March madness

/in , , , /by

Finally, as we leap into March (happy birthday to all you leaplings!), the mornings are starting to get a little lighter and the evenings are getting a little longer. Spring is just around the corner… and then it snows! Yes, today in Somerset we have had a lovely sprinkling of snow. Hmm… what to wear, what to make?

But March it is, and with it brings the return of the Frome independent market, new workshops and new fabrics at Millie Moon.

Tomorrow is the first market of the year, and our pattern swap box will be back out.  For those who are unfamiliar with the swap, you can bring in any pattern you no longer use, didn’t like or never opened and swap it for one in the box.  If there is nothing you want this month we will give you a token to have a look another time.   All we ask is that all the pieces are still useable, the front is marked with the size cut and the instructions are included. Come along and have a rummage. We have a variety of small project patterns, vintage patterns, and dressmaking patterns.

New in for spring!

We have had lots of deliveries over the last few weeks. Here are a few of the new arrivals to tempt you back to sewing this spring. From lovely delicate Indian cottons, to soft cosy Dashwood needlecord, we have something for all weathers and all wardrobes. We have also had a restock of the Merchant and Mills patterns, including the new Ludlow, Sanda and Margo, (perfect for Annas’ next garment making workshop). Keep an eye out for new samples coming soon!


 

Workshops in March 

 

KIDS CLUB 7+ years

Sewing tutor Claire is a local teacher, author, beach cleaner and self confessed crafty mess maker! Once a month, kids sewing club make a new project learning valuable hand sewing skills whilst having fun!

This month is Mad March Monsters! Next month they are making Wererabbits and carrot bunnies! Sign up online or in the shop. 

 

12th march 6 week     Sewing your own clothes skills sessions

Dressmaking tutor Anna is back with a new evening class.

Anna has created a series of workshops to cover all areas of dressmaking in more detail. Rather than working on one project, you will learn a different technique and skill each week. Whether you are a beginner or just a bit rusty then the tips and techniques in this masterclass will enable you to go on and produce beautiful garments.

Expect to make lots of samples, take away clear notes and practise the skills to build up your confidence .

sessions include:

  • Introduction to paper patterns
  • Zips and buttonholes
  • Hems & Seam Finishes
  • Working with stretch and overlocker demonstration
  • altering patterns
  • making a garment from your favourite garment
  • mending and alterations

 

12th march      6 week garment making 

Dressmaking tutor Anna is back with the her popular 6 week evening class.

Bring your fabric and pattern and let Anna guide you through the process at your pace with lots of helpful tips and advice along the way. Small groups mean lots of attention for everyone. This is suitable for beginners with basic machine skills or intermediates who want to try a more advanced project.

 

*these workshops do not include pattern or fabric. You are welcome to purchase these from Millie Moon with a 10% discount.

 

24th march     1-1 Using your overlocker 

New overlocker still in the box?  Forgotten how to thread it? Are you stuck on a project and in need of some sewing tips? Do you need a refresh on how to use a certain technique?

Whether you’re a complete beginner, or a more experienced sewer in need of a fresh pair of eyes and some tips, Anna’s 1-1 overlocker workshops could be the perfect solution for you!

In these sessions, our dressmaking tutor Anna, will be able to answer all of your sewing queries and problems. Just bring along your overlocker for that personal help.

 

 

If you have any questions about workshops or cant see what you want then please just get in touch

Hope you to see you  for market or maybe a workshop

Rachel and Becki

xxx

Its Christmas!

/in , , , , /by

Its Christmas time!

So it’s December, and maybe you have some snow, already? Are the decorations up?

It’s super cold here in Somerset and the lights are twinkling on the trees above the shops on the hill. It’s all looking very Christmassy.

Our Christmas windows are full of festive treats. We have Christmas Pyjamas using patterns by Anna Vickery and Merchant and Mills. We also have velvet banners and stockings.

These lovely jewel coloured velvets are back in stock and make beautiful luxurious stockings. We also have some shimmering satin and viscose from @fabricgodmother which would make beautiful party dresses!

Just click the images and follow the links to the website for more information

 

Gifts galore with lots of sewing and craft kits for all ages!

Millie Moon Sewing Kits from £15

Becki has been busy designing sewing kits and patterns for Millie Moon. These kits are a great thing to make and give as a gift 🎁 The are perfect for people just starting out on a machine.

