Serena Sews: How to Make Beautiful, Interchangeable, Sustainable and Unique Clothes

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Her advice on techniques and practical skills allows readers to tailor their designs to their own style and create long-lasting items. Her easy-to-follow guides help readers move away from fast fashion to create a unique and versatile wardrobe. Meet the softly-spoken fashionista Amanda Gilfedder, whose former colleagues at Holy Family Primary School in Mossend, Bellshill, were instrumental in persuading her to take a leap of faith and exit education to launch her own classroom concept – teaching people how to sew. Formerly occupied by a water cooler company, the premises had lain empty for two years. But creative Amanda recognised the potential of the staid, corporate space with its banks of blank admin desks. Whether resourcefully upcycling a pre-loved item or creating something brand new from extra material, Serena Sews will have readers creating clothes that will be cherished for years. With her can-do attitude, Serena marries simple sewing and sustainability into a joyful experience. Sustainable sewing is a big focus of Serena Sews, which I’ve been busy writing since my Sewing Bee win last year.

Serena Sews (Hardback) - Serena Baker | Jarrolds, Norwich Serena Sews (Hardback) - Serena Baker | Jarrolds, Norwich

It’s a creative outlet – ‘me’ time, out of the house. Most people are not in creative jobs, so this is their opportunity to be creative. There, doyennes of fashion, Amanda and Serena – wearing a flattering skirt fashioned from a pair of curtains and a funky crop-top adapted from a man’s shirt – explained to eight students how to recreate show-stopping designs, worthy of Parisienne catwalks, from discarded clothes and surplus fabrics. By March, she’d signed a lease and transformed the blank canvas into two bright, airy and contemporary studios, five-times the size of her Brandon House unit.The paths of Sew You Can and R:evolve Recycle crossed again recently, when Amanda teamed up with young Glasgow medical student Serena Baker, whose exceptional sewing and design talents, and her passion for upcycling, earned her the Great British Sewing Bee crown of 2021. refashion' existing items like an oversized shirt into a summer dress, or an old pair of jeans into a cute crop top Comedian Sara Pascoe was announced as the new host of the show last September, replacing fellow comedian Joe Lycett. Initially, she toyed with the idea of renting a shop unit – but 10-year leases and the associated financial ties didn’t appeal. Eloise is an enthusiastic participant of the kids’ classes, which have also been attended by a young boy who made puppets by hand, and wanted to up-skill to machine stitching.

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Medical student Serena Baker was crowned winner of The Great British Sewing Bee in June 2021. Credit: PA She is also an ambassador for Create & Craft TV appearing on their YouTube shows and contributing to their blog. Juliet Uzor - series five Sew You Can encourages its pupils to follow ‘indie’ patterns from British designers, manufactured in small batches by UK companies. In the staff room, my colleagues would say, ‘I love your dress; you made that, didn’t you?'" Amanda told Lanarkshire Live. Forget fast fashion and cheap trends - Serena Baker is here to help you craft the sustainable wardrobe of your dreams!Whether you're brand new to sewing or already know the ropes but fancy trying something a little different, Serena will take you on a journey to reinvent your wardrobe. Determined to reverse the propensity for ‘fast fashion’ – the blindingly fast pace at which clothes are now manufactured, worn, and discarded – Amanda hooked up with R:evolve Recycle’s eco haberdashery in Hamilton, whose staff and volunteers offered to donate materials which helped her to launch an upcycling class. And if clothing’s not your thing, Amanda and fellow tutors Laura Horn, Jade Evans, Julie McMillan and Rebecca Barbour, can equip you with the skills you need to transform your home with beautiful cushions and even Roman blinds. Read More Related Articles

Serena Baker visiting Broughty Great British Sewing Bee star Serena Baker visiting Broughty

When she chose to take a break from her teaching career to become a stay-at-home mum to two daughters aged under two, she needed ‘me’ time – a craving that rekindled her teenage flirtation with sewing, and restored the fire in her belly for all things creative.

In 2021, Serena Baker became the youngest ever - and first Scottish - winner of The Great British Sewing Bee. She thrilled the judges with her incredible attention to detail and wowed viewers with her distinctive 'refashioning projects', putting sustainability at the heart of her creations. Venturing beyond the comfort zone of designing kids’ clothing – a line which frees creators of the measuring and fitting complications “boobs and bums” present – Amanda’s dazzling creations for women became increasingly adventurous, more dramatic.

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Really talented sewers have fairy dust that they throw over the garment and it doesn’t look like it has been touched by a human hand. That’s what Serena’s sewing is like.’– Esme Young Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7. master must-have skills - from zip insertion to pressing perfection - to boost your sewing confidence and give your garments a professional finish Said Serena: “Running a workshop at Sew You Can was an amazing way to share my knowledge from my new book, Serena Sews, while also encouraging people to try upcycling old bits and bobs to give them a new lease of life.

Now a hive of activity, Amanda and four additional tutors offer classes for all abilities, running every evening and at weekends. People would say to me: ‘I’d pay you to make that for my own wee girl.’ But that did not bring me joy.