*Joy was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher*
It is important to take into account the weight of a fabric when choosing which fabric to use for your project. This is because normally the lighter a fabric is the more drapey it will be, although this isn't always the case. To learn more about fabric drape then you can read our guide on fabric drape here.
Fabric width and length always vary from fabric to fabric, which is why fabric is measured in terms of mass per surface area. In metric terms this is measured in grams per square metre (gsm or g/m2). In imperial terms this is expressed in ounces per square yard (oz/y2 or oz). There are lots of tools easily accessed on the internet to convert gsm to oz and vice a versa.
Weight Category | GSM | Fabric Types * |
Very lightweight | <135gsm (<4oz) | voile, some lawns (i.e. Liberty Tana Lawn), chiffon, georgette, organza, viscose or tencel lawn, lightweight satin, viscose crepe |
Lightweight | <200gsm (<6oz) |
cotton jersey, viscose twill, chambray, cotton poplin, double cotton gauze, babycord |
Medium weight | 200-270gsm (6-8oz) | french terry, needlecord, tencel twill |
Medium-heavyweight | 270-340gsm (8-10oz) | some denim, ventana cotton twill, jumbo corduroy |
Heavyweight | 340-400gsm (10-12oz) | some wool coatings, |
Very heavyweight | >400gsm (>12oz) | faux fur, some coatings i.e boucle |
* This is a guide to some examples, sometimes fabrics may be lighter or heavier, it is important to always check the individual fabric listings.
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We hope this blog post has helped you understand fabric weight.
Guide to different fabric drapes. Fabric drape describes how the fabric hangs under its own weight. It is important to consider fabric drape when you are choosing a fabric for your project as it will impact on your garment's fit and style.
]]>Fabric drape describes how the fabric hangs under its own weight. It is important to consider fabric drape when you are choosing a fabric for your project as it will impact on your garment's fit and style. There is often a relationship between fabric weight and fabric drape but not always, head on over to our fabric weight guide to learn more about fabric weight.
Fabric drape comparing viscose lawn which is a high drape fabric to a boiled wool which is a low drape fabric
These fabrics will have many small folds as they hang. Fabrics with a high drape will cling to the body and hold gathers very well. They are perfect for unstructured garments such as floaty dresses and blouses.
Types of fabric: viscose (rayon), silk chiffon / charmeuse / crepe, polyester satin
Viscose lawn
These fabrics are less fluid and floaty as high drape fabrics. They still will hang close to your body and gather well, however, they will have a crisper handle. They are ideal for blouses, flowy skirts and dresses.
Types of fabric: viscose (rayon) blends, light wool crepe
Viscose linen blend
These fabrics are really versatile because they don't stay close to your body like fabrics with a high drape do or stand away from your body like fabrics with a low drape do. They are more likely to hold their shape. They are perfect for shirt making, pyjamas, dresses or skirts with pleats, garments with statement sleeves, tunics and so on.
Types of fabric: cotton lawn, cotton voile, cotton poplin, cotton linen, cotton jersey knits, silk noil, double gauze
Cotton double gauze
These fabrics will have fewer large folds as they hang. These fabrics hang away from the body and hold their shape. They are ideal for structured garments such as jackets, trousers and jumpsuits.
Types of fabric: pure linen / high percentage of linen (i.e. washed linen cotton blend), ramie, twill, scuba, stretch cotton, corduroy, silk dupion
Jumbo corduroy
These fabrics are stiff and will not gather well. They fall away from your body. They are perfect for structured garments such as trousers, workwear, jeans, boilersuits, coats, jackets.
Types of fabric: wool, jacquard, brocade, heavy canvas, heavy denim / corduroy
Boiled wool
To test for fabric drape get a sample of the fabric and drape it over something like your shoulder and look in a mirror. Take notice of how the fabric flows or stands out. Fold the fabric and see how the folds lie. This should give you a good idea on how the fabric would look made up into a garment.
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We hope this post has helped you to understand fabric drape.
We know you guys are a multi-talented bunch so we’ve put together some sewing projects for your other hobbies. There’s some perfect projects for using smaller remnants and you can personalise bags and craft cases to exactly your needs!
A good set of twill dungarees should keep you happy in the garden. This water resistant twill would make a great wide brim hat for keeping the sun and rain at bay.
True Bias Riley Overalls in our ventana cotton twills
Sew Over It Hobby Bag in our ventana cotton twills
Juliana Martejevs bucket hat in our deadstock check water repellant cotton twill coating
For the home chef, we’ve heard great things about this free apron pattern. Match with a giant tote bag for trips to the market.
Helen's Closet Sam Apron in our washed linen cotton
Oven mitt tutorial from the Spruce Crafts in our cotton gingham
Kylie and the Machine Mule tote bag in our washed linen cotton
Whether you are painting, upcycling furniture or putting together any flat packs, this outfit will have you covered and the bag is ideal for keeping all your tools in one place.
Sew Over It Farrah Jumpsuit in our ventana cotton twill
Helen’s Closet Dogwood apron in our Liberty Tana Lawn Cotton Nectar
When you’re cosying up with your knitting, a tracksuit is ideal. We love this craft case for needle organisation and this project bag has a handle to help you knit on the move!
Closet Core Mile End Sweatshirt and Plateau Joggers in fleece backed sweatshirting
Atelier Scämmit Buenos Aires bag set in ventana cotton twill and Liberty Fabrics Cotton Poplin
Cool Stitches craft case in ventana cotton twill and Liberty Fabrics Cotton Poplin
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We hope this post has inspired you to sew yourself something to help with your other hobbies.
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Cotton is a natural fibre that comes from the seedpod of the cotton plant.
Pros:
Cons:
Yarns are dyed specific colours before they are woven into a design, which means the design is part of the fabric and is not printed onto the fabric.
Gingham is also referred to as a Vichy Check. It is a check pattern formed with solid, transparent and light coloured squares on a white background.
Our gingham fabrics are made with 100% cotton. They are a dream to sew with and perfect for beginners, plus there are lots that you can sew with them.
Play with the direction of cutting - A gingham on the bias looks great. A stable cotton will create a different look to a drapey fabric - fuller and slightly more structured. You might want to line it for a skirt, but you can choose not to.
Soften Studio Clo Bias skirt in our plum gingham paired with Named Patterns Talvikki sweater in our plum coloured cotton sweatshirt.
You can experiment with cutting on the bias for panelled designs too! It works well for laying one fabric over the over, as its adds stability, such as in the bib design for this smock shirt.
The Modern Sewing Co. French smock in our buff gingham and Anna Allen Helene jeans in our black 11oz non stretch denim.
