Patchwork and Quilting

Take Your Sewing to the Next Level

June 11, 2019 By Gaynor Marshall

Sewing Hints & Tips: Fun facts, sewing hacks and tricks of the trade

I’m so excited to share this news with you, I’ve written a book all about sewing hints and tips that I have gathered over a lifetime of sewing! How cool is that?

It’s a little reference guide that I hope you will find extremely useful. It’s full of shortcuts and helpful suggestions.

All of the sewing hints & tips in this ebook are little nuggets of useful information that I have been gathering, subconsciously over my many years of sewing. Not all of them are my own, but all have been invaluable to me and have made my sewing journey easier.

Why did I write it?

I’m not a natural storyteller and I didn’t think I had anything useful to say. However, when I began sharing some of these hints and tips over on instagram as #TuesdaysTip, the reaction was amazing. People were really interested.

I was happy that my little tips were having such a big impact. Lots of people who had been sewing for years were learning practical things that they could use in their day to day sewing.

Friends began telling me to compile all of these tips.

I could see the sense in putting everything together in one place, I just had to come up with the concept.

As you see, I finally did!

sewing_ebook_meme — Sewing Hints & Tips ebook

Sewing is a life skill that we need to pass on to the next generation. It’s fun, productive and a lot cheaper than therapy!
Gaynor Marshall

More than a list

I knew I wanted my book to be more than just a list of hints and tips. With this in mind, I have included a number of sewing related facts, some of which are quite surprising!

It’s currently for sale here: https://payhip.com/gaynormarshalldesigns and you could even treat a friend.

If you decide to purchase a copy, I hope you enjoy it and would love to hear what you think about it.

Until next time…

Further sewing related reading can be found here:

Sharing The Knowledge

Sewing Tools: My Essential Top Ten

November 19, 2017 By Gaynor Marshall

There are a bewildering array of sewing tools available for today’s sewers. Today I want to share with you my choice of what I consider to be the essential sewing ones. I don’t mean the latest trendy gadgets, I mean the basic, tried and tested can’t do without tools of the trade.

Sewing Tools of the Trade

Sewing Machine

If you are considering purchasing a machine for the first time, consider carefully what you actually want to be able to sew. Chances are you won’t need an all singing all dancing quilting or embroidery machine if you are just starting out.

I would suggest that you don’t buy a very basic machine because you will find you outgrow it rather quickly.

For most soft furnishing or dress making projects a mid-range machine, either computerised or mechanical will be suitable.

Most sewing shops encourage you to try before you buy, to make sure you find the right machine for you, so pop along to your nearest showroom and have a play. Ask lots of questions and think about what you really want to use your machine for.

Scissors

You should try to purchase the best scissors you can afford. If you are left handed buy left handed scissors. Some scissors can be held in either hand, but left handed scissors have the blades the opposite way round making it easier to see what you are cutting.

The most important thing to remember about your fabric scissors, is only ever cut fabric with them. Cutting paper will blunt them and even if you sharpen them, they will never be the same again.

Pins

My preference are glass headed pins. Whatever type of sewing you do, you can be sure there will be lots of ironing involved and glass headed pins will not melt if you accidentally iron them.

Cutting Mat

These are a very useful addition to your craft room, as they protect your work surface from damage and are an absolute necessity if you use a rotary cutter.

They come in various sizes and are generally double sided; metric on one side and imperial on the other.

Originally they were all green but now they come in lots of lovely colours if you shop around.

Seam Ripper

This unassuming little tool is invaluable. It makes unpicking stitches a quick and easy task.

It can also be used to gently feed fabric underneath the presser foot and is extremely good for carefully opening buttonholes.

Rulers

Depending on the job in hand, there are a number of options.

For large projects like curtain making, a steel metre ruler is the best option, it gives a true straight line and its large size makes measuring long lengths easier.

Plastic rulers specifically designed for patchwork and quilting make measuring and cutting easy. I would suggest a 6″ square and a 6″ x 24″ oblong ruler as a starting point.

For measuring seams and hems little hem guides are an amazing invention.

Rotary Cutter

These come in a number of sizes and are ideal for patchwork and quilting.

They must always be used in conjunction with a cutting mat and with due care and attention. The blade should always be covered or retracted before the rotary cutter is put down, this helps to avoid accidentally cutting yourself on an open blade.

Always cut away from yourself and keep fingers out of the way. Only use patchwork and quilting rulers with a rotary cutter as ordinary rulers are not made to withstand their use.

Pincushion

You will definitely need a safe place to keep all of your pins. A pincushion is very practical because you can pick them easily whenever you need them.

Making your own is also a great use for your scrap fabric. They can be as fancy as you like, take a look on Pinterest for inspiration.

