On Saturday I was able to attend the ‘SewBrum’ meet up in Birmingham which was organised by Charlotte at English Girl at Home. Unfortunately it was raining, but I was really excited as I waited for my train. (I did think I may get a little overexcited by the time I got there but managed to contain myself!) We gathered at the station and made our introductions. I was really pleased to finally meet Louise of notsewsimple after spending so long communicating through our blogs and Instagram. Claire from Sewincidentally had actually brought a trolley along filled with fabric for the swap! I did take a couple of photo’s but I have borrowed some far better ones from Suziela and Charlottes post!
With brollies up our first point of call was Barry’s Fabric’s which was literally stacked floor to ceiling with rolls of fabric. It was a little bit like when Willy Wonka first opens the door to the Chocolate Factory, I didn’t know where to start! I spent ages wandering around stroking fabric without actually picking anything out. I eventually tried to focus and decided to search for some fabric for my planned Deer and Doe Bruyere Shirt. I had initially wanted to find a Chambray but came across this blue floral cotton poplin which was very soft and ideal for a shirt. I also picked up another cotton poplin and two needlecords which will be perfect for winter skirts.
When we finally emerged from Barry’s the rain had almost stopped so we headed up to Fancy Silky Fabric’s. I had wanted to get a lightweight denim to make one of Marilla Walkers new Maya dresses but whilst rooting amongst the denims came across this stretch border print, I fell in love with the embossed flowery border and figured it would fit the pattern well. I unfortunately didn’t have time to look around the rag market as it was soon time to meet up again.
We caught the bus to Moseley (after a little detour!) and arrived en masse at Gutherie and Ghani. The shop and studio is fantastic, I really wish there was something similar near me. Lauren had set up the studio for us and after unloading our bags we went down to look around the shop. I came away with some blue polka dot rayon, this gorgeous mustard cotton with tiny dragonfly’s on (can’t remember who designed it, should have paid more attention to the label!) and an advent calendar panel which is really sweet and has the instructions printed on. I also bought the Deer and Doe Bruyere pattern and a Liberty print ruler!
We headed back upstairs for tea and cake and then had the raffle, all money raised during the day was being donated to Parkinson’s UK. Charlotte had managed to get some fabulous prizes including a Singer sewing machine. I won the Sewoverit ultimate trouser pattern which I had been thinking of getting, as apart from pyjamas and shorts for the not so little one I have never made any trousers, I have no excuse now!
Emma was the lucky winner of the sewing machine!
After the raffle was over the tables were put together for the fabric and pattern swap, I managed to get a piece of nautical stripy cotton and also the lemon fabric that Louise had brought! I also picked up a vogue dress pattern and a children’s trouser pattern.
Laden down with bags we headed off for home and said our goodbyes. It was such a good day and I met so many lovely sewists, it’s quite strange to meet people in real life when you have had a window into their sewing lives via their blogs and Instagram. I’ve also got many new people added to my feed and blogroll! it was so nice to spend time with people who shared a passion for sewing, fabric shopping is much more fun in a group! Thanks again Charlotte and Lauren for organising such a great day!
Just Sew Therapeutic 
I’ve been admiring that lemon fabric and the sew over it trousers for a while now! Good picks!
It was lovely to meet you Helen 🙂 I too bought the Deer & Doe Bruyere pattern and actually did buy some chambray! But I may change my mind and it might end up as a Named Tyler instead.
I was so pleased with the Ultimate trouser pattern, I’ve read good reviews about it, never made any trousers before but this is probably a good place to start!
I’ve seen a number of great versions of the Ultimate trousers pattern so I am looking forward to your review. I am also super jealous of your Bruyere pattern and fabric. I want to make that short but it’s obviously not going to work as maternity wear. Maybe by next Spring I will be able to make it.
Oops! Shirt, not short.
Have you looked at Megan Nielsens patterns? She does a lot of maternity wear which look really cute. I suppose the trick would be to find things that you can wear with a belt afterwards! I was fine until around six months but ended up wearing tents in the last trimester! X
It looks like you had a wonderful day. That’s a lot of people! :o)
It was a brilliant day, I think at the last count there were 58 of us!
I had such a lovely day and it was so good to finally meet you! What are planning for the lemon print? I was thinking summer dress when I bought it but it just didn’t work when I tried to imagine a dress made from it. Hopefully you will make better use of it. I love your vogue pattern from the swap as well. Looking forward to doing it again soon!
Louise
I was thinking of making a skirt with the lemons, already planning clothes for next spring! I thought the vogue pattern had potential although the neck looks to be a bit high, with a bit of tweaking it could make a really nice dress! Had such a good day and it was really nice to finally meet you, looking forward to the next one! X
It sounds like such a fun event! And you walked away with some special things!
I was really pleased with what I bought, just managed to stay within my budget too, I’d been saving up for a splurge! 😉
I’m impressed, I usually never stay within my budget on trips like that… That is probably why there are so few of them!
All your fabrics look great and you’ve put a lot of thought into them. I do like the dress pattern you picked up, very formal. It was a fantastic day!
Glad I found your blog, looking forward to seeing what you do with your fabrics, especially the blazer! X
Thank you! I like what I’ve seen on your blog!
You got some really great fabrics! I can’t wait to see your Bruyere, I’m making an Archer at some point this winter but I do fancy that for after when I’m a shirt pro!! Also, I’m making a pair of Ultimate trousers next, once I’ve stopped being distracted by my quilt!
Oohh looking forward to your ultimate trousers, I’m going to give them a go once I find some stretch fabric (figure if the fabrics got a bit of give in it the seams are less likely to split when I sit down!). If you haven’t done an Archer before check out Andreas alternative collar tutorial at FourSquareWalls, it’s genius and so much easier that the Grainline method!
Looks like such a fun day and you made out like a bandit!! I adore that lemon fabric and I can’t wait to see what you end up making with all your loot!
I’ve managed to add at least another seven projects to my list, don’t know where to start!
The dress pattern came from me – I made the full skirt with sleeves version (you can see it on my blog). Can’t wait to see how it turns out for you! I’m glad it’s got a new home.
Thanks Emma, it’s lovely to find out where my swaps came from! Your dress is lovely, I think I might opt for the full skirted one too, I really like the pattern, the dart placements look interesting. Thanks for the heads up about the shoulder seam, I might just make a muslin before embarking on the final version! X
It was such a great day. Aww it’s nice to read your post and look back. Lovely to meet you!
I really enjoyed it, so refreshing to be able to babble on about sewing to people that actually knew what I was talking about! It was lovely to meet you, hopefully it will become a regular thing!