Yvonne. (The Wheelie Stitcher)

I’m super excited to be able to offer you a 10% discount at Minerva. Just pop along to their website and use the code ‘STARSYVONNE’ to get a discount on their gorgeous range of fabrics, patterns and haberdashery. It can be used as many times as you like (and in addition to their craft club members discount!) #minervabrandambassador, #SharingTheLove, #SewingDreams, #SewingDiscount

I’ve just added a video to both my Minerva profile and YouTube channel (links in bio) to show how I have planned my sewing room to help make sewing easier for my disability. (I have MS and use a wheelchair). I discuss the equipment I use and the little hacks my husband and I have made to try to keep sewing not only possible, but also pleasurable. Although this video is aimed at helping disabled people to continue sewing there are points included that are relevant to everyone, so please take a look. I apologise that it’s quite a long but I didn’t want to miss anything important out of it. (Image description: a sign says equipment and techniques to aid sewing with a disability. It includes a picture of a woman sat in a chair at a cutting table.) #MinervaBrandAmbassador, #MimiquinsBrandAmbassador, #SewingWithADisability, #DisabledSewingEquipment, #SeatedSewing, #DisabledSewistsOfInstagram, #WheelchairConsiderations, #SewingWithMS,

I’m really enjoying wearing my latest make. This is the second time that I have made the Iris cardigan from Minerva, and this time my fabric is a lot lighter and has more drape, and so feels surprisingly different to wear. My fabric was a crochet-effect lace knit with a little stretch in a gorgeous caramel colour. It’s from Minerva’s core range and I was very kindly gifted it as part of their Ambassador program. This is such a special fabric; it’s beautifully textured with its crosses and flower design and little holes; it is very impressive when you see it up close. If you’d like to find out more about this make including wheelchair considerations then please pop along to my blog (link in bio) (Image descriptions: there are six images taken from different angles showing Yvonne sat in her wheelchair in her garden. She is wearing a knee-length collarless caramel-coloured cardigan with drop sleeves.) #MinervaBrandAmbassador, #SewnShownSeated, #disabledsewist

Here is a sneak peek of my next make. I have been pondering for a long time what to make with this beautiful fabric (the photo really doesn’t do it justice). I have eventually settled on their Iris Cardigan, as I can then use this as a cover-up over a swimming costume but also a really lovely cardigan, so the best of both worlds. I have already made an Iris Cardigan previously in a similar sort of colour, but that was in a thick wool and this one has a very open weave that does look like it has been hand crocheted so I think it will look completely different. I’m really looking forward to sharing this make with you. #MinervaBrandAmbassador, #MinervaMakes, #MinervaMakers, #IrisCardigan, I was very kindly gifted this fabric as part of Minerva’s ambassador program.

The wonderful Yvonne Coleclough @thewheeliestitcher sharing her experience of sewing clothes as a wheelchair user. [video description - Yvonne is a white woman with shoulder length grey hair. She is wearing an orange top and dark blue jeans and is sitting in a power chair. She is speaking into a microphone while on a white runway space addressing an audience.] #AccessibleSewing #AccessibleClothing #SewingShownSeated #SewingInstagram #SeatedSewingPatterns

Very exciting news. It’s a Minerva craft club VIP weekend! This means the normal 10% discount that craft club members save on everything at Minerva is doubled to 20% off, all Saturday and Sunday! The event runs all day Saturday and Sunday, finishing at midnight (GMT) on Sunday third May.

It seems to have taken me ages to have completed this make (not because it was particularly challenging), simply because I haven’t been very well. I’ve had an impromptu holiday, and life has just got in the way. Now it’s finished, I’m really happy with it. It feels so luxurious to wear, and it’s the sort of blouse that I can dress up for an evening out or dress down with a pair of jeans. The fabric is a gorgeous recycled charmeuse silky satin from Minerva’s print-on-demand range called Sahel Seeds and the pattern is The Alexa Blouse from Atelier Jupe. I was very kindly gifted the fabric as part of Minerva’s ambassador program. Please visit my blog (link in bio) for a full write up including wheelchair considerations. Image Description, (There are six images taken from different angles showing Yvonne seated in her wheelchair in her garden. She is wearing black trousers with a cream patterned blouse that has voluminous sleeves.) #WheelchairConsiderations #SewnShownSeated, #AlexaBlouseSeated , #AtelierJupe , #minervabrandambassador

