Modern Sewing Starts Here Edition 35

Modern
sewing
starts here..
CLOUD9
FABRICS
Michelle Engel tells all
about exciting new
organic fabric
collections to
come!
Edition 35 - August 2024
QUICK
& EASY
Patterns for your
summer wardrobe
BEST
Sellers
We count down the
top 10 apparel patterns
Pattern
REVIEW
A classic shirt that
transitions between
the seasons
Savanna
Dreaming
Finding sunshine in organic
fabric form with Sarah Ashford
The Sydney Dress Extension Pack from Style Arc
HALLOWTHANKSMAS
Get ready for the spooky and festive seasons ahead!
www.modernsewingstartshere.co.uk

Pattern Finder
www.hantex.co.uk/patternfinder
Painter Jacket
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search by brand, garment type, fabric type, skill level or even season
Pattern Finder
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Editor’s Letter
We hope you’re enjoying the summer holidays and the sunshine!
This edition is a mix of the present and the future as we get ready for
“Hallowthankmas” (a blend of Halloween and Christmas, according
to Urban Dictionary). We’ll showcase some lovely fabric collections
perfect for these occasions.
We also reveal the best-selling apparel sewing patterns of the
year so far, with a few surprises and some expected favourites
making the top 10!
As we eagerly await new fabric collections, we chat with Michelle
Engel from Cloud9 Fabrics about what to expect in the coming
months and how she and her team select new artists and surface
designers to create their amazing fabric prints. Sarah Ashford
introduces us to Savanna Dreams, one of Cloud9’s fabric ranges,
highlighting some of her favourite prints.
Still looking for quick and easy summer projects? We’ve got four
sewing patterns you can whip up in no time! Jacqui Smith shares
her latest sewing project—a practical shirt perfect for transitioning
between seasons. Meanwhile, Julie Bonnar provides a step-by-step
guide on conquering the two-piece collar for this type of garment.
Until next time, from the team at
Modern Sewing Starts Here
www.modernsewingstartshere.co.uk
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#modernsewingstartshere

New apparel sewing pattern releases for you to make!
Jalie
The Claudette Shirt and Shirtdress pattern offers a classic buttonup
shirt and shirtdress with set-in sleeves, two flat pleats at the
back, and a rounded hem. Choose between styles with patch
pockets and flaps on the chest. The dress, which sits just above the
knee, also features extra patch pockets, a tie belt, and belt loops
for waist definition.
The Barbara Underwear Set includes a bralette and four bottoms
with varying coverage options: full, cheeky, briefs, and thong, as
well as different waist heights.
The Chantal Swing Tank and Dress pattern includes a swing
tank top with options for a ‘V’ or scoop neck, with necklines and
armholes finished with bands.
Jalie Patterns come in 28 sizes
(ages 2-13 and XS-2X).
To find your nearest stockist of Jalie patterns – click here
The Louise Multi-Sport Jersey has a fulllength
front zipper and options for long
or short set-in sleeves. It includes hidden
front pockets and a back pocket, with the
back finished neatly with a band, making
it ideal for cycling, running, and crosscountry
skiing.
Designed for cycling comfort, the France
Cycling Shorts have a high waistband
that reaches the belly button, with two
waistband options. The thigh band keeps
the shorts in place, and the lack of inner
seams reduces chafing. The shorts also
allow for contrasting colour insets.

Wardrobe By Me
The Balka Dress is a kaftan-style dress that adds easy style
to your wardrobe. It features a front button placket, big
voluminous sleeves, and an elasticated hem for comfort.
The gathered waist adds volume and movement, and the
dress even has side seam pockets. You can make it as a
long dress or a breezy blouse, perfect for many occasions.
The Camp Shirt and Shorts set includes an oversized,
boxy shirt with a convertible collar, short sleeves, and a
curved hemline. The shorts are simple, roomy, and have an
elasticated waist. This set is perfect for lounging at home
or wearing with sneakers for a trip to the beach.
These patterns come in sizes 0-24 (US) and
30-54 (EU).
To view latest patterns and more from
Wardrobe By Me - click here
Style Arc
The Sydney Dress Extension Pack can be used alone or combined with the original Sydney Designer Dress. It features a cocoonshaped,
calf-length dress with a hem band, three bodice and sleeve options, and a skirt option. Note that the new sleeve options
cannot be used with the original Sydney Designer Dress bodice.
The Saskia Cardigan is a simple, round-neck, button-through cardigan with long sleeves. It’s perfect for knit jersey, cotton knit,
merino wool, and stretch scuba fabrics. Style Arc patterns come in sizes 4-16 and 18-30.
To view this latest pattern and more from Style Arc - click here

