Secret Life of a Seamstress

Secret Life of a Seamstress

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  • Pattern Reviews

    My First Wildergown – a pattern and fabric review…

    January 23, 2021 /

    I absolutely loved the look of this Art Gallery Rayon fabric from Minerva particularly because of the beautiful rust/burnt orange colour of the print.  I loved it so much that it took me ages to decide what to make with it because I had so many ideas. I’ve been thinking about making the Friday Pattern Company Wilder Gown for a long while now too and after a lot of deliberation I decided that the Wilder Gown and this beautiful, floaty rayon would make a perfect match. I am 5’ 3” in height and although I absolutely love the look of the full length dress, I decided that, for my first…

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    Sally Gauntlett 2 Comments

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    DIBY Club Emmeline Dress

    DIBY Club Emmeline Gathered Dress Pattern Review

    March 5, 2020
  • Pattern Reviews

    The Florence Blouse by Size Me Sewing – A Pattern Review (in collaboration with Makerist.Com)

    January 6, 2021 /

    Before Christmas Makerist kindly asked me if I would like to try one of the patterns from the designers they were featuring in a post Christmas $2 sale.  Makerist have an amazing selection of craft patterns including sewing, knitting, crochet and embroidery, you can visit their website and view their vast collection here. Flicking through all of the lovely sewing patterns on their website the Florence Blouse caught my eye.  I loved the relaxed style of the blouse and the shirring detail at the cuff.  I thought this would be a make for my wardrobe that could be dressed up or down so I knew I would get a lot…

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments

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    DIBY Club Emmeline Dress

    DIBY Club Emmeline Gathered Dress Pattern Review

    March 5, 2020
  • You Tube

    VLOG – What I’ve been sewing during July and August (part 2)

    August 27, 2020 /

    Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel and to part two of my ‘sew and tell’ all about what I’ve been making over July and August. As there are quite a few makes to get through I’ve decided to split the video into a part one and part two. You can find part one on my channel if you haven’t watched it and would like to. I would love you to subscribe to my channel if you haven’t already and don’t forget to hit the notification bell to be notified of any future videos I make. Happy sewing and thank you again for your support! Sally xx

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments
  • You Tube

    VLOG – What I’ve been sewing during July and August (part 1)

    August 25, 2020 /

    Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel and to a bit of an overdue ‘sew and tell’ all about what I’ve been making over July and August. As there are quite a few makes to get through I’ve decided to split the video into a part one and part two. I would love you to subscribe to my channel if you haven’t already and don’t forget to hit the notification bell to be notified of any future videos I make. Happy sewing and thank you again for your support! Sally xx

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments
  • Uncategorized,  You Tube

    Cosy Rainy Sewing Day | Sew a Megan Nielsen Darling Ranges dress with me

    June 21, 2020 /

    Join me for a cozy, rainy day sewing day where I sew up my latest (there are many!) Megan Nielsen Darling Ranges dress in this beautiful embroidered chambray denim. I’d love to know what you thought of this video and whether you would like to see more of this kind of thing. Also do comment below and let me know if you’ve made the Darling Ranges dress and what you thought of it. Happy sewing! Sally xx

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments

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    Five of My Favourite Sewing Tools

    April 24, 2020

    Beginner Sewing Project Hair Scrunchie Tutorial – easy ‘make in an hour’ project

    April 14, 2020
  • Minerva Blog

    Megan Nielsen Sudley Dress/Top Hack

    May 26, 2020 /

    I think I have an obsession with Megan Nielsen dress patterns, there’s always so much potential to adapt and so many different variations to the patterns.  When I saw this beautiful blue spot crepe fabric on the Minerva website loved it immediately and wasn’t sure what to make with it at first, then the Sudley Dress pattern came into my life and I knew it would be the perfect match.  I wasn’t sure at first whether to make the dress version or a top from this fabric and in the end I settled on something in between.  A sort of hack of the pattern to make a peplum top.  Here’s…

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments
  • Uncategorized

    Summer Sewing Inspiration – five looks I’m loving…

    May 17, 2020 /

    Like a lot of us, even though we’re still in lockdown here in the UK, the nicer weather has got me thinking about all of the lovely summer makes I want to sew.  Yes, even though I’m spending most of my time at home in comfy loungewear I still need lots of pretty dresses ok husband!! 😉 Here’s a little round up of summer inspiration I’ve collected over the last few weeks. I’ve linked to anything I mention so if you want to take a closer look just click on any of the links or pictures and it should take you directly to the item. The Floral Midi Dress I…

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments

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    Beginner Sewing Project Hair Scrunchie Tutorial – easy ‘make in an hour’ project