The same fabric in multiple colours makes patch working together an easier process - everything is the same weight and sews together nicely. You could go for 2 colours..
Friday Pattern Co. Davenport dress and Chalk and Notch Sun tote in our plum and teal gingham.
Or don’t limit yourself to 1 or 2 colours and pick all your faves! 🌈
Anna Allen Anthea blouse and Anna Allen Pomona shorts in steel blue, buff, leaf green and blush gingham.
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Find all of our cotton fabrics here, and all of our gingham fabrics here.
Fleece is a soft knitted fabric with a napped surface. It is typically made out of polyester but can be made out of cotton, viscose, merino wool, recycled plastic and hemp. Fleece fabric was first invented in 1979 by Malden Mills (Polartec). It was invented to replace wool knitwear, which is heavy and susceptible to pests.
Fleece fabric is most commonly made from non-renewable resources and needs additional chemical coatings to make them windproof and water resistant. Some polyester fleece fabrics are made using recycled PET (also referred to as eco-fleece). This is seen as a more environmentally friendly option because raw petroleum is not required (it is well documented that the oil manufacturing industry is one of the world's biggest pollutants), additionally it has the potential to reduce the amount of plastic bottles going to landfill. However, whether the synthetic fibres are recycled or not they still pose a problem as they do not biodegrade and they produce microfibres (microplastics) when washed. One study in California that was funded by Patagonia found that, "on average, synthetic fleece jackets release 1.7 grams of microfibres or as many as 250,000 synthetic fibres each wash". So even when recycled plastics are used they still may ultimately end up in our oceans.
There are things that we can do to make sure minimal shedding occurs such as:
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DIY Office Wear Ideas:
If you’re spending your days in an office - we have some great fabrics and patterns combinations for you! The office can be just the place for enjoying your hand made creations and letting your personal style shine.
We’re loving tweeds in sunshine hues, crisp and colourful cotton poplins and floaty viscoses.
Bara Studio Kara Trench Coat made up in our water repellant cotton blend coating.
Grainline Studio Archer Shirt made up in our periwinkle cotton lawn.
Bella Loves Pattern Billy Trousers made up in our sandwashed viscose twill in light blue.
Friday Pattern Company Patina Blouse paired with viscose satin.
Merchant and Mills Francli pocket bag paired with ventana cotton twill.
True Bias Blair Skirt paired with matching ventana cotton twill.
Modern Sewing Company Darcy Coat paired with one of our deadstock wool blend coatings.
The Maker's Atelier Classic Trouser paired with one of our ventana cotton twills.
Modern Sewing Company Boatneck Top paired with brushed viscose ribbed knit.
The Assembly Line Front Pleat Shirt made up in our stonewashed cotton poplin.
Tessuti Patterns Mahlia Skirt made up in our viscose ponte di roma.
Megan Nielsen Rowan Top made up in our brushed viscose ribbed knit.
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Here are some more DIY present ideas:
These are just a few ideas, there are so many different things you could sew for gifts. Lots of the ideas only require small amounts of fabric which makes them a great way to use up scraps too.
Don't forget to follow us on instagram and youtube for lots of other tutorials.
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To start with, if you aren't exactly sure what you wish to purchase for someone who loves sewing as much as we do at Sew Me Sunshine then why not give them the gift of choice by purchasing a Sew Me Sunshine gift card. This gift card has no expiry date and can be used against all products.
Stocking Fillers:
Dressmaking clothing labels are great gift idea, they range in price from £6.50-£8.00 a pack. They have great sewing related sayings on them, as well as non sewing specific sayings. They come in a variety of colours and sizes.
Another great option is to buy some high quality sewing tools from Merchant and Mills, Clover, Hemline or Atelier Brunette. These are perfect gifts to anyone new to sewing or to someone that wants to up their sewing box game. We have so many options from dressmaking pins to chalks to sewing needles to magnetic pin dishes to sewing gauges and so much more. We also have some beautiful haberdashery too, including the gorgeous buttons from Pigeon Wishes.
Every sewist loves a new dressmaking pattern, perhaps you know that they love a specific designer or they are keen to try sewing a new type of garment. Well, we have you covered with our range of paper dressmaking patterns from independent designers from around the world.
If you aren't looking for something specific sewing related but are keen to buy them something that will make their sewing space smell amazing then we have the perfect gift. We teamed up with OHROS to produce our own soy candle called 'The Sewing Room'. This candle has a gorgeous fresh, herby scent containing tomato vine, cedar wood, basil and rosemary.
We also have some sewing themed jewellery available. Lots of these have been reduced to clear too. We have wooden necklaces and fun sewing themed pin badges in stock.
Luxury Gifts:
A gift that every sewist would love is a pair of new dressmaking shears or snips or a rotary cutter. We stock the high quality scissors, snips and rotary cutters from LDH. In 1990, LDH Scissors was founded in Shenzhen, just outside of Hong Kong, by a young couple who simply needed better quality sewing scissors. Fast forward to 2018, their son Roy and his wife Ursula have brought the company to Toronto, Canada. LDH Scissors is also proud to be immigrant-, female-, and family-owned!
To make your shopping this year easier we have some amazing bundles we have put together for you:
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Hello! Joy here AKA @joy.margot on Instagram. If you follow me over there or if you read my last blog post for Sew Me Sunshine, you may have seen that sewing had taken a bit of a back seat for me in recent years. Amazingly, sewing my Liberty Archer Button Up totally brought back my sew-jo and I’ve sewn three shirts since! They’re an absolute staple in my wardrobe as they keep me covered but not too hot in the summer, and they’re great for layering in autumn and winter.
While I have quite a few long and mid-length sleeved shirts, my wardrobe was severely lacking short-sleeved shirts and I’ve been on a mission to change that this year. First up, I sewed a Tobias Konrath Laguna shirt in Sew Me Sunshine’s washed white linen and I still have a little linen left over for some matching shorts.
Next, I sewed a hack of the Fabrics Store Paola Jacket in Sew Me Sunshine’s marled rust stripe cotton linen. I’ve made a couple of shirt hacks from this pattern now and it’s such a good base to work from. I made quite a few changes to the original pattern to get the look I wanted and borrowed features from the Tobias Konrath Laguna shirt, the Helen’s Closet Gilbert Top and the Grainline Studio Archer Button Up:
Now that I see it written down, it’s a lot and I’m sure some are people are wondering “why not just use another pattern?” which is a totally valid point! I’ve made the Gilbert Top in the past but it didn’t quite work for me and I much preferred the fit of this hacked pattern.
