Make a hot water bottle cover from scrap fabric Making our own clothes is eco friendly in many ways. One of the problems most sewists have is how to use up their scrap fabrics. Unless we use a zero waste pattern, small scraps of fabric are inevitable. Creating a larger piece of fabric from small…
‘This coat is definitely my most worn me made but I rarely share the full eyeball-dazzling glory of the inside because usually I’m in it!’ Megan exclaims on her Instagram feed @nutmeg_makes. Olive Road London got involved in the Sewing Bee Style competition by giving away a £20 voucher and bag of goodies for Reduce…
Six sewing themed summer Reads. If we can’t take our sewing machines with us on holiday, at least we can read about sewing Holidays are the best time to catch up on reading. Perhaps fish and chips in South-end-on-sea or two week’s lying on a sandy beach. I’ve pulled together a collection of books that…
With Summer in London and Vintage Fabric Aptly named ‘Summer in London’, this vintage inspired sewing pattern from Seasons of East is perfect for Summer. From a picnic on the park to a long lazy dinner by the sea. Sisters Carol and Barbara have designed a classic dress, with a fitted bodice with a gathered…
Pop Up Vintage Fair at Wilton’s Music Hall Thursday 21 July 4:30 to 9pm Pop Up Vintage Fairs London is back at Wilton’s Music Hall after a 2 year break and I wasn’t going to miss the chance to spend the evening in this fantastic venue! Vintage shopping, cocktails, live music and dancing! A great…
Olive Road customer makes We all love a fabric stash, a collection of fabrics we can fold, re-fold and admire. Amazing as they all look together, fabric really is there to be used. My business is created from buying people’s fabric stash. So when a customer sends me a photo of their creations from my…
My top six films for sewing machine day Encanto Blink and you miss it but there is a sewing machine in Encanto! Right at the beginning of the film. Mirabel pulls her skirt from under a vintage sewing machine as she starts singing. I noticed it as I’d just finished making my niece her very…
Inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show I’ve pulled together an edit of pretty florals and pink vintage fabrics Living vicariously through the TV, I’ve been watching the beautiful garden designs at the Chelsea Flower Show. The stories behind the gardens and all the work that goes into them fascinate me. This year I was particularly…
My top tips on where to buy vintage fabrics The Great British Sewing Bee is back and ‘Reduce, Reuse Recycle’ is always my favourite week. The contestants never fail to amaze me with how they resourceful they are with the scraps. The contestants were asked to source duvet covers for the made to measure challenge.…
Vintage fabrics for summer I visited the Menswear exhibition at the V&A recently (go if you get chance) and I particularly enjoyed how the curator had given some background information to the spectrum of colours alongside beautifully made garments. It always struck me how men in the finance industry wear pink with confidence where as elsewhere it…
