Dogwood Fabric preview

One of the very nicest things about the magazine business is getting sneaky peaks of new launches.  We were lucky enough to receive a pack of fat quarters from Michelle a few weeks ago, which meant we got to sample her Dogwood fabric range before it arrived in the shops.

The style and colours of the fabric range are gorgeous, I personally fell in love with it as soon as I opened the packet and it was just right for an idea that had been brewing in my brain for a while.  The finished design is going to be in issue 4 of Sew Hip which will be on sale end of January, here’s a sneak peak of Lou and I working on it at the Christmas party.   A sneak peak of a sneak peak, if you will!

Next week its back to work properly in the Sew Hip office, lots is going on behind the scenes at the moment and I hope to share more photos and stories with you then, Happy 2009 to all of you!

Sew Hip 3

Sew Hip 3 is due to hit the news stands this weekend, subscriber copies arrived with us on Christmas Eve and we got them all turned around and back out into the post on the same day so hopefully some should have started to arrive about now.

Here’s the front cover, the gorgeous layered skirt was made with Liberty cord fabric.  It was much exclaimed over in the office, we all want one to fit us now!

Vacancy – Editor

We wanted to let you know that as of yesterday,  Manda McGrory has resigned as Editor of Sew Hip.  Manda is no longer working on the magazine and will be concentrating on her design company, Treefall Design from now on.

We are actively seeking a replacement editor for the magazine, until someone is hired Kerrie Allman, Senior Editor, will be managing the day to day running of the magazine.  Any queries regarding the vacancy, contributing designs or features to the magazine or anything else at all to do with Sew Hip should be directed to her at kerrieATkalmedia.co.uk

Pattern Reviews

Here at Sew Hip we like to review patterns by actually making them and posting photos of the finished items rather than just reading and reviewing a pattern.  However, there are only so many hours in the day and the Sew Hip team don’t have time to review as many of the lovely patterns that we receive as we would like.

That’s where you all come in.

If anyone is interested in reviewing a pattern please email me (kerrieATkalmedia.co.uk)  We’ll send you the pattern, you’ll need to provide the fabric and the time to make the pattern, usually within 2 / 3 weeks of us sending it to you.  YOu’ll also need to send the sample into us for photos (we’ll send it straight back) and be prepared to write some words on your experience with the pattern.

We’d like people with all levels of sewing experience to review patterns for us, the patterns themselves range from kids to adults clothes, toys, bits for the house and pretty much anything else you can think of.  So drop me an email if you might be interested.

Edited to add – thanks so much for all the support, I have enough pattern testers now to last me a while but I’ll open it up again here on the blog if I need any more help.  If you have emailed me and haven’t heard back be patient until the 9th January and then feel free to RE email me.  x

Contributors

We receive so many brilliant ideas for contributions to the magazine on a daily basis, we currently have lots and lots of great patterns, tutorials and features to share with you.

A couple of areas that are not as forthcoming as others though, adults clothes patterns and features / articles on amazing UK sewing and fabric people.   So, if anyone has anything that they would like to contribute or suggest for the magazine on either of those counts please send us an email to mandamcgroryATsewhip.co.uk

Preview of issue 1

Well, the moment that you’ve all been waiting for is here.  The pages are done and with the printers and here for its grand unveiling is the preview page for Issue 1 of Sew Hip.

http://www.sewhip.co.uk/issue1.html

We hope you love it as much as we do.  This magazine has been a pleasure to put together, Manda has done a fantastic job and it all looks amazing.

Not long now till the grand unveiling at the Knitting and Stitching show in Ally Pally, London.  All pre issues and sub copies will be on their way week beginning 6th October and then the magazine will be on the news-stands from 31st October.  

Now, back to issues 2, 3 and 4.

Editor’s Etsy choice

Sorry for the delay in between posts, its all happening over here at Sew Hip.  Manda is doing a great job at pulling the magazine together and we’re in the middle of photoshoots, styling and page design chaos at the moment.  its chaos but its a lot of fun at the same time, especially when new parcels arrive from designers containing gorgeous samples or new products / books arrive for us to review. Its a lot of hard work but a lot of good fun at the same time.

One thing that we do need to announce is our editor’s etsy choice advert pages.  We are really keen to keep Sew Hip in touch with the amazing online talented community and Manda and I have sooo many etsy shops in our favourites that we thought it would be nice to offer people an affordable advertising option with Sew Hip.

Anyone with an etsy shop can apply for an advert on our editor’s etsy choice page for the premiere issue.  The price is £50 and we are limiting the number of adverts to 20.  All applications must be approved by Manda but we’ll get back to you really quickly and let you know whether or not you’ve received a place.

As an additional special offer we are going to pick one of our etsy advertisers and give them their advert for free, this offer applies to the launch issue only and the lucky advertiser will be notified within 30 days of the magazine being available on the news-stands.

If you’re interested in being considered for this special offer then please email ads@sewhip.coDOTuk and either Manda or I will get back to you as soon as we can.

Welcome to Sew Hip!

Want to know more about SEW Hip? Read on….

Why?
Because SEW Hip knows that no matter what your age or ability is you still want original, contemporary patterns and designs . That you want to know what’s out there, where you can get it and how you can make it yourself. And that most of all that you want to be inspired to have more fun and try new things with your sewing.

What?
You can expect 10 issues a year, packed from cover to cover with at least 8 brand new, never before published patterns as well as interviews with both well known and new to the scene designers and makers. The newest products, books and commercial patterns reviewed in every issue as well as original sewing ideas to suit your children or just the child in you. SEW Hip is a sewing magazine that knows just how cool sewing really is.

Who?
The first issue includes patterns and interviews by many successful designers and makers, including :

Amy Butler – Fabrics, bags, clothes, in the most gorgeous prints that are now available over here in the UK. 

Prints Charming -Australia’s internationally loved fabric designers and their wonderful quilts – including a pattern to make yourself.

Alicia Paulson – stitcher extraordinaire. Beautiful stitching, beautiful pictures and beautiful ideas.

Sandi Henderson – Learn all about Sandi and her fun, vibrant and totally original fabrics.

Amy Adams – successful and experienced pattern designer and her wonderful soft toys that you can make.

The blog here is still a work in progress, we’ll finish prettying it up in the next week or so and then begin blogging regularly to share lots of interesting news with you all.