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William Gee's Haberdashery

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William Gee's Haberdashery

Welcome back to William Gee.
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6 inspiring sewing podcasts to listen to in 2024 (and beyond!)

I love having something on in the background while I’m sewing or cutting out a new project. Podcasts are great – depending on which one it is, it can either be incredibly educational, or feel like having a chat with sewing friend while working on a project together. I’ve collated a list of my favourite […]

Beginner Quilting: Bind a quilt with mitred corners

Welcome back to our beginner series on quilting. We’ve covered how to make a classic ‘Ohio Star’ quilt block and how to attach wadding and lining. This next step explains how to bind the edges of your quilt, and how to get a neat mitred corner. There are a few ways to bind the edges […]

A festive note from William Gee

A Festive Note & Christmas Opening Hours

Dear customers, suppliers and friends, As we come to the end of the year, all that remains is to thank you for your support and custom throughout 2023. Christmas Opening Hours & Final Orders Our shop on Kingsland Road will close 2pm on Fri 22nd Dec 2022 & will reopen 9am on Tues 2nd Jan […]

Beginner Quilting: attaching quilt wadding and backing

Welcome back to our mini-series on learning how to quilt. Quilting is becoming more popular again, and I’m so pleased about it. It’s a wonderful hobby, and a great way to use up scrap fabrics. We all need a bit of extra cosiness, and it can help you build your confidence with sewing. You can […]

Beginner Quilting Series: how to sew an ohio star quilt block

I’m not sure there’s anything cosier than a handmade quilt. The layers of soft fabric and wadding stitched together can be very welcome as we move into the colder months – perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with, topping your bed, or even hanging on the wall. Quilting, like many crafts, is becoming more […]

Sewing Your Own Underwear: Is It Worth It?!

I love figuring out how to make things that I thought I’d always have to buy. I’ve been sewing for a while, but I had put things like swimwear and underwear out of my head, thinking it would be too technical. It’s not true! Sewing your own underwear can be great fun, and is a […]

Great British Sewing Bee 2023 Final! Episode recap and sewing inspiration

This week was the final of the 2023 Great British Sewing Bee! It seems to have come around very quickly. We’ve seen some beautiful and interesting makes this series, and it feels like we have a nicely varied bunch for the final three. I’m going to recap the Series 9 final in this post, so […]

The Sewing Bee: Episode 9 – Utilitarian Week (semi-final!)

This latest week is the Great British Sewing Bee’s semi-final, and the sewists are making all things workwear. Quarter-final week saw Lauren leave the show after a mishap sewing the sleeve of her smoking jacket in fashion icons week, while Asmaa won garment of the week again. She’s on fire! Back to Utilitarian Week! It […]

Vilene Interfacings at William Gee UK

The Art of Interfacing Fabric: Elevating Your Sewing Projects

When it comes to creating beautiful and professional-looking sewing projects, the key lies not only in choosing the right fabric but also in using the appropriate interfacing. Interfacing fabric is a hidden hero in the world of sewing, providing structure, support, and stability to your creations. In this post, we’ll explore what interfacing fabric is, […]

Sewing Machine Needles Guide - Everything you need to know - William Gee UK

The Ultimate Guide to Sewing Machine Needles: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re a sewing enthusiast, you understand the importance of using the right tools for the job. One of the most critical components of your sewing machine setup is the needle. Although it may seem like a small and straightforward element, choosing the correct sewing machine needle can significantly impact the success of your sewing […]

Sewing Bee: Episode 7 recap and 90’s sewing pattern ideas!

First off, sorry we missed Children’s Week! We’re back with a longer post for 90s week, including a recap and some 90s pattern ideas. The previous episode saw Fauve leaving, with only six contestants remaining. 90s week recap This episode comes complete with a fabulous 90s playlist, dial-up tones (did anyone else use to sing […]

The Sewing Bee: Episode 5 recap – art week!

