Lauren's Instagram Live Q&A 26th February Round up!

Welcome to another Instagram Live Q&A round-up from Monday 26th February from the shop floor!

These Monday evenings are the highlight of my week, answering all of your dressmaking questions and providing dressmaking inspiration and technical sewing tips to 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!

If you want to join next time

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In case you missed it

This week I am wearing my latest make, the Named Kielo wrap dress in the Midnight Wild Thing Viscose Jersey Fabric. It's unique wrap style is great for a changing body shape during pregnancy!

Our new window!

Explore our gorgeous Spring window in our latest blog post linked here!

Join us for a sewing workshop!

If you can, then please come and join us in the Guthrie & Ghani Sewing Studio for one of our Sewing classes!

We have a Sew a Cosmetics Bag workshop with the lovely Dee. Maybe a little Mother’s Day present idea? on Saturday 2nd March from 2:00pm

Friday 8th March there is a Beginner's Overlocker Sewing Class - This is a great way to quickly sew stretchy/jersey fabrics, finish off seam allowances neatly and do lots of other cool things like rolled hems.

Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd March we have a 2 Day Sew your Own Custom Jeans dressmaking Workshop.

Explore and book a workshop here!

Highlights

What should I make with my Pansy Pima Cotton Lawn?

This is such a lovely light weight and crisp fabric to work with that is really versatile for lots of different tops and blouses. Check out my Woven Top Sewing patterns round up blog post and Shirts and Blouses round up blog post for all the Pansy Pima inspiration!

Any idea what on earth my overlocker is doing? Tried everything new needles, cleaning, rethreading but nothing works.

The wavy edge at the bottom looks like the differential feed dial needs turned up so try increasing that and practise on some scraps. It's also worth checking that the needles are stretch needles and this might help with what looks like skipped stitches that are happening to the stitching in the top of the photo.

Fabrics Featured

All questions covered

Tips/advice related questions

Do the patterns come in larger sizes? I’m trying to convert to Canadian sizing from the French and British but not so sure about the exact conversion. A French pattern is good quality sewing however, they are too small for me right now. Any suggestions?

I’m relatively new to sewing and a regular gym user. How difficult is it to make your own gym wear (eg leggings and vest) and do you have any fabric and pattern recommendations for this? If it’s too tricky and technical then I will invest in other garments!

How to line the D&D Magnolia skirt. I wanted to do French seams but was worried about bulk

I have the Sorrento jacket kit in the cord. Does it matter which way I cut the collar (nap) please?

Sewing faux leather bias tape without getting stuck on the presser foot!

How to deal with sewing a jersey that wants to curl up after initial washing?

Any idea what on earth my overlocker is doing? Tried everything new needles, cleaning, rethreading but nothing works.

Need to increase differential feed and make sure its stretch needles in the overlocker!

I want to make waterproof trousers bibs for my little one and would like to line them with your Teddy fabric. Would I sandwich them both together, base them and then sew them as one? Or do I make the Teddy fabric like a liner and have poppers in places so they are either lined or not? Also, how would I make the seams waterproof is there something I can put over them? I hope this all makes sense

I visited your shop last weekend and it was lovely and super inspiring 😊 I have a quick question - do you ever give up on patterns? I’ve made 3 toiles of a french navy dress and I don’t seem to be getting anywhere nearer it fitting and I’m not sure what to do. I love the pattern but I’m just wondering whether to stop and try something else. I’m between sizes so have tried grading the pattern but still no luck. Any advice is greatly received!

Could you help please. I am making a Tessuti Jane Dress. I am unhappy about the lie of the sleeve and realise that I should have noticed it in the photo on the front of the pattern, before I started. The sleeve sticks out. Is there anything I can do, is it because the cap height is too short or could the shoulder be too short. I have enough fabric to recut the sleeve. But my attempts to alter it on the toile are to no avail and I have half made the dress, is it possible alter the sleeve so that it doesn't stick out?. Also, could you recommend a good fitting book?!!

I have just received my Jenna pattern and some gorgeous white seersucker cotton from you. Did you follow the instructions for the shirt collar construction? I’ve made a lot of shirts and blouses and this is a new construction for me. How successful did you find it please if you did indeed use the Closet Core instructions?

Recommendations for fabric/pattern combinations

Love the recent coco French Terry kit, is this fabric available to buy on it’s own?

Is there ribbing to exactly match your cornflower blue knit effect jersey that’s in the sale?

What should I make with my pansy pima cotton lawn?

Wide leg jeans pattern please and thank you.

Fabric suggestion for Anna Allen Pomona wide leg version for the summer please?

Would the ramie fabric work for a TATB Alexa jumpsuit?

I would like to sew a little shirt for my niece age 7, I was wondering what pattern you would suggest?

Pattern ideas for denim shorts please (in preparation for Summer)