If you want to add a back yoke to a shirt pattern, all you need to do is split your back pattern piece horizontally across the back - I referred to another pattern to get an idea of how tall the yoke should be - then add seam allowance to both pieces at the cut line. I then followed the Gilbert Top instructions for the burrito method with a front-faced camp collar shirt.
I fell hard for the new Liberty fabrics at Sew Me Sunshine’s birthday party, and knew they’d be perfect for creating another short-sleeved shirt. I had to enlist the help of Yvette and Doug from Stash Hub to help me choose, and eventually we settled on Salter’s Forest Piccadilly Cotton Poplin. As you may know if you follow me on Instagram, I am a BIG fan of autumn and Halloween. As soon as September and October roll around, I wanna get all dressed up in my cosy autumn clothes but alas, it’s usually still too warm. I figured a short-sleeved shirt in an autumnal print would be the perfect solution: Cool enough to wear if it’s still 25°C out, but perfect for layering with my snuggly knits as it gets cooler. I just adore the playful animal illustrations tucked amongst the trees and flowers and I love that its inspired by Artemis, the ancient Roman goddess of the wild.
I wanted to create something similar to my rust stripe Paola hack, but with a few minor tweaks:
In my infinite wisdom, I decided to pattern match both the front placket and the back yoke. Thankfully, the pattern repeat is quite small so I didn’t need much additional fabric to factor this in. I didn’t bother with my last Liberty shirt because it had a separate placket piece and I couldn’t face matching three pieces, but it’s pretty straightforward with a faced shirt front: You just need to match the centre point of the shirt i.e. the line where your buttons and buttonholes go. The line of piping on the back also helps conceal a slightly imperfect match across the yoke. Life hack!
This was my first time using Liberty’s Piccadilly cotton poplin and needless to say, it was an absolute delight to sew and press. It’s slightly thicker than Tana Lawn™ but still has a lovely smooth texture and none of that crunchy starchiness you get with cheaper poplins. I managed to get nice crisp points on my collar with it thanks to this tip from @gingerthreadgrl. You’re welcome.
I picked up these stunning copper foil buttons from the Ethel & Joan pop up at Sew Me Sunshine’s birthday party. They go *SO* perfectly with the fabric that they actually blend in a little too well but I love how they sparkle where the lights catches them. I loved this design so much that I actually bought them in two different sizes so keep your eyes peeled for my next project!
I’m so happy with how this Paola shirt hack turned out and I know I’m going to get so much wear out of it over the next few months. I have a few autumnal-colour knits and jackets and it just pairs so wonderfully with all of them! Here is it paired with my True Bias Marlo Sweater in Meet Milk Coda Interlock. I love making shirts with camp collars as they seem to come together very quickly compared to shirts with collar stands. I’m usually a pretty slow sewist and most projects take me multiple weekends, but I managed to get this shirt sewn in one weekend which felt like a real achievement!
You can find all of Liberty Fabrics here.
Find Joy on her instagram @joy.margot
*Joy was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher*
Like linen flax ramie is seen as a sustainable fibre because the nettle plant has a long fibre producing life span of up to 20 years and can be harvested up to 6 times a year. Ramie is known to resist bacteria, mould, UV rays, rot and insect attacks which means that chemicals are not required for it to grow. 100% ramie fabrics like 100% linen fabrics are biodegradable and recyclable.
Due to both fabrics having extremely similar properties and thus visually appearing the same it is very difficult to distinguish the two. Ramie can be woven finer than linen so you will not find 100% linen fabrics that are under 3oz in weight (i.e. linen voile). Ramie also tends to have less natural slubs than linen, and it often has a more definite surface sheen than linen. Ramie does tend to be rougher to touch than linen and doesn't soften as much as linen does with washing. Both fabrics are deemed sustainable as they are made from naturally growing plants that do not require chemicals to grow.
Sewing projects for linen and ramie fabrics depend on the weight of the fabric, it is important to look at the fabric weight on each listing. For lighter weight linen or ramie fabrics they are perfect for sewing shirts and shirt dresses, whereas heavier weight linen or ramie fabrics they are ideal for sewing boiler suits, trousers, culottes, jumpsuits, blazers, overalls, skirts, shift tops / dresses and some structured dresses. When ramie or linen is blended with viscose then the fabric is less structured and has a more fluid drape making it perfect for floaty dresses, blouses and skirts. Whereas when ramie or linen is blended with cotton the fabric remains fairly structured.
L-R Top - Blanca Flight Suit by Closet Core Patterns, Zadie Jumpsuit by Paper Theory, Hughes Dress by Friday Pattern Company.
L-R Bottom - Colibri Overalls by I AM Patterns, Ellis + Hattie Dress by Merchant and Mills, Portobello Trousers by Nina Lee.
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If you have any questions or want to learn more, you can contact Team Sunshine at teamsunshine@sewmesunshine.co.uk
You can find all of our corduroy and needlecord fabrics on our website.
Our friends Sew Over It created the Big Sew Off which is a 24 hour sewathon to raise money for the charity Mind. So many sewing companies and sewing personalities are getting involved, check out all the people involved here.
The sewathon will be raising money for Mind. Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. This is a charity close to a lot of our hearts. A lot of us in the sewing community have turned to sewing over the years to help with our mental health, so it is really exciting that we can put our sewing skills to good use and give something back.
Everything that is being sewn is also being donated to a good cause. All the hubs across the UK are donating their makes to Give Your Best. Give Your Best is a social enterprise offering the first circular platform of its kind where people and brands donate clothes online, so refugee women and children can shop for free, with the agency and dignity they deserve.
I’d already made a little bralette from Paradise Pattern’s ‘Sommar Camisole’ and knew it fit well, so I chose it for the top. I wanted it to feel secure, and a little sporty. I chose Megan Nielsen’s ‘Cottesloe’ bikini for the bottoms (the version with the highest waistline). I’ve seen many versions of this bikini and it seems to fit everyone fairly well.
Sew Me Sunshine kindly sent me the swimwear fabric, along with a white swimwear lining, 8mm swimwear elastic and some Gutermann maraflex thread. I already had ballpoint needles (essential for sewing with stretch/knit fabrics).
The construction of the bikini went swimmingly (sorry for the pun). It really did, though. I thought I mind find it tricky to sew swimwear neatly, but the main fabric was robust and didn’t slip around on my machine. I finished the side seams and internal sections with my overlocker, but you could also do this with a zig-zag stitch on a regular sewing machine. I hadn’t sewn with maraflex thread before, but it worked like a dream. I used it as my top and bobbin thread throughout all the topstitching, and it finished so neatly.
The lining was a little thinner and more slippery (and I think had a different stretch to the outer fabric), but as long as I pinned and went slow, it was fine.