Chalk + Notch
The Den Jacket is a woven jacket with an optional lining. It
features seam lines in the sleeve and bodice for topstitching or
colour blocking. The sleeve facing can also be folded up as a cuff.
You can make it in a cropped length finishing mid-rise or at the
lower hips, with a front patch and large inseam pockets.
The Aria Top is a bubble-shaped woven top with elbow-length
sleeves and elastic hems. You can choose a high back with a bias
or facing neckline or a low back with ties and a square back facing.
Both versions have options for a narrow or cropped ruffle hem on
the sleeves and bodice.
The Ivie is a woven dress or two-piece set, which comes in
a maxi length. It offers three sleeve options: tank ruffle, cap,
and ¾-length. The neckline, sleeve cuffs, and waistline are
adjustable with drawstrings, and the waistline sits high at
the natural waist. The top is cropped, and the skirt includes
inseam pockets, a large hem ruffle, and a drawstring elastic
waist. The patterns come in sizes 0-30, with two bust cup
options.
To view these sewing patterns and more from Chalk +
Notch - click here

ByAnnie
ByAnnie focuses on accessory and bag patterns, here are three of the latest sewing patterns out now:
The Hot And Heavy pattern features spacious zippered bags in two sizes to hold a mini or regular-sized household iron. Each bag
has a zippered front pocket, an interior mesh divider, and a fabric slip pocket. Rings attached to the handle allow for the addition
of a separate strap.
The Drop Zone pattern includes multi-purpose zippered pouches in three sizes—small, medium, and large—that open into
shallow trays for great visibility and easy access to the contents. Perfect for storing art, office, and craft supplies, these pouches
have grab tabs for easy opening and closing, and optional hardware for attaching a strap.
The Cut It Out! pattern provides a stylish way to store and carry your favourite scissors, shears, or snips. With a fold-over flap
secured by a magnetic closure – your tools are kept safe and easily accessible. A loop on the back makes hanging convenient, and
the cases come in two sizes.
The Ditty Bags 2.0 is such a pretty and practical pattern that features three zippered bags with side handles and diagonal borders
are quick and easy to make. The pattern includes instructions for the three size bags (small, medium and large). They make great
gifts and are ideal for using as a purse, toiletry bags and other personal bit s and bobs!
To find your nearest stockist of ByAnnie patterns – click here
Check out the free-to-use resource listing of the very best Indie patterns and filter by fabric, garment, brand
or skill level by visiting www.hantex.co.uk

MAKING
THE CLASSIC SHIRT
With Jacqui Smith
With summer coming to a close, now is the perfect time to think about autumn/winter with a
view to making a garment that will work for the transition between the seasons. There is no
better choice for the transition to cooler weather than a classic shirt,
so this is going to be my next project!
Pattern choice
There are so many good shirt patterns to choose from and for
this particular make, I opted for the Anna Shirt from the Danish
pattern company Wardrobe by Me. This classic design has
a relaxed-fitting button shirt with a yoke, collar and stand, a
curved hem and traditional cuffed sleeves, and the option of a
curved or pointed collar.
I wanted a classic rather than an oversized fit so I used the
finished garment measurements on the pattern, which I could
compare to a shirt, which I already had in my wardrobe. This
resulted in choosing to make a size that was two sizes smaller
than my normal size giving just the fit I was looking for.
Wardrobe by Me patterns are well cut, however, the
instructions are not as detailed as some patterns, and they
don’t have fabric layout instructions. With this in mind, it’s a
good idea to take advantage of the sew-along YouTube video
for this pattern, which helps fill in the gaps.
The instructions for the plackets on the sleeves were not
very detailed and as every pattern does this slightly differently
it took a little while to figure out exactly how to do them!
However, once I had, they came together very well! I decided
to make the pointed collar and long cuffed sleeves version
because I wanted a classic finish, however, other options were
possible too.

