little Book of Sewing, my editor asked me to send over a few visuals that I liked. Amongst them was a link to Stitched Up Sam’s Instagram feed. I really like the … Continue reading →

Did any of you see the recent stunning use of a vintage Vogue pattern by Riccardo on The Great British Sewing Bee? I loved this dress made from a set of charity shop curtains! The pattern is the Vogue Paris … Continue reading →