I used the swimwear elastic around the thighs of the bikini bottoms, and used a thicker elastic for the waistband and under-bust.
I’m so pleased with how this bikini worked out. I’ve tested it several times and it’s held up very well. I wondered if the white might be slightly see-through, but I’m assured it isn’t! I think lining it really helps here. I’d definitely recommend this fabric, and generally having a go at making your own swimwear. Thanks to Harriet at Sew Me Sunshine for giving me the opportunity to try this idea out!
Lorna x
@thread.and.yarn
You can find all of our swimwear and econyl swimwear fabrics here, our swimwear elastic here, maraflex thread here, swimwear lining here & ballpoint needles here.
*Lorna was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher*
The Sew Me Sunshine striped lyocell is flowy, buttery soft and on the delicate side which makes it lovely to wear in the heat. It’s breathable and doesn’t crease much which was useful when packing my holiday suitcase. It pressed really well and didn’t slip and slide around when I was sewing it up.
I used a lightweight woven interfacing for the collar, front facings and cuffs, which I think is in keeping with the weight of the fabric and helps to give structure to the parts of the garment that need it.
I knew I wanted to make an array of oversized shirts to add to my handmade wardrobe and starting with a striped viscose one turned out to be the perfect choice. It's a surprisingly versatile addition to my wardrobe and has worked wonderfully paired with florals, solids in contrasting colours, over swimsuits, over jersey shorts, tied at the waist for a different style and so on.
I especially love it here, worn with my Named Patterns Ninni Culottes also in Sew Me Sunshine fabric, which was a stunning deadstock viscose crepe from last year.
Daughter Judy Genra shirt sewing pattern was really enjoyable to make, it had clear instructions, classic design details and was a straightforward garment to sew. I cannot wait to make it again, and I’m thinking it would be gorgeous in 100% linen in white, green, red or pink.
I’m incredibly pleased with how this shirt turned out (thank you Sew Me Sunshine)! Now I just have the extremely arduous job of choosing the fabric for the next one! ;)
You can find our striped lyocell fabrics here, and all of our lyocell and tencel fabrics can be found here.
*Jenny was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher*
Textile / garment factories and fashion designers normally have a large amount of left over fabric. This left over fabric is often taken to landfill, incinerated or destined to be kept in storage. These fabrics may be left over because they were printed on the wrong substrate (type of fabric), they were dyed the wrong colour, the print scale is inaccurate, or it is just surplus fabric that is not being used because the designer has finished their collection.
At Sew Me Sunshine we often purchase fabric directly from fashion brands who have surplus fabric left over after sampling or at the end of their collections. We are really honoured to be able to work with other small businesses.
We also purchase deadstock fabrics not directly from the fashion brands. Our higher end ex-designer fabrics are sourced directly from the warehouses and mills in Italy and France.
No single fabric can be deemed sustainable, the fashion industry alone contributes to approximately 10% of global carbon emissions, therefore we believe it is important that we are transparent about our fabric sourcing practices.
We do not believe sourcing deadstock fabric is the perfect answer, however, it does enable us to cut back on purchasing virgin fabric - using already produced polyester fabric is still more sustainable than creating new fabrics even when these fabrics have eco-credentials.
It also enables us to provide our customers with high quality unique fabric at a lower price point which makes our business more accessible, which is something we are incredibly passionate about.
In an ideal world there would not be any surplus fabric produced, however, until this practice improves we will continue to source deadstock fabric directly from fashion brands and mills so that these gorgeous fabrics can fulfil their destiny and be sewn into incredible garments.
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You can find all our deadstock fabrics here
If you have any questions then please email us at teamsunshine@sewmesunshine.co.uk
If you are a fashion brand looking to sell your surplus fabric then please get in touch at harriet@sewmsunshine.co.uk
]]>We were excited to watch this week's Great British Sewing Bee episode. It was re-use and recycle week. We have been inspired by the bee and have been getting creative with our remnant fabrics!
Remnants are our end of bolt pieces of fabric that remain after packing all your lovely orders (fabrics that we aren't able to sell are recycled using First Mile). They vary in size and so it's necessary to get creative when cutting out projects. They work well for patch-working different fabrics together, making smaller items, zero waste patterns, and linings! There's loads of ways to use them, so read on for some of our favourites...
Perfect patterns for remnants include any with interesting seam lines and smaller pieces. You can also create your own seam lines with cleverly placed pattern hacks, but have a look below for some ideas to get you started.
Atelier Brunette - Le Sac Banane
Paper Theory - Block Tee
Chalk and Notch - Marcel Dress
Friday Pattern Company - Elysian Bodysuit
Smaller items such as underwear, swimwear and cropped tops work really well with remnants - get experimenting with your layout on a remnant and you'll find you might be able to fit a whole tank top or pair of undies out of the leftovers of a project! Perfect for matching sets.
Tilly and the Buttons - Romy Tee
Friday Pattern Company - Square Neck Top
True Bias - Zoey Tank
I AM Patterns - Malo Skirt
Megan Nielsen - Cottesloe Swimsuit
Tilly and the Buttons x Evie La Lùve - Iris Knickers
Kate Eva Designs - Pisa Bow Bag
Pattern Fantastique - Sulis Hat
Zero waste patterns offer a great chance to do some creative pattern cutting. Zero waste patterns allow you to make the measurements directly onto the fabric, allowing you a chance to adjust the layout and lengths more easily according to the size of remnant you have. We are big fans of the new Zero Waste Patterns book by Birgitta Helmersson!
We are constantly adding to our remnants, and don't forget that these remnant pieces are reduced by at least 10%. So if you are feeling inspired after reading this blog post then head on over to our remnant page. Don't forget to tag us in your sunshine remnant makes on instagram and use the hashtag #SewingSunshine
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We decided that the pattern I would sew would be the Turia Dungarees by Pauline Alice Patterns. I was so kindly gifted the beautiful Petrol Stretch Cotton Needlecord to make the dungarees up. The colour of the needlecord is a deep petrol which is a colour I find works well with my colouring. I wanted to use a fabric with structure and stretch for these dungarees, so they would have the correct weight for the project and have added stretch for comfort and fit.
Looking at the measurements for the pattern and my measurements I decided to make a Size 40 at the waist grading to a 42 at the hips. Although I was a little distracted when I cut out the pattern and accidentally cut a size smaller, so a 38 at the waist grading to a 40 at the hips. I decided to go with my mistake but to make the seam allowance smaller to accommodate my mishap! So when I was sewing I used a 1cm SA instead of a 1.5cm SA and this worked well. I also cut out the length for the shorts to the length of the size 48. My measurements for reference are currently B35 W31 H40 and my petite height at 5ft 0.5”.
