Lauren's Instagram Live Q&A 12th February

Hello and welcome to the round-up of Monday 12th February's live Q&A from the shop floor!

Thank you to everyone who contributed and joined! I love spending this time with you each week answering all of your dressmaking questions and getting the inspiration and advice we need to get making our projects.

If you prefer to get comfy with a cuppa and watch YouTube, then click the video below to watch my Live Q&A in full!

If you want to join next time

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In case you missed it

In this video I am wearing the Tilly and the Buttons Coco Top - a sample from our recent Sewing Society kit release, which has now sold out but you can still access my top hints and tips video in the link and we have some really lovely striped French Terrys perfect for Breton style tops.
My dungarees are the Helens Closet Yanta Overalls, also a previous Sewing Society kit and my top tips video is available in this link.
Made using our Enzyme Linen blend fabric available in lots of lovely colours.

I am wearing the Helens Closet Yanta in Enzyme Linen mix. We just restocked and have lots of colours and you can still get my top tips video as it was a past kit!

Sewing Society Update!

The Coco Top kit - very very nearly sold out! A great alternative is a wide-stripe French terry that has just been restocked! The Georgie Dress has sold out, but if you want to still make it then my top tips video is for you and we have a really lovely range of viscose jerseys that would be perfect for this pattern!

You can browse all of my top tips videos to help you with your next dressmaking projects here.

If you would like to have first access to March's kits, sign up to our newsletter list here.

New fun fabrics

Dress making fabrics I recommended and featured in this week's live Q&A

This week's patterns recommendations

Highlights

We were talking about choosing a size and dressmakers cup sizes. For more details advice on this you can check out my blog post and video for help taking your measurements and making bust adjustments, My beginners guide to reading a pattern and choosing a size and My Guide to Dressmakers Cup sizes.

Please could you talk about different types of denim? I have no feel for what is heavy/light.

I have a blog post for this one too! To understand more about denim please head over to my blog post here.

I am new to sewing, I’ve just learnt how to use a machine - where do you recommend I start for a clothes pattern?

Tilly and the buttons Jaimie PJ’s or the Stevie top are both great places to start as the instructions are nice and clear and it will get you used to dressmaking terminology and the shape of garment pattern pieces! The Closet Core Patterns Cielo Top and Fiore skirt are also great for beginngers and there is an online course available on the Closet Core website that features them for more indepth instruction and support.

I find sewing curves hard especially in viscose, as I veer off the intended line. Any tips?

One viewer was suggesting quilters tape, which can help to hold the fabric together, Wonder Tape will do a similar thing. It's like double sided sticky tape for fabric that you can sew through and it will wash out.

My other tips are

• slow slowly and try to look at the fabric as it feeds into the foot of the machine, rather than looking at the needle as it goes into the fabric. By the time the needle is going into the fabric it's too late to change or move position.
• Use plenty of pins or baste the seams with a long stitch length first that will be easy to remove later.
• Draw on the stitch line with some chalk - the clover chaco liners can be great for this as they give a really nice sharp line.
• PRACTISE! The more you do it the better your get! yay!

All questions covered in this weeks live Q&A

When will the scissors with the serrated blade coming back in stock ?

Do you have any tips on reducing the ankle/end width of wide-leg trousers like the Mitchells?

Any tips for replacing an elasticated waistband with a shirred one?

I find sewing curves hard especially in viscose, as I veer off the intended line. Any tips?

When doing a high round back/forward shoulder adjustment should I move back and front sleeve notches? I find the sleeve doesn’t feel right when moving the shoulder seam.

I’ve got some viscose jersey mix and I would like to know have you got any tips on how to sew, wash and also press, this will be first time sewing with Jersey fabric.

Lauren please could you explain the difference between cotton lawn and cotton poplin?

Could I have some fabric recommendations for the Sew Over It Ava Skirt, please? I like your wools but needed to figure out how they wash.

Ready to Sew Partner Overalls want 3-6% stretch. Do you think it’d matter if it had more? Also please could you talk about different types of denim? I have no feel for what is heavy/light.

My mum wants a dress to wear to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. Any patterns recs which aren't too fitted as we will have minimal opportunities to fit/try on and to suit a 75-year-old. I will probably use one of your viscose to make it with.

Do you have any kids sweater patterns so I can be matchy matchy with the jarrah,?

Postnatal loungewear pattern and soft fabric, please. Something size forgiving.

Fabric for a Below the Kowhai Tui pinafore for the spring, please.

I am about to make the French Poetry Pliaedes, but I’m stuck between viscose vs cotton. Opinion please!

What’s the best jumper/sweater pattern to use with the marl knit fabric?

Totally new to sewing, i’ve just learnt how to use a machine - where to start for a clothes pattern?

Do you have any fabric for joggers to match the sage coco top kit.

Do you have any stretch fabrics suitable for smart trousers as opposed to pj bottoms?

A denim fabric recommendation to make a denim shirt dress please? More on the heavier side.

I saw some beautiful fabric on your website will you be able to show me some fabrics together, the two fabrics called Midnight Blooms Cotton Poplin Fabric and Raspberry Viscose Linen Fabric I want to see how well the two fabrics work together so I can mix match to make a top or trouser together as an outfit.

I would love to know if you have any pattern recommendations for postpartum. I am also expecting my third baby in May! I find that during pregnancy I generally have enough clothes that work well enough but I am always lacking clothes that are suitable for the 24hour milk bar that inevitably happens once the babe is born. As I enter my 3rd trimester now I'm trying to get more prepared this time and make a few things that will be suitable for nursing. Do you have any favorite patterns or hacks to make things nursing friendly? I know button downs work but honestly I don't have the time/energy to iron with a newborn and I don't like wearing non-ironed shirts. What do you think? Thanks!!

See you next week!