Applique to Zips: The Dressmakers Companion turns 4

The Dressmaker's Companion

The Dressmaker’s Companion has just turned 4 and I thought I would share part of the writing process: the index. I hope that doesn’t sound too dry and ordinary! (You can read my whole publishing story here.) I had always (mistakenly) thought of an index as a kind of expanded table of contents, but it’s…

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Turnin’ 3

It’s been 3 years since The Dressmaker’s Companion was published. Many thanks if you bought a copy or borrowed it from the library. The book has seen a bit of a revival during the pandemic – from people at home learning to sew? Because of Zero Waste Sewing? I can’t be sure. Here’s how I…

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Questions people ask at book talks

Questions people ask at book talks

This month The Dressmaker’s Companion turns one.  While I’m no veteran of book talks, I’ve done a few since then, always with an opportunity for questions at the end.  Sometimes no-one asks any and sometimes people ask questions during the talk (especially if the group is small). Read more about my publishing story here. Here’s…

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My publishing story

My publishing story

Next month it’s one year since The Dressmaker’s Companion was published and I thought I’d share with you my publishing story.  It’s a bit long, so settle in… The patternmaking years You may know that I trained as a clothing patternmaker, back in 1990-91.  I was fortunate to find something I loved doing early on…

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5 books that influenced The Dressmaker’s Companion

5 books that influenced The Dressmakers Companion

Hello!  This week I’m sharing five books that influenced my own, The Dressmaker’s Companion.  Maybe you have read or own them too.   The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing Do you have this book on your shelf?  We had a copy in our family.  Mum must have bought it fairly close to when it…

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Yar! Me book’s been pirated!

Yar Me book's been pirated

A spot of late-night Googling this week revealed that Unscrupulous Persons are offering my book (or parts of it “for review”) as an ebook or downloadable PDF.  Went to bed feeling a bit sick about it. This probably happens to lots of authors, and some people are okay about it, saying It gets my book…

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A New Look for The Book

A New Look for The Book seals on front cover

As of today, The Dressmaker’s Companion has a new look! The cover now displays the seals from the Benjamin Franklin Awards, with an addition to the back blurb as well.   There are a couple of changes inside the book too, which will make the book (hopefully) easier to read and use. The Dressmaker’s Companion…

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The Dressmaker’s Companion wins gold and silver!

The Dressmaker's Companion wins Benjamin Franklin award

While our athletes have been winning gold and silver at the Commonwealth games on the Gold Coast, The Dressmaker’s Companion has been on the podium in Texas, USA, at the 30th Benjamin Franklin Book Awards. The Dressmaker’s Companion won a gold medal for Best Craft/Hobby/How-to book, and a silver medal for Best Cover (large format). …

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5 Favourite sewing tips from The Dressmaker’s Companion

5 Favourite sewing tips from The Dresssmaker's Companion

The Dressmaker’s Companion is a book absolutely loaded with sewing tips, and these are five of my favourites.  These are five tips that have made a BIG difference to the way I sew; maybe you already do them or maybe you’ll find them useful too. 1. Sew an ease stitch around the sleeve head It…

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Creating a book cover

Creating a book cover

The cover of The Dressmaker’s Companion has received many favourable comments, and you might be interested to read about how it was created. Because The Dressmaker’s Companion is a self published book, the cover was my responsibility.  All the advice I read on book cover design exhorted Don’t do your own cover!  This is great…

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