Before cutting out the back pocket pieces I decided to photo copy and enlarge the pocket pattern piece by 15%, as I had seen on a tutorial that the back pocket pieces come up very small, I’m so glad that I made this adjustment.
The Petrol Stretch Needlecord was a delight to cut out, it behaved like a dream and I was careful to ensure that I was considering the nap of the fabric when cutting out the pattern pieces. When sewing up the dungarees I used an 80/12 Standard needle and this worked well with the weight of the fabric.
I found the construction of the dungarees really enjoyable, there were lots of stages where top stitching was involved and I found this very satisfying and relatively easy with the matching Gutermann thread that Sew Me Sunshine kindly provided along with the material.
The pattern doesn’t mention when to overlock or when to finish the seam allowances, so I used my sewing knowledge to work out the best times to do this. As I had reduced the width of the seam allowance I couldn’t do the flat felled seams as instructed so I overlocked the seam allowances together, pressed them to one side and topstitched as if I was doing a flat felled seam.
When it came to turning the straps right sides out I used a Prym loop turner which was really easy to use and made turning the straps a super speedy and easy task, I would highly recommend getting a set of these.
I had heard on a podcast that when pressing anything with a pile you could use a scrap of the same fabric to use as a pressing cloth. I used this method when I was pressing the gorgeous needlecord so I didn’t squash the pile of the fabric and it worked a treat.
The pattern suggested that once the shorts are constructed that you baste the side seams together and then you have a quick try on for fit and decide where to sew for the final seam. The fit was great as it was so I sewed the side seams and then went on to put the zip in on the left side. I used an Antique Brass trouser zip that I bought from Jaycotts and I love how the colour looks with the Petrol Needlecord. I was very kindly gifted a set of silver Prym buckles from Sew Me Sunshine but I decided that I like the antique brass colour more so I bought a set of buckles to match the zip. I am very grateful for the silver buckles that I was gifted and I’m sure I’ll use them on another lovely project soon.
The zip was easy to install and I used the method of basting the side seam shut and then pinning and top stitching the zip in. Then once the zip was attached I opened up the basted side seam and topstiched close to the zip to complete the zip insertion.
I had just enough thread to complete the project, there was literally 30cm left from a 100m spool of thread!
I’ve really enjoyed wearing these short dungarees so far with a striped Tilly and the Buttons Agnes top but I can see these being great in the Spring, Autunm and Winter with various tops, cardigans and tights depending on the weather. I think these dungarees would also be fantastic in some of the printed fabulous denims that Sew Me Sunshine currently stock and be great for the Summer too.
I would like to say a humungous thank you to all of the wonderful team at Sew Me Sunshine and especially to Harriet for asking me to do this guest blog post, it has been such an honour and a little dream come true for a sewist like me. It has been a joy to work with their wonderful fabric and make a fabulous pair of dungarees that I will wear and love for a very long time to come.
Thank you and lots of love from,
Katherine @sewvertonmakery
*Katherine was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher*
I was thrilled when Harriet offered to send me one of Sew Me Sunshine’s new Liberty fabrics, and I spent ages poring over the gorgeous options available. I was torn between Ciara and Cooper Dance Tana Lawn™, but as I wear mostly autumnal tones with a little bit of blue thrown in, I knew that the Ciara would pair perfectly with my wardrobe. Sew Me Sunshine have since added even more stunning Liberty prints to their range, and I’m definitely tempted by Betsy Boo. I’ve only used it a couple of times and sadly neither of those makes are still in my wardrobe, but Tana Lawn™ is probably my all-time favourite fabric to sew with. It’s wonderfully stable to cut and sew, but still feels soft against the skin and has an unmatched fluidity compared to other cotton lawns and poplins.
I knew I wanted to make something that I’d wear again and again, and I’m definitely more of a jeans-and-shirt girl these days. I originally planned to make the Tilly and the Buttons Marnie blouse (fits UK size 6-34) but I wasn’t totally sure that shape was “me” and I didn’t want such a stunning fabric languishing in my wardrobe. (Sidebar: I can confirm that this fabric looks absolutely stunning as a Marnie, as modelled here by @constantmaker!) I opted for the Grainline Studio Archer Button-Up* (see size deets below) as I knew I’d get a tonne of wear out of a classic shirt. I’ve definitely veered towards speedier, simpler makes of late, and it felt so good to finally sew a pattern that had been in my stash for about four years! (*The paper Archer pattern at Sew Me Sunshine fits UK size 4-22 but it’s been extended to fit up to UK size 36)
Against my better judgement, I decided not to toile as I knew the boxy shape would be quite forgiving and I was eager to crack on, not having sewn anything since September 2022. I always have to make a narrow shoulder adjustment, so I compared the pattern pieces to a RTW shirt in a similar style and calculated that I’d need to narrow them by 2.5cm. My go-to narrow shoulder adjustment method is the one in the By Hand London Bodice Fitting Companion, but I didn’t want to start messing around with the neckline and collar, so I used this method from Itch to Stitch instead. As the Archer shirt has a yoke, I washi taped the yoke and back pieces together along the seam lines and treated them as one pattern piece. After I made my adjustment, I un-taped them and trued the lines. I measured the length of the armhole before and after the adjustment to check it remained the same, which thankfully it did! With my pattern pieces ready, it was time to begin sewing…
I won’t pretend this came together quickly because it absolutely didn’t, and there’s zero shame in that. Thanks to seemingly unending bouts of ill health, fatigue and a hectic work schedule, it took 14 weeks from start to finish. It became something of a standing joke with my partner that I’d answer “finishing my Archer shirt” every time he asked what my weekend plans were! It had been a long time since I’d sewn an unfamiliar pattern and I made so many mistakes! Thankfully, Tana Lawn™ can withstand a fair amount of unpicking. I referred to the Archer Sew Along many a time and highly recommend it if you’re new to shirt sewing or like me, just incredibly rusty! Thankfully, most of my mistakes could be fixed or didn’t *really* matter. I’m looking at you, inverted box pleat on the back…
Last but not least, it was time for buttons and buttonholes, and I couldn’t believe how well these Roswell buttons by Pigeon Wishes matched the fabric! I think buttons can really make or break a DIY garment and these added the perfect luxe finishing touch. This was actually the first time I’d used Pigeon Wishes buttons but it definitely won’t be the last.
Overall, I’m incredibly happy with how my Liberty Archer Button Up turned out and so proud to have finally sewn a pattern that I unnecessarily deemed “too difficult” for so many years. This is your sign to crack open that pattern you think is above your skillset, or cut into that fancy fabric you’ve been saving until you’re a “good enough” sewist. Life is short, and you deserve wonderful things!
