Author: sewmanju

By day I work in the exciting world of pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, registering medicines (!), but by night I turn in to a sewing diva, making all manner of clothes in my beautiful sewing space (which you can tour using the link at the top of this blog). I love how sewing and sewing clothes that fit my curvy body continually challenges me. I enjoy working with all different types of fabric, and whilst I don't like to put restrictions on myself and say I won't buy RTW, the truth is that I probably rarely do buy it, preferring the fit of my own me-made clothes. I love to use natural fibres where ever possible and colourful coats are an obsession of mine! Sewing is both my addiction and my therapy. You can contact me at sewmanju@yahoo.co.uk

McCalls 8030: DIY Shirt Dress in Natural Hemp Linen

October 16, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Hey Everyone, Hope you are all doing well. A little while back, The Hemp Shop, based here in the UK, reached out and asked if I would be interested in making something from one of their hemp based fabrics. I was allowed to select a fabric of my choice and also paid to write this […]

OOP Simplicity 2153: DIY Navy Cotton Twill Jacket

September 26, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Hey Everyone, Today I am sharing a jacket that I made before I went on holiday back in July. At the time, I figured a lightweight jacket like this was missing from my wardrobe. Not something waterproof, but just a light layer to throw on over clothes during the cooler days of our summer. Turns […]

AnnA Allen Anthea Blouse: DIY Button Front Eyelet Blouse with Puff Sleeves

September 6, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

Hey Everyone, I am almost caught up with my pre-holiday sewing. One more item to go after this one. Today I am sharing details of the Anthea Blouse by new-to-me pattern designer, Anna Allen. I combined two different eyelet fabrics (found on eBay) to create an airy summer blouse. This blouse is simple to sew […]

McCalls 8040 Bodice and Sleeves with McCalls 7971 Skirt: DIY Green Floral Viscose Crepe Dress

August 28, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Hey Everyone, I have been searching for the perfect green viscose crepe print for at least a couple of years to make a dress, and finally found this fabric from Rainbow Fabrics (no longer available). It’s still not my perfect green fabric, but it’s close. I would perhaps have liked less white and more green, […]

Butterick 5795: DIY Animal Print Wrap Front Swimsuit

August 22, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Hey Everyone, Today I am sharing the swimsuit I wish I had made before we went on holiday, but didn’t. I figured I should make the swimsuit anyway once we were back, because having a great fitting swimsuit to hand is always a good thing. This was made using Butterick 5795, and this is the […]

McCalls 7948: DIY Border Print Cotton Tiered Trapeze Dress

August 17, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

Hi Everyone, I made another version of McCalls 7948, this time in a very light weight cotton border print that I have had in my stash for a few years. You can see my first version here and read about the adjustments I made to the pattern for that first version. I made this version […]

McCalls 7974 Modified to A Top in Gingham Viscose

August 5, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

Hey Everyone, A Super short post today to share a top I made using McCalls 7974. I have made this pattern once before as a dress (see here), and it really wasn’t very hard to modify it to top length, simply by shortening the skirt pieces to create a short ruffled peplum. As a general […]

Megan Nielsen Dawn Jeans and Petite Knit Anker’s Summer Shirt

July 27, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

Hey All, I made another pair of Megan Nielsen Dawn jeans in a bleached cotton denim from Cloth House. It’s the same denim that I used to make my denim jacket from. On this version I did a 0.5 inch full inner thigh/ knock knee adjustment using the Minott method as shared by Debbie over […]

Butterick 5616 Denim Jacket, Named Clothing Reeta Shirt and Simplicity 8389 Woven Joggers

June 26, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

Hey Everyone, Today’s post is all about comfortable staples made using patterns that I have shared before, and beautiful, breathable fibres. Pictures speak louder than words to be honest, but let me give you the basics. The linen shirt and khaki tencel twill woven joggers were both made using fabrics purchased a little while ago […]

Bella Loves Patterns Flor Dress: DIY Black Swiss Dot Cotton Ruffle Wrap Dress

June 13, 2021.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hi All, I am excited to share a pattern from a new-to-me pattern company today: this is the Flor Dress from Bella Loves Patterns, and it is a beautiful, fun, feminine and extravagant pattern which can be sewn as either a dress or a crop top. There is so much to love about what this […]