Sewing tips, tutorials, videos and the latest news

Radley Clutch Bag easy sewing pattern

Radley Clutch Bag easy sewing pattern

The Radley Clutch Bag is the ideal beginner sewing pattern. Just one pattern piece (plus a pocket), just two pieces of fabric. Easy to cut out and easy to sew. Yet easy doesn’t mean you won’t end up with a pretty and practical bag. In fact, two bags because the Radley Clutch Bag sewing pattern has two sizes. I think both are perfect, not too big and not too small. This lightweight and soft simple…

Walkies Crossbody Bag Sewing Pattern

Walkies Crossbody Bag Sewing Pattern

The Walkies (Doggie) Crossbody Bag is a simple to sew fully lined crossbody cellphone pouch with a front pocket, a snap closing flap and an optional space for your doggie waste bags. It was designed as a charity project for my local Humane Society to raise funds for the animal shelter. It’s ideal as a doggie walking bag, just big enough to carry your phone, keys, a bit of cash, a few dog treats…and there’s…

Elmore triple pocket Zipper Pouch sewing pattern

Elmore triple pocket Zipper Pouch sewing pattern

The Elmore Zipper Pouch is a simple to sew fully lined zipper pouch with one zipper but three pockets. There is an easy-sew zipper install, which is ideal for beginners. This easy zipper pouch is Fat Quarter friendly, a quick project, and requires no measuring, printing or pattern pieces. Ideal if you don’t have a printer at home, or don’t want to fuss about with careful cutting of multiple pattern pieces. Open up the top…

Ferndown Jewelry Pouch sewing pattern

Ferndown Jewelry Pouch sewing pattern

This easy to sew small jewelry pouch is the ideal gift to sew for your friends, or just perfect for sew-to-sell projects. It only requires fabric and a drawstring or ribbon, so is very affordable to make and doesn’t need fancy hardware or interfacing. Add a special item of jewelry and it makes a lovely handmade and personal gift. But of course there is no need to give it away! Sew one for yourself and…

Dorset easy drawstring bags sewing pattern in 3 sizes

Dorset easy drawstring bags sewing pattern in 3 sizes

I’ve had some requests for very simple bags to sew, ideal for those who are completely new to sewing. The Dorset sewing pattern is a set of three very easy to sew drawstring bags in different sizes, ideal for the complete beginner or even as a sewing pattern for kids to use to learn to sew. There is nothing more rewarding than sitting at a sewing machine for the first time, and within a short…

Kent Clutch Bag sewing pattern, custom pockets and video

Kent Clutch Bag sewing pattern, custom pockets and video

This smart wristlet clutch bag has a jaunty diagonal seam front and back, created with a slightly different construction method that does away with the centre bottom seam, although you can choose to add that back in if working with a directional fabric. I think you’ll love the option to learn the custom pocket hack technique that you can apply to the lining of all of your future bag patterns and projects to create neat…

Why things go wrong when sewing diagonal seams, and how to fix it

Why things go wrong when sewing diagonal seams, and how to fix it

There’s this funny thing when you sew diagonal seams that it took me a while to get my head around. You seem to do everything right, but things just don’t line up properly. Sew a slanted seam for the first time and when you open up the seam to press it, the edges of your fabric are wonky. You might come across this if you are joining bias tape, or just if you are sewing…

How to sew a custom tote bag in ANY size (2 styles)

How to sew a custom tote bag in ANY size (2 styles)

Designing your own tote bag sewing pattern has never been easier. This revolutionary pattern generator is unlike any other tote bag pattern you’ve used. The custom tote bag designer means you never need to buy another tote bag sewing pattern. Want a bag that’s tall rather than wide – we got you. Want a really long bag so you can fit a yoga mat in the bottom – we got you. Want a huge beach…

Guernsey Zipper Pouch sewing pattern in 3 sizes, easy cosmetics bag

Guernsey Zipper Pouch sewing pattern in 3 sizes, easy cosmetics bag

Sometimes there is just a classic bag pattern that everyone should have in their collection. For me, it’s this zipper bag with the wide flat base and triangular shape, narrowing towards the top. It’s like a coming of age for sewers, a bag that everyone should sew on their way to sewing greatness. Never sewn a zipper before? This bag is a good place to start and I’ve included a couple of tips for how…

Easy quilted brush roll or tool wrap to sew in any size, with video

Easy quilted brush roll or tool wrap to sew in any size, with video

Do you have sewing tools, pencils, pens, brushes, knitting needles, crochet hooks, craft knives or similar that you need to store and organise? You’ve probably seen these sewing patterns for brush rolls for your cosmetics brushes, or crayon rolls for the kids’ art supplies. But maybe none of them is exactly the right size or exactly what you are looking for. That can be frustrating, trying to track down exactly the right pattern in the…