Mollie Makes Weekend Sewing

Quick makes are so satisfying – that feeling of starting and finishing a project within a couple of days is the best. And some projects can be even speedier, too – once you’ve planned your pattern and threaded your machine, you just put your foot to the pedal and away you go! Whether you’re new to sewing and want a simple project with an easy-to-follow guide, or you’ve had more practice and are looking for fresh inspiration, there’s something here for everyone to sew in just a weekend. Update your outfit with sewing hacks, or start your me-made wardrobe and whip up something from scratch. We’ve also included projects for your home, gifts for friends and family (or yourself!), and treats for kids, too. Just add tea, and you’ve got all you need…

Lana Red Designer Lana is based in The Netherlands, where she blogs about the creative lifestyle. Make Lana’s ruffled socks on page 26. www.lanaredstudio.com The New Craft House Childhood friends Hannah and Rosie run creative workshops using traditional techniques. Make The New Craft House’s denim pinafore on page 13. www.thenewcrafthouse.com Anna Alicia The environment is at the heart of Anna’s projects, which all use natural organic materials. Make Anna’s origami fold bag on page 16. www.aalicia.bigcartel.com Hester van Overbeek Blogger and craft YouTuber Hester is also the author of Made With Salvaged Wood. Make Hester’s magazine rack on page 67. www.hestershandmadehome.com Christine Leech Maker and craft tutor Christine is also the author of several craft books Make Christine’s cork bag on page 32. www.instagram.com/sewyeah Kirsty Hartley Mum-of-three Kirsty is the brains behind the brand Wild Things and book Wild Things To Make. Make Kirsty’s pinafore dress on page 120. www.wildthingsdresses.com Other contributors Katie Allen, Jenny…

BASIC SEWING KIT PREPARE TO SEW WITH OUR GUIDE TO WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO GET STARTED You don’t need a huge stash of equipment to start sewing. Make sure you’ve got these essential bits and you’ll be fine: » Fabric scissors» Small embroidery scissors» Needles (assorted sizes)» Sewing thread (various colours)» Tape measure» Pins» Transfer pencil or chalk» Iron and ironing board» Sewing machine Of course, you can sew all your projects by hand if you don’t have a sewing machine (and many smaller projects are easily finished without one), but for larger projects it makes life much easier. Turn to page 10 for our sewing machine guide.…

APPLIQUE A decorative technique that involves sewing a smaller piece of fabric onto a larger one. It can be done by hand or by sewing machine. BACKSTITCH Useful when starting and ending sewing to stop stitches coming undone, this can be done by hand or using a machine. Just stitch back over your sewing line. BIAS BINDING This is a length of fabric that’s been cut on the bias (at 45 degrees to the grain of the fabric) so that it bends and stretches easily around curves. It’s used to bind or enclose the edges of fabric. BLANKET STITCH This stitch is used to reinforce the edges of a piece of material. It can also be decorative. CASING A tunnel of fabric that’s formed with parallel rows of stitching and through which elastic or cord can be threaded. FAT QUARTER A…

THREAD FEED Your spool of thread sits at the top of the machine. The thread goes through a series of channels and loops before it reaches the needle (your manual will explain exactly how to thread your machine). There’ll also be a numbered dial that can be raised or lowered to adjust the thread tension as your fabric requires. NEEDLE Most machines come with a needle already in place (and a replacement), but your manual will show you how to swap it for a different one. When sewing speciality fabrics (a heavy denim or a slippery lace, for example) you should change to a different needle size to ensure the best results. Ask for advice when buying fabric. PRESSER FOOT This metal attachment sits beneath your needle and holds your fabric in place. A lever…

1 Use the same colour of thread in the top and bottom spools for most of your stitching – only use different colours for decorative stitching. 2 Use the same type of thread in the top and bottom spools, as this will result in a more even tension. 3 Ensure your fabric is flat and smooth, as you will get neater stitching. Pressing it before you start is always a good rule. 4 Always work a few stitches on a spare scrap of the same fabric you’ll be using to make sure the machine tension is correct. Different thread and fabric will need different tensions, so check it whenever you start a new project. If the stitches are loopy or overly tight then you need to change the tension so that the top…