    April 14, 2020

    Five of My Favourite Sewing Tools

    April 24, 2020
  • Pattern Reviews,  Uncategorized

    Pivoine Blouse Review – Delphine & Morissette

    May 10, 2020 /

    I made this blouse back last summer 2019 and, after posting pictures of it on Instagram, I had so many lovely comments, messages and questions about the making process that I kept saying that I would write a blog post on the pattern and I am just getting around to it now in May 2020!!  Lockdown does have some advantages, it’s giving me time to write up a lot of my makes and it’s lovely to get them done and remember what I loved about them. So, anyway, I had seen so many beautiful versions of this pattern around and fell in love with it.  I absolutely love French style,…

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments

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    DIBY Club Emmeline Dress

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    March 5, 2020
  • Uncategorized

    Five of My Favourite Sewing Tools

    April 24, 2020 /

    For this blog post I thought I’d do a little round up of my top five favourite and most used sewing tools.  I could have added many more but these are my current favourites J I’ve linked the products in each section if you would like to check them out for yourself.  Burda Tracing Paper Not sure if this can be considered a ‘tool’ but I guess it kind of is.  I absolutely love this stuff, since I trace off all of my patterns now I go through quite a lot of it. I’ve tried various types of paper (I’ve even tried greaseproof baking paper) for tracing patterns and I…

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments

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    Beginner Sewing Project Hair Scrunchie Tutorial – easy ‘make in an hour’ project

    April 14, 2020
  • Uncategorized,  Tutorials

    Beginner Sewing Project Hair Scrunchie Tutorial – easy ‘make in an hour’ project

    April 14, 2020 /

    These pretty hair scrunchies make an excellent little project for beginner and more experienced sewists alike.  They are brilliant for using up fabric scraps and you can even make them to co-ordinate with your handmade clothes! In my instructions I’ll be sewing on my sewing machine but you could also sew all of this pattern by hand if you don’t have a machine available.  They make a great starter sewing project for children who want to learn to sew too. Step 1 – cut your fabric Choose the fabric you would like to use for your hair scrunchie.  If you don’t have any fabric available or can’t get to a…

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments

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    Five of My Favourite Sewing Tools

