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Laura Cunningham Sweet Cinnamon Roses

About Laura Cunningham

Laura is the creator and maker behind Sweet Cinnamon Roses, step-by-step sewing patterns for beginners. She got her first sewing machine while pregnant with her daughter Klara in 2012. Back then she didn’t even know how to turn on the machine, let alone how to sew a straight line. But she loved the idea of creating something she made for her daughter.

 

So she was eager to learn and started teaching herself. Not long and she got completely pulled into the world of fabric and sewing, making bags, accessories and quilts for her newborn daughter. Fast forward a couple years (by now she also had her son Sami and moved from Germany to the North East of Scotland) and she was totally addicted to sewing and loved being a member of our vibrant, caring and inspiring sewing community online. In 2016 she wrote her first pattern for the See It All Pouch and again, she was hooked. Creating easy-to-follow sewing patterns and helping you to also find the confidence to make whatever you desire, became her passion up to this day. In her patterns, she carefully talks you through step-by-step, like she’s sitting right next to you. Your sewing buddy, guiding you through the process.

 

Please find her website over at sweetcinnamonroses.com if you would like to know more or try one of her patterns for yourself. 

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Sweet Cinnamon Roses - step-by-step sewing patterns for beginners

Message from Laura - Your days are full of keeping up with work, taking care of your little ones, busy to-do lists, whilst maintaining some resemblance of normality and by the end of the day your sewjo has completely left. I see you and I get it. Because I've been there... But I am not anymore. What if I told that you can totally do it, and in fact - we can do it together.
 
Every day we claim back half an hour to ourselves and use it to be creative, instead of freezing in front of our machines - not knowing what to do or where to start. Procrastinating is real, right? So claiming back half an hour a day to work on a small manageable project just for you. I talk you through each project, share my fave tips and tricks with you, must have materials - giving YOU the confidence to create anything you desire!

All Laura’s patterns are designed with beginners in mind, for a little extra help - why not join her free Facebook group? If you are new to sewing or still a little intimated by zippers and vinyl, bag making, or your sewing machine in general… Laura gets it because she was there as well a couple years ago. In learning sections she will share lots of helpful links with you, the materials she is using, plenty inspiration from fellow designers and HOW TO videos to guide you through each pattern.

Laura says “Bonus: a fab online community of likeminded makers and creators from all over the world. Really all you need to make sweet little pouches with confidence! You can do it… HUZZAHHHH!!!”

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To join the Sweet Cinnamon Roses Facebook group please CLICK HERE

And here are the projects - each of them a small skill builder in itself 

How to stay informed…

Here on Janome UK website - you can read more about the projects Laura is sharing and which features of her Janome MC 6700P she loves the most and why. Find out why that zipper foot is such a game changer…

Laura really, really wants to hear from you. She would love to see your work and hear your questions. That’s why she has created a group on FB to hang out.
 
There you get the chance to:
• Hang out and chat without barriers!

• Inspire each other!
• Share tips + tricks!
And most important: learn together - you can literally work yourself though each topic and complete “guides” almost like lessons. Quick HOW TO videos to carefully walk you through all the tricky steps.
 
For more about Laura’s step-by-step sewing patterns please head over to her website, Sweet Cinnamon Roses

Follow her social channels - 

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Easy DIY Face Mask

Easy DIY Face Mask

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Face masks... How many did you make over the past couple months and years? I bet you've lost count a long time ago!
 

I get it. They are not the most exciting thing to make yet we are coming back to make more. And more. And more.

Please CLICK HERE to download the full instructions.

Facemask-Pic

Patchwork Pencil Case

Patchwork Pencil Case

The patchwork pencil case - a step-by-step sewing pattern by Laura Cunningham of Sweet Cinnamon Roses for Janome UK.

Showing you how to create a super cute, little pencil case with confidence, whilst expanding your skill set. Because inserting zippers doesn’t have to be tricky… but see for yourself!

Please CLICK HERE to download the full instructions.

Patchwork-Patter-Pencil-Case

Wee Braw Bag

The Wee Braw Bag

 

Probably the most perfect project bag out there! Perfectly round, reversible, plenty of pockets, so versatile and ohhhh so cute.

 

If you can sew a straight line - you can make a Wee Braw Bag. It’s really that easy!

 

When it comes to making a Wee Braw Bag, I love this one particular feature on my Janome MC 6700p. I am using the HP foot and corresponding HP plate - which gives you the perfect 1/4" seam allowance. But when making this bag, you constantly have to swap between a 1/4" and 1/8" seam allowance. And here's the trick - keep your HP foot on throughout the whole project but only change the needle plate. So if you need a 1/4" seam allowance, use the corresponding HP plate. But if you quickly have to swap over to create an 1/8" seam allowance just pop in your standard needle plate and you're ready to go. Your needle automatically moves over a little to the right and you can start sewing straight away... neat, right? 

Wee-Braw-Bag

The Glitta Pouch

The Glitta Pouch

 

The Glitta Pouch literally sparkles! Yes... you heard it right.

 

This pouch is, in fact, sparkling and shiny and ohh so fun. And let me tell you a secret - it's not only wee girls that love a shiny pouch! In fact, big girls love them just the same. Maybe even more so. We all remember the days when we were wee... 

