Behind the Scenes on Stretch - Sketches to Proofs

When a big project is finished, I'm usually already onto the next thing. This year though, one of my resolutions is to stop and smell the roses I've already grown - not just keep planting more bulbs!

It's nice to be able to look back at snapshots taken over the past couple of years while I wrote my second book Stretch!, and remind myself of the work - and joy - that went into creating it. I started it back in the Summer of 2016, which seems like a lifetime ago now. I thought you might be interested in seeing some of the stages of putting the book together...




The planning stage was a lot of fun - particularly when it came to designing the patterns. I put together a moodboard of Pinspiration plus some sketches for the book proposal to give the publishers an idea of what I had in mind. The final designs turned out pretty close to these original drawings.

Sewing Space Tours... Jane's Sewing Shed!

Iiiiit's time for another Sewing Space Tour! For today's nosey around someone's lovely sewing area, we've got something a little bit unusual. Let's hear more from Jane...

Hello! I'm Jane, and I live in Reading, in the UK. Until January this year I've sewed from a small table in the corner of the kitchen, spilling onto every surface available. I now have the luxury of my own workspace at the end of the garden, which is a very posh green shed! It's decked out in wood inside, and I've got dozens of fairy lights twinkling away, strung all round the walls and across the ceiling.

I've always loved sewing, fabrics, and threads. My grandmother had a beautiful desk, which opened to reveal dozens of spools of shiny, colourful cotton, which looked like jewels to my seven year old eyes.

I'm not as organised as my Nana was - when I'm in full sewing mode my workshop looks like a bombsite! But it's all part of the process. I spend a therapeutic hour or so cleaning and tidying, making sure everything is in its place, then it's all action - scissors, thread, fabric, printing ink, more fabric, paper, even more fabric, with BBC Radio Four burbling away in the background. If I've been organised, I'll have downloaded the Afternoon Dramas for the week to get lost in.

Peek Inside My New Book!

Thank you soooo much to everyone who has already ordered my new book! I’m beyond excited for you to get your hands on it on the publication day on 8 March 2018 so you can start sewing. In the meantime, here’s a sneaky peek inside…

Stretch! Make Yourself Comfortable Sewing with Knit Fabrics has a similar design and layout to my first book, Love at First Stitch. It was a no-brainer to work with publishers Quadrille again, as they completely "get" the craft community and did such a great job on my first book. The amazing photography is by Ellie Smith (fashion photos) who also worked on Love at First Stitch, and Fanni Williams (instructions) who is our regular photographer for Tilly and the Buttons patterns. My mum said it looks good enough to eat, and I couldn't agree more!

Free Gift with Stretch Pre-orders!

We’re excited to open up pre-orders from our online shop for copies of my new book Stretch! Make Yourself Comfortable Sewing with Knit Fabrics.

As a thank you for ordering it from us, not only will your book come signed by me, but if you place your order by Sunday 18 February 2018, we’ll send you this embroidered patch as a free gift!





Iron this patch onto your handmade clothes to declare your allegiance to the Secret Pyjamas Squad – a collective of stitchers who love making clothes that don’t just look great, they’re also sooooo comfy to wear it’s like you’ve gone out in your PJs!