Other great shirt patterns to choose from:
There are many classic shirt patterns to choose
from and all offer something slightly different in
terms of fit and cut so it’s worth having a good
look to see which one works best for you!
1. Jenna Button-Up Shirt from Closet Core
This pattern features a dropped shoulder and a
deep back yoke and a charming hang loop but
kept things classic with a collar stand, long sleeve
with tower placket and cuff, and patch pocket over
the bust. There are three unique views to give you
a ton of mileage with this pattern.It’s available in
the new alpha size range from XXS-4X, (all sizes are
included in the envelope!).
1.
2.
2. Classic Shirt by Liesl + Co
This shirt is a wardrobe staple, versatile and
polished and has separate pieces for A/B, C, and
D cup sizes. There are also lots of professional
detailing like a separate collar and collar band,
tower sleeve placket, and collar/cuff facings to
help you sew beautiful-looking shirts! The pattern
comes in sizes 0-20.
3. Clayton Shirt Pack by Style Arc
This shirt has two body shape options, a relaxed
shape shirt with a back yoke and optional collars,
sleeves and pockets and a classic fit shirt with
optional front and back yokes, sleeves, collars and
pockets. The relaxed option has an oversized fit
with extended shoulders and double yoke, while
the classic option is a slim fit with an optional
western shirt yoke. This pattern comes in sizes
4-30.
3.
4.
4. Claudette Shirt by Jalie
This classic button-up shirt has set-in sleeves, two
flat pleats at the back and a rounded hem. Make
with patch pockets with or without flaps on the
chest. This pattern comes in 28 sizes XS-2X and
aged 2-13.
5.
5. Vernon Shirt by Cashmerette
This boob-friendly take on the essential buttonup
shirt can be made as a classic shirt with a
traditional collar and collar stand, and full sleeves
with narrow cuffs or a fashion-forward version with
a dramatic collar, covered button placket, and
lantern sleeves with wide cuffs.This sewing pattern
comes in sizes 0-16 and 12-32.
To view these and more shirt sewing patterns -
click here
EDITORS NOTES
THE PATTERN:
The Anna Shirt is a timeless classic that’s impeccably crafted and includes meticulously
designed cuffs, a crisp collar with a stand, a practical pocket, and a gracefully curved
hemline. The pattern comes in sizes 0-24 (30-54).
To view this pattern from Wardrobe By Me – click here
Jacqui has chosen Fableism’s Nocturne Chambray in the Luna colourway. Made from
a blend of bamboo and cotton fibres that gives this fabric its incredibly soft hand. This
range’s colour palette is dark and moody and offers 20 beautiful rich colours for autumn/
winter. To view the Nocturne Chambray from Fableism – click here
THE FABRIC:

SEWING
A TWO-PIECE COLLAR
Julie Bonnar shares how to sew the perfect collar and collar stand!
What is a two-piece collar?
Collars are made of double layers of fabric and help to finish the raw edge
around the neckline. A shirt collar is used on shirts as the name indicates
or shirt-dresses and jackets too. It usually consists of two parts commonly
known as a shirt band which holds the second piece, the turnover collar.
Steps to Sew
INTERFACE YOUR COLLAR PIECES
1. It’s always a good idea to interface collars and collar
stands. Make sure you centre the interfacing aligning
the edges on the wrong side of the fabric and press the
interfacing pieces taking care not to displace them with the
iron.
2. With the right sides facing – sew the upper and the under
piece of the collar together. Sew around the sides and
outside edge using a 1cm seam allowance.
TIP: When you approach the corners, sew a sharp point by
stopping and pivoting the needle in the down position.
3. Trim the seam allowances from under the collar to remove
any excess fabric, and snip the corners diagonally to remove
any additional bulk.
TIP: Another great tip that I learnt from Closet Core Patterns
is to grade the interfacing down to the stitching line too, this
removes even more bulk!
Turn the collar to the right side, and using a point turner (or
a pointy object like a knitting needle) push the corners to get
a nice sharp point. Using a pressing cloth, press the collar
and then topstitch the sewn edges with the edge of your
machine foot as a guide.

