✉ josie@itisjosie.com 📍 Yorkshire, UK
A bright and airy sewing workspace with a flowing floral sundress on a dress form, soft natural light, warm cream and blush tones, calm creative atmosphere.

Sewing & Crafts, Made with Love

Indie pattern reviews, DIY garment projects, and sewing tips from Josephine's creative corner in Yorkshire.

Insights

  1. Cotton lawn for crisp collars and blouses: a fabric spotlightWhen the heat of a Brisbane January rolls in or a Melbourne spring turns unexpectedly humid, sewists reach for fabrics that breathe. Cotton lawn has long been…
  2. Sewing the Patterns for Pirates Sway Dress: a relaxed knit dress reviewPatterns for Pirates has been on my radar for years, and the Sway Dress finally pulled me in with its easy, breezy silhouette and beginner-friendly…
  3. Cropping the Love Notions Rosalind Top for Warm Weather SewingThe Love Notions Rosalind Top is a relaxed-fit knit pattern with a gently scooped neckline, soft gathered shoulders, and a swingy silhouette that skims rather…
  4. How to Adjust the Waist of a Love Notions PatternA well-fitting waist can make the difference between a garment that lives on the hanger and one you reach for every week. Love Notions patterns are designed…
  5. Working with velvet: cutting, pinning, and pressing techniquesVelvet has long carried a reputation for being difficult to work with, but home sewists across Australia are discovering that a thoughtful approach can turn…
  6. DIY Fabric Ornaments for Holiday DecorFabric ornaments bring colour, texture and personality to a Christmas display without requiring a large budget or advanced sewing skills. They are also a…
  7. Sinclair Patterns Nia Dress ReviewThe Sinclair Patterns Nia Dress is the kind of project that earns a place in a practical handmade wardrobe: comfortable enough for everyday wear, polished…
  8. Resizing the Love Notions Soho jacket for a childThe Love Notions Soho Jacket is designed with an adult body in mind, so making one for a child takes more thought than simply choosing a smaller size. A…
  9. Tencel lyocell for thoughtful sewing projectsTencel lyocell is a smooth, breathable fabric with a lovely fluid drape, making it useful for shirts, dresses, wide-leg trousers and relaxed skirts. It sits…
  10. Sewing neat French seams around curved edgesA French seam encloses the raw fabric edges inside a second line of stitching, creating a tidy finish without an overlocker. It is especially attractive on…

Popular Pattern Reviews

Pattern Designer Type Highlight
Compose Robe (Kids) Love Notions Robe / Loungewear Sizes 2T–16, cosy & practical
Tempo Sundress Love Notions Sundress No closures, shirred back panel
Arlington Sweater Love Notions Sweater Cold-weather staple
Sybil Illusion Skirt Love Notions Skirt (knit) 7 variations, optional pockets
Camden Pinafore Nina Lee Patterns Pinafore dress Year-round layering piece
Ogden Cami (dress hack) True Bias Cami / Dress Versatile wardrobe builder
Burda 6829 Burda Dress Multi-sized, special-occasion

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