The Kits include everything you need plus photographed instructions.

Kids crafting kits from £6

George the Gingerbread man and the Christmas Stocking who along with Dave the Dinosaur,Gerald the Giraffe,Harry the Hedgehog and Bertie Bat are great fun for kids to make.
Approx 7″ tall
£10
Mini kits 
Smiley hanging heart kit
£5
approx 2.5” tall
mini hanging bunny kit
£5
approx 4” tall
The kits contain everything you need to make them, you will just need a needle and some scissors. These felt kits are cute and fun, as well as teaching kids how to sew and try different stitches. A great gift idea for Christmas. The kits are suitable for ages 7+

Patchwork Christmas stocking kits £25

Make your own patchwork stocking.

Make a stocking that can be used every year. Learn a simple patchwork technique in your choice of fabrics to create something unique. Everything included in the kit including photographed instructions.

kit includes all materials, available in red or green

Botanial dye kits £42

These beautiful botanical dye kits from the silk studio in Frome are just gorgeous.The ultimate bundle dye kit for lovers of slow fashion and crafting with nature. This beautifully presented kit is perfect for those curious about the world of natural dyeing and who enjoy crafting and nature. Bundle dying is a perfect introduction to natural dyeing as it’s very simple to do whilst yielding beautiful, colourful results. This kit contains all you need to create a one of a kind, botanically dyed silk scarf – a piece of wearable art.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Upcoming events!

Last workshops of the year.

Darning with Skye Sunday 10th December 11-4pm £84

Sunday 10th December is our last workshop of the year. We have a couple of places left on our Darning workshop with Skye from @slowstitchclub. Why not step away from the madness of Christmas shopping and learn a skill to use in the new year.

11-4pm £84 includes all materials, a starter kit and a light lunch,

Kids Club Monday 14th December 4.30-6.30pm £18

Join Claire for the last  kids club of 2023. Claire is a local teacher, author, beach cleaner and self confessed crafty mess maker!

The sessions will be held on 2nd MONDAY of every month

4.30-6.30 PM

£18 per session

Each session there will be a new project to make.

Book online or call the shop 01373 464437
refreshments included – please let us know any allergens in advance

In the notes on the booking form, please add the name of the child you are booking for and any dietary/allergen requirements

Millie Moon Christmas Party  

Please keep an eye on our socials for more happenings! 

—————————————————————————

New Year workshops  2024

 

January

9th -make a pattern from a preloved garment with Anna

14th – kids machine sewing for beginners with Becki age 10+

16th  -6 week garment making for beginners with Anna

18th -3 week beginners machine sewing course with Becki

21st- BeginnersPatchwork and Quilting with Lucy

28th – Get to grips with your overlocker with Anna

– kids club age 7+

-teen club age 11+

– The Sewcial club 18+

February

4th -Sashiko decorative mending with Skye

 4th -Darning for visible mending with Skye

11th- merchant and mills day with Anna

– kids club age 7+

-teen club age 11+

– Sewcial club

For more details and book please visit the website www.milliemoonshop.co.uk or pop in and see us for a chat. Anna is still offering her 1-1 sewing help and overlocker tuition.

 

BOOK NOW 
===================================================

and don’t forget the gift vouchers! we have two options available, in store or online. These vouchers are valid for 1 year and can be used for workshops or fabulous fabrics and haberdashery. 

As always we would like to thank you all for supporting our independent business, whether in the shop, on a workshop, online or just following us on the social media, we really appreciate it. We couldn’t do it without you.

Wishing you a wonderful and merry Christmas and a peaceful new year 

Rachel and Becki

xxx

It’s our birthday! 15 years on Catherine Hill.

/in , , /by

Happy 15th birthday Millie Moon

 we are celebrating!

 

On 4th July 2008, we opened Millie Moon on Catherine Hill. It was truly our “Independence Day’ as we followed a childhood dream to open a shop together. It was on the opposite side of the hill to where we are now, we had a very small start-up budget and opened with a limited but gorgeous range of products.

15 years later, a bigger shop and a lot more stock we are still loving life at Millie Moon. Working together all these years, has got us through some difficult times, as well as creating some amazing memories. We have been very lucky to have been supported by our families and our customers, some who we now call our dear friends.

thank you everyone!

Rachel and Becki xx

Then and now, changed much? 