4. Take one piece of the collar stand and fold the outer edge 1cm
inwards, bringing the wrong side to the wrong side and press this
fold.
5. Place both pieces of the collar stand with right sides together
and sew along the side and top edge of the collar stand. Trim the
seam allowance narrowly. Turn the collar stand and smooth away any
wrinkles or folds with the iron.
6. With the right sides together, sew the outer collar stand and
the neckline together. Fold the lower edge so it looks neat. Pin
it in place around the neck, making sure to neatly tuck the seam
allowance inside the collar stand. Sew the collar at the neck edge
with a topstitch 5mm from the right side.
Handy Sewing Notions
Interfacing
Choose a light to medium-weight fusible woven interfacing for
most shirt fabrics. If in doubt choose a slightly lighter-weight one as
a heavier one may make the collar stick out and look too stiff in its
appearance.
Point Turner
The Corner and Edge Shaper Mint from Prym Love is a handy
little tool as it has a rounded blunt tip that is perfect for moulding
turned-over corners, edges and curves without damaging the
fabric. The corner and edge shaper is also suitable for spreading
out seams without ironing.
Jenna Shirt from
Closet Core Patterns
I hope you now feel more
confident to tackle your next
shirt pattern!
Julie
This article has been written by Julie Bonnar, the Editor of The Pattern Pages,
an independent sewing magazine started by mother and daughter team, and
the first magazine to champion indie designers, www.thepatternpages.co.uk
To find your next shirt sewing pattern - click here

Focus on
FABRICS
Fabrics perfect for your summer sewing!
Exciting new fabric collections from Modelo Fabrics:
Khaki
Sage
Wine
Pink
VISCOSE WITH STRETCH
The Callan range is here to add comfort to your wardrobe! This lightweight linen blend
is made from 88% viscose, 10% linen, and a hint of 2% elastane. It’s ideal for creating
blouses, shirts, skirts, and dresses, and comes in 11 fabulous colourways. Check out the
gorgeous pink and wine, sage, and khaki tones featured here—your summer sewing
projects just got a whole lot more exciting!
EMBROIDERED COTTON LAWN
The Tanta fabric collection is a delightful, yarn-dyed,
lightweight cotton/polyester blend with a charming softwhite
embroidered design. It’s available in five fabulous
colours—grey, grape, natural, denim, and soft green—this
fabric is perfect for your summer sewing. Create gorgeous
blouses and stylish coordinates just like the ones trending
on the High Street.
To find a stockist of the latest Modelo Fabrics collections near you - click here

DOBBY VOILE
Modelo’s Kaibo collection of dobby voile has been
updated with some new colours and now comes in
black, brick red, mint and sea green too. This fabric is
lightweight, breathable and perfect for garments.
STRIPED
DOUBLE GAUZE
If stripes are your thing, then
Modelo’s Sakata collection
now has three new striped
options - green & white,
fuchsia & white and blue
& white. These fabrics are
perfect for making shirts,
blouses and dresses for the
last of the summer days and
into autumn.
Rose
Plum
VINTAGE COTTON
The Nantucket range features a beautiful 100% Vintage cotton fabric
with a washed effect finish that exudes a vintage linen style. It’s ideal
for shirts, shorts, trousers, and any garment needing a summer vibe,
this fabric now boasts five new vibrant colours. Now with a total of 24
beautiful shades to choose from, your summer wardrobe is about to
get a stylish upgrade!
Lilac
Petrol
Mulberry
To find a stockist of the latest Modelo Fabrics collections near you - click here

New fun fabric collections from Cloud9 Fabrics:
FABLED LAND
Designed by Masha Volnova, the American
designer behind Pip&Lo, comes this stunning
new collection for Cloud9 – Fabled Land. This
100% quilter’s cotton collection invites you on a
journey into an alternate world rich with cherished
traditions, spiritual rituals, and generational
wisdom. Each fabric is charged with signs and
symbols drawn from native customs, myths,
legends, and songs, bringing a touch of magic
and history to your sewing projects.
Folk Song
Pristine State
Bygone Garden
Violet Streak
Rue the Day
Tiger Lily
Field of Dreams
IN BLOOM
Designed by Jamaican-born artist and
illustrator, Melissa Koby – this Modal Rayon
collection is a nod to the evolution of
Melissa’s artistic floral style and as a new
mum. The collection is a past, present and
futuristic take on warm yet vibrant florals.
Modal Rayon is ideal for skirts, and dresses
as it has a lovely drape.
METRO GARDEN
Avril Loreti’s love for vibrant and modern artwork is inspired by the everyday things around her. The Metro Garden collection
features beautiful 100% organic cotton batiste and the designs are an insight into her daily interaction in her beloved
neighbourhood of Dovercourt Village in Toronto, Canada. With front lawns with lovingly cared for garden beds to bustling crowds
of folks commuting to work on Bloor Street to picking daisies from laneways, it’s as if you were there!
To see more organic fabric collections from Cloud9 Fabrics - click here

