Blog — Entrepreneurial Spark RSS



Our debut quilt pattern is on its way!

Happy World Quilting Day 2018!  We have been very busy behind the scenes producing our first studio quilt pattern.  Introducing Morris Mouse.  A dapper young chap, inspired by Liberty's Cottage Garden range.  He loves relaxing amongst the cosmos flowers and bluebells, which surround his cosy thatched cottage.   How is he made? Morris is a foundation pieced sewing pattern.  This means that you sew through the paper templates on your sewing machine and then remove the paper afterwards.  It's a technique that allows you to make very accurate lines and we love it!  When can I buy him?  Morris is making his debut on Sewing Quarter TV on Sunday March 25th at 10am. He will also be available on our website...

Continue reading



Becoming a guest designer on Sewing Quarter

Hi everyone,  I think it is fair to say I have been neglecting this blog.  It began to feel scary, like a long overdue library book that you are too ashamed to take back.  The simple fact is that I have been all carried away with my other social media - easy to post from my phone and to share in seconds.  However, this blog is important to me.  When I read back over the past few years it is the best record I have of my creative and business journey.  It has helped me to record experiences, and the important and inspirational people I have met.  It is a way to connect with an audience of like-minded people and...

Continue reading



The mission behind Jenni Smith Studio patterns

The mission Nothing beats the feeling of saying "I made it myself",  yet 7 out of 10 young people don't know how to sew a button on. For a good 30 years these basic life skills have been completely scrapped from education, in the UK at least.  I am one of the forgotten generation who did not learn how to sew at school. I am a self-taught dressmaker who loves having the ability to create unique, well-made clothes that reflect my personality and style. I have taught over 250 people to sew in the past 5 years so releasing patterns seems like a natural progression. The aim is to try and help people gain the skills and confidence to build their...

Continue reading



Jammy Jenni turns 40

Tomorrow, on New Year's Eve, I will turn 40.  I thought I would reflect on 2016, the first full year of sharing my sewing related adventures through this blog.  Firstly, thank you to everyone who has read it. I am not bombarded with comments but I can see in my page analytics that many come and take a look, and I really do appreciate it! It has been a year for going out of my comfort zone, starting with me joining the Entrepreneurial Spark programme in February. To begin with I felt very out of my depth discussing financial forecasts and all of the rest. However,  I also felt like I was amongst people with the same mindset as me,...

Continue reading



A magic two-way sequin jacket

Hi, it's Kay here. Last week we wrote all about our love of two-way sequins.  Jenni has been wearing her lovely skirt and we have had three more people running up similar versions in the studio.  I went for the royal blue fabric which turns to black and wanted a simple jacket to sew up, with as few seams as possible to allow it to hang well. I chose New Look 6305 and bought some stretch black that feels like PU for the facing and cuffs.  I cut out with the rotary cutter and used the stretch stitch, size 70 needle and polyester thread as we mentioned last time.  The jacket has 2 bust darts, no centre back seam and...

Continue reading