4/7/2008

 

4/7/2023

New product launch

To celebrate we have exciting new exclusive Millie Moon products to launch!

Becki has been working really hard on a simple pattern range for everyone. So far we have launched the Adult and Kids Aprons and we now have two new kids patterns to share with you.

The Dotty Dress and the Tilly Romper.

 

The Dotty Dress and the Tilly Romper (named after our two nans) are suitable for ages 6-18 months. A multi-sized simple beginners pattern. These patterns are available online and instore £10 each. BUY HERE

 

We also have a new exciting fabric from @koolKactus.  The celebration fabric is great fun for a party dress! We have made two for the window, the Liberty Natasha tiered dress and Anna Vickery kids party dress. Both patterns and fabric are now available in the shop.

Buy fabric here 

Special birthday discount! 

15%

As its our birthday we are offering you all a little gift!

On the 4th July 2023 there is 15%off all products in store and on the website.

Just say happy birthday at the till or pop the code happybirthday15 in at the checkout.

                                                             *****************************

The discount is valid for one day only and cannot be used on workshops or gift vouchers. 

 

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

Getting a decent photo of us is really hard! One we are not usually in the shop together except for market day and two, we are sisters. Sensible is not our thing, we automatically revert to being kids…but we always have time to check in with each other, have a natter and cuppa.

Our monthly Pattern Review

/in , , /by

Hello and welcome to our monthly review blog post!

Each month we will be trying patterns from different independent pattern companies and working with different fabrics we stock here in the shop. We will make them up on our work bench, so you can see the finished garment sample. We have found having the samples made up in the shop really helps people decide on a pattern, so if you can’t pop in and browse the rails, hopefully this will help you decide.

We always make the garments up in our current fabric ranges so they match the season and this month we have chosen the lovely soft floaty fabrics by Fabric Godmother and patterns from The Assembly Line.

This months Patterns used are:

The A line midi skirt from @The Assembly Line £21

The Cuff top from @The Assembly Line £21

The  Minimalist Kaftan from @The Assembly Line £21

 

 

The Cuff top from @TheAssemblyline £21.00

The cuff top pattern is a simple beginners pattern. It was easy to follow. Very detailed and helpful tips along the way.  There is a small seam allowance (1cm) so just be careful with the markings and notches. An overlocker is really useful to edge the fabrics as the seam allowance is so small, but you could do this with a zigzag stitch on your machine.

This pattern is available in two size options.  XS-L has a straight fit and features a boat neck. XL-4XL has a more curved fit with more volume under the arm, bust darts and a round neck with keyhole opening at the back. They both feature cap sleeves with wide elastic cuffs.

Sized from XS-4XL (approx 6 to 22), but we always recommend you go by your measurements rather than dress size. Dress sizes vary so much between designers and none of us really fit in the same box do we? There are no zips or buttons. Great for beginners.

The lovely soft petula crepe Fabric by @FABRIC GODMOTHER  was perfect for this pattern (£20 per metre).  This would also be fabulous in a rayons, chambray or linen.

A Lovely pattern to get started with and one to make over and over again, a wardrobe staple. There is also a V Neck pattern which has a looser fit with full, gathered sleeves and a cuff dress pattern which has a keyhole opening, elastic waist and side pockets.

Level Beginner

Sizes  – 6-14 or 14-22

Total Cost £48.69

Buy here:

Pattern £21.00

Fabric £24.00 (1.2m)

Interfacing £1.45 (25cm)

Thread £2.15

Elastic £0.80

 

 

 

 

 

The midi skirt  from @The Assembly line £21.00

 

Another lovely pattern for a beginner to garment making. The A-line midi skirt has an A-Line fit and is detailed with an elasticated waist and and slant pockets. Alternative waistband  included in the pattern is a paper bag skirt with belt loops and a belt. There are also different hemlines included in the pattern with the option of an elasticated or rounded hemline.

The lovely soft cotton chambray Fabric was perfect for this pattern (£14per metre).  This would also be fabulous in a Linen or  midweight cotton. It might be ok with a light needlecord for autumn months, we will give it a try later in the year.

Available in sizes, XS-3XL (6-20), The fit was true to size , so the fabric requirement was good, with very little wastage. Again the seam-allowance is small so an overlocker is useful. The slant pockets are really simple to add. Everything is topstitched with gives a really professional finish.