Cherry Blossoms
Library Hounds
Erase Negativity
Thatching Pink
Punny Pencils
Bird Watching
Lunch Buddies
Granada
Camille
ENCHANTED
Heather Dutton from the Hang Tight Studio has
designed this dreamy and romantic collection of
quilter’s cotton which reminds you of sun-kissed days,
a gentle breeze blowing and the soft scent of flowers.
TEACHER’S PET
Back to School has never been so cool
with Krissy Mast’s new quilter’s cotton
collection. From the classroom to the
playground, it features bold bright
colours, organic linework and the perfect
hint of nostalgia. This fabric collection
certainly makes the grade!
To find more organic fabric collections from Cloud9 Fabrics - click here

BESTsellers
Count down with us the top 10 sewing patterns
that are proving popular with sewers this year!
9
10
Elodie Dress by Closet Core Patterns
7
Tyra Trousers
from Ploen
Patterns
Chanterelle Pants
and Shorts from Sew
Liberated
8
6
Pietra Trousers
and Shorts by
Closet Core
Patterns
Hovea Jacket &
Coat by Megan
Nielsen

5
4
Patina Blouse from
Friday Pattern Co
Donny Shirt by Friday
Pattern Co
3
Remy Raglan Top
from Sew House
Seven
2
Jenna Button-up
Shirt by Closet Core
Patterns
1
Pogonip Pullover
from Friday
Pattern Co
To find more of the best-selling
sewing patterns - click here

BEAUTIFUL
DESIGNS!
Organic fabrics have become a more mainstream choice for
home sewists and thanks to Cloud9 Fabrics efforts, these
fabrics are more affordable and exciting than ever! We talk
with Michelle Engel about the wonderful new fabric collections
that they have to offer
How do you go about sourcing new and beautiful
surface designs for your fabric collections?
I mostly use Instagram to keep up with what artists, illustrators,
and designers are working on. I have a rich feed that I update
weekly, which helps me stay on top of trends, themes, colours,
and styles. I prefer this over looking through studios’ large
portfolios because it lets me see the personality behind the
work. When I find something I like, I quickly dive into their
feed and websites to see if they have more that could inspire a
collection. If an idea sparks, I reach out to them. Most people are
excited to collaborate, which I’m grateful for.
Creating a new fabric collection involves a
lot of collaboration, not just picking from
portfolios. It’s exciting to brainstorm with
artists and create new designs based on
a couple of prints.
On the flip side, I also get about 100
submissions each month through our website.
These submissions often lead to unique work
that’s not on Instagram or other sites like
Spoonflower, which is a bonus. These
submissions usually kick off a project,
but we often need to add more work as
it’s rare to get the full set of prints needed
right away.
on what we receive, how long we’ve worked with the artist,
and their familiarity with the process. Many of our artists aren’t
surface designers by trade, so there can be a learning curve.
We start by compiling all the prints on a single page to get
an overview of the scale and colour direction. Then we examine
aspects like repeat patterns, line thickness, and colour positions,
often refining the original work. Our project coordinator helps
us view things from an end-users perspective (mainly quilters),
leading to any necessary adjustments to ensure a cohesive and
diverse collection. We ask questions like, do we need more
Before a surface design can make
its way into a new fresh fabric
collection, what process do they go
through and how far in advance do
you work with new collections?
We’re currently working a year in advance.
Right now, I’m finalising our September
Release, which includes deliveries for
April-June 2025 with autumn/winter/
holiday themes. It can get confusing!
Once most of the art is submitted, the
process becomes more streamlined.
The amount of work varies depending
FABLED LAND

