Sewing Tutorials

Let's face it - our British summertime hasn't had the greatest weather so far! We have had a few lovely warm days full of sunshine over the Calico Laine buildings, but we have had plenty of rain and thunderstorms to go with it as well. I am off on my summer holidays soon, and in preparation for my long, lazy days...

Last weekend was the Queen's official birthday, and here at Calico Laine, we celebrated in style with a day-long sale full of bargains and discounts for all of our customers. In order to make our stores look festive for the occasion, we created numerous strands of bunting using our cotton fabrics, including red, royal blue and of course, our Union...

At Calico Laine, we love any and all craft projects. From sewing to jewellery making, and cards to crochet and knitting, we are always happy to see our customers come up with all sorts of wonderful ideas as a personal project, or a gift for a family member or friend. Particularly with gifts, if it is a small item that...

When it comes to any sewing project, we all like to take pride in our work and create in such a way so that everything we make is neat and properly finished. A raw edge or seam can be unsightly, and can even reduce the lifespan of a garment or bag if it begins to fray. While there are many...

If you are similar to me and like your belongings to be both unique and catered to your own individual taste, you might find that you make a lot of things for yourself using our fabric here at Calico Laine, from clothing to soft furnishings and other decorations around your home. I have sisters who are not into sewing, but...

A few weeks ago on our Calico Laine blog, we covered how to make an easy peasy tote bag that would be perfect for all kinds of purposes - beach visits, shopping trips, or even as a unique gift for a friend, a handmade bag is both thoughtful and practical, and it can be personalised in any way at all...

One of the fabrics that our customers here at Calico Laine love is our fleece; we carry this in so many different colours and patterns that we often get comments about being spoiled for choice both in-store and online. If, like me, you are someone who works with fleece a lot, you might often find yourself with small scrap pieces...

Are you sick of the cold weather yet? I know I am! In an effort to take my mind off the chilly winds and even the snow that we have had recently here in the North West of the UK, I have been making a few tote bags out of some floral fabrics that I got here from Calico Laine...

In the world of sewing, a zip can be a tricky thing to learn how to fit properly if you have never attempted it before. Even when you do have a few successes with sewing a zip under your belt, it can still be a little difficult sometimes! I always find that following a tutorial can help make the whole...

If you are a fan of handmade gifts, then you might find yourself a little disappointed when it comes to presentation – after spending time and effort putting a lot of love into your creations, it seems a bit of a shame to put them in a shop-bought gift bag or cover them up in wrapping paper. Have you ever...