Level – Beginner

Total Cost £49.30

Buy here:

Pattern £21.00

Fabric £23.80 (1.7m)

Thread £2.15

interfacing £1.45

elastic £.90

 

 


The minimalist kaftan by @TheAssemblyline £21

 

The minimalist kaftan dress has a wide, relaxed silhouette. It features a v-neck both from and back,  a box pleat in the back and front panels with slant pockets. This challenging dress pattern is available in 2 sizes. Small fits XS-L and XL fits XL-3XL. As with the others the seam allowance is small and an overlocker is useful.  Although it does require a lot of fabric (approx 3m) There is very little wastage.

It is suitable for Advanced beginners. It’s a fairly easy pattern but the origami style is a bit confusing when you first attempt it. Keep going! It will make sense.

The lovely soft Tobu crepe Fabric by @FABRIC GODMOTHER  was perfect for this pattern (£20 per metre). It would be a lovely dress of a wedding or a summer cover up for a holiday or maybe made in a soft bamboo jersey to lounge in at home. This would also be fabulous in a rayons, chambray or linen.

Level Advanced Beginner

Total Cost £80.15

Buy here:

Pattern £21.00

fabric £56.00 (2.8 metre)

Thread £2.15

Interfacing £1.00

 

 

ABOUT Fabric Godmother fabrics

Fabric Godmother has created fabrics that are desirable, innovative and fun to wear. The Fabric Godmother Collection is full of vibrant conversational prints with a number developed in a exclusive collaboration with the Print Pattern Archive, bringing vintage prints to life. Available in crepe, lawn and Viscose, these fabrics drape beautifully.

(Viscose is a fibre that is derived from wood pulp, making it a natural fabric that is more breathable than cotton. It is also known as Rayon.)

All of the fabric factories are Oeko-Tex standard 100 certified, giving you piece of mind in our modern era of eco awareness.

ABOUT The Assembly Line Patterns

Modern indie sewing patterns from Scandinavia. The Assembly Line is all about clean lines and contemporary designs, functional yet stylish, Simple with an unexpected twist. Whether you’re a beginner or a skilled maker, you’ll love sewing and wearing The Assembly Line designs.  All the patterns are available in paper format and come with easy-to-follow assembly instructions.

************************************************************************************

Hopefully these will have inspired you to have a go at one our patterns. If you still feel nervous why not book onto one of our workshops with Anna. Never used a sewing machine before but want to learn, book our beginners workshops. Just need a little help on specific project then maybe a 1-1 session would be better for you. Just take a look at our workshop pages with upcoming dates. You can book online or in store.

If you have made up one of the patterns, drop us an email with your review and we would love to see pictures! Info@milliemoonshop.co.uk

Happy sewing

Rachel and Becki x

The April review

/in , /by

Hello and welcome to our monthly review blog post!

Sorry this one is a bit late, got distracted with all the bank holidays, still  not sure what day it is!

Each month we will be trying patterns from different independent pattern companies and working with different fabrics we stock here in the shop. We will make them up on our work bench, so you can see the finished garment sample. We have found having the samples made up in the shop really helps people decide on a pattern, so if you can’t pop in and browse the rails, hopefully this will help you decide.

We always make the garments up in our current fabric ranges so they match the season and this month we have chosen the lovely bright fabrics by Ruby Star and patterns from Liberty. The windows look bright and cheery, even on rainy spring days.

This months Patterns used are:

The Zina Wrap skirt from @liberty fabrics  £18.50

The Bella tea dress from @liberty fabrics  £18.50

The  Mabel tiered dress from @liberty fabrics £18.50

The Zina Wrap skirt from @libertyfabrics £18.50

 

The Zina wrap skirt pattern is a simple beginners pattern.

This pattern has lots of options, Short, long, and with a ‘flounce’ edge.Sized from 6 to 22, but we always recommend you go by your measurements rather than dress size. Dress sizes vary so much between designers and none of us really fit in the same box do we? There are no zips or buttons. Great for beginners.

I had been looking forward to making a wrap skirt but hadn’t found a pattern that worked well. This one is really simple and makes a lovely style skirt. Its instructions allow for it to be well finished on the inside too. The only fiddly bit was making the button hole to thread the tie through. This was made easier with the buttonhole foot on my machine.

The lovely soft cotton “reverie’ Fabric by @Ruby star was perfect for this pattern (£18 per metre).  This would also be fabulous in our new rayons or linens that have just arrived.