    April 24, 2020
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Because I’m not quite ready to move on from this Because I’m not quite ready to move on from this dress quite yet 😂 Sewing dresses is definitely my favourite, what’s yours? Xx 
My full write up of this dress is now up on my Minerva profile. Link in bio 💗
Pattern: @fridaypatterncompany Wildergown 
Fabric: @minervadotcom
•Other Crafts• A while ago I picked up this Pe •Other Crafts• A while ago I picked up this Peter Rabbit cross stitch in the sale at @hobbycrafthq and promptly forgot about it. Knitting is usually my go to ‘other craft’ but over Christmas I found myself in that strange period of having finished one project but not having another one yet to pick up so I decided to give this a go instead. I used to do a lot of cross stitch as a teenager and loved it so it was lovely to pick it back up again and I found it so relaxing and mindful to do in the evenings - with a full light on because it’s definitely harder on the old eyesight than it used to be 🤓 I think I might get myself another cross stitch to pick up on the days I want something different to do. What’s your go to relaxation craft?? Xx
A few snaps of my finished Wildergown by @fridaypa A few snaps of my finished Wildergown by @fridaypatterncompany in this beautiful Art Gallery rayon from @minervadotcom . This was a pattern I’ve admired from afar for a long time but wondered how it would look on little old 5’ 3” me. Swipe to see that I decided to add elastic to the waist in the end to bring it in and give it some more shape. Now that it’s done I couldn’t love it more but I think it’s definitely spring/summer wear for me. My full write up and review of this pattern and fabric is now up on my Minerva profile and there’s a link in my bio that will take you straight there if you’d like to read. I cannot wait to try a top version of this pattern now xx
(#ad fabric #gifted in exchange for a review in my own words)
If you watched my stories at the weekend you’ll If you watched my stories at the weekend you’ll know I’ve already finished this dress but I love to see and post works in progress so continuing the tradition here’s half a Wildergown 😂 I’m going to get some proper photos of the full dress and get this make blogged and up on my @minervadotcom profile this week. I have to say I’m loving this pattern and I can’t wait to make a top version too. Have a lovely Monday xxx
Pattern: @fridaypatterncompany #wildergown 
Fabric: @minervadotcom Art Gallery rayon
New VLOG- Sharing some fabrics I picked up in the New VLOG- Sharing some fabrics I picked up in the January sales and some plans I have for them. I’ve just passed 3000 subscribers over there so thank you so much if you have subscribed - the link to my YouTube channel is in my bio if you’d like to watch 💗
Instagram is such a brilliant way of documenting a Instagram is such a brilliant way of documenting all of my makes - like a little scrapbook of my crafting world. At the beginning of the month I wanted to write down and count up everything I made in 2020, so I did that with the help of my account and I’d made 48 things!! Not all for me I might add but I was surprised at how much. It’s ironic that lockdown has given me my best handmade wardrobe ever but yet I have nowhere to wear it all 🤣 Still claiming that sewing has helped keep me sane though!! 😂 xx
Pattern: @deer_and_doe_patterns Myosotis Dress
Fabric: @stoffstil
I do love a bit of January planning. At the beginn I do love a bit of January planning. At the beginning of this year (at least!!) I’m going to try to be sensible with my makes and sew up some things I’m actually going to get some wear out of during these strange lockdown times. So it’s all the cosy wear for the foreseeable (apart from the pretty dress I need to finish up this weekend but that’s another story) 😜 Are you a planner or a just make what you feel like-er?? Xx
Never taking this sweatshirt off!! 😉 A little s Never taking this sweatshirt off!! 😉 A little snap of my first Linden Sweatshirt from @grainlinestudio on. This was made in a super cosy fleece backed jersey fabric from @minervadotcom. Since I’m all about the lockdown lounge wear at the moment I think there will be many more of these to come in the foreseeable 🥰 What’s your favourite sweatshirt pattern? I have my eye on a couple more 👀 Xx
Team cable match or team non cable match it’s al Team cable match or team non cable match it’s always good to have pockets 🥰
I almost didn’t post this close up because it suddenly became obvious to me that my cables don’t match on the neck band. Then I realised I really don’t care that much because I absolutely love this dress! 😜
Personally I wouldn’t be too put off by stripe matching if you really find it difficult/don’t want to. I have a pretty expensive rtw and the stripe matching on it is terrible - I’m sure I wouldn’t even have noticed if I didn’t sew and I’m even more sure that no one else would be that bothered. 
Of course the finer details are something we can all work towards as we get better I guess I’m just trying to say don’t let it put you off learning (just my humble opinion and I’m talking as much to myself as anyone else here!!) 🤣 xx
Dress: @sewoveritlondon Heather Dress
Fabric: @minervadotcom
Good morning!! I have a new VLOG up on my YouTube Good morning!! I have a new VLOG up on my YouTube channel chatting all about my 10 favourite makes of 2020. The link is in my bio if you fancy a watch 💗 Sneak peek at one of my faves from the picture 😉 xx
I shared this on my stories yesterday so apologies I shared this on my stories yesterday so apologies for the overkill but as a couple of people had asked how I found the pattern I thought I’d share a bit more. This is my first attempt at the Linden Sweatshirt pattern by @grainlinestudio which I made with a lovely cosy fleece backed jersey from @minervadotcom (I think it’s out of stock now sadly). I LOVED this pattern it was so quick to make and if I hadn’t had a couple of overlocker threading issues in the middle I think I’d have made it in about an hour. I love the raglan sleeve style of this pattern too, it makes it a little different from say the Billie pattern which is another sweatshirt pattern I’ve bought recently. I did make mine slightly cropped as I did my usual trick of not checking whether I had enough fabric for the pattern before cutting and just hoping to wing it! 🙈😂🙈
Oh I do love a shirt dress - especially an animal Oh I do love a shirt dress - especially an animal print one! Also - my hand looks strangely huge in this picture 😂
So I’ve decided I’m going to try #makenine2021 this year. I haven’t in the past because I know how easily I feel the pressure of a list but I think this year it might be a good distraction and something to focus on. I hope to share more about this soon. Are you doing make nine this year?
Pattern: @deer_and_doe_patterns #ddmyosotis 
Fabric: @stoffstil
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Recent Posts

  • My Make Nine Plans for 2021 January 24, 2021
  • My First Wildergown – a pattern and fabric review… January 23, 2021
  • VLOG Fabric haul | What I bought in the January sales and some sewing plans January 17, 2021
  • Thoughts on 2020 and what I’ve learned in my crafting journey this past year… January 13, 2021
  • VLOG – Sharing my 10 favourite makes of 2020… January 11, 2021
  • The Florence Blouse by Size Me Sewing – A Pattern Review (in collaboration with Makerist.Com) January 6, 2021
  • VLOG – What I’ve been sewing in November and December… December 21, 2020
  • VLOG – Fabric haul & sewing plans | What I’m hoping to sew in time for Christmas December 15, 2020
  • VLOG – Sew a Tilly & the Buttons Billie Sweatshirt with me… December 8, 2020
  • The Fred Cardigan from Lovecrafts.com – a knitting pattern review… December 4, 2020

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