There’s definitely a few things I’d change if I made the pattern again, such as shortening the sleeves and adding a little more width at the hips but I really lucked out there with my risky toile-skipping! This project has definitely rekindled my sew-jo and I’m now eagerly planning a summer capsule wardrobe. My Liberty Archer is going to look so cute with the sleeves rolled up, tucked into high waisted linen shorts! But for now, I’m pairing it with jeans and my plentiful brown knits and jackets!
If you’d like to see more of my sewing projects as well as my bullet journal, clumsy artwork, reading lists and my cat Juniper, you can follow me on Instagram.
*Joy was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher*
What I wasn’t expecting was for the sewing bug to hit SO HARD, and after dabbling in a bit of recreational skirt and shirt making, I decided it was time to move on to some trousers, having mastered (sort of) the I AM Patterns Merlin coat. I was delighted when the team at Sew Me Sunshine asked if I’d write them something about my efforts.
As always, I was overwhelmed by choice when it came to picking something from the beautiful fabrics SMS stocked, and as is often the case, I initially chose something wildly inappropriate for my pattern of choice, Bella Loves Patterns Billy Trousers.
As I have often found with SMS, the team were on hand to make some alternative fabric suggestions. You’ll not be wanting a jumbo cord for these, they said, how about a viscose or tencel twill? I’m still learning, and I was happy for the advice. What they also suggested was a fun printed cotton lawn for the pocket linings, whereas previously, I’d only have considered some sort of satin or OBVIOUS lining.
So I ended up with this beautiful rich brown, soft stretch tencel twill from meetMILK, and the Liberty Emma Louise Tana Lawn, which the team suggested would make for an absolutely banging colourway with this brown, and they were right. It’s not always easy to gauge exactly how two fabrics will sit together when you’re buying online, and I really appreciate the advice the team take the time to give. The twill has a slight crosswise stretch, which is great for parking your bum in a pair of trousers, and a really nice drape which works well with the wide-leg fit that I’d chosen.
I can’t lie: I was daunted by the prospect of uniting two legs in holy matrimony, given my limited experience, and especially the zip, but the fabric was a dream to work with. It’s lovely and soft, but not too slippery to handle, and drapey whilst feeling sturdy enough to hold the shape of the trousers. It also washes really well, which was definitely needed after my many chalk markings. I personally love a floral, and can you get a better floral than a Liberty print? Sometimes the Liberty
fabrics can feel a bit pricey, but what a great idea to inject a little pop of colour and luxury into a regular item, like these trousers? I love the way the print looks on bias binding around the waistband, and in the seat of the trousers as well, which was less of a faff than I’d anticipated, and has a beautiful aesthetic.
I didn’t make a toile, because I’m a maverick like that, but if you’re going to make this pattern, definitely have a good look at the finished measurements. The trousers do come up a little on the large side given the wide fit, and I nearly opted for a size up, which would have drowned me.
Overall, I’m really chuffed with the outcome, and I’m looking forward to some slightly warmer weather to get some wear-time in. Now, I just need to think about what to do with that jumbo cord…
Find me @JennOff on Instagram !
*Jen was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher*
Ribbed Knit has a distinctive ridged pattern that runs vertically along the fabric. They are ideal for making yourself a cardigan.
Wide Ribbed Cotton Jersey
True Knit Jersey fabric looks like traditional knitting, and it has prominent stitches. These are perfect for sewing yourself a cardigan or loose fitted jumper.
Viscose Soft Knit in Melange Blue
Yarn Dyed Jersey fabric is when the yarn has been dyed before weaving. For example, if it is a yarn dyed stripe jersey the stripe design hasn't been printed onto the knit fabric it has been woven in due to the yarn threads being dyed to the specific colour required to form the pattern.
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This dress is designed for medium to heavy weight fabrics like corduroy, denim, twill. I had made a black one before out of light denim, so this time I chose to use Robert Kaufman’s off-white ventana cotton twill. For the sleeve and neck bindings and the pocket linings, I used a little piece of cotton off-white and black cotton I had in my remnant box.
I loved this twill the minute I opened the parcel from Sew Me Sunshine. The quality was amazing, and this twill had exactly the kind of structure I was looking for. It was really stable to cut, easy to press and nice to sew. After a little bit of needle and thread testing, I decided to use 90/14 denim needles and Gutermann cotton thread, which was absolutely perfect for all the top stitching I had to do.
Sew Me Sunshine also sent me nickel D rings from the Merchant & Mills to finish the belt, which I was so happy about : quality haberdashery is a big part in having a good looking and durable garment.
About this pattern, this is the Cleo Dress, from the Fibre Mood number 21. As I said, this was my second time using it, and I didn’t want the two dresses to look too similar. This is why this time I decided to merge the top and skirt pieces together to get rid of the waist seam, and change the back from a button placket to an invisible zipper.
This dress took way longer to finish than what I was expecting, as a lot of its details were very time consuming : the invisible zipper, topstitching, bias binding finish for the neckline and sleeve… But at the end of the day, it was definitely worth it, and I am so proud of how this dress came out !
This really inspired me in making other garments out of this twill ; I imagine it would make a La Veste by Atelier Brunette or Modern Worker Trousers by Modern Sewing. I am very grateful to the Sew Me Sunshine team for sending me this lovely fabric and giving me the opportunity to write this blog post.
Find me @clematcha on Instagram !
*Clementine was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher *
The Top
This cotton is a lovely medium weight, with a bit of body whilst not being super stiff. Therefore I knew it would work well with a fitted bodice that needed to hold its shape, and some statement sleeves. Enter The Stitch Witch patterns basque top. I’ve made this top before so had already put in the work to toile it to perfection in a similar weight fabric so I knew there would be no pesky fit issues to sort out. I made a few adjustments to the pattern style to make it more suitable for what I wanted:
The top turned out lovely, and I found some pretty green and gold buttons in my stash that contrasted nicely with the pink.
The Skirt
For the skirt I again wanted something that I’d made before as, well you know how it is, sometimes you just want something easy! For this I chose the skirt section of the Sew Over It Giselle dress. I also made a couple of small adjustments to this to make it a skirt pattern:
My favourite thing about this project was how comfortable each piece is to wear. It really encourages me to reach for them. And it’s such a bonus that they are so easy to style as well. I’d definitely look out for other prints by Paper Raven Co again. Don’t sleep on sewing with cotton, it’s not just for beginners!
*Alice-May was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher *
We're passionate about colourful fabric at Sew Me Sunshine. We have put together this blog post to give you dopamine dressing inspiration.