The pattern is printed on a fine traditional patternweight paper. This can be fiddly as the paper tears easily. If you want to use it more than once, then maybe  trace the Pattern onto thicker paper to begin with. The instructions are set out in a traditional format with line drawings. It’s made in an apron style, sewing the panels together to make almost a semicircle. The fit was true to size , so the fabric requirement was spot on, with very little wastage. 1.5cm seam allowance included

A Lovely pattern to get started with and one to make over and over again, a wardrobe staple.

Level Beginner

Sizes  – 6-14 or 14-22

Total Cost £66.45

Buy here:

Pattern £18.50

Fabric £45.00 (2.5m)

Interfacing 80p (20cm)

Thread £2.15

 

The Bella Tea dress from @liberty fabrics £18.50

 

The Bella tea dress is a gorgeous vintage style dress. Based on the tea dresses of the 30s/40s it has a beautiful round collar and a puff sleeve. The pleating on the front adds delicate detail. This pattern is more for intermediate sewers who have done some garment making in the past.

This pattern has a couple of variations but I went with the traditional option B  Sized from 6 to 22, but as before, we always recommend you go by your measurements rather than dress size.

The lovely soft cotton “daffodil’ Fabric by @Ruby star was perfect for this pattern (£18 per metre).  This would also be fabulous in a Liberty Lawn or maybe in our new rayons and crepes.

As above, The pattern is printed on a fine traditional pattern weight paper. This can be fiddly as the paper tears easily. If you want to use it more than once, then maybe  trace the Pattern onto thicker paper to begin with. The instructions are set out in a traditional format with line drawings.  The fit was true to size , so the fabric requirement was good, with very little wastage. There are a lot of pieces so make sure you mark the pieces well with numbers, darts and notches. 1.5cm seam allowance included. It has a side zip. The opening at the neck is closed with a hook and eye but you could use a button and loop. I also added the ribbon bow detail.

Level – Intermediate

Total Cost £85.95

Buy here:

Pattern £18.50

Fabric £61.20 (3.4m)

Zip £2.50

Thread £2.15

interfacing £1.60 (40cm)

 


The mable tiered dress by @liberty fabrics £18.50

The beautiful dress pattern is  for ages 6m to 4 years and suitable for beginners.

The flutter sleeves  and tiered skirt make it suitable in light weight fabrics, like lawn, linen or cotton. I chose a beautiful floral liberty fabric  for this one to complement our adult outfits for the window. This sample is age 3-4 years. The dress has a couple of options, with ruffles, elasticated sleeve or sleeveless. There is also a coordinating hat in the pattern. There is a zip.

A very simple pattern to make with good quality pattern paper and multi sized. It has photos to help you follow the instructions. The only tricky bit is probably adding the zip and the bias binding. Binding can be a bit fiddly, just take your time.

A really pretty little dress.

Level Beginner

Total Cost £54.75

Buy here:

Pattern £18.50

fabric £31.20 (1.2 metre)

Bias Binding 40p (1.m)

Thread £2.15

Zip £2.50

 

 

ABOUT LIBERTY FABRICS

The new Liberty Fabrics dressmaking patterns draw inspiration from their fashion archive, with contemporary style details offering a fresh twist on classic vintage shapes.

“The Liberty Fabrics department is a true design institution. World-renowned for our historic 50,000-strong print archive, and for our in-house studio where new artworks are painted and drawn by hand, the Liberty Fabrics offering reflects our storied heritage and century-spanning passion for art and design. From ornate Art Nouveau layouts and classic 1930s ditsy florals to bold geometrics, landscapes and offbeat conversationals, our fabrics offer a colourful canvas for bespoke creations of all kind “  taken from @liberty.co.uk

ABOUT Ruby Star FABRICS

Ruby Star Society is a sisterhood and collaboration of five modern day makers. Ruby Star Society consists of Melody Miller, Alexia Abegg, Rashida Coleman-Hale, Kimberly Kight and Sarah Watts.  Along with collections such as Rise, Stay Gold, Tarry Town, First Light, Speckled and Spark.

