Sewing for Pleasure 2023
The Sewing for Pleasure Show at the NEC in Birmingham is one of the largest and most exciting events for anyone interested in sewing, dressmaking, and all things fabric. This year, we were offered the opportunity to take part in the show, selling our My Handmade Wardrobe dressmaking patterns range, launching the new vintage inspired range of patterns in collaboration with Pin Curls Vintage, and offering workshops! We had an amazing weekend and want to thank everyone who came by our stall!
Our stall was located in the heart of the exhibition hall, and it was hard to miss the colorful array of dressmaking patterns. From vintage-inspired frocks to modern co-ord sets, our patterns caters to a wide range of styles and skill levels. We loved having the opportunity to show off our new MHW packaging, and talk to customers, both new and old. We spent a long time planning our stall layout, making sure we could show off our patterns and out kits and still have space to talk to people.
Sarah was also running a workshop on how to sew invisible zips in the Sewing Studio. We love teaching people different zip techniques, and invisible zips can be tricky to master but yields stunning results. Sarah patiently guided attendees through the process, offering tips and tricks along the way. It was fantastic to see the satisfaction on participants' faces as they successfully sewed their first invisible zip!
In addition to the workshop, Sarah also gave talks on taking accurate body measurements for dressmaking on the main stage. This is a crucial step in ensuring that a garment fits well and looks flattering, but it's often overlooked by novice sewers. Sarah gave fantastic advice which was clear and concise, and I could tell that attendees were grateful for the guidance. We also invited them back to our stand to demonstrate to them how to measure themselves at home.
But perhaps the most exciting part of the weekend was the two catwalk shows that we organized. We used the opportunity launch tickets to the Dressmakers Ball and show off our dressmaking patterns. We recruited models who had come to the last Dressmakers Ball and friends who have supported our patterns. They were amazing! The models did such an amazing job and let us showcase the patterns in a lively and engaging way. The models strutted down the runway to upbeat music, showing off the versatility and beauty of the designs.
By the end of the weekend, we had sold out of their dressmaking patterns, and their workshop and talks had been a huge success. But more than that, we felt like we had inspired and empowered attendees to take up sewing and to explore the wonderful world of dressmaking. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came along to the show! We had the most amazing (and tiring) weekend. Maybe see you at the next one?