]]>Research studies have found that wearing clothes with a symbolic meaning increases the wearers perceived confidence, and further research has shown that the clothing we wear can directly impact on how we think. So what exactly is dopamine dressing? Well, it is actively choosing to wear clothes that make you feel good, part-fashion and part-mindfulness! Some feel that dopamine dressing is linked directly to wearing brightly coloured clothes, and that is because it is thought that wearing brightly coloured garments can improve your mood. Colour psychologist Karen Haller explains to Who What Wear that "Colour is a great way to lift our spirits and boost our moods in an instant. Our confidence can be boosted when we wear colours that we love and feel good in".
The fashion industry has embraced 'dopamine dressing' and as a result we have seen a lot of brightly coloured clothing from designer brands, and now high street stores are full of colour.
Whether you prefer prints or plain fabrics we have you covered. Our website is full of bright colourful fabrics if you want to practice some dopamine dressing. These brightly coloured fabrics are available in a variety of fabric types, so if you prefer to wear a pair of comfy joggers we have lots of bright sweatshirtings available, or if you love to wear floaty dresses then we also have lots of colourful cottons and viscose fabrics in stock!
From L to R: Brushstroke Floral Viscose, Rainbow Jersey, Liberty Hattie Park Tana Lawn, Purple & Orange Blooms Viscose, Rainbow Checkerboard Fleece, Hot Pink Gingham, Hot Pink Cotton Silk, Mint Sweatshirting, Punch Mammoth Flannel
Did you know that you can filter our fabrics by colour? It is so easy to do, just use the filter section. So if you have a colour that makes you feel good then you will be able to see all fabrics we have in stock that is available in your favourite colour.
We hope this has given you the inspiration you needed to sew yourself some brightly coloured clothes!
(Images of silk fabrics at Sew Me Sunshine)
What does a day look like for you at Sew Me Sunshine?
I am the office manager at Sunshine HQ, so I get in, open up, and catch up with everyone and what they've been up to. I take all the photographs of fabric and make sure the colours and patterns are as close a match as possible (as best as I can). From here, I create listings and social media posts and generally get people jazzed about sewing at home!
What got you into sewing?
When I was 13, we didn't have a school uniform but we did have a dress code and part of that was wearing a long, plain skirt. I started making my own and then started a mini business making them for other people at school. My mum has always made lots of things, so I grew up around a lot of making and creating and she taught me to sew.
Celia has THE best collection of vintage patterns we've ever seen.
What's your best piece of advice for other sewists out there?
Don't let the fabric suggestions on a sewing pattern get in the way of your sewing dreams. I always say you can make pretty much anything out of anything.
What's your favourite things to do when you're not sewing?
Going on adventures with my dog, Bert, going to the theatre, cooking for my pals.
Where do you get inspiration from for your projects?
I get a lot of inspiration from fancy high end fashion, instagram posts, and my pals. I also have an enormous number of vintage patterns and I get a lot of inspiration from them. Mostly though, I have a made idea and then work out how to make it a thing. I rarely plan anything.
What's on your list of things to make?
I have about a million things on my "to make" list, but currently I want to make a hooded quilted jacket, a waistcoat, a waterproof boilersuit, and a long coat. Mainly things to keep me warm because I am always cold.
Some of Celia's pattern plans (Left clockwise) : Merchant and Mills September coat; New Craft House Everyday waistcoat; Grainline Studio Tamarack jacket; and the Nina Lee Bakerloo blouse and dress.
Celia's most recent make was an excellent pair of Modern Sewing Co. Worker trousers in our ginger ventana twill - they look great! She's also planning a new Bakerloo blouse - a favourite here in Sunshine HQ.
Pictured here : Robert Kaufman Ventana Twill - Ginger; Modern Sewing Co. Worker trousers; Green Khaki Pumpkin organic cotton by Mind the Maker and the Bakerloo blouse by Nina Lee Patterns.
💫 Thank you so much to Celia for answering all of my questions and being such an inspiration! 💫
]]>Activewear fabrics are technical materials that help to keep you comfortable during exercise. Activewear fabrics tend to have a good amount of four way stretch and a good recovery, when sewing swimwear or leggings you need a fabric with a 4 way stretch with at least a 60% stretch.
Activewear fabrics are most commonly made from nylon with added spandex. Nylon is derived from petroleum. It is smooth, durable, moisture wicking and fast drying. These fabrics can also be used to sew your own swimwear, they hold their colour and are resistant to chlorine. Nylon is made from non-renewable resources and is made in an environmentally unfriendly way.
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If you have any questions or want to learn more, you can contact Team Sunshine at teamsunshine@sewmesunshine.co.uk
You can find all of our activewear and swimwear fabrics on our website.
Viscose (also known as rayon) is neither a natural fabric or a synthetic fabric. It is somewhere in between because it is a regenerated cellulose fibre usually manufactured from wood pulp which has been chemically treated.
Characteristics of viscose
Pros:
Cons:
Viscose fabrics vary depending on how it has been woven.
Flat Woven Viscose - this type of viscose looks and feels similar to cotton lawn or cotton voile. It is often referred to as viscose lawn or viscose challis. It has a fluid drape, soft to touch and lightweight. Depending on its background colour and weight its opacity can vary. It is a delicate fabric and it is not very stable. It is advisable to use a microtex sewing machine needle and use fine pins. It is perfect for sewing dresses and blouses that require fabric with drape.
Viscose Satin - this viscose has been woven using a satin weave, which results in a fabric with a tightly woven look, luxurious silk like texture, and the fabric often has a slight sheen. It is perfect for sewing yourself a slip dress, bias cut skirt or a blouse.
Viscose Crepe - this type of viscose has been woven using a crepe weave which results in a classic crepe like texture (crinkled surface). Viscose crepe fabrics vary in weight and opacity. Viscose crepe fabrics are generally medium in weight and perfect for sewing yourself wide leg trousers and dresses.
Viscose Georgette - this type of viscose is a type of viscose crepe. It has a classic crepe like texture and is often lightweight and sheer. It is most suited for sewing yourself a loose fitted blouse.
Viscose Jacquard / Viscose Dobby - this type of fabric features an intricate pattern woven into the warp rather than printed on the surface of the fabric. These fabrics vary in weight and opacity. Viscose dobby is a woven fabric produced on a dobby loom resulting in a small geometric pattern.
Viscose Twill - this type of viscose has been woven using a twill weave which results in a diagonal ridge pattern on the fabric. This type of fabric is often heavier in weight compared to a viscose challis/lawn, less prone to creasing, and ideal for wearing in the cooler months. It is normally opaque, and has a good drape. It is perfect for sewing yourself wide leg trousers, shirts, dresses and lots more.
