🪡 My sewing journey: what I've learned & finding my style (+ exciting news!!) 🧶 My handmade wardrobe 

Hello, so glad you enjoyed the video and found the parts about shapes and positive ease helpful. I've seen more designs that use this over the last couple of years, and I'm really pleased about it. Hope your migraine is better now, they're awful!

Yes! It took me ages to realise as well, and even now I have to check some of my automatic reactions to positive ease clothes, even though I much prefer them. I think it's all just learned behaviour, but feels great to make that change and feel confident in it 😊 glad you're enjoying the videos! More info on the retreat soon I'm very excited for it! X

Thank you, glad you liked it and found it useful! I do love a check 😊

Hey! Welcome and I'm glad you're enjoying the videos ☺️ how lovely of your grandma. I'm meeting more and more people who learned from their Grandmas (more than their parents), it seems to be a tradition! I'm so grateful to have had that time - even if I can't remember everything from then it still leaves an impression with you I think ☺️ I hope you're enjoying getting back into sewing, there are lots of great resources on YT!

Hello, thanks for your lovely comment 😊 I'm so pleased you like the videos. I totally agree about using items we already have. It can also be enjoyable to see an older garment in a new way when layering it with other pieces. I also think back in horror to all of the bodycon dresses I bought in my early 20s! It's an evolution though, and it feels lovely when you finally feel like your style reflects how you feel! I'm in love with autumn shades too and can't imagine ever not being now 😊

I love that green linen shirt 🌿 I'd definitely recommend making one! I'm pleased you enjoyed the video ☺️

Thanks so much for your lovely message! So glad you enjoyed it. I also absolutely love what you said about dressing for how you want the world to be. That's exactly it. Both in terms of style (living in a fantasy world a little) and in terms of sustainability. That's a really beautiful way of thinking about it, thank you 😊

Ah lovely! Well I'm hoping they'll be a semi regular thing 😊 I'm going to do a quilted version of my vest, so was actually thinking of doing a day of making that, then an evening of hand quilting! I think it's a lovely slow stitching project. The friend I want to host it with has a beautiful old house so I feel like we could definitely look into some fireside stitching in late winter or later in the year if it's popular/ better timing 😊

Hey, thanks for your lovely comment! I'm really glad to hear good enjoyed them, and it gave you a bit of inspiration to continue. It's definitely a journey! Nice work on your skirt 😊

Hey Judith 😊 thanks so much for your comment. Glad you liked the vest! I'm making plans for the retreat at the moment - in fact I'm meeting someone tomorrow to discuss hosting it 😊 I'll keep you all updated. It can definitely be tempting to keep making all the time, especially with new patterns and fabrics coming out all the time, but I'm trying to retrain myself to focus on well made pieces from good quality fabric.

Thanks for this, it sounds like you've got some lovely ideas :) it's hard to navigate all the information when you're beginning. I might have a think about good beginner patterns and do a video on it :)

Glad you enjoyed it 😊 I have definitely been random in the past - and still have random ideas now. I think it's just over the last year or so that it's really started to come together for me. I love lots of cool colours too, but really can't wear them!

Awh thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it and it was useful for you 😊 I adore sewing with linen. I love the sound of your top, I hope it goes well! Have fun with your sewing journey :)

Hello, glad you're enjoying the videos 😊 it can definitely be disheartening when that happens and I can't always see the positive side, but I try to look at it like this, and I think it's true. Pleased you like the waistcoat, the tweed sounds perfect for it! I'll update when it's a bit closer to being ready as a pattern 😊

That sounds like a great start! I'm still very proud of many of my early makes - it's so cool to have made your own outfit 😊

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video and liked the vest. I really like the higher neckline for chillier days!

Yes! It did feel very nostalgic :)

Thanks so much 😊 I'm so pleased you like them!

Ah good! I definitely have ups and downs with sewjo. I think the ZW dress is definitely a good one to toile - I'm wondering if there's time to build that into my retreat. The shape felt a bit off for me at first, but I love it with a few changes 😊 I think your channel is really inspiring my knitting plans at the moment!

