I bought my first copy of Sew Beautiful magazine today. It’s an American magazine, but you can order it in the UK from Magazine Café. I just happened to stumble across a copy in a newsagent that I don’t usually venture into, so that was a very lucky find!
I picked it up because the July/August issue has suffolk puffs (yo-yos) on the front, and they have instructions for making pretty embellishments with them, similar to my flower tutorial.
The magazine is primarily to do with heirloom sewing, so it places a lot of emphasis on hand sewing techniques. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that it’s full of smocking! There was a beautiful traditional Christening gown, as well as some women’s blouses which were adapted from current commercial sewing patterns.
The majority of the designs are for babies and children, but that certainly doesn’t stop me from being inspired by them. When I was looking for pictures of little smocked dresses, I came across Moxie Fab World. I’d happily wear any of the dresses featured in Cath’s Easter Parade post, despite being at least thirty years “too old”.
I’m definitely feeling inclined to make a few more incarnations of Butterick 5317, perhaps starting with a spotty one…