Viscose Linen - viscose blends well with other fibres including linen. This blend is perfect for the warmer months because it benefits from the breathability from the linen content but it still has a good drape due to the viscose content. This type of fabric varies in weight, drape and opacity based on the ratio of linen to viscose in the fabric.
Viscose Jersey / Bamboo Jersey - this is a type of knit fabric. It results in a soft drapey knit that is ideal for sewing yourself jersey wrap dresses, drapey cardigans and jersey tops that require drape. Bamboo jersey fabrics are viscose jersey fabrics but they are made using bamboo.
Viscose Knit - this is a type of knit jersey fabric, it has a true knit look and texture. It is often soft to touch and has a good drape. It is perfect for sewing drapey cardigans and loose fitted jumpers.
Viscose Ponte Di Roma - this type of ponte di roma contains viscose fibres and is often blended with polyester and elastane. Double knit fabric is good for those new to sewing with knit fabrics because it is more sturdy. It is essentially two layers of fabric knitted together with two sets of needles. Interlock knit fabric is a type of double knit fabric that has a smooth surface on each side. Ponte di roma is a type of interlock jersey, it is thick and has a slight horizontal ribbed appearance to it. It is perfect for sewing yourself trousers that require a knit fabric, structured cardigans and tops.
Viscose is often cited as sustainable because it is made from renewable plants. However, chemicals are required to produce viscose which results in toxic chemicals being released into the air and waterways surrounding the factories. Additionally, concerns have been raised that the production of viscose is contributing to the rapid depletion of the world's forests. Another issue often raised is that due to the growing fast fashion industry viscose is often manufactured cheaply which can have a negative impact on factory workers and the environment. According to The Made-By Environmental Benchmark for Fibres which compares the environmental impact of the most common used fibres in the garment fashion industry classifies viscose and bamboo viscose as a class E (the classes range from A-E - more sustainable to least sustainable).
Are there better viscose options?
Viscose may contain LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibres, these fibres are derived from certified renewable wood sources using an eco-responsible production process by meeting high environmental standards. This type of viscose production generates up to 50% lower emissions and water impact compared to generic viscose production. Another benefit is supply chain transparency.
Lyocell is a form of rayon that contains cellulose fibres that are made from wood pulp that’s harvested typically from Eucalyptus, Oak and Birch trees. Unlike viscose Lyocell is derived from wood pulp that is dissolved using an organic solvent (Amine Oxide). The solvent and water used in the production process can be reused. TENCEL™ is actually a brand name of lyocell. For a fabric to be called "tencel" it must contain at least 30% branded TENCEL™ lyocell fibres produced by the Austrian company Lenzing AG. TENCEL™ fibres are derived from sustainable wood sources and the production is known to be environmentally responsible due to Lenzing's innovative closed loop production process where water is recycled and solvents are reused during the solvent-spinning process.
At Sew Me Sunshine we stock a lot of deadstock fabrics (ex designer fabrics), these are often made out of viscose fibres. Deadstock fabric is left over fabric from textile and garment factories. This left over fabric is often taken to landfill or disposed of in other ways. These fabrics may be left over because they were printed on the wrong substrate (type of fabric), they were dyed the wrong colour, the print scale is inaccurate, or it is just surplus fabric that is not being used. Although it is good that this fabric can be used by the sewing community, it would be more environmentally friendly if the fabric was not overproduced in the first place.
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You can find all of our woven viscose fabrics, jersey viscose fabrics, viscose fabrics containing LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibres, fabrics containing TENCEL™ lyocell fibres and our range of deadstock fabrics on our website.
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Velvet is a woven fabric with a short dense pile which gives it a luxurious soft feel. Velvets have a good amount of drape. Velvet does not have a natural stretch but can have elastane woven into the fabric to give it some stretch whereas velour is a plush knit fabric that has a natural stretch.
If you have any questions or want to learn more, you can contact Team Sunshine at teamsunshine@sewmesunshine.co.uk
You can find all of our velvet and velour fabrics on our website.
Hiya, I’m elle aka @elleandthestitches and I am so incredibly excited to talk to you today about my latest make, this Lilac Lennox Boiler Suit. In my opinion, the boiler suit is a garment like no other, I think it is pure chic, casual comfiness. It is the cool aunt of the ‘shirt and jeans combo’ and I am even more obsessed with it than I thought I would be when conceiving the idea.
When Sew Me Sunshine offered to partner with me on making this garment, I was over the moon as they always have the most gorgeous and brightly coloured fabrics, which is definitely my jam. I was torn between the Hot Pink Twill and this Lilac Twill, but I am so glad I went with the lilac as it is such a beautiful colour and goes so well with the rest of my wardrobe. I ended up finishing this garment the night before my trip to Vienna which meant I could have a festive photoshoot in one of Vienna’s Christmas Markets! This boiler suit is perfect for layering, so I wore some thermal leggings and a handmade self drafted roll neck underneath. I apologise for those of you who feel queasy at the sight of an unironed garment, but I only had hand luggage and there was no iron in my airbnb!!
So, more about this twill - It is a medium weight fabric which was perfect for this pattern as it had a nice structure for the collar and the fly zip but wasn’t too heavy that I was restricted. I actually made my wearable toile out of a heavy weight cotton canvas and while I do like the very boxy menswear type feel to it, it wasn’t the most practical as it felt quite heavy and was almost crunchy when I sat down- if that makes sense!! This lilac twill was lovely to sew with and pressed really nicely. It also wasn’t too thick, so I had no broken needles and there wasn’t an issue when I was sewing multiple layers like when attaching my waistband pieces, which is always a bonus!
With regards to the pattern, the Lennox Boiler Suit is from Homer and Howells and I made a size 12 with variation B, the elastic waist back. I also took a total of 4 inches of length out of the trousers but kept the bodice the same. I took about 3 inches of length out of the sleeves.
I also ended up using a fun cotton I had in my remnant box for the pocket lining, which is this ‘boobs design’ and I am totally obsessed. Putting my hand in my pocket has never made me smile so much before!
I had actually ordered some sparkly lilac buttons to go with this but sadly they didn’t arrive in time, so I had to use some blue buttons I had in my stash. I am now thinking that I should leave them on as actually they give a bit more depth to the outfit? I think the blue really pops but also fits in with the colour pallet.
All in all, I am so pleased with this make and cannot wait to wear it all year round! Thank you Sew Me Sunshine.
*Elle was provided the fabric of her choice free of charge for her blog post & also provided with a £50 voucher *