“Friends, sisters, creators, trendsetters, star-gazers, hell-raisers, and modern-day makers. Our designers’ talent and vision are the backbone of Ruby Star Society.” – Ruby Star Society

**************************************************************************************

Hopefully these will have inspired you to have a go at one our patterns. If you still feel nervous why not book onto one of our workshops with Anna. Never used a sewing machine before but want to learn, book our beginners workshops. Just need a little help on specific project then maybe a 1-1 session would be better for you. Just take a look at our workshop pages with upcoming dates. You can book online or in store.

If you have made up one of the patterns, drop us an email with your review and we would love to see pictures! Info@milliemoonshop.co.uk

Happy sewing
Rachel and Becki x

Summer workshops at Millie Moon

/in , , /by

Hi Hello to you all,

So it’s been a bit of a damp spring so far, so we have decided to look forward to all the bank holidays and hopefully some sunshine in May. However you are spending the extra holidays, we hope you have some fun! Sorry to all those of you that have to work. After many years in retail, we both know how hard it is working weekends and bank holidays when everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves. (But, don’t worry when they all go back to work, the sun will shine and it will be your day off!)

We have had the deliveries of all the lovely new fabrics we promised. The new rayons, dobby and chambrays are gorgeous for the summer season. We are now waiting for the fabulous Merchant and Mills linens to arrive back in stock. We’ve also had a lovely delivery of The Assembly Line Patterns and the latest edition of Tauko magazine has arrived. Perfect for that inspiration.

 

Fabric Godmother Rayons, crepes and lawns – Buy here 

Pastel Chambrays – Buy here

Cotton Dobby – Buy here 

 

Tauko magazine – Buy here 

 

Workshops for Summer

May- August 

Never used a sewing machine before? Want to be more sustainable and not add to the fast fashion? Maybe you need to find something to do with all those baby clothes you kept? We have a workshop for you

 

NEW WORKSHOP!

Join Becki on this brand new beginners workshop. This 3 week evening class  is designed for those that are complete beginners to a Sewing Machine. Learn the basic skills for sewing alongside making some simple projects to take home. All equipment and machines are here at Mille Moon for you to use and the price includes your choice of fabrics for each of your projects so no need to bring anything! This class will give you the foundations in machine sewing that you will feel confident to go onto one of the other classes, maybe dressmaking or patchwork.

Starts Tuesday 23rd may for 3 weeks 6-8pm £115  book now 

other Summer workshops available: 

21st May – Beginners quilting and patchwork ,with Lucy @tuckitinquilts

23rd May- Beginners machine sewing course, with Becki

9th July – Darning and Sashiko visible mending with Skye

16th July – Beginners Quilting and patchwork with Lucy

23rd July- Stretch garment making with Anna

25th July – 6 week evening class , beginners dressmaking with Anna

13th August – Garment making workshop – make a merchant and mills pattern in a day with Anna (images below)

For more information go to the website or Book here

We also offer 1-1 sessions, whether you need help with getting to grips with your overlocker, or just some dressmaking advice. We also have our regular clubs running –

2nd Monday of the month – kids club with Claire and Ammie

2nd Thursday of the month – Sewcial Club with Becki

last Sunday of the month – Teens dressmaking club with Anna

Images from “Garment in a day! Make a Merchant and Mills pattern in a day workshop with Anna 

Sewcial Club,

This monthly open shop night is designed to bring our lovely customers together over tea and cake, but also giving people a chance to use our space and machines that they may not have access to at home. Come regularly and chat, sew and share your tips with each other or just come and finish that little sewing job you’ve been unable to do before. We do ask you book in advance so there’s plenty of space and cake for everyone!

Time 5.30-7.30pm £6 per person on  2nd Thursday of every month.

next one will be 9th march  Book here 

 

 

Keep sewing and a big thanks, as always, for supporting our small independent business. Our April pattern review will be out of next week! Hopefully see you soon in the shop, at the independent market, on a workshop or maybe at our Sewcial club,

Rachel and Becki xx

The March review

/in , , , /by

Hello and welcome to our monthly review blog post!

Each month we will be trying patterns from different independent pattern companies and working with different fabrics we stock here in the shop. We will make them up on our work bench, so you can see the finished garment sample. We have found having the samples made up in the shop really helps people decide on a pattern, so if you can’t pop in and browse the rails, hopefully this will help you decide.

We always make the garments up in our current fabric ranges so they match the season and this season we’ve gone very pastel for spring! Although the wet dark day outside is not really shouting spring but our windows are cheery!