Thread

After spending time, energy and love creating your projects you want them to last. Using good quality thread means seams and finishes are more likely to stand up to everyday life.

Check out my post on choosing the correct thread for your project here.

Steam Iron

As I mentioned before, sewing actually involves a lot of ironing but this doesn’t mean you have to buy a really expensive iron. When I upgrade my everyday iron at home, I put the old one in my sewing room.

Although, you may not use much steam for quilting and patchwork, it’s always handy to have the option for other projects.

I hope you find this list useful. If you have any comments or questions I’d love to hear from you.

If someone you know would find this list helpful, please feel free to share.

Until next time…

Gaynor xx

Successful Sewing: My 5 Secrets

October 29, 2017 By Gaynor Marshall

The Secrets to Successful Sewing

I have 5 secrets to successful sewing and they will probably surprise you.

Sewing is a skill that we have to learn and not something we are born with.

Sometimes people refuse to learn anything new because they may feel vulnerable, but that’s how we grow. Staying inside our comfort zones is safe but it also means that we never experience anything new.

Read on to discover my 5 secrets to being successful, not just at sewing but anything creative.

1. Remember You Are Awesome.

Surprisingly, being successful at something creative, whether that’s sewing, baking, painting, knitting or something else, isn’t simply about having the latest, most expensive equipment or the largest studio in the most fashionable part of town. It’s much more fundamental than that.

It’s about YOU!

You are the one who has to put in the time and effort into your chosen field of study and practise. Again and again.

2. Practise Makes Perfect.

You don’t have to make complete projects every time you sew, just allow yourself time to play and experiment.

Make use of that basket of scraps, experiment with the stitches on your machine, treat yourself to a few new spools of thread. Check out my beginners guide to thread here.

I’ve seen so many people panic about creating something because they’ve never attempted a particular project before. However, if you are used to handling different fabrics and sewing notions, it becomes much easier to learn a new technique.

Successful sewing really is about building your confidence.

I’m not saying that by playing we’ll all suddenly become experts in everything, far from it. What I am saying is, if you familiarise yourself with the various aspects of your craft, you broaden your experience and expand your skillset.

For example, if you practise inserting zips, the next time you have to insert a zip into a cushion or a piece of clothing, you will at least have an understanding of the process. You will be familiar with it and it won’t be so scary. Use small scraps of fabric and keep them for future reference.

3. Handmade Not Homemade.

My mission is to encourage people to take up sewing and embrace all that that entails. To have a go, have fun and learn new skills. Join a sewing group in your area and make new friends.

Everyone makes mistakes, it’s part of the learning process. Your unpicker will become one of your best friends, believe me, I speak from experience! But, on the other hand, wobbly seams and uneven hems are not the end of the world and the next time you tackle them they will be much better.

However, I am not about cutting corners and making do.

It saddens me when I hear people say things like “life’s too short to hand close a seam”. Really? You would rather finish a beautiful bag by machine stitching the lining closed because it may take a couple of minutes to hand sew it with an invisible ladder stitch?

In my opinion, if you are going to learn how to do something, you should at least learn how to do the basics properly.

4. Learning Resources.

I mentioned joining a local sewing group, but there are lots of options for you to consider when starting your successful sewing journey.

There are plenty of free videos and tutorials around, but be selective. Not all of the contributors are qualified or experienced, so my advice is to take recommendations or at the very least follow someone reputable.

Workshops are a wonderful place to start and can be less expensive and less time consuming than committing to a course of lessons. Being with a tutor is sometimes a better way to learn new techniques, especially if you are a kinaesthetic or hands on type of learner.

Sewing groups on social media can be a good source of information and support, again make sure they can offer what you need.

Last but not least, invest in a book or two.

5. Have Fun.

The main thing to remember on your journey to successful sewing, is to have fun.

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, we all make them. The trick is to learn from them so that we don’t knowingly repeat them.

Enjoy the process and be proud of the things you make.

If you’d like to share photos of your creations, you can share them over on Instagram using #gaynormdesigns. I’d love to see them.

Until next time…

Gaynor xx

Mini Bunting Make Your Own

October 3, 2017 By Gaynor Marshall

Creating a string of pretty bunting is easier than you think.

For years and years the only time you saw bunting was at country fairs or in town centres. I’m not sure who brought it into the realm of everyday useage but I for one am happy they did!

Adding a splash of colour

Bunting is such a simple way to add a splash of colour to any occasion; a garden barbeque; a baby’s nursery; a milestone birthday; a modern kitchen; a festive message. The possibilities are endless, as are the ways to make it.

I thought I’d show you a how to create a string of mini bunting that would look perfect in baby’s room hung across a bookshelf or a window frame…or indeed anywhere you choose!

This mini bunting is another great stash buster as the amounts of each fabric are really small.