space between motifs? Should we reduce colours? Should we add
or remove motifs? Sometimes, we even eliminate a print or create
something entirely new. These decisions can be tough and might
disappoint some artists, but we always aim to balance the original
art’s integrity with the buyers’ needs.
It’s a delicate, creative puzzle, but seeing everything come together
is so rewarding – we never move forward without the artist’s approval.
My goal is to respect the artist’s vision while ensuring marketability.
The best outcome is when everyone is happy with the results!
.
Your base fabric is 100% certified organic cotton but
what about the dyes that make up the designs? Is this as
important to you?
All of our fabrics are GOTS certified, except modal rayon and
laminates. GOTS is the most comprehensive certification, and covers
every element of the process from seed through finished product,
which also includes the dyes.
As we chat, many of your new fabric collections are
winging their way to us here in the UK - tell us about
some of them and what we can expect to see.
The Metro Garden is a lightweight batiste collection, which is perfect
for garments especially suitable for warmer weather. We worked with
Avril Loreti in our early days on a similar fabric (voile) and it was that
success that brought us to revisit with her and create this new range.
Her vision is inspired by the area in which she lives incorporating soft
geometric designs and edgy florals in wearable, modern colours of
her urban life.
We have worked with Masha Volnova (Pip&Lo) for a few years now.
Most of her large-scale and sweeping work has been on rayon or
canvas as it really suits these fabrics. We had many requests to print
these designs on quilter’s cotton, and so Fabled Land was born. This
was Masha’s first ‘storied’ collection - one where all the pieces had
to work together as a whole and it worked brilliantly! Thematically,
colour-wise and texturally, she brought together prints which are
like opening up a children’s fairy tale book filled with fantastical
splendour!
Ever in search of new artists, I happened upon Melissa Koby and
was drawn to her inspirational illustrations and prints and earthy yet
bold palette. Many of her illustrations feature women wearing bold
floral and abstract patterns as In Bloom, and I felt the pull to bring
these to life on rayon for real sewers. These gorgeous fabrics are so
silky and the beautiful prints add to this special nature.
Our second fabric collection with the super-talented Krissy Mast
(and a 3rd and 4th on the way!). It’s the sweetest combination of
dogs, doggie puns and school theme rolled into one that comes
together in Teacher’s Pet. Take a close look at her marbled notebook
print and you’ll find little surprise shapes that reinforce the entire
idea. Krissy has a strong professionally creative past and her personal
style has evolved into something unique, clever and cute all at
the same time. Her creativity seems never-ending. She is a joy to
collaborate with and makes the work seem effortless, but I know
that stems from a combination of talent, instinct, experience and
confidence.
Heather Dutton (we feature her under Hang Tight Studio) is
another professional surface designer whose creative well runs deep.
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
METRO GARDEN
TEACHERS PET
ENCHANTED

Her style can range from vintage nostalgia to contemporary chic
and pretty much anything she puts her mind to. Enchanted is
our third collection with Heather and it’s a bit of a spin-off of her
second, Flower Garden in an elegant array of pink, navy and
gold. It’s very classical, but in what I like to call a ‘Cloud9y way’.
Nina Cvijović (aka Di Ujdi) caught my eye back in 2022. Her
illustrations reminded me of books that I had as a child in the
’70s. I knew there was a collection in her work which comprised
mostly of spot illustrations and some repeated designs and we
worked together to tie things. This is now our third collaboration
and she’s a complete pro… so much so she is a top teacher on
Skillshare and offers classes on repeats and licensing. Life of
Plants features her core palette only this time, softer and dustier,
along with her recurring flora and fauna themes.
This was an absolute dream project for me! Having been a
fan of Wright’s for as long as I can remember. The day we were
accepted to license with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to
interpret his designs was a genuinely proud moment! The design
work, I personally undertook using imagery furnished by the
Foundation with the allowance to put my insightful spin on it.
This will be an ongoing rollout adding new prints along the way,
while sticking close to the beautiful basic prints (developed from
The House Beautiful). Bold hero prints in Wright’s quintessential
and iconic style will continue to feature season after season. Our
first Frank Lloyd Wright collection is based on March Balloons,
a design he created for Liberty magazine, but which was never
used, deemed too avant-garde at the time. The next range to be
released later this year will be based on April Showers from the
same collection of images.
Which fabrics from your collections make the
best dressmaking fabrics?
Sewers love our Modal Rayon. It’s a challenging fabric to print
for technical reasons, but it’s well worth the effort to bring it to
market. This is perfect for feminine styles that are suitable for
silky fabrics. We also have a lightweight cotton Batiste that’s airy
and breezy and ideal for making summer clothes.
We recently re-introduced Double Gauze. These two layers
of gauze tacked (woven) together makes a soft plush fabric that
does nicely in tops, skirts and trousers. It’s been a long time
since we’ve run this fabric, but over the years we’ve had a lot of
requests. Hopefully, we will continue with it.
I would also include our canvas. While it’s a sturdier fabric,
it’s still soft enough to be fashioned into lightweight jackets or
bottoms. It’s a versatile fabric that is easy to sew with.
Do you think sewers have changed how they
shop for fabric in the last few years?
When we started in 2009, online fabric shopping was becoming
very popular. It soon became the norm, but now I see a shift
back to physical shops. Many shoppers want to connect with
the fabrics they buy and enjoy the experience of visiting a
shop. After the COVID years of only shopping online, there’s a
renewed appeal to going out, even now. People are more careful
with their spending, focusing on both frugality and sustainability.
While investing in tools is a priority, there’s always a need and
desire for inspirational fabrics.
Is there any exciting news in the pipeline for
Cloud9 Fabrics?
We’re going through a growth spurt! If you’ve followed us over
the years, you might remember when we only had one collection
per month. Now, we’re planning four or even five! We’re
focusing more on quilter’s cotton – but you’ll still find our apparel
fabrics mixed in – to offer a wider variety of prints and blenders,
plus wide-back fabrics to complete the look. Instead of just eight
prints, you might see nearly double, giving more options to
quilting shops while still catering to our core customers. With this
expansion, and using popular patterns and our free resources,
we’ll add more quilt project inspiration too!
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He
began his career in the 1880’s during the heyday of the Arts and Crafts movement
that embraced natural materials and fine handwork which are reflected in Wright’s
highly embellished early work, The House Beautiful.
To view the full range of Cloud9 Fabrics and find your local stockist - click here

