FAQ

Which sewing machine should I get?
You're in luck, I've written a whole blog post to answer this question!

Which sewing machine do you use?
In the studio we sew on the Janome DKS100, which is a fantastic mid-range digital machine. At home I use a Janome 6600P, a higher end professional digital machine, with super strong guts and lots of flashy features. You can read more about them - as well as my first (mechanical) sewing machine - here.

Should I get an overlocker/serger too?
An overlocker/serger is great for creating a neat finish to seams, sewing stretch fabrics and more. I didn't get one until I'd been sewing for a year - they're certainly not essential when you're starting out but a great investment once you get serious about sewing. I've got a Brother 1034D at home, which is a great value machine to start on, and in the studio we have the Janome 6234XL and Janome Airthread 2000D.

What tools do I need if I'm just starting sewing?
Don't worry about getting everything at once, just focus on the essentials - here's what I'd suggest.

Help! My sewing machine is playing up!
Ooh noo! Alas, I’m no expert on the mysterious mechanics of the machine. If it’s a minor issue, you might be surprised how often you can find the solution just by Googling it – chances are someone else has had the exact same issue and written about it online. If it’s an ongoing problem, best get your machine checked out by a professional :)

I'm just starting sewing - can you recommend an easy sewing pattern for beginners?
Yes I can! I designed my own line of sewing patterns with beginners in mind - the clothes are easy to construct, with jargon-busting instructions and the printed patterns include photos of each step so you can see what you're supposed to be doing. The Dominique skirt, Miette skirt, Bettine dress and Stevie top and dress are PERFECT first garment projects for beginners - easy to make, easy to fit, with no fiddly zips, buttonholes, darts or set-in sleeves. Also, my book, Love at First Stitch, is written for beginner dressmakers and includes lots of lovely patterns from easy peasy pyjama bottoms through to skirts, dresses and a blouse. Read more about what to look for in a beginner sewing project.

Is seam allowance included in your patterns or do I have to add it myself?
All our patterns include a 15mm (5/8in) seam allowance - no need to add it.

I’m looking for a particular kind of fabric – where can I get it?
This post lists the places I usually buy fabric in London. I’m not an expert on who stocks what though, so if you're desperate to find something in particular, your best bet is to give a few of the shops a call and see if they have what you’re looking for.

Can you recommend a good sewing book?
Well, I hear that Love at First Stitch by Tilly Walnes is pretty good! It takes you from the absolute basics of threading a sewing machine through to creating a wardrobe full of clothing you'll be proud to say you made yourself. I also love these books:
Are the Coco/Mathilde/Miette patterns included in your book?
No - Love at First Stitch features all new patterns that are exclusive to the book. They're called Brigitte, Margot, Delphine, Megan, Clémence, Mimi and Lilou. Oh là là!

Do I have to download / scale up the patterns in your book?
Nope - they are full scale, multi-size paper patterns included in a pocket at the back of the book. They are printed on both sides of the sheets so be sure to trace them off before you cut them out.

How do I leave a comment on your blog?
Thanks for chipping in! To leave a comment, you'll need to sign in with some kind of account (Google, Yahoo, AOL, Wordpress... etc). If you're commenting on a post that's older than a couple of weeks, your comment won't show up immediately as we monitor these ones to filter out spam (some of which is pretty hilarious).

I'm coming to London! Can you suggest some places to go fabric shopping?
Yes I can - read this!

I'm in London! Can we meet up for coffee?
I love meeting up with other sewing enthusiasts and crafty business owners. However, the down side of running my own business is that I don't get out much... Sorry :(

Can you recommend some online fabric shops?
Some of my favourite online fabric shops are featured on the right hand side of my blog. Here are some tips on online fabric shopping.

Which dress form/tailor's dummy do you have?
I have a Lady Valet adjustable dress form, which is great as you can adjust it to your size, plus it looks really nice.

What was that sewable tracing paper I saw you using on the telly and where can I get some?
It's called Swedish tracing paper and you can find it here.

I really like that vintage sewing pattern featured on your blog. Where can I get a copy?
You can source vintage sewing patterns on eBay, Etsy and specialist online shops, as well as at antiques and charity shops. While you may not find the exact same pattern, similar styles come up all the time. Good luck!

Does sewing run in your family?
Yes! My great-grandfather was a tailor, my great uncle was a pattern grader, and my mum was a knitwear designer. They didn’t teach me to sew though...

How did you learn to sew?
I started by taking workshops, reading books, following sewing blogs and trial and error. Later on I took some courses in professional sewing techniques and pattern drafting at the London College of Fashion. If you want to learn to sew, my book and online workshops offer a great introduction.

Can I use a photo from your blog on my website?
The content of this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported Licence. What that means is that you can repost an image so long as it’s for non-commercial purposes, you don’t alter it, you credit www.tillyandthebuttons.com and link back to the original post. Please don’t reproduce tutorials in full and please request permission if you want to use more than one image. And I’m more than happy for you to post as many images as you like to Pinterest as long as they link back to the original source :)

I've started my own blog. Can you give me some tips on building an audience?
You can watch a video of my 'Craft Your Blog' talk which I gave to designer-maker businesses at Folksy Summer School here.

I want to start my own crafty business... Can you give me some advice?
Sure - I wrote a post sharing my tips on turning your hobby into a business. Good luck!

Will you help promote my product/business?
If you run a small sewing-related business that my readers would love to hear about, you might consider becoming a sponsor. If your sewing business is larger, please get in touch to discuss how we might work together. Unfortunately I very rarely review books or other products because of limited time and editorial space. And I don't promote clothes shops - I'd rather readers made their own.

We would like to contribute an article / guest post to your site...
Sorry, we create all the content for this blog ourselves.

Can I buy the clothes that you make?
Sorry, we don't sell the clothes that we make. Our aim is to teach you to learn to sew clothes yourself.

Can I pay you to alter some clothes for me?
Sorry, we don't offer an alterations service.

Can I sell garments that I have made from your sewing patterns?
Sorry, purchasing one of my sewing patterns allows you to make garments for yourself or as gifts, not to sell them to others.

Can I teach a sewing class using your sewing patterns?
Yes, you can! Each student will have to buy their own version of the pattern as they are licensed for personal use only. If you plan to repeat the class, you might prefer to place a wholesale order for patterns. Please be sure to credit the pattern to Tilly and the Buttons and use the pattern's correct name. You're also welcome to teach classes using the patterns in Love at First Stitch if you buy one copy of the book for each student and credit it accordingly - please contact the publisher to place a wholesale order. Thank you.

If your question is about a pattern, workshop or something else shop-related, please read this. Thanks!
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