FIVE REASONS WHY I LOVE SUNDAYS…

1.  No alarm clock…

2. Creating some artwork…

3. Sunday lunch …

4. A lie in …

5. A walk somewhere different…

What are your top five? …

WHERE TO BUY YOUR VINTAGE SEWING PATTERNS…

If you love your vintage clothes and you are handy with a needle, then there are lots of places where you can buy a pattern from.

Some speciality online sites include…

Places to look for them when you are out are –

  • Thrift & Antique Stores: Good for unexpected, budget-friendly finds.
  • Estate Sales & Garage Sales: Excellent for purchasing large collections at once.
  • Facebook Marketplace: Useful for finding local sellers. 

Some other good sites are …
The Fifties Dressmaker  –  is an online shop specialized in selling original vintage sewing patterns from the 1930s to the early 1960s, catering to enthusiasts looking to recreate authentic 1950s styles. These patterns often focus on the iconic, tailored silhouettes of the era, such as pencil skirts, full-skirted dresses, and structured blouses. 

–Gillians Workroom
–Spiffing Things
–Paper Ladies Shop

Some important things to remember when buying vintage patterns is to check you have the complete pattern and that none of it has been damaged by moisture or insects.

You could also buy some reproduction patterns which would ensure they are complete from companies like Simplicity, Butterick, and McCall’s who often sell modern reproductions of their classic designs on their websites.

Source: Etsy EBay The Vintage Pattern Shop Mrs Depew Back Room Finds The Vintage Sewing Pattern Company Depop The Fifties Dressmaker

HOW TO FIND YOUR LOCAL SEWING CAFE…

Sewing Cafés in the UK are a great way to learn more about sewing and are also very sociable. Notable spots include Make Town in London, Guthrie & Ghani in Birmingham, Sew Fabulous in Brighton, and Sew Creative in Petersfield [82]. These venues provide expert tuition, from beginner to advanced dressmaking, as well as social sewing nights.

All keen crafters can hire a sewing machine by the hour while enjoying a lovely cuppa (some cafés offer it free) and some tasty cakes to go with it. They are community hubs, creative spaces, where you gather to enjoy your sewing or repairing or even upcycled your clothing. A great way to meet like minded friends.

Some cafés offer workshops and parties where you can get together to chat about your next project. Or learn all you need to know to get started on your first project, with inspiration and advice.

The best place to start your search is The Sewing Cafe website. You can also just type Sewing Cafe then your area into Google and some will pop up. Just a few more popular cafe’s are listed below.

Popular UK Sewing Café & Workshop Directory

  • London & South East:
    • Make Town (Hackney): A creative makerspace with sewing machine rentals, workshops, and social nights.
    • The Fashion School (Chelsea/Wimbledon): Offers sustainable fashion education.
    • Sew Fabulous (Brighton): Provides affordable classes and community groups [80].
    • Made and Making (Near Brighton): Offers various workshops and sewing retreats.
    • Sew Creative (Petersfield): Well-equipped studio with classes for all levels [82].
    • Cotton Club (East Grinstead): Features sewing classes for adults and children [83].
    • Sip & Sew (Battersea): Known for embroidery workshops [91].
  • Midlands & North:
    • Guthrie & Ghani (Birmingham): Offers a wide range of dressmaking courses and monthly sewing clubs.
    • Stirchley Sewing School (Birmingham): Specializes in classes for different age groups.
    • The Create Workshop (Liverpool): Provides sewing for beginners.
  • South West & Wales:
    • Creative Space (Bristol): Offers structured courses and workshops.
    • Stitch & Flourish (Bristol): Focuses on private sewing lessons and sustainable sewing [79, 86].
    • Made My Wardrobe (Bristol): Offers workshops and open studio sessions [76, 81].
    • All Sewn Up (Wales): Provides children’s intro to sewing and various workshops.
  • Scotland:
    • Sew Confident (Glasgow): Offers a wide variety of classes for all levels.

Source: The Sewing Cafe AI