It was Arts Week on the Great British Sewing Bee last week, which was all about combining creativity with solid sewing skills. The sewists created a baby-doll dress inspired by Grayson Perry, transformed a pair of used painter’s overalls and made a garment embracing the bold designs of pop art. Seven episodes have flown by, […]
It was Kids’ Week on the Great British Sewing Bee this week, where the judges set three challenges inspired by childrenswear. It’s always a really creative week, often featuring fancy dress costumes and playful transformations. Don’t read on if you haven’t watched Episode 6 yet I love to follow along the episodes with weekly recaps […]
The new series of the Sewing Bee has arrived! Episode 1 aired on Tuesday night, and brought Esme Young, Patrick Grant and Sara Pascoe back to our screens, along with twelve new contestants. Have a look at our previous post for more details about the Bee and this year’s contestants. Don’t read on if you […]
YouTube is a great resource for instructional videos, which I use all the time if I need a bit of guidance on a sewing or knitting technique. But beyond tutorials, there’s also a whole world of craft-loving YouTube podcasters out there. I love finding inspiration from other sewists, and watching podcasts is a great way […]
Elasticated trousers can be a fun and relatively straightforward sewing project, and there are lots of patterns to choose from. I wear them constantly during the spring and summer – they’re so comfortable in a woven fabric like linen or cotton. Sometimes it can be hard to know where to start, so I thought I’d […]
I’ve put together a list of some fun sewing project ideas that use small amounts of meterage – most of them under a metre or less! They’re quick and easy makes which will help you use up leftover pieces of fabric, or keep the cost down with only buying remnants. Have a browse through this […]
We start sewing for all sorts of reasons. Some of us learned in school, were taught by grandmothers, or caught the bug after watching programmes like The Great British Sewing Bee. Perhaps you were tired of high-street options and wanted control over your own wardrobe, or you wanted specifically to move away from the reliance on […]
The evenings are getting chillier, the leaves are changing and pumpkin flavoured drinks are back on coffee shop menus – which all means that autumn is just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I find that my inspiration for sewing, or ‘sewjo’ as it’s often referred to on social media, returns with […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
If I’m honest, I always used to avoid sewing invisible zips – it looked fiddly and I wasn’t sure I’d ever get it looking neat enough to be worth it! Over the years I’ve seen lots of tutorials and learned a few tips for how to get them looking lovely and neat. It turns out […]
I love making use out of something that would otherwise be thrown away. As makers, we’re often left with odd bits and bobs lying around and, if you’re anything like me, that means lots of awkwardly small offcuts of fabric. One fantastic way to make the most of these is to sew some scrunchies! You […]
We hope you’ve enjoyed our previous posts and reading about William Gee’s history. We love connecting with our customers and sharing topics we think you’ll find interesting. We’re excited to let you know we’re launching our new online sewing workshop: William Gee Studio. It’ll be full of fun and useful ideas to inspire your crafting […]
The past few years has seen a rise in smaller sewing companies and now there seems to be patterns to suit everyone, whatever their style. From French style to vintage inspired, here are a few of the best independent sewing pattern companies out there and the pick of my favourite makes. If you know of […]
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | | Part 4: Fastenings It’s what’s on the inside that counts… It’s an old adage that it is what is on the inside that counts, and when it comes to constructing a professional garment, it makes a huge difference to collars, […]
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | | Part 4: Fastenings After part 1, your sewing studio should be fully equipped and we are ready to move on to the interesting part – designing and making clothes! To make clothes there are two ways of starting: draping on a […]
Part 1: Tools of the Trade | Part 2: Pattern Hacking | Part 3: Interfacing | Part 4: Fastenings Ever wondered what goes on in a professional sewing studio? Has the Sewing Bee inspired you to give it a go yourself? Here are some useful tips and insider secrets on how to take your projects from amateur home […]
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