Floss and Mischief - new cross stitch kits in store!

We have been on the look out for a modern bright and fun range of cross stitch kits and when we spotted Floss & Mischief on Instagram we knew they were perfect for Butterfly Bright!

Their easy to make kits come in a wonderful range of beetles, bugs and butterflies,the hardest thing will be choosing which design to go for!

Each kits contains the aida, a pattern, a "how to" guide, a needle and all of the relevant embroidery threads - you just need to buy a hoop to help you make it.

If you haven't started Christmas shopping yet make this your first purchase!

Enjoy!

Ali x

Merchant and Mills

We search high and low for the latest and most beautiful haberdashery and when we saw Merchant and Mills we just had to get some in for you!

Their "workbook" contains 6 dressmaking patterns for some of Merchant and Mills' most classic garments that help you to make a multi layered wardrobe from scratch.

We have also selected some of their key haberdashery lines including pins, needles, needle threaders and bees wax blocks.

I think the first thing I am going to attempt is this beautiful looking shirt dress!

The Merchant and Mills Rapid Repair Kit has to be one of the most beautiful emergency sewing kits I have ever seen, with black and white thread, needles in a glass tube, safety pins, shirt buttons, tape measure and the cutest monogrammed  scissors this is the perfect addition to your holiday holdall and would also make a fabulous gift for any sewing enthusiast.

We love the uber cool vintage style branding and for us there is no question that Merchant and Mills is the bees knees in haberdashery!

Do pop in soon to see for yourself!

Workshops with Lazy Daisy Jones

We have been very lucky recently to have Ashley, aka "Lazy Daisy Jones" back at the workshop teaching various dressmaking classes.

we started with our favourite class - knicker making - where the ladies took their time choosing which of our many beautiful fabrics would be perfect for a pair of frillies!

I settled on butterflies of course with a matching yellow gingham elasticated trim.

Ashley is a very patient teacher and we were all listening intently to her every instruction...

We had some interesting looks from passers by when they realised what we were constructing but the finishes results were so pleasing we didn't care!

Then last week Ashley taught two keen novices to make their very own A-line skirt complete with darts and a zip. They both got a lot out of the day and Ashley has written a very touching post on her Lazy Daisy Jones blog about the experience!

Next we look forward to the pyjama bottoms workshop this coming thursday - we have a morning or an afternoon session available and this class would suit a dressmaking beginner who can use a sewing machine and promises to be another fun day in the workshop...

We hope to see you soon for one of our wonderful workshops!

Ali

x

Debbie Bliss Yarns!

We are very excited to announce that we will now be stocking Debbie Bliss yarns

We have been asked many times to get the Baby Cashmerino and we have decided the time is right to expand our range of high quality yarns by bringing in Debbie Bliss.

We are also getting a range of the stunning Rialto Lace

which looks beautiful knitted up! 

Have a look at the beautiful Sea Glass Shawl LazyDaisyJones made with the same yarn from us! This shawl is designed by Cecile Balladino.

and in August we will get some Louisa Harding yarns Amitola and Grace

I used the Louisa Harding "Grace" yarn to make my crochet cowl with last summer! You can find the free pattern for this cowl on the website.

 

Lets get making!

Ali

x

Arigurumi with Lazy Daisy Jones

We fell in love with arigurumi immediately when LazyDaisyJones brought us this gorgeous and rather lovable slug!

He is made with our Rowan Yarns DK and was the by-product of a pair of beautifully crocheted socks!

It is amazing what you can do with leftovers!

We will arranging some summer workshops with Lazy Daisy Jones to teach arigurumi and look forward to seeing some creations as amazing as these dolls by LaDeDahKids stocked at Butterfly Bright by Gathered.

Keep an eye on the website for new workshops coming soon!

Back to Basics - your essential guide to Make Do and Mend!

Make Do and Mend-able:Back to Basics is the new e-book and is your essential guide to Make Do and Mend!The book will launch on 21st April, but you can be one of the first to get your hands on a copy by pre-ordering now!

Inside you will find 19 chapters, and 150 pages of Make Do and Mend information!
The book is bought to you by Jen Gale of Make Do and Mend-able, and is a collaboration of sections from brilliant Make Do and Mend-ers, such as Kat Goldin from Slugs on the Refrigerator, Tom of Holland, and Jane ni Dhulchaointigh-inventor of sugru, as well as TWO Great British Sewing Bee finalists, other great authors, bloggers, talented artists - and Butterfly Bright!

This book will help you get started, or teach you some new skills, in all of the ‘basic’ Make Do and Mend skills. From sewing to sugru, and punctures to plugs, there really is something for everyone, no matter where you are in your Make Do and Mend journey.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a pattern from a charity shop find, or re-use the yarn from old woollies, then wonder no more! As well as covering the basic skills, the book also has chapters covering things like how to make your clothes last longer (from a West End Wardrobe Mistress!) and natural methods of cleaning your home.

