Be Your Own Label

Get sewing with running stitch!

The best thing about sewing? It’s so easy! You can start designing and customising your clothes with just a few, simple skills.

Thread a needle, grab some fabric, and follow this vid to learn BASIC RUNNING STITCH.

In no time, you’ll be off AND RUNNING (see what we did there?)

SWISH TIPs

Threading a Needle

If you find the thread keeps slipping out of your needle as you sew, trying doubling up the thread.

Single Thread
Single Thread
Double Thread
Double Thread

Gathering

Running stitch is a great way to sew seams or hems. It’s also a nifty way to ‘gather’ fabric, which is handy when making bags or skirts. Check out this quick vid to gather more info (I know, we’re hilarious!)

MAKE A SIMPLE SKIRT WITH RUNNING STITCH

Find some funky fabric  Recycle an old duvet cover or pillowcase? Whisk away a summer tablecloth!

Cut the fabric to your DESIRED FLAVOUR of skirt length (flaunt your ankles? Show off your knees? Surprise your thighs!) Then use your running stitch to create a hem at the bottom, and nice gathers at the top.

skirt
skirt2

To make a waistband, fold over a strip of fabric a couple of times to make a band that fits snugly around your waist. ‘Stick’ it together round the with back with some HEAVY DUTY Velcro (the starter sewer’s friend!). Or stitch your gathered skirt on to a MEGA WIDE strip of elastic (cut the elastic to fit your waist, then stitch it together at the back). Skirt-tastic!

Get sewing with running stitch

The best thing about sewing? It’s so easy! You can start designing and customising your clothes with just a few, simple skills.

Thread a needle, grab some fabric, and follow this vid to learn BASIC RUNNING STITCH.

In no time, you’ll be off AND RUNNING (see what we did there?)

Swish Tips

The best thing about sewing? It’s so easy! You can start designing and customising your clothes with just a few, simple skills.

Thread a needle, grab some fabric, and follow this vid to learn BASIC RUNNING STITCH.

In no time, you’ll be off AND RUNNING (see what we did there?)

 

Not sure how to tie a knot?

Threading a Needle

Single Thread
Single Thread
Double Thread
Double Thread

If you find the thread keeps slipping out of your needle as you sew, trying doubling up the thread.

Gathering

Running stitch is a great way to sew seams or hems. It’s also a nifty way to ‘gather’ fabric, which is handy when making bags or skirts. Check out this quick vid to gather more info (I know, we’re hilarious!)

MAKE A SIMPLE SKIRT WITH RUNNING STITCH

Find some funky fabric  Recycle an old duvet cover or pillowcase? Whisk away a summer tablecloth!

Cut the fabric to your DESIRED FLAVOUR of skirt length (flaunt your ankles? Show off your knees? Surprise your thighs!) Then use your running stitch to create a hem at the bottom, and nice gathers at the top.

skirt

To make a waistband, fold over a strip of fabric a couple of times to make a band that fits snugly around your waist. ‘Stick’ it together round the with back with some HEAVY DUTY Velcro (the starter sewer’s friend!). Or stitch your gathered skirt on to a MEGA WIDE strip of elastic (cut the elastic to fit your waist, then stitch it together at the back). Skirt-tastic!

skirt2

"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About  time!" Dawn French

" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
 LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert

"‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers inspired about sustainable fashion."

" Laugh-out loud funny"
SOPHIA, 13

" The Swish is amazing. From page one, I loved it"
LOLA, 12

" Funny and truthful. It shows what girls are made of!"
FLORENCE, 14

" Amazing. Kat's story shows so much about self-confidence, and never to give up!"
CHLOE, 15

"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About  time!" Dawn French

" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
 LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert

" A super fun read - ‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."

" Laugh-out loud funny"
SOPHIA, 13

" The Swish is amazing. From page one, I loved it"
LOLA, 12

" Funny and truthful. It shows what girls are made of!"
FLORENCE, 14

" Amazing. Kat's story shows so much about self-confidence, and never to give up"
CHLOE, 15

The Swish Album

Music inspired by the YA novel
The Swish by Tash Bell.

Amazon

"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About  time!"
Dawn French

" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
 LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert

"‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."

" Laugh-out loud funny"
 
SOPHIA, 13

" The Swish is amazing. From page one, I loved it"
 LOLA, 12

" Funny and truthful. It shows what girls are made of!"
 FLORENCE, 14

" Amazing. Kat's story shows so much about self-confidence, and never to give up"
 CHLOE, 15

book-pic1
motifs2
The Swish Album

Music inspired by the young adult novel
The Swish by Tash Bell.

We love to hear from you! Share your cool creations and thrifty finds with us at hello@theswish.co.uk

Want  the Swish to run a fashion upcycling workshop at your school or youth group? Just shout!

We love to hear from you! Share your cool creations and thrifty finds with us at hello@theswish.co.uk

 

Want  the Swish to run a fashion upcycling workshop at your school or youth group? Just shout!