QUICK & EASY-TO-SEW
Staple sewing patterns for your last minute summer wardrobe
CORIN TOP
This drapey drop shoulder
top has a lovely round wide
neckline, and two sleeve
options – a ruffled cap and
a straight ¾- length sleeve.
Make with a gathered
elastic detail at the front
and back waist to add
a little additional
shaping. This pattern
comes in sizes 0-18 and
14-32.
To see this pattern and
more from Grainline
Studio – click here
PINAFORE
DRESS
This calf-length pinafore dress
is both a covering and a garment
that’s easy to sew and has two
patch pockets with pocket bands
and wide straps that button in
front. It’s a perfect everyday dress
that can be worn in any season
– wear it on its own or with a
tank top for summer or over a
shirt and leggings for winter. The
simple style is a great canvas for
embellishments too! This pattern
comes in sizes XS-3XL.
View the full pattern range from
Folkwear – click here
DANI
SHORTS
& PANT
This pattern
features a lovely
pair of fully
elasticated waist
shorts and trousers
with inseam and
rear pockets for
an easy pull-on fit.
This pattern comes
in sizes 0-18.
For more sewing
patterns from True
Bias – click here
KENSINGTON
KNIT SKIRT
This pattern is a
comfortable-to-wear,
pull-on knit skirt with
hidden elastic waist
detail. Both views have
a yoke and a straight
skirt. Make with a
pleated overlay with
ties to look like a clever
wrap skirt. This knit
pattern comes in sizes
0-20.
For more sewing
patterns from Liesl +
Co – click here

Savanna
Dreaming
The sunshine in the UK has been rather elusive this year, and if you’re anything
like Sarah Ashford, you’re dreaming of feeling the warmth of the sun on
your back and of long hot lazy days. Sadly though, summer may never fully
materialise! However, she has found sunshine in organic fabric form, in this
beautiful collection called Savanna Dreams by Kate Lower for Cloud9 Fabrics
Kate Lower is a pattern designer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her
bold shapes, organised florals and bright colours are the
foundation of her signature style, which lends itself to a wide
variety of applications. Kate gathers inspiration while travelling
the globe with her husband and two children, and delights in
helping to make the world a brighter place through colour and
design.
Her intention with this collection is to reflect the quieter
moments on the African plain, where all creatures find moments
of reverie amid the struggle to survive. Where even the most
majestic of animals need to slow down and rest. Doesn’t that
idea sound just glorious? Featuring regal, sleepy lions, giant
blooms, gentle phoenixes, colourful grassland and low-volume
prints in the form of small flowers and Botanics, Savanna
Dreams is the perfect collection for all your nursery and baby
projects, or indeed for any nature lover.

