First sewing steps with Chinese silk

Travelling into London for a sewing workshop at my friend Brigitte’s, I was pondering what I might actually be making.  Inspiration struck when I spotted a large, inviting pile of handmade cushions at her flat.  My fabric – silk in a beautiful red and black design, bought in Hong Kong nearly 30 years ago – would be turned into a cushion. The silk’s time to shine had arrived at last after so many years in the drawer.

Brigitte showed me how to measure, mark with tailor’s chalk and cut out the material.  Next,  I machined the raw edges with a zig-zag stitch to stop them from fraying. I knew my way round a sewing machine, as my mum had made many things for me as a child and had taught me the basics.

My own sewing style is best described as that of an enthusiastic but impatient ‘bodger’, preferring to skip the essential but often tedious first steps when making anything. To this end, Brigitte had to gently but very firmly insist that yes, it would be necessary for me to pin the layers of fabric together before I machined it.

She also suggested incorporating a hidden zip, something I had never done before and thought to be far above my capabilities. Her step-by-step guidance on how to insert the zip was, however, easy to follow. Finally, she showed me how to machine a border around the edges for a professional finish.

I’m proud to say that by the end of the workshop, I had produced a  lovely cushion, complete with hidden zip and border.  I realise this must sound like child’s play to all but the greenest of crafters but we all have to start somewhere and I continue to be extremely chuffed with myself!