Each chapter lists the equipment you need to get started, and then talks you through each stage, with masses of colour photos to illustrate the text.

There are also 8 fabulous projects to enable you to put your newfound skills into practice straightaway.

Pre-order now and you’ll be sent a pdf file, with a thank you, and then on the 21st April, you’ll be sent an e-mail with a link to download the e-book!

The techy stuff
This is an e-book in pdf form, so when you buy it, you will be sent a link that allows you to download a pdf containing the e-book. You can then save it to your computer or device, and either read it on screen, or you can print off any of the chapters you wish to.

The e-book is available wherever you are in the world, and the clever jiggery pokery at Paypal will take care of any currency conversions for you!

Please note that due to new EU VAT rules, the price for non-UK EU customers, will have the applicable VAT rate of the customers home country added to the checkout.

More details on the contents of "Back to Basics - your essential guide to Make do and mend"

1. 
Find it! How to…find second-hand equipment and supplies – Jen Gale, Make Do and Mend-able
2. 
Learn to love your sewing machine! How to…use your sewing machine – Lauren Guthrie, Guthrie & Ghani
3. 
Sew it!
 How to…hand sew – Tamara Melvin, The Green Thimble
4. Button it! 
How to… sew on a button – Zoe Robinson, The Good Wardrobe
5. 
Hem it!
 How to…hem – Ginny Farquhar, Alice and Ginny
6. 
Patch it!
How to…patch – Jo Poole, The Dress Doctor
7. Remake it!
 How to…make a pattern from a charity shop find – Franki Campbell, creative pattern cutter
8. Unpick and Knit Again! How to…salvage yarn from old woollies – Joanne Scrace, Not So Granny
9. Knit it! How to…knit Alison Nurton and Caroline Bradshaw – Butterfly Bright
10. Crochet it! How to…crochet – Kat Goldin, Slugs on the Refrigerator
11. Tom says Darn it!
 How to…darn – Tom van Deijnen, Tom of Holland
12. Love Your Clothes for Longer! How to…care for your clothes – Caroline Hannam, West End Wardrobe Mistress
13. Clean it! How to…clean your home using natural techniques – Emma Northcott, Mommy Emu
14. Upcycle it! How to…upcycle – Lynn Haughton, The Upcyle Movement
15. Paint it! How to…re-paint furniture – Trixie Bradley, Lovingly Made Ltd
16. Re-cover it! How to…re-upholster furniture – Becky Striepe, Crafting a Green World
17. Plug it! How to…replace a plug – Bright Sparks
18. Seal it! How to… repair a puncture – Angela Walker, CycleBoost
19. sugru it! How to…sugru – Jane Ni Dhulchaointigh, sugru

PROJECTS!

• Upcycle a sweatshirt
• 3 ways to re-vamp your clothes using buttons
• Make cloth serviettes
• Knit a dishcloth
• Crochet the simplest flower
• Furniture painting
• Upholster a footstool
• 3 sugru hacks

Basic Dressmaking workshop - Pyjama bottoms with Lazy Daisy Jones!

We were really excited when blogger "Lazy Daisy Jones" agreed to teach a basic dressmaking workshop to make Pyjama bottoms with us in December. We love Ashley's style and her creative vision and have been fans of hers for a while now! Ashley was shortlisted for the first series of the BBC2 hit TV series "The Great British Sewing Bee" and all we can say is their loss is our gain (but of course we do wish her well if she tries again!)

As news quickly spread via Instagram and Twitter 4 ladies and one brave chap signed up!

We used the wonderful Gutermann fabric which is 160cm wide and perfect for dressmaking projects

The group all did really well, first laying out the pattern pieces and cutting the fabric,

they learnt French seams and other tricks of the trade,

as the garments started to take shape

Ashley was on hand at every stage to help and guide the students.

The more adventurous added pockets for detail.

The finished results were really pleasing and everyone was keen to know what Lazy Daisy will be teaching next...

The latest dressmaking workshops with LazyDaisyJones are now available to book online

Ashley will be repeating the successful Pyjama bottoms workshop on 19th February

Beginners are also invited to try the A-Line Skirt workshop on Saturday 21st March.

More advanced dressmakers who have tried either the pyjamas and or the A-line skirt workshops should feel confident enough to come along to the Mathilde Blouse workshop on 9th and 16th May (two full day sessions).

Lazy Daisy will be teaching all of these workshops and has other plans to bring a fancy frilly knickers workshop to Butterfly Bright as well! We look forward to welcome her back in 2015!

Go on! Start your dressmaking adventure with Butterfly Bright and LazyDaisyJones today!