Secret Life of a Seamstress

Secret Life of a Seamstress

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    Thoughts on 2020 and what I’ve learned in my crafting journey this past year…

    January 13, 2021 /

    Well, 2020 was quite a year wasn’t it!  For us (like many others) it meant a new home schooling routine and working and staying at home for pretty much most of the year.  Luckily I’m quite a happy home bird anyway so the staying at home wasn’t too hard but of course we missed seeing all of our family and friends so much. Again, like a lot of us I’m sure, the pandemic caused me a lot of anxiety and when anxious my mind is always calmed by crafting, and thoughts of crafting and planning more crafting so it’s fair to say that a LOT of sewing and making happened…

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    April 14, 2020

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    April 24, 2020
  • You Tube

    VLOG – Fabric haul & sewing plans | What I’m hoping to sew in time for Christmas

    December 15, 2020 /

    Thank you for joining me for another fabric haul and sewing plans video chatting about what I’m hoping to make in time for Christmas. I hope you’ll enjoy it! Sally xx

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  • You Tube,  Uncategorized

    VLOG – What I’ve been making during October and November…

    November 23, 2020 /

    Hi everyone – I hope you enjoy this video all about everything I’ve been sewing and knitting during October and November. Apologies that there were some issues with the camera focussing in some parts of the video. Everything I think might be useful is linked in the description of the video but of course if you have any questions do feel free to ask. Thanks so much for watching! Sally x

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  • You Tube

    VLOG – A day/week in my life running my small handmade business…

    November 7, 2020 /

    Hello everyone – welcome to my first ‘day/week in my life’ video running my small handmade business Poppy & Primrose. I hope you enjoy this different style of video I really enjoyed making it. I’ve listed anything I talk about in the video that might be of interest below. If you do like the video I’d love it if you could give it a thumbs up so that I know whether similar videos might be interesting. I’d also love it if you pop me a comment below and tell me what you’ve been up to this week. As always, thank you so much for watching and if you’re already a…

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  • Lifestyle

    A wardrobe edit – the autumn edition…

    October 17, 2020 /

    Since it’s officially October now I thought it was about high time that I put a few hours aside to pack away all of my spring/summer clothes and get out all of my autumn/winter clothes.  We don’t have a lot of clothes storage in our bedroom so I tend to do a seasonal switch over rather than keep everything out.  I think this helps to see what I actually have to wear that’s appropriate for the seasons too. So one grey morning in October I decided I would use the day to have a good old fashioned sort out.  I got literally EVERYTHING out of all of my wardrobes, drawers…

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    Ten things I’ve loved about September…

    October 1, 2020
  • Pattern Hacks

    Friday Pattern Company Sagebrush Top and Fibre Mood Norma Blouse Mash Up

    October 8, 2020 /

    The idea… The Sagebrush Top by Friday Pattern Company has been on my ‘to make’ list for a little while now but with autumn and the colder months coming up I wondered how much wear I’d get out of it if I made it with the short, possibly cardigan unfriendly sleeve.  So I started to think of ways I could adapt the pattern slightly to add a longer sleeve instead and that’s when the Fibre Mood Norma Blouse came to mind. I absolutely love the Fibre Mood Norma blouse too and it’s another one that’s been on my list for a while but I’d not yet got around to trying. …

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  • Lifestyle

    Ten things I’ve loved about September…

    October 1, 2020 /

    One – Getting back to a routine… At the beginning of September we found ourselves thrown back into school days and although we were nervous at first about how we’d all cope (by we I mainly mean me, because I’ll happily admit to loving the extra time with the kids during lockdown) it has proved to be a good thing for us all that we’re finally back into some sort of ‘normal’ routine and I’ve felt much more productive for it. Two – Conker collecting… Every year since my children were little we’ve gone down to the river that runs through our town in September to collect conkers and I’m…

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    Lulu Gathered Mini Dress by The Aware Collection – A pattern review in collaboration with Makerist

    September 17, 2020 /

    For this blog post I’ve teamed up with Makerist.com who kindly invited me to review two of their patterns and are offering my lovely followers the chance to win one of three free patterns in a GIVEAWAY over on my Instagram account @secret_life_of_a_seamstress.  I’d love you to pop over and enter if you can 🙂 Makerist are also kindly offering 20% off of all full price patterns so if you’d like to treat yourself to a lovely sewing pattern as well as enter the giveaway simply enter the code SECRETLIFE20 at checkout. *Please be aware that the giveaway ends on Monday 21 September and discount code ends on Monday 19 October, so…

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    Sally Gauntlett 0 Comments

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    April 24, 2020

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  • 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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  • You Tube

    Sew That Look VLOG

    July 19, 2020 /

    Join me as I attempt to recreate a High Street look with a bit of pattern hacking. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel and give the video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it and I’ll see you next time. Sally xx

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My latest VLOG is now live and I’m talking all a My latest VLOG is now live and I’m talking all about my ‘Make Nine’ plans this week. I’ve also written a blog post all about what I’m planning to make too and you can find the links to both in my bio if you’d like to watch/read 💗
Patterns from top left are:
@iam_patterns I Am Merlin Coat
@sewhouse7 Toaster Sweater
@closetcorepatterns Carolyn Pyjamas
@tailoressstudio Whitmoor Sweater
@tillybuttons Jessa Shorts
@truebias Roscoe Blouse
@truebias Hudson Pants
@mccallpatterncompany M7969
@truebias Marlow Sweater

I’m really excited to be taking part in the challenge this year after lurking along with lots of other makers in the past 🤓

Any tips or advice on any of the patterns please do let me know. Are you taking part? xxx
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! 🙈😂🙈
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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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