I never had a fitting lesson at fashion school.. This post shares how I learned fitting and pattern making in the fashion industry and home sewing world and the differences between the two. I share how it inspired me to create a clear, step-by-step fitting guide and process for home sewists and pattern cutters to gain the best of both worlds!

If you want to improve the fit and feel of the clothes you sew, your block pattern matters more than you think. This post breaks down the most common pattern-making mistake I see with my students and explains why ease and movement are more important than a super-fitted block. This approach will transform your pattern making and give you a more flexible view on fitting your sewing patterns.

In this blog post we take a look at block patterns, looking at what they are and why they're so useful to you - whether you're drafting your own designs or sewing indie patterns.

A channel, sometimes known as a casing, is a separate piece of fabric (or a turn-back hem) used to enclose a drawstring or elastic. You can sew it to the inside or outside of the garment. You’ll find them on sleeves, hems, waistlines and waistbands.

In this article I'll show you how to create them and share examples to inspire you.