11th March Q&A Round up!

Welcome to another Instagram Live Q&A round-up from Monday 11th March from the shop floor!

Enjoy reading below my answers to all of your dressmaking questions and a little bit of dressmaking inspiration! Not forgetting technical sewing tips to help you create your next project!

If you prefer to watch dressmaking tutorials on YouTube, then click the video below to watch my Live Q&A in full!

This is my last live for a little while but the team will be filling in for me on Monday nights in one way or another, so keep an eye out for what we have planned to keep you well informed and inspired!

Don't forget you can always reach out to the team with your fabric and dressmaking questions by emailing [email protected] or give us a call 0121 449 8419

In case you missed it

This week I am wearing my current favourite Named Clothing Kielo Dress Wrap in the Monochrome Abstract Animal Viscose Fabric!

I took a look at this Month's Sewing Society Kits. The Fibre Mood, Billie Trousers and the Wardrobe By Me, Amelia Bomber. It is great to see that so many of you have already made or started making yours! There is a very limited number of these kits left.

We will have this fabric by the meter, drop us an email [email protected] and we will add you to the stock notification list!

New fabrics arrivals

This week I highlighted as many of the incredible new arrivals as I could. Have a closer on our website in the 'Just Arrived' section or have a little browse below.

The New Liberty Tana Lawn Collection

Explore the latest Liberty Organic Tana Lawn Cotton Fabric collection. With names like Pride and Bloom, Capital Views and Big Smoke... you guessed it they are all an ode to the iconic city of London.

From famous architecture to playful prints, these stunning silk-like Tana Lawns are calling out for an equally iconic garment to bring them to life and I have you covered on both fronts!

You can also take a look at my blog post for ideas on what to sew with Liberty Tana Cotton Lawn Fabric!

Question Highlights

I have always used cotton or cotton poplin. Are there any fabrics you would recommend to start my journey again to make a summer dress and anything I would need to know to use them?

There are lots of lovely different types of cotton, or cotton mixes that are great for summer dresses. Look for seersucker, which is a more textured cotton. We have some lovely chambrays that are either cotton, cotton/linen mixes or linens. Light weight denim is also a nice option.

If you want to push yourself a bit more a viscose linen makes a gorgeous summer dress, the viscose fibre will make the fabric more slippery and drapey.

But most importantly, just got for it and have fun!

All Questions Covered:

Hi Lauren. What is the difference between the Jenna shirt you are wearing and the Archer? Is it different enough to have both patterns?

I am about to make the Elodie dress, from your sewing kit, do l use a rotary cutter or scissors?

Any tips for sewing with boiled wool?

Any tips for working with viscose, please?

I do the same flat seat adjustment you do, but when toiling a new trouser pattern, do you always do this from the off or after sewing how they fit as designed first?

I have made 2 pairs of style arc Bob pants, one in cord and one in a Viscose linen with stretch. They both fit really nicely when I'm stood up, but when I sit down there is lots of excess fabric around the tummy below the waistband that balloons up. I'm wondering if you could could advise what type of adjustment might be needed or if this is just what to expect with a loose elasticated trouser? I wondered if anyone else had experienced this with similar style trousers. Ant advice greatly appreciated! Thanks

I am making the Fibremood Josephine for my mum. We came in yesterday and chose the fabric - the lovely green FG Delores. I am wondering about the bias neckline - does a bias strip have to be cut on the 45 degree angle, or can I angle it more shallowly? I'd prefer to get the whole thing out of the green stripe if possible, but can't do that if I cut at 45 degrees.

My second question is whether the View B dress (the straight one) needs a split up the back seam? What did you do for the kit? Is there enough movement in it if all the seams are sewn full length?

I have the Donny shirt to make up but it looks like the front neckline slit is a couple of inches too low for me. Would it just be a case of sewing the front seam up a couple of inches or would I need to make further adjustments ?

Recommendations for fabric/pattern combinations

Love these sessions Lauren, thank you. I have returned to sewing after a 20 year gap and have made a couple of tops and a dress. I have always used cotton or cotton poplin and I wondered if there was any other fabric that would be easy for me to sew a summer dress with as I see some lovely patterned fabric. I love the portrait viscose fabric. Are there any fabrics you would recommend to start my journey again and anything I would need to know to use them.

Oh my word just found your IG and am so glad I have!! Any tips you have shared about making kids' clothes? I have a toddler and getting back into sewing after some time with it packed away as baby brain made it hard for me and lost my exclusive sewing space to the baby!

Also any recommendations for types of material for a dress for myself but more formal as for a wedding I'm plus size so needs to be full length in hot weather!

I've got some of your gorgeous muted navy cotton interlock jersey fabric but I need to figure out what to make - I'm a relative beginner but getting to grips with my overlocker..slowly!

I had thought about the Athena Dolmain sleeve top from the Pattern Rooms or Maven Pattern's Somerset Tee but worried they might need a lighter fabric - can you suggest a pattern that would suit the fabric? A top or tunic dress would be great!

A few weeks ago you mentioned Sevenberry indigo fabric which reminded me that I have some in my stash. I’d planned to make a dress with it, but then felt it might be a little too firm in its structure and so have done nothing with it! Are there any dress patterns you’d recommend for fabric of this structure and weight?

Would the sky arts floral viscose fabric be okay for the chalk and notch fringe dress, please?

Do you have any fabric suggestions/ recommendations for a little boy's shirt pls? Thank you!

I'm really struggling to find a shirt pattern for boys (aged 4 upwards)- can you recommend any, please?

Fabric inspiration for Cashmerette Holyoke, please.

Please could I see the scale of the tropical banana foliage viscose?

What would you make with the moleskin?

Would your pale yellow linens be good for the Nina Lee Portobello trousers? Thanks!

Would the Nerida Hansen viscose linen work with the Closet Core Elodie?

Inspired by your lovely Sienna jacket, would the stone sanded cotton twill work for it?

Is it possible to do a FBA on the Olya shirt please?

Trouser patterns for the bamboo twill fabric please? Not too loose and baggy!

Hooded jacket pattern suggestions for the Bengaline waterproof fabric please.

Looking for fabric recommendations for the Sylvie knit trousers by Jalie patterns, will send a pic. Looking for something that has drape but not as much as a viscose jersey, more like the look of the mustard version here