 

Making a Glitta Pouch is super simple - it’s just a few straight lines! But it's all in the detail. More precisely, it's all about your sewing feet. I am using the Ultra Glide foot, the zipper foot (E) and the satin stitch foot (F), as I like to see where I am going... just clip on the foot and you are ready to go! That easy!

Glitta-Pouch

Improv Piecing

Improv piecing

 

Is all about fabric placement, intuition and letting go.

 

Improv isn't a precise science; but about the journey. You might not end up with exactly the block you imagined at first. And that's ok. Be open and embrace the beauty of the randomness you achieve with this techniques. You will create something perfectly unique, reflecting your personality.

 

And when it comes to improv piecing, there is one feature I love in particular. And that's the HP foot and corresponding HP plate. The HP foot always creates a perfect 1/4" seam allowance - no matter what. Just guide the fabric along the edge of your foot and the machine does the rest for you. Super precise. Always! And the neat thing about the HP plate is the position of the needle hole. It's only one small hole - directly underneath your needle (as you can't change your needle position using the HP foot and plate in combination). That guarantees that no fabric is ever "eaten" by your machine. Especially at the start if you plan stitching close to the edge, where your fabric is prone to being pulled into the hole of your plate. With the hole being super small - that doesn’t happen anymore! Such a treat and no more wrangling fabric out of the guts of your sewing machine...

Improv-Piecing

The I Heart You Bag

The I Heart You Bag

 

The I Heart You Bag - probably one of the easiest patterns and a great starting point if you’ve never inserted a zipper before... or for teaching someone who might think sewing isn’t cool but in fact, deep inside will love making things all by themselves... If you can teach them how to sew a straight line – they can insert a zipper and make this bag! It won’t be long until they start quilting and, as we all know, there is no way back from there! 

 

When it comes to making the I Heart You Bag there is one, very basic feature I love. The zipper foot. No need to be intimidated by it, I promise!! It's just a very narrow foot that easily glides along the edge of your zipper - skinny enough not to interfere with your zipper teeth. This helps you create a straight and even seam. After installing the zipper, keep the zipper foot on for just a little longer. Carefully change the needle position a little to the right, just above the gap in your zipper foot. Now line up the right edge of your zipper foot with edge of your fabric for topstitching. And there you go... zippers are super-duper easy. Just a couple straight lines!

Week 4 Image 2 -Zipper foot

See It All Pouch

See It All Pouch

 

How many things need organised in your life....?!?! Right! Cute little pouches for your sewing notions, cosmetics, wet wipes, your kids Legos, pencils and notebooks - the See It All Pouch is just perfect and oh so cute. No more zip loc bags for you!

 

Making a See It All Pouch is super simple - it’s just a few straight lines! But they have to be done right, and for that I am using two different sewing feet: the zipper foot and the Ultra Glide foot. Obviously, the zipper foot works really well for inserting the zipper, but it's also super helpful when it comes to topstitching. Carefully change the needle position a little to the right, just above the gap in your zipper foot. Line up the right edge of your zipper foot with edge of your fabric for topstitching and the zipper is neatly sewn in place. And for the final assembly, the Ultra Glide Foot comes in super handy - it just easily glides over all layers without being stuck to the vinyl...

Pattern-Parade-Week-5

Wee Travel Pal

Wee Travel Pal

 

Million-dollar question: where are those sewing needles...?! And where are those snips again?! Are you also struggling to find your notions when you need them? Well… then the Wee Travel Pal by @sweetcinnamonroses is just right for you - everything in it’s right place, helping you to be super organised on-the-run or on your sofa at home!

 

Throughout the project, you’ll only need two feet. The zipper foot as well as your HP foot. But take advantage of being able to change the needle position - either sewing at the recommended position, or go narrower if needed. And for this project you don't even need the Ultra Glide foot, as you never directly sew on vinyl. Yay!

Week-6-PP

Wee Boxy Bag

Wee Billow Bag

 

How organised is your sewing area? Whether it's a full sized studio or a corner of your bedroom... do you really know where everything is? If the answer is no - you will love the Wee Boxy Basket! A fabric basket for all your sewing and quilty notions. Everything at your fingertips…

 

Making a Wee Boxy Basket is super easy - just a couple straight lines! The only thing you have to consider is changing your needle position from a 1/4" seam allowance to a 1/8" seam allowance, and this is where your HP foot comes in handy again. Combine the HP foot with the corresponding HP plate for a perfect 1/4" seam allowance, and if you have to change over to a 1/8" seam allowance, just pop in your standard needle plate! That's really all you have to remember - so easy!

Wee-Boxy-Basket

Wee Billow Bag

Wee Billow Bag

 

Super spacious, plenty of pockets, versatile, and great for all your bits at home or when you are out and about. Why not add a shoulder strap and take her everywhere with you…?! The Wee Billow Bag is the perfect project for literally everyone!

 

The Wee Billow Bag might look a little tricky to make at first, but in fact it’s much easier than you think - a lot of straight lines, lots and lots of them, and you can totally do it! Your HP foot will come in super handy for creating a 1/4" seam allowance in combination with your HP plate and for creating a 1/8" seam allowance - you would only have to switch over to your standard needle plate. And if you decide to quilt some of the panels, you'll love the walking foot on your Janome... it evenly feeds all the layers through your machine. Just like magic!

Wee-Billow-Bag
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