What You’ll Need:

patterned/feature fabric
plain cotton for the reverse of your feature fabric
4 different plain cottons
bias tape approximately 165cm/65″ long
thread

Each flag measures approximately 11cm x 11cm (4.5″ x 4.5″) including a seam allowance of 0.5cm or 1/4″. I used my 1/4″ foot.

For the feature flags (those with the pattern) you will need 3 flags for the front and 3 plain for the reverse.

For the plain flags you will only need 2 of each colour.

Method

Cutting Out:

The first step is to create a template. A thin piece of card is easier to work with but if you are careful paper would be fine. Place the template on your fabric and draw around it.

You’ll need two of each of the plain colours and 3 for the patterned fabric and 3 for the back of those. To make the most of your fabric, place the template as shown in the image below. Please remember, if your printed fabric is directional (like mine) you need to ensure you cut out the flags with the print going in the same direction.

Sewing Together:

Taking each flag in turn, place right sides together and stitch down the long sides, starting at the top, pivot at the point and stitch back to the top.
Top Tip: Start sewing a little way in from the top of the flag. This prevents the fabric getting stuck in the feed dogs.

The next step is to trim the excess fabric at the points and a little off the seam. This helps to create a sharp point when the flag is turned right side out.

Carefully turn each flag, right side out and press.

Trim the ears at the top of each flag and you are now ready to attach the bias binding.

Adding the Binding:

Mark the centre of the bias binding with a gentle crease and attach the first flag (a patterned one). I find Wonderclips are a great alternative to pins for making bunting.

I spaced my flags approximately 4cm/1.5″ apart, alternating them as I did so.
Stitch close to the edge of the bias binding making sure to catch both sides.
Turn over at each end and stitch down.

If you make any of your own bunting, feel free to share any photos over on Intsagram using #gaynormdesigns I’d love to see them.

Until next time…

Stitch Library – Ultimate Guide

September 24, 2017 By Gaynor Marshall

A stitch library is something every sewer should make.

“I finally bought the sewing machine, now what?”

I bet this question resonates with lots of people who’ve bought a sewing machine. You’ve dreamt of the day you can fill your world with things you’ve sewn yourself. The entire new wardrobe of clothes you’ll be able to make, the curtains and cushions…lots and lots of cushions.

You’ve spent weeks, months even years choosing just the right machine; you’ve watched all the shopping channels until you know as much about the technical aspect of all their machines as the presenters.

However, now you actually have the longed for sewing machine, what do you do? Where do you start?

This scenario reminds me of the time, shortly after hubby and I got married; you know back when the world was still in black and white (as my boys thought when they were little!), when we bought our first microwave. I thought it was really exciting, hubby not so much, his mum already had one.

Anyway, we brought this cool, modern gadget home. This was going to save so much time, the gas cooker will just gather dust now, surely. Well, there it sat on the worktop and we stood and admired it, we read the manual, we read the suggested recipes. What though, should we actually cook first? No idea. We re-read the recipe suggestions. No. Nothing was jumping out.

Eventually, we heated something up, beans, I think. The point was, we were at a bit of a loss as to what we should do first. We, had been so caught up in having a microwave that we didn’t really plan beyond buying it, and that’s how many people feel when they open their first sewing machine at home.

Well, the first thing to do is take it out of the box. It’s okay to sit and admire it for a while; you can make a cuppa, take out the manual and read it.

Familiarise yourself with the basics of the set-up and following the instructions in the manual, thread your machine. Practise a few rows of straight stitching on a scrap piece of fabric to check everything is working correctly.

At this point, unless you have a definite plan of action it would be so easy to put everything away. You know how it all works, you’ve had a little sew. Well, I suggest you do this instead…

You will have noticed that in the manual and probably on the machine itself there is a library of stitches. This is a very handy reference guide for the number and type of stitches that your particular sewing machine can produce. However, as these are printed images, they can sometimes appear slightly different when you stitch them. One great way to see what the stitches on your machine look like in real life is to stitch them; create your own stitch library.

It’s much easier to see all of the stitches this way, you can alter the stitch length and width to compare to the default stitch and you’ll have this for future reference.

Cut out two pieces of fabric; I used my long ruler as a measure and I chose the full width of a piece of linen and a piece of spare lining fabric.It’s much easier to see all of the stitches this way, you can alter the stitch length and width to compare to the default stitch and you’ll have this for future reference.

It doesn’t matter if you have a basic machine with a handful of stitches or a top of the range model with hundreds, doing this exercise will enable you to create a very useful chart, get to know your machine and practise your sewing skills, all at the same time.

The main thing to remember is to have fun! Making a stitch library will boost your confidence and when it’s finished, you’ll have something pretty to look at too!

Until next time…