Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a good week so far. Brrrr is it chilly isn’t it? Have you got snow with you? We’ve had a little here in the Cotswolds but it isn’t sticking around much. The temperatures are still very low though making it the perfect time for snuggling down with some crafting. Today I’ve got a new make to show you using some of our cotton jersey fabric. Its the perfect cosy make for this time of year so without further ado…

What I Made

I decided that a long sleeved cosy pj set was much needed in March. Although it’s starting to look like Spring it certainly isn’t feeling like it. We all need a bit of extra warmth and this jersey is perfect for those kinds of makes. I chose the Juno pjs from Tilly and the Buttons book Make It Simple. They were a great quick make, very easy to follow instructions and a good fit at the end too. I went up a size as I like my pjs to be roomy.

What I Used

I used my trusty Janome 360DC which is a great beginner sewing machine. It will take you all the way from basic dressmaking right through to much more complicated sews. We sell these machines in store and twice a year we have our Janome rep in to run workshops and days on how to use your sewing machine. You can also get your machine serviced which we suggest you do annually.

Of course, I used our gorgeous leaf print cotton jersey in the shade sage and these pjs took about 3.5m for my size. This jersey is so soft and such good quality, I cannot sing its praises enough! I have a little leftover which I am planning to make into a baby garment for sister who is expecting but it would also be great fabric for a T-Shirt or comfy dress.

The best thing about this sew was that I was able to use our Maraflex thread which is available in the Witney store and will soon be available online too. This thread has a little stretch to it meaning you can sew up stretch fabrics with a normal sewing machine (instead of an overlocker) and a straight stitch! It is a total game changer and I have been going a bit knit fabric crazy over here. Cue all the jumper dresses and T-shirts!

Learn To Do It Too!

If you would like to learn to make your own clothes we have a couple day long workshops perfect for beginners. The Intro To Dressmaking Course runs Sunday 23rd April 10am – 4:30pm at Banbury Sewing Centre and Saturday 10th June 10am – 4:30pm at Witney Sewing Centre. During this workshop we will be making a super simple shift style dress and you’ll learn how to read a pattern, cut the fabric and sew everything together. This is a great workshop for total beginners or anyone who want to improve their skills.
Fabric for the dress can be purchased prior to the workshop, or use some form your stash! The pattern is included as part of the workshop price. Book here!