This months Patterns used are:

The Stevie by Sew La Di Da vintage £18

The Elvis by Sew La Di Da vintage £18

The tunic dress (kids) by Anna Vickery £10

 

The Stevie BY Sew La Di Da Vintage

The Stevie pattern pays homage to the legendary Stevie Nicks. It’s floaty, swishy and has fabulous sleeves. Perfect for swirling and dancing.

This pattern has lots of options, Short, long, with ruffle bottom, with ruffle sleeves or go for it and have all the ruffles. Sized from 6 to 20, but we always recommend you go by your measurements rather than dress size. Dress sizes vary so much between designers and none of us really fit in the same box do we? There are no zips or buttons. Great for beginners.

I used a lovely soft lightweight cotton gingham on this pattern (£16 per metre). Perfect for summer, dress it up for a wedding or even for the beach over a bikini. This would be fabulous in our new double gauze fabrics that have just arrived. Customise it with fringing, or maybe make it in lace for true Stevie style.

The pattern is printed on a lovely heavy weight paper, making it easy to use. The instructions are clear with photos making it easy to follow. The fit was on the generous side, so please do check your measurement before you buy the fabric. The version I made was a size 16 and had no frills to make it more of a casual day dress, plus it saves quite a bit of fabric if you are on a budget. However I think next time I will definitely add the frill on the bottom.  Think the double gauze is calling me. “Everywhere”

Level Beginner

Total Cost £63.75

Buy here:

Pattern £18

Fabric £42.40 (2.65m)

Interfacing £1.20 (30cm)

Thread £2.15

Back of Pattern

Back of Pattern

Finished dress

Finished dress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Elvis Jumpsuit by Sew La di da Vintage

The Elvis pattern needs no explanation . You “can’t help falling in love” with it’s stylish collar and has fabulous wide legs. Perfect for swinging those hips!

This pattern has lots of options. It can be made in full length, shorts or as a dress! With optional cuffs and back yoke, the creative options are endless. Plus you can alter the length of the body to make it fit well.  Sized from 6 to 20, but as we said above we always recommend you go by your measurements rather than dress size.

I used a soft lightweight cotton look linen on this pattern (£8 per metre) in a bright blue with a coordinating pink zip. This could be made up in denim, Canvas, linen, cotton or even a rayon. You need a lot of fabric for this pattern, so this fabric was a cheaper option than using 100% linen but still has the soft slubby look. The fit was on the generous side, so please do check your measurement before you buy the fabric

The pattern is printed on a lovely heavy weight paper, making it easy to use. The instructions are clear with photos making it easy to follow. It gets a little tricky with the collar, which is why it is an intermediate pattern rather than beginners. Hopefully it won’t leave you “all shook up” !

Level – Intermediate

Total Cost £62.75

Buy here:

Pattern £18

Fabric £36 (4.5m)

Zip £3

Thread £2.15

 

Back of pattern

Finished jumpsuit

About Sew La Di Da Vintage:

Based in Lyme Regis, Caroline Smith and her team create “vintage patterns’  cut to modern sizes. They have designed and produced a range of vintage style dress patterns that are great for beginners. The ‘Stevie’ and the ‘ELvis’ patterns are  from their new “frock star” collection and are £18.00. Find out more @sewladidahvintage


The tunic dress by Anna Vickery 

 

The tunic dress by Anna Vickery is a versatile kids pattern for ages 3-12 years.

The long sleeves  and short length make it suitable all year round. It can be worn with leggings, jeans or tights underneath. Also it could be lengthened to make a longer dress. I chose a bright floral Robert Kauffman fabric ‘FLorista for this one to complement our pink and blue adult outfits for the window and used a  bright orange bias binding around the neckline. This sample is age 3-4 years. The dress has an elastic waist and optional elastic around the cuffs.  There are no fastenings or facings. Keeping it simple for beginners to dressmaking.

A very simple pattern to make with good quality pattern paper and multi sized. It has photos to help you follow the instructions. The only tricky bit is probably adding the bias binding. Binding can be a bit fiddly, so take your time.

Level Beginner

Total Cost £29.25

Buy here:

Pattern £10

fabric £16 (1 metre)

Elastic 50p (1 metre)

Bias Binding 60p (1.5m)

Thread £2.15

Back of pattern

Finished dress

About Anna Vickery:

Anna studied Fashion Design at The University of the West of England in Bristol, and has been our in-house dressmaking tutor for 10 years. Anna also works with Womenswear and Bridal designer Alexandra King. 

