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With words of warnings from my husband and teens ringing in my ears, I bought a rotary cutter last year. They all cringed and warned me not to – I am clumsy, sometimes don’t concentrate wholly on what I’m doing, and the fear was having to rush me to Casualty needing stitches to stop fingers […]
We’re excited about this year’s London Fashion Week and to see the new collections from designers, but if you’re unsure as to what the event is all about, here is a quick guide to get you up to speed: What it’s all about: From this Friday 18th September until Tuesday 22nd September, London Fashion Week […]
I’m a huge fan of online pin board website, Pinterest. I use it for so many things: pinning interesting quotes, outfit inspiration and most of all, for sewing and for keeping track of the many dressmaking patterns I want to make. And believe me, you can get too Pinterest obsessed! Keeping track of my ‘DIYs and Crafts’ […]
Being an art teacher can have its challenges: four lessons a day, 120 students. In such a practical subject you can feel as though it is tidy-up time as soon as you get your equipment set up. However, the summer term brought with it ‘Project Fortnight’. My favorite time of year. Two weeks with 26 […]
I have owned a sewing machine of various kinds since buying a hand-cranked Singer at the age of 16. Recently, I twisted my husband’s arm (well, bank account really) to buy an all-singing, all-dancing new one. And I LOVE it! This beauty is computerised and I am starting to learn how to use some of […]
My Grandma used to say to me “measure twice, cut once” and of course I would smile at her, nod, and carry on hastily with my cutting out and sewing. Everyone makes mistakes sewing, no matter how long you’ve been at it. Only last week I sewed a bag together, muttering to myself that it seemed […]
One thing that students of all ages often find difficult is cutting fabric. So here is a short post on how to improve your fabric cutting abilities, because if you cut something out accurately, then it will be a LOT easier to put together accurately. Buy the best quality scissors you can afford. William Gee […]
This simple guide has been built for those who have just bought a new sewing machine, or for those who are looking through your sewing box and thinking, ‘I got this foot with my machine and hey, i have no idea what it actually does’. I’m going to give you a quick run-through to the feet […]
So as promised, here are some top tips for placing and cutting out your pattern. This is possibly one of the most important bits of the dressmaking process – if you cut it out correctly, then the garment will go together well. For part 1, click here. Read the Instructions! It sounds daft, but the […]
With the New Designers 2015 Show turning 30 this year, once again it did not disappoint – the best design graduates descended from all depths of the country, showcasing snippets of their final year’s portfolio as final year students. Walking around the Business Design Centre this year, I did pick up a few upcoming trends who are definitely worth a mention. […]
A pattern is a tool to enable you to create something, whether it is a bag or a blouse, and contains all the information you need for a successful sewing project. Other tools include your scissor, pins, needles, thread, sewing machines and marking tools. The key to successful sewing is accurately transferring all the marks […]
As any designer knows, research is everything! And I’m going to be writing today about why a visit to a Contemporary British Design Show is a brilliant research opportunity that you should be putting in your diary. I have to admit, I thought design shows were about people in suits and everyone talking about million […]
Trying to get your sewing basket up to scratch can hit problems when you have to be specific: “Excuse me, do you have any sewing needles?” – “Yes, we have these” “Erm, do you have any for darning & mending” – “Yes, we have these” “No, I, erm, meant some fine needles” – “Yes, we […]
Whether it was a Sunday workshop or a sewing class your friend dragged you along to, everyone had to start somewhere. But once you were in, there was no going back. We have all had a sewing box or sewing basket at some stage as a sewer – some of us may still have one. […]
We’ve just begun our latest 6 week dressmaking course. This is a really popular course as everyone can make what they want and get guided through the process. Once you have learnt to make your own garments, it is a very fulfilling hobby. However, like everything, it is a learning process and it can take a […]
It’s lovely when your child comes and asks if they can learn to sew, but it can also be a bit nerve wracking thinking of letting them loose on a sewing machine! At the Leicestershire Craft Centre some of our most popular courses are the machine sewing for children, so I thought I’d share some […]
We’re so excited to let you know that we’ve teamed up with Wendy Ward at MIY Collection, to give you the chance to win a signed copy of her new book, ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Dressmaking: Sewing Techniques and Patterns to Make Your Own Clothes’. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for our competition […]
Ever had a jacket that you have loved to death? Literally, loved to death. My leather jacket is staring at me, slumped on is hanger, its sleeves looking sad and dehydrated and in my attempt to ‘chuck on and go’ I broke the zip, the final death sentence of any biker jacket. Still, all hope […]
We seem to have had a lot of courses running lately, where we have had to deal with sewing tricky fabrics. It pays to know how to deal with the fabrics you choose so that you still get a fantastic end result, so I thought I’d share some of the pitfalls and solutions we’ve been […]
I’m scrambling through my chaotic handbag hoping to find a magical antihistamine tablet, which can only mean one thing… summer is coming. Yes, it’s time to dig out your oversized shades and don your old pair of shorts for this seasons search of wardrobe essentials. I have always been a fan of bright colours and […]
Since the recession, consumers have strayed from their favourite premium brands, destroying much of the loyalty that the brands had worked hard to acquire. Now, consumers demand better value and favour lower prices, and digital mobile marketing is facilitating consumers in their hunt for better deals. The fashion industry is experiencing an all-time low with […]
We’d like to introduce our UK Sewing & Crafts Directory, a new online service where you can list your local shop, your sewing school or yourself! People are already benefiting from listing their businesses in our Directory – and it’s absolutely free for a limited time only! 5 great reasons to join and feature online today: Gain extensive UK coverage […]
April’s Elle Decoration Magazine comes with a Directory of some of the greatest places to source everything from antiques and art, leather and lighting, taps to tiles, but more importantly – haberdashery. This month, readers get an extra supplement containing ED’s secret names and addresses from all over the UK, and we are proud to say that we feature in […]
Are you a sewing enthusiast who loves to make your own clothes? Maybe you are fascinated by alterations and upcycling? If so, we would love to speak to you! William Gee are currently on the hunt for fresh, talented makers, sewers, designers and crafters, who enjoy creating their own fashions – be it men’s garments right through to […]
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered with Tree Nation, the platform to reforest the world & fight climate change! Home to over 90 planting projects in 33 countries, Tree Nation is a non-profit organisation that helps people & companies offset their CO2 emissions. Join us by planting trees & offsetting carbon emissions with William Gee today!
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