All posts tagged: sewing

After refugee aid cuts, faith groups help Afghan women connect through sewing

After refugee aid cuts, faith groups help Afghan women connect through sewing

DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — The Refugee Community Partnership, a mutual aid organization that supports immigrants, used to offer a sewing circle for Afghan women whose families had recently been resettled in the Triangle region of North Carolina. But the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to refugee admissions as well as refugee-support organizations meant the partnership no longer had the resources or staff to run the program, which included transportation for the women, many of whom do not drive, and daycare for their young kids. Now, two Durham-based congregations have stepped in to fill the gap. The Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Judea Reform Congregation raised money and sought volunteers to offer these new immigrants a place to improve their sewing skills, meet fellow Afghans and pick up some English skills. Volunteers from the congregations drove the women from their homes to the UU fellowship, where the class has been meeting; arranged for an Afghan class instructor and a translator; and looked after the children. The two congregations also arranged for donations of at least a …

Sewing Bee winner Annie Phillips’ guide to upcycling clothes: from patching to quilting

Sewing Bee winner Annie Phillips’ guide to upcycling clothes: from patching to quilting

If you’re a Great British Sewing Bee fan, you might remember my face. I’m Annie Phillips. I won the 2022 series of the show and now I sew for a living. I divide my time between running my own fashion house (Made by Annie) and leading upcycling workshops to breathe new life back into your wardrobe. I’ve even written a book on the subject called Upcycle: A Modern Maker’s Guide to Sewing and Mending a Preloved Wardrobe. Some of the people who sign up for my classes have never used a sewing machine before, while others are more experienced, but most are coming for the same reason. They’ve fallen out of love with their wardrobe, but they can’t bring themselves to buy new clothes when their old ones still have so much wear. If that sounds like you, then you should try your hand at upcycling. It’s just another word for the “make do and mend” ethos that has inspired generations of sewers. Here are my top tips for first-timers. You can see all the …

How to set up your sewing machine, according to a Sewing Bee winner

How to set up your sewing machine, according to a Sewing Bee winner

Now, there are just a few key things to check before you get start sewing. Firstly, look at your sewing pattern and make sure that you have selected the right stitch, length and width. Stitches tend to be illustrated in some way on the machine, and your instructions will explain the function of each one. Make sure you have the right needle type and sewing foot on your machine, too. Then, check your tension. This is important as it is the difference between loose and secure stitching. Often, the average tension is indicated on the dedicated dial. It tends to sit between three and five and denotes the best setting for a normal piece of cotton. A lower number gives less tension, and higher provides more tension. Your sewing pattern instructions will explain if this needs to be set in a specific way for your project, otherwise it’s a case of playing around to see what settings your chosen fabric needs (more on this below). Just before I start sewing, I also like to check …

Sewing Bee winner Annie Phillips answers Telegraph Recommended reader questions

Sewing Bee winner Annie Phillips answers Telegraph Recommended reader questions

How did your sewing journey start? Lorna, South East My sewing journey started when I was around eight. My grandmother is Ghanaian and it’s a part of her culture to make her own clothes. So she, without question, said: “You’re learning! You’re learning how to sew!” to me and all my cousins. But I was the only one that pursued it. I’m really glad I did as it gave me a different outlook on dressing, clothing, altering and vintage that I continued into my adult life. What inspired you to innovate with sustainable dressing? Charnjit, West Midlands For me, reworking from home is something that’s always been in my family. My dad has upcycled furniture for a long time. I can’t remember anything that we had from new, so it wasn’t a conscious choice. As a student it was out of necessity but also being experimental. Then, working in the fashion industry, I saw how much waste there was and I thought this is something I can practically do as a conscious choice to try …

The 9 best sewing machines for beginner and intermediate sewers, tested by a Sewing Bee winner

The 9 best sewing machines for beginner and intermediate sewers, tested by a Sewing Bee winner

We’re living through a golden age of making. Crafts are booming as people turn to creative, mindful hobbies for stress relief, skill building and extra income. Creating things is popular again, and sewing sits at the centre of the movement. I’m Annie Phillips, winner of Great British Sewing Bee in 2022, and I sew for a living, designing, teaching and helping new stitchers learn the craft. I’ve worked with everything from budget-friendly beginner machines to industry-led workhorses, and I know exactly what makes a machine frustration-proof, fun to use and great for those just starting out. In this guide, I have shortlisted nine sewing machines which suit all types of sewers, from novice to skilled. I’ve included trusted brands like Brother and Janome, as well as more industrial favourites such as Juki. Prices range from £90 to over £1,500. They are separated by their features, from automatic needle threaders and speed controls to specialised embroidery stitches and computerised systems. I explain all of this and share my expert reviews below, followed by answers to the …

The best places to take sewing classes in LA

The best places to take sewing classes in LA

Walking into Sawtelle’s Sewing Arts feels a bit like stepping into Oz. The nondescript white building, formerly a post office, has tall walls brimming with more than 30,000 yards of multicolored fabrics along with sewing notions and embroidery supplies and kits. Garment sewing and quilting classes are held in a small classroom in the back corner of the store outfitted with adjustable-height worktables covered in cutting mats. Owned by mother-daughter duo Julie and Rachel Marquez, who acquired the business from its previous owner in 2017, Sewing Arts is an authorized Bernina dealer and service center that repairs most sewing machine brands but exclusively sells Berninas. “Our goal is to build a community, a makers space versus just a retail space or school,” said Julie. “Our shop is the ‘home store’ for the L.A. Modern Quilt Guild, the original guild the Modern Quilt Guild came from.” The Marquezes are the third owners since 1955 of the business, originally known as Bay Cities Sewing. That store stood on what is now the Third Street Promenade in Santa …