Here’s my next project. I’ve been excited to try a pattern from Atelier Jupe for a long time and the Alexa blouse looks a perfect match for my gorgeous charmeuse silky satin that’s my Minerva Ambassador fabric this month. It does have a lot of buttons (which I’m not good at fastening) but I simply love the look of this blouse so it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. There are definitely times when aesthetics win over practicality and this is one of those times. #minervabrandambassador #minervabrandambassadors #minervamakers #minervamakes #MinervaExclusiveFabric

I’ve really enjoyed this make, working with 100% linen is a real pleasure. I love how crisply it presses under the iron and how well-behaved it is to sew. The print for my linen is called Maple Timbers, and it’s from Minerva’s Exclusive Print on Demand collection. it’s so much nicer in real life than in the photos. Its gorgeous, harmonising, warm, brown, black, and caramel tones, make it anything but dull, (which brown can be) in fact to me, this print, really seems to sing. I chose Kwik Sew K4156 as I wanted a simple silhouette to show off the print, and I liked the sleeves with their gathered cuffs and sleeve head. Please visit my blog (link in bio) for full write up of this make including wheelchair considerations. I was very kindly gifted this fabric as part of Minerva’s ambassador program. #minervabrandambassador #minervabrandambassadors #minervamaker #SewnShownSeated, Image Description, (There are six images taken from different angles showing Yvonne seated in her wheelchair in her garden. She is wearing a knee-length brown linen dress that has statement sleeves and a cut-out neckline.)

My next make is using a pattern that I’ve had for ages. Unfortunately Kwik Sew are no longer around but there are lots of similar styles still available on the Minerva site. I’m pairing it with a gorgeous soft washed 100% Linen in the beautiful Maple Timbers print. I wanted a summer dress, with sleeves and the 100% Linen is perfect for this as it is breathable to help keep me cool but will protect my arms if there’s a breeze or too much strong sun. I look forward to sharing my progress with you. I was gifted this fabric as part of Minerva’s Ambassador programme. Image description: The image shows a sewing plan with patterned linen fabric and a Kwik Sew dress pattern. The fabric is labeled “Minerva Exclusive Maple Timbers Soft Washed 100% Linen POD Fabric”. The sewing pattern is labeled “kwik sew K4156”. The image includes the text “My next make”, “A PATTERN I’VE HAD FOR AGES”, and “A linen dress for summer”. There are also decorative hearts and a star. #minervabrandambassador #minervabrandambassadors #minervamaker #minervamakes #MinervaExclusiveFabric

Did you know there is now a range of sewing patterns that are fully adaptable to suit YOUR needs, available in seated and standing fits, with dyslexia-friendly instructions written to help you LEARN to sew, not just guess? After two years of chasing the dream our first patterns are here! Check them out at allaccesssewing.com #AllAccessSewing #AccessibleSewing #DisabilityAwareness #AdaptiveSewingPatterns #AdaptiveSewing @something_profound__ @teignmouth_mermaid @thewheeliestitcher @peachesandqween @wesewtoo @fitzgerald.jemma @luinluland [video description: a number of women are walking down the catwalk showing off their garments. Two are in wheelchairs and one is using a crutch.]

You know that feeling when you make something and you just instantly fall in love with it and can’t wait to make it again? Well, that’s just what happened with this make! Having put off making the Adrienne blouse for so long, I made one and then couldn’t wait for another. So I decided to use my next Ambassador fabric (which just happened to be a jersey) to make another to wear to the Sewing for Pleasure show at the NEC last weekend. This didn’t give me much time, and unfortunately I ran out of time to share it before the event. So here it is, together with a few photos from the event. Once again, I used a beautiful 100% cotton jersey stretch knit fabric from Minerva’s print-on-demand range. This time the print is called Butterfly Brush and it’s a background of abstract brush strokes that look slightly reminiscent of feathers with white butterflies stamped on the top. It’s all gorgeous autumnal colours, and I have to say this is probably one of my favourite Minerva prints; it’s just stunning when you see it. The jersey in this print really looked fabulous with the gathers of the Adrienne top, and being such a buttery soft jersey, it was so comfy to wear around the show. I was very grateful that it was a breathable 100% cotton as it was incredibly busy and got very warm. Image description: (There are six images taken from different angles showing Yvonne sat in her wheelchair. Two of them are taken at the NEC. She is wearing a jersey blouse that has gathered statement sleeves and a print of abstract brush strokes in red, black, green, beige, and brown with white butterflies.) #minervabrandambassador #MinervaExclusiveFabric #SewnShownSeated #AdrienneSeated