Sewing

With the new year approaching, you might be thinking about next year's wardrobe - what fabrics will be fashionable? What items of clothing will be essential and stylish? What dressmaking fabrics should you use and wear? One item of clothing that never seems to go out of fashion is the well-loved maxi dress - these dresses can be worn for...

For those of us who have been eagerly awaiting the return of Patrick Grant and May Martin for series two of The Great British Sewing Bee, last night's Christmas Special of the hit BBC 2 show was just enough to whet our appetites for all things sewing and get our creative juices flowing just in time for the hotly anticipated...

Sewing has really taken off recently and there are a number of reasons for this from television shows through to the economic climate. Next year Calico Laine celebrates it's 40th birthday and we have seen many things over years come and go but sewing and dressmaking always remains a very popular hobby and pastime. Next year we have a number of...

For someone making their first attempt at Sewing, using a zip in your dressmaking project can be a little daunting if you're not sure how to install it in your garment. In today's blog, I'll be walking you through a tutorial on how to sew a zip into your dressmaking project. What you'll need: A regular dress zip measuring your...

Whether you're Sewing that beautiful evening gown or a cool, billowing blouse for everyday wear, it's important to choose the right fabric to work with. Using a sheer fabric can completely change the look of a garment, or add a new dimension to one by acting as a floaty overlay. In today's blog, we'll be talking about the sheer fabrics...

If you're the parent of a young child, you'll know how much kids love to dress up and play. Sometimes, dressing-up kits and costumes can be expensive, especially as they are not worn day-to-day and children will eventually grow out of them. it can be cheaper to make your own, generic costume pieces that can be applied to many different...

Sewing is one of the oldest textile arts in the world and is used within a variety of industries, most notably fashion and footwear. Before the industrial revolution, sewing was still very much a skilled industry with many people working out of their own homes, offering their services as seamstresses and tailors. With the invention of the sewing machine by Thomas...

Any dressmaker has that one item in their sewing kit that they can't work without - whether it's a stitch ripper or a needle threader, there's always one tool that makes a dressmaker's work that much easier. In today's blog, we'll be talking about some items that we think are essential to anyone's sewing projects. Needles - Obviously a big...

Sometimes, that item of clothing you've just finished making (or even one that you've bought!) needs a little something extra to give it that final sparkly touch; or maybe you have a bag that you think could use a little sprucing up before Christmas time this year. Here at Calico Laine, we offer many different types of diamante items that...

Although it is one of the oldest textile arts, sewing is still one of the most loved pastimes there is and continues to grow in popularity from generation to generation. Whether you are a professional seamstress or somebody who enjoys sewing for purposes of rest and relaxation, every sewer needs a kit bursting with accessories to help you make the...