This week the Sewing Bee took its inspiration from the world of art. It challenged the sewists to be extra creative as they tackle modernist skirts, painted canvasses and surrealist made-to-measure dresses. Check out our recap for Episode 4 if you missed Reduce, Reuse and Recycle week. Pattern challenge This week’s pattern challenge came in […]

The Sewing Bee – Episode 4 recap and zero waste pattern ideas!

It was reduce, reuse and recycle week at the Sewing Bee! I was really pleased to see this theme for the Sewing Bee last week. It’s easy to generate a lot of waste when creating things, but there are things we can do to make sure we create consciously. Have a look at our article […]

Sewing Bee: Episode 3 recap – West Africa week

Thanks for joining us on this recap of the 2023 Sewing Bee’s third episode! This week the sewists celebrated West Africa, exploring the iconic batakari, Àdìre fabric and boubous. They were joined by Lagos-based fashion designer Banke Kuku, whose luxury designs have been on the red carpet and catwalk. It was great to see a […]

The Sewing Bee: Episode 2 recap and swimsuit ideas!

Although the the theme for last week’s Sewing Bee was ‘holiday’, there was no time off for the sewists. Each challenge tested new skills and required both imagination and technical ability. In this post I’m recapping Episode 2 of this year’s Great British Sewing Bee, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know […]

Sewing Bee blog series: how to sew a french seam

We’re really enjoying the new series of The Great British Sewing Bee, and can’t wait for tonight’s episode! Inspired by the Bee to get sewing, or try out some of the skills you see in the show? We’re going to be covering each episode here at WG: Studio, and having fun using some of the […]

The Sewing Bee Series 9 – Episode 1 recap

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the 2023 series of The Great British Sewing Bee, and loved watching the first episode last Wednesday! We finally got to meet this year’s sewists, and see the theme for the first three challenges. It’s on weekly on BBC 1 at 9pm – if you miss it, you can catch up […]

The Great British Sewing Bee 2023 release date is here!

We were so excited last night to read that the Sewing Bee will be back on our screens on Wednesday 24 May. Now we have the official release date we’re counting down the days until we can see who the next sewists are, and what they’ll be making in the challenges. Check out our recent […]

Great British Sewing Bee with William Gee's Haberdashery

Great British Sewing Bee: Apply Now for 2024

The Sewing Bee is back on our screens in May 2023, broadcast on BBC1. Are you nifty with a needle or handy with a hem? Put your skills to the test! We’re looking for more talented home sewers to take part in the next series of The Great British Sewing Bee. If you or someone […]

It’s nearly time for The Great British Sewing Bee 2023!

The Great British Sewing Bee is one of the highlights of our year at William Gee’s Online Haberdashery! It should return to our screens any week now, and we can’t wait. The challenges, creations and friendships we enjoy throughout each season have charmed the nation, and it’s something to look forward to whether you sew […]

Visible Mending Series: DIY patchwork jeans

The fast fashion industry creates a huge amount of waste and pollution – in fact it’s the second largest polluting industry on the planet. As I wrote in my previous post, we’re thinking more and more about sustainability and how we can avoid waste in our day to day lives. This visible mending series celebrates […]

Sustainable crafting and the art of mending

Many of us are trying to live in a way that is more mindful to our environment, as well as being economical. Though we can’t really avoid creating some waste when we create, we can learn how make the most of our materials. Scrap busting projects are perfect for this. As well as being sustainable, […]

Visible Mending Series: Basic ‘Scotch’ Darning

Welcome to the first in our mini-series about visible mending. We’ll be using different methods of darning, Sashiko embroidery, statement patchwork and other decorative mends. Visible mending has become increasingly popular as we look more towards sustainable fashion and crafting. We’re beginning to recognise the joy in caring for much loved garments, while also injecting […]

Tutorial: DIY detachable oversized collar

Oversized, ruffled collars are all the rage at the moment, and look beautiful in a range of fabrics. If you like the look of them but aren’t sure if you’d like to invest in a big-collared shirt or dress, this tutorial is for you! A detachable collar is such a fun way to add interest […]

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