Calico Laine

We're going green this week with the Great British Sewing Bee! Using the theme of reduce, reuse, recycle; the contestants were asked to use re-purposed garments and fabrics for this weeks challenges. Reducing our waste when sewing is an important part of what we do. So much fabric ends up in landfills every year and we can all do our...

Don't we all wish for our own red carpet moment? I know I do, and I definitely take advantage of any moment I can create this for myself. Occasion dresses can seem a bit daunting but with a little inspiration from the stars, anything is possible. Here at Calico Laine we have a stunning selection of Dress Fabrics for you...

The 1970s, a decade of the style tribe and political rebellion. So what's the best way of celebrating this? On the GBSB of course! This week the GBSB contestants were tasked to create three 70s-inspired garments to encapsulate the varying styles. Flares The pattern challenge this week could not have been anything other than a good pair of flares. They...

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to their sewing kit, particularly with Scissors. The truth is, there is no right or wrong answer it's just what works for you. That being said, I have put together a few tips to help you make your choice. There are a few things to consider when choosing your equipment: the purpose, the fabric...

How has a week gone by so fast? Children's week is already upon us, bringing three new challenges for our lovely contestants. This week they were tasked to create garments on a smaller scale, testing their precision and dexterity. This was definitely a fun and colourful episode to watch and all of us at Calico Laine loved it! Cotton Jersey...

The Great British Sewing Bee is finally back! Our team here at Calico Laine have been clearing their Tuesday nights in preparation for the excitement to begin.The sewing bug is gripping the nation and we cannot get enough! The Wiggle Dress The contestants were thrown in straight away with the first challenge; the classic wiggle dress. This iconic dress curves...

Net Curtains have fallen off the trend radar over recent years; but there are ways to bring these timeless designs into your home in a fresh pretty way. Here at Calico Laine, we have a stunning range of designs to suit every taste. We offer drops ranging from 36" through to 90", so no matter your space we will always have...

Looking for something festive to do with the family over the Christmas period? Why not create your very own Christmas 'Crafternoon'! This is a great idea to get the kids involved in crafting or just for bringing the family together with a few Christmas tunes and a glass of mulled wine. With Calico Laine's online store, you don't even need...

Berisfords Ribbon are a well established, internationally renowned company who have been making beautiful ribbons in the North West of England for over 150 years. With all these years of experience Berisfords have really mastered their collections to perfection. They offer an extensive range with something for every occasion. Obviously, at this time of year the focus is on Christmas. This...

So you've bought somebody special a gorgeous new sewing box for Christmas, you know they're going to made up with it The problem is, what Haberdashery items do you fill it with? Obviously you have all the generic basics, needles, threads, an unpicker etc etc. Why not add a few fun items of haberdashery to make it a Christmas gift...