The Sewing Lab

Late night sewing at its finest...

If you think the hoodie is off-brand, just wait until you get a look at the neon socks and slides hiding under the machine 🙈

The side of bridal alterations no one sees

“It’s only a little alteration…”

Sometimes the finished result looks deceptively simple.

But behind that small change can be layers of fabric, lining, lace, boning, hand stitching and careful finishing.

Bridal alterations aren’t always about how much fabric comes off or how many seams are sewn.

Sometimes it’s the slow, careful work in between that takes the time.

A year ago today, I stood outside in Woburn Walk again 🤍

I had spent six amazing weeks here in London many years ago, and returning a year ago felt like stepping back into a little piece of my old world.

In the years in between, I came home, got married, started a family and built a home and life that I love. The dream of working in bridal and fashion was never really gone — it had simply been tucked away while life took me in other directions.

But standing here again made me stop and reassess what I wanted my career to look like, and reignited something in me.

I came home from that trip with a renewed feeling that bridal was where I wanted to be. I certainly didn’t have a five-year plan! But somehow, one year later, The Sewing Lab has a new home, bridal is back at the heart of my work, and that little idea that started forming here has grown into something I’m incredibly excited about.

It’s funny how sometimes you have to return to a place from your past to rediscover a part of your future. ✨

A little sewing-business outing ✂️🤍

I popped into Direct Sewing Machines in Auckland over the weekend for a look around — partly because I’m starting to think about upgrading some of the machines in the workroom, and partly because… well, I can never resist having a look at sewing machines 😂

Their new store is SO beautiful. The layout, the space, the huge range of machines, tools, threads and all the sewing things… basically heaven if you love this stuff as much as I do!

It was also a good reminder of how much my workroom has evolved over the last few years, and how much more I’d love to build into it over time.

Lots of ideas, lots of dreaming, and possibly a few machines added to the wishlist 👀✂️

A little February diary update…

February is now FULLY BOOKED with a waitlist started. January and March are filling quickly too.

If you’re a February bride and haven’t booked your alterations yet, I may still be able to accommodate you by bringing your alterations into January.

And remember — you don’t need to have your dress in hand to book your alterations.

Getting your appointment secured early means you have a place, even if your dress hasn’t arrived yet.

If you’re getting married early next year, now is a good time to get in touch 🤍