Oh cool!! It's a great pattern :) I hope you enjoy it 😊 thanks for watching 🥰

Hello, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, that's just the sort of inspiration I had in my head, and looked at lots of folk garments when I was planning it. I'm glad you can see the opportunities for different versions, I want it to be really versatile and adaptable 😊 this week in working on a fleece version with a blanket stitch edge, then giving it a go as a quilted jacket 😀

@@threadandyarn That sounds really nice! Have you seen the lovely wool fleece as an option for the ordinary fleece? I found a fantastic wall tapestry with pinetrees and deer on an offwhite background last week in an antique shop. I’m thinking of turning it into a jacket. It’s not enough for the whole jacket but I think I can combine it with plain offwhite, maybe wool fleece.

@evasaker2476 I've seen sherpa fleece - that sort of thing? I'd love to use that for it, I think it'd be so cosy :) I had this fleece in my cupboard already so have used this for now, but definitely want to try a sherpa one! The tapestry jacket sounds absolutely beautiful!! I'm sure that'd be brilliant with a wool fleece.

Thank you!

Thanks so much!! Glad you liked the vest and are enjoying my channel, I really appreciate your lovely comment and support 😊

Glad you found it helpful 😊

Thank you! 😊

Thanks, I'm so glad you liked it 😊

Hey Jackie, thanks so much for your message. I know exactly what you mean about cutting into precious fabric, I have a pile I'm a bit nervous of too 😊 I do think style changes, as fashions and our bodies too, but it's nice to get into a more comfortable rhythm with what feels like you 😊

Thank you! Glad you liked it 😊

It is hard sometimes! I do have to check myself when I get overly excited. I think that's fine every now and again, but try not to be like that all the time, and appreciate the process and intention you then work into your makes 😊

Brilliant!

Thanks Lizzie 🥰

Well I'd love to have you if you ever decide to make it into a little holiday to the UK 😊

Thank you! It's definitely going to happen, I'm meeting someone tomorrow to talk about hosting it 🥰

And definitely yes to the velvet!

Hello ☺️ thank you so much. Yes, I'm planning some workshops here in Stroud for the autumn - are you local? I'm also considering running some online ones soon. If you join the mailing list on my website I can let you know once I have more details :)

@@threadandyarn Hi, I’m not local but I would be interested in any future workshops. I will check out your newsletter.

I think so! It's easier than other vests, and the chunky weight helps. You do need to learn how to do increases an be pick up stitches I think, but there are tons of good resources on YT 😊

Hey yes of course! It's the Gilbert Top by Helen's Closet - I've made it a few times, it's a nice one. Haha yes! Bilbo's style is perfect!! I'm going to make a rust velvet one next I think to go full hobbit!

@@threadandyarn Thank you! :) Ooh! Please show us when you do!

Sorry, realised that you said the pattern of the vest, just did't understand that that was the name of the pattern☺️

Hey of course, I should have said 😊 it's the Gilbert Top by Helen's Closet - it's a great pattern! The knitted vest is Vest no 1 by My Favourite Things Knitwear. It's also a good pattern, but not hugely size inclusive. My husband is knitting himself one at the moment though!

Hello, glad you enjoyed it 😊 the shirt is the Olya by Paper Theory x

Hello ☺️ it happened in May and was really lovely. I'm hoping to run more in the next year, including a knitting one in February time! Do sign up to my mailing list on my website threadandyarn.co.uk if you'd like to hear about the next retreats x

Gosh, it's tricky! I will say I used to buy and produce more. I think a lot of that is part of the learning process, but I wish I'd used more thrifted or second hand materials. I also think taking time over projects (e.g. practising topstitching or toiling) instead of rushing to finish is the most important thing. That way you can still be doing lots of sewing, but making better quality things 😊

I make a lot of my own clothes and find this a challenge too! I simply enjoy finding beautiful fabric and sewing and trying different things. My strategy is to try and sew more everyday clothes now, rather than only accent pieces and fancy dresses (which I love, but rarely wear). I really look at what I wear for work. I work as a GP and cycle everywhere, so I can't have fluttery sleeves (I honestly don't see how anyone who does their own cooking can wear those anyway), too wide trouser legs, low necklines (I need to be able to bend over my patients without revealing my belly button) and layers help adapt to different temperatures throughout the day. I have now started replacing worn out store bought clothes, sometimes by cutting them up to make "my own" patterns because I know those garments fit me and get used until they're basically rags (I should really phase out garments faster...but I feel wasteful if something is not completely tattered before discarding it) . I sew my own PJs, basic t-shirts and leggings and even started knitting my own cardigans. Throw in the occasional shirt for my husband and costume for my daughter, and some quilts and my hands keep busy and my mind keeps learning without my wardrobe overflowing!