May is here… and we’re stepping into something special. For the next four weeks, we’re moving through centuries of dress, not as historians, and not as beginners…but as makers looking deeper into our craft. From 17th century structure to the shifting elegance of the 1910s,this month is about understanding what came before us, and recognising just how much of it still lives in the work we do today. 🗓 The journey through May: We’ll move week by week through four distinct eras: - Week 1 — 17th Century Structure, stays, and extraordinary foundations - Week 2 — 18th Century Panniers, silk, and theatrical construction - Week 3 — Victorian Era Silhouette, corsetry, and industrial dressmaking - Week 4 — 1910s The softening of structure and the edge of modern dress (My favourite era eeekkkk) Each week, we’ll open conversations, share resources, and explore what these eras ask of us as makers. 🪡 Before we begin… Historical costume has a way of doing something quite particular. It slows you down. It sharpens your eye. It asks more of your hands. And often… it reminds you why you started sewing in the first place. It reminds us of where our craft has come from.. 💬 Let’s open the month properly: I’d love to hear where you stand with historical work: - Have you ever made anything historically inspired, or fully accurate? - Is there an era you feel drawn to (or completely intimidated by)? - Do you approach historical costume for accuracy, artistry, or inspiration? - Or is this a part of sewing you’ve never explored… yet? Wherever you are, you’re welcome in this conversation. 🧭 A note from me You don’t need to “know” historical costume to be part of this month. This isn’t about getting everything right. It's about noticing, questioning, and expanding your understanding of making. If your sewing has ever felt a little… flat, this kind of exploration tends to shift things in ways you don’t expect. I’ll be here through the month, as always, not to teach, but to help guide when things get stuck.

Good morning, makers! 🪡 The atelier is open, the kettle's on (the Yorkshire tea isn't soaking in today), the week is full of possibilities, and I am SO ready to see what this community gets up to over the next seven days. Before you thread your machine, pick up your needle or unroll a single centimetre of fabric, I want to know what's on your table this week. We're doing something a little different from today. This week, we're holding each other accountable. So tell me where you are at: ⟶ What sewing project are you STARTING this week? ⟶ What are you in the middle of and WORKING ON? ⟶ What do you want to COMPLETE before Friday? Drop your answer below, as specific as you like. Not just "a dress" but "the silk organza sleeves that have been staring at me for two weeks" 😄. The more honest and real, the better. We're a community of serious makers, we can handle the truth of the to-do list! I'll be back on Friday to check in and celebrate how far we all got, progress, detours and happy accidents included. —————————————————————————————————— Also… 👀 I have something exciting coming in May. A theme that I think is going to absolutely light this community up, and I genuinely cannot wait to share it with you. Stay close, stay engaged, and keep your eyes on the notice board. The first hint is coming very soon. Happy sewing, Claire Amelia 🪡 Now, tell me what's on your table! ⬇️

We're not even 2 weeks old, and I didn't even know I was going to be opening this group 2 weeks ago today. As when when my creative mum @Jan Appleton mentioned it on a call (2 weeks ago tomorrow - Monday) I just knew it had to happen, and wallah that night the group was open! So, here I am building a group of sewers in real time - WHY? because I know deep down in my heart that we need a space for sewers who are past beginner stage, sewers who touch on not just one discipline, sewers who want to learn more, and have a safe place to ask those awkward questions... I built my sewing expertise up from uncomfortable places, with my customers, and didn't have anywhere to divulge, ask, question, query, worry, grow, or share.... So, whilst you're in the mix of your sewing frenzy, I'm here to help you along your way, to make the best of what you are creating, along with the other members in our community. I believe we are all here, because sewing is a discipline, and we want to share that skill with others (a way to beat fast fashion, push the sewers forward and educate our communities!) Let's welcome our latest members; @Brandi Reid @Valerie The French Sewing Bee @Allyson Scanlon @M d Huddleston Members, do not forget to introduce yourself to the pinned welcome post; https://www.skool.com/the-ateliers-hub-9961/welcome-to-the-atelier-hub?p=c3376e87 and the videos are up in our classroom, how to engage within the community, go check them out! I have lots planned for the group, which is exciting, seeing as what's been created already and we've only just started! Grateful you are all here, let's see what we can grow and achieve collectively. Happy Sunday Sewers from the UK 🪡 Claire Amelia, founder. 💥

Whether it's finished, half-pinned or still a pile of beautiful fabric on the floor, we want to see it. No perfection required. 🖼️ Yesterday, as I did a different kind of sewing, sowing seeds with my children into soil, it made me smile. How a skill like sewing can transcend in many different ways, create experiences, joy and so much more, even the word has many meanings.. So, here's a picture of me in the sunshine (finally sunny here in Yorkshire, England, ready for the seasonal shift!) with my youngest boy Oren. Before the sewing machine is back in action later .. I have planned to do a video this weekend on boning delicate material, to create strong foundations to adorn on with pretty fabrics. Are you interested in these sort of videos? Would love for you to share your sewing from this past week, up on the Studio Wall 🌟

Turn your screen 1/4 turn to the left so the hearts point down. Top left is my sweet little rose earrings. They are about the same size as a dime! Next is one of the bell ornaments I’ve made for the members of the bell choir I used to ring with. I just need to stiffen them and they’ll be ready to give away! Beside the bell in the same thread is one of the sunflower earrings I made a few years ago for the bell choir when we played at church and it happened to be Kansas Day! The Sunflower is the State flower! I’m still making a few of those for friends. Then above that is a corner bookmark. It’s two layers of tatting joined together on the top two sides and left open on the long side to slip over the corner of the book page you want to mark! The bottom row are all purple earring pairs. The bicolor ones and butterflies are size 20 thread which equates to fine crochet thread. The beaded Purple Hearts are size 80 which is about 1/4 of the thickness of the size 20! It’s more like sewing thread and very tedious to tat with! And yes those are tiny glass seed beads on the hearts and the lavender butterflies! I was so pleased and proud of these when I finished them! Some of my best work!