You can follow Anna on facebook

Anna designed this range of 10 versatile and simple patterns for everyone to have a go with. All patterns are tried and tested in our workshops here at the shop. These patterns are available as Paper patterns or as PDF versions for download and print at home. Multi size easy patterns for ages 1-5 years or 3-12 years

**************************************************************************************

Hopefully these will have inspired you to have a go at one our patterns. If you still feel nervous why not book onto one of our workshops with Anna. Never used a sewing machine before but want to learn, book our beginners workshops. Just need a little help on specific project then maybe a 1-1 session would be better for you. Just take a look at our workshop pages with upcoming dates. You can book online or in store.

If you have made up one of the patterns, drop us an email with your review and we would love to see pictures! Info@milliemoonshop.co.uk

Happy spring sewing
Rachel and Becki x

Spring workshops and the Return of the Independent Market

/in , , , /by

Hi Hello to you all,

At last Spring is around the corner and we are beginning to see some sunshine here in Somerset. How about you?

We love Spring at the shop as we start to get deliveries of lovely new fabrics. This season has already seen the arrival of the new Merchant and Mills Linen/Cotton gingham fabrics as well as some lovely costal fabrics from Dashwood. Definitely feeling summer vibes and days at the coast with these.  We have just ordered some very exciting new rayons, cottons, linens and double gauze which should be here next month. These are perfect for dressmaking, especially the new Assembly Line patterns and the new Etta pattern from Merchant and Mills.

Buy here

 

Buy here

The Frome Independent market

Hooray it returns on 5th March. This amazing market takes place on the 1st Sunday of the month from March to December.  A great way to see the local talented artisans and there is always amazing food!

We are open 11-3pm on market Sundays

Workshops for Spring

Never used a sewing machine before? Want to be more sustainable and not add to the fast fashion? Maybe you need to find something to do with all those baby clothes you kept? We have a workshop for you

19th March – Teach me to machine sew, with Angela

21st march –  6 week garment making evening class, with Anna

23rd March – Piped cushion covers, with Becki

16th April  – stretch garment day, learn how to work with stretch fabrics and make a garment (pattern included), with Anna

30tjh April – Sashiko and darning workshops with Skye @slowstitchclub

21st May – beginners quilting and patchwork ,with Lucy @tuckitinquilts

For more information go to the website or Book here

We also offer 1-1 sessions, whether you need help with getting to grips with your overlocker, or just some dressmaking advice

Liberty shirt,Made on the last 6 week class by Stephen

Darning and Sashiko with Skye @slow stitch club

Quilting and Patchwork with Lucy @tuckitinquilts

 

Sewcial Club,

This monthly open shop night is designed to bring our lovely customers together over tea and cake, but also giving people a chance to use our space and machines that they may not have access to at home. Come regularly and chat, sew and share your tips with each other or just come and finish that little sewing job you’ve been unable to do before. We do ask you book in advance so there’s plenty of space and cake for everyone!

Time 5.30-7.30pm £6 per person on  2nd Thursday of every month.

next one will be 9th march  Book here 

 

 

Keep sewing and a big thanks, as always, for supporting our small independent business. Hopefully see you soon in the shop, at market, on a workshop or maybe at our Sewcial club,

Rachel and Becki xx

Your Invitation to our Christmas Party

/in , /by

 

Well, we always enjoy a little party here at Millie Moon as you probably know, so we thought hey its Christmas, why not have a shop party and invite you all along too! (Any excuse to wear sparkly things!)

We will be in store from 5-7.30pm with tinsel in our hair and mulled wine in our Millie Moon mugs.

Come along and join us, have a mince pie, sing along to the Christmas songs and maybe browse the shelves whilst you are there.

We are offering you a *20% Discount on EVERYTHING in the store on the evening.

Also, as a very special treat there is *10% off all workshops and gift vouchers. We have never offered this before, but if you are stuck for a gift idea, this might be a winning solution!

*Offer is only available in store, this offer is not available online via Etsy or our website

 

 

We will also be holding a small raffle to raise funds for the local pet rescue charity “CornPop Critter Rescue”

Hope to see you there if not we will have to drink all the wine ourselves :)

Rachel and Becki

xxx