New adventures in embroidery: a guide for the restless dressmaker

Looking for something to occupy those fidgety digits of an evening? If you’re slowing your garment sewing, look no further than embroidery – it’s an easy leap with a number of surprising and unexpected satisfactions…

Can you send homemade clothing to the charity shop?

Making clothes is a lot of fun, but what should we do with our makes when they don’t work out? Will your local charity shop or thrift store sell them on or send them off to be scrapped? Grinlow Studio busts a few sewing urban myths and delivers the lowdown on how to donate your unwanted creations…

Sustainable sewing, part one: magic or myth?

Sewing can feel like magic – paying creative dividends in wellbeing and self-sufficiency – but is it really sustainable? Kicking off with a confessional, this short series explores our sewing habits and how the drive towards sustainability can sometimes turn out to be anything but…

Can you save money sewing your own coat?

Sewing coats is hugely satisfying, but the expense of coating fabrics, linings and interfacings – not to mention patterns and notions – can seem off-putting. Is it possible to sew a decent winter coat for less than you’d pay on the high street? Read on to find out…

Coat making with vintage sewing patterns

If you’re looking for the perfect coat, why not try a vintage pattern? Whatever the season, there’s a vintage sewing pattern to inspire you. Whether you use the designs as a launch pad for your own bespoke piece, or follow faithfully for some of the best sewing instructions in town, you won’t regret diving into the sewing pattern archives for inspiration…

Sewing for your nether regions: new thrills for the jaded sewist

I’m just going to come right out and say it: I made sanitary towels. And do you know what? The process delighted me as much as, if not more than, sewing a pretty dress. Making things from scratch you previously considered impossible to make from scratch – the things that fall into the category of ‘I buy them’ – is a uniquely satisfying proposition. So read on (if you dare!) to find out why our ‘unmentionables’ might be just the ticket for sewjo joy…