Sew Chinelo: How to transform your wardrobe with sustainable style

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I love making dresses, especially going out dresses, evening gowns, really glamorous stuff. I love to feel feminine and I love my curves so I love making clothes that celebrate these things. When I make clothes for my customers I want them to feel like a new woman. My favourite Challenges so far have been the wrap dress and the prom dress, these are the kinds of things I love to make. The machine sat idle for a few months after failed attempts at cutting a top and a skirt (freehand). I finally decided to go to my aunty who is a dressmaker and I sat watching her work for 3 months, taking notes and doodling what she was doing; I still refer to my little sketches sometimes. Find out about how Chinelo learnt freehand sewing and how you can learn from her in her upcoming sewing classes. She continues to do patchwork, crochet and sewing, as well as helping with sewing problems on Stitcher’s Guild, a community of people who like to sew.

I really hope give it a go, and please send me pictures of your completed garments, I get sew excited (sorry, I couldn’t help that) when I see what other people have done. As ever if you have any questions just send them over and I will try my best to answer. Ann Rowley won the first series of Sewing Bee at the impressive age of 81, having been a keen seamstress for 75 years. Ann had been sewing for 75 years when she won The Great British Sewing Bee. She describes sewing as a private passion and said she entered the show to help raise the profile of home sewing, which is has certainly done. Now well into her 80s hopefully Ann is still enjoying sewing. You will now mark your horizontal measurements along these vertical marks you just made, always remember that you are measuring from the centre folds. Quarter your, underbust and waist measurements, add 2 inches to each of these and mark this along the corresponding reference mark, join these marks with straight lines and from the waist mark slant your line to the corner of the hem. Cut around your lines through all layer (but when cutting along the sweetheart line, only cut the front layer)

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The show’s youngest ever contestant keeps up her sewing by presenting at Great British Sewing Bee workshops across the country. She is also a columnist for Love Sewing magazine. I think Heather had been saving all her creative juices for this task! Sunray pleats in the bodice. Lashings of fabric to boot, along with a top hat, chainsand a whip! I say!!! Go for it Heather! With the head of your tape lined up with your top seam, mark your underbust line and your waist line; these are reference marks (remember the maths you did earlier, this is what I am referring to) I’m sure everyone remembers my tie melt down. Gosh that was a very wordy pattern and not being a pattern girl it completely threw me. Prior to the sewing bee I had never used a pattern, but when I was confronted with my first pattern for the show, I relied heavily on the pictures for direction. So sorry to all those who were disappointed with the melt down, but hey, I never have to make a tie EVER again (I say that now but something inside me tells me I will soon post up a tutorial on making a tie freehand).

Once I had given everyone a plan, they were off! It was wonderful to see all the items coming together throughout the day. It was also nice toobserve the ladies taking an interest in the other projects and encouraging each other. They had mentioned that they really liked being able to see how other things were being made, even though they were making something else. That way, they were able to take the ideas away and try it at home later. I can'tinterview you without asking about your wonderful earrings. Even my husband, who has no fashion-sense or interest in jewellery, has been commenting on themeach week! How many pairs of enormous earrings do you have? Do they all come from one shop? And which are your favourites? These marks will now serve as reference points, along which you will place your horizontal measurements. Step 1: Cut a piece of fabric that is the width of the largest measurement on the bodice+6″ and the length of the shoulder to waist measurement+1″ Being in a room full of people who shared my passion for sewing was amazing and something I had never experienced before. All the contestants were fantastic; a really good bunch and I loved every minute of it.or you may wish to extend the length of the peplum to make a skater style dress, whichever you choose to make on the day, it will be beautifully fitted to you and a stylish addition to your spring/summer wardrobe.

This top will need some side bust darts, although the top is not fitted, darts will help it hang better on the body. To create the darts, place the top of your tape measure at the highest point of your shoulder seam, measure down your shoulder to bust measurement and mark. along the side seam place a mark about 1″ lower than the mark you just made;I have added only 5 dates for this workshop so spaces are very limited; get booking guys!!! Here’s the link https://www.kazoova.com/activity/454/ These are all vertical measurements (our vertical measurements are used as reference marks along which we mark our horizontal measurements) The first commercial pattern I ever used was on the show for the pattern challenge, and first and only one I have ever bought was for the pyjama challenge (ep 2). The pattern I used for my trouser legs (ep 5) I drafted myself because I’m not perfect at doing trousers freehand and didn’t want to spend time figuring it out on the show considering the timed conditions. I am quite a spontaneous person and my mind is always working in overdrive mode, I sometimes set out to make one design and then change it as I go along, this is why I love the free hand method, I am not restricted at all. Step 5; At the top of the straight line draw a straight line 2″ in towards the centre, then from the furthest marking from the centre, along the top edge, draw a deep curve the joins the 2″ line you just made. It should now resemble the second picture.