Project inspiration:
The brightly coloured lions are as bold as they are beautiful and are a wonderful
opportunity for fussy cutting. I had great fun doing just that when making the
‘Happy Happy Bag’. The combination of fussy cut lions and improv piecing
with the other prints worked perfectly, and the low-volume phoenix print was
perfect for the lining. As well as small projects such as bags and pillows – this
fabric collection is also the perfect choice as a picnic blanket or baby quilt,
and how cute would some Savanna Dreams bunting be in a nursery! With the
combination of brights and muted colours, the colourways are just perfect for
small children. I know you are going to have a lot of fun with this collection!
If you’re looking for quilt
inspiration, head to the
Cloud9 Fabrics website,
where you will find the free
quilt pattern, ‘Just Dotty’
Quilt, that uses the snowball
block to showcase each of these
gorgeous prints with a lovely contrast of low-volume
and bright colourful prints.
www.cloud9fabrics.com
To view this and more organic fabric collections from Cloud9 Fabrics - click here

CHRISTMAS IN THE CABIN
Step into a winter wonderland with ‘Christmas in the
Cabin’ by AGF Studio. This retro collection channels the
1940s, evoking a nostalgic, cosy holiday spirit that’ll fill
your creations with wintery cheer. The collection also has
a flannel option in the checkered charm that’s perfect for
cosy pyjamas and warm and toasty dressing gowns!
To find your nearest stockist of the current Art Gallery
Fabrics collections - click here
GOOD CHEER
The Good Cheer Book from Art to Heart features a beautiful
32in x 44in quilt that focuses on the Nativity as well as other
nativity-centred projects. There are nine projects in the book and
placement guides for each project and a full-colour fabric guide
showing customers how much fabric is needed to complete all
projects found in the book.
There are two inserts printed one-sided to enhance the viewing
of the placement guides and templates.
To view this quilt pattern - click here
Hallowthanksmas
Get ready for the spooky and festive seasons ahead!

TINSEL TIME
This new fabric collection from Cloud9 Fabrics has something
for everyone this All Hallows Eve! Surface Designer Louise
Cunningham has created this quilter’s cotton collection to reflect
the magic you can find at this time of year. We particularly love
the Beautiful Baubles and Festive Knitwear designs.
To find your nearest stockist of the current Cloud9 Fabrics
collections - click here
SPARKLE ELEMENTS
Elevate your creations with a radiant touch using our new
blender, designed to illuminate your sewing projects with an
extra sparkle.
To find your nearest stockist of the current Art Gallery Fabrics
collections - click here
SEASONAL QUILT PATTERN BOOKS
Celebrate Spooky Season with this sampler quilt
(Happy Halloween) featuring ghosts, bats, cats,
witch, star, pumpkin, owl, spider, candy corn,
and candy roll blocks. Randolph and Rudy are
an adorable twosome and their six Christmas
sweaters. The animal faces, sweaters, and pants
are made using a combination of fat quarters and
fat eighths making it easy to substitute scraps and
use what you have.
There’s no paper piecing and both pattern
books make quilts using conventional patchwork
techniques to make a small or large quilt.
To view these two Elizabeth Hartman pattern
books – click here

EERIE
Discover the enchanting world of ‘Eerie’ by Katarina
Roccella – a bewitching collection inspired by the magic of
Halloween. With witches, ghosts, pumpkins,
and moonlit nights as muses, it weaves eerie elegance and
playful whimsy for a spooktacular celebration! We love
this colourway, it’s something a little different with its
underlying purpleness!
MONSTERVILLE
For a lighter feel to Halloween, welcome to
MonsterVille where monsters mix, and mischief
meets colourful, quirky dreams! Unleash your little
ones inner monster, grab a handful of monstrous
munchies, and rock on with furry friends as they
throw the most rad parade. Join the festivities of
fabulous fuzz and wacky wonders!
To view these two Art Gallery Fabrics collections
and find a stockist near you – click here

New fabrics for this season
PIMA Cotton
Embrace nostalgia and create timeless
treasures with Heirloom, where Sharon
Holland's childhood memories come alive
in vibrant retro hues of orange, teal,
lemon, and olive, creating a cheery color
story perfect for crafting keepsakes that
bridge the past to the future.
Full details & stockists

New fabrics for this season
Step into a winter wonderland with
'Christmas in the Cabin' by AGF Studio.
This retro collection channels the 1940s,
evoking a nostalgic, cozy holiday spirit
that'll fill your creations with wintery cheer.
Full details & stockists
PIMA Cotton

New fabrics for this season
PIMA Cotton
Discover the enchanting world of 'Eerie' by
Katarina Roccella – a bewitching collection
inspired by the magic of Halloween. With
witches, ghosts, pumpkins, and moonlit
nights as muses, it weaves eerie elegance
and playful whimsy for a spooktacular
celebration!
Full details & stockists

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