ABOUT
I'M CAROLINE
I have always loved crafting but for many years this love was put on the back burner. 12 years ago I was diagnosed with a life altering illness and this diagnosis led me to both a change in career and lifestyle and as a result I rediscovered my love with all things creative. I took time to sit back, to let myself create again and I remembered the joy it brought me to make things for myself. Soon friends were asking me to make for them and their friends and so on.
Having got my passion back for crafting I decided to retrain and was fortunate to undertake an apprenticeship for a tailor on Savile Row. In this role I learned the finer details of tailoring and hand finishing and my love for garment making grew.
In 2013 I took a giant leap and opened my own haberdashery shop and sewing school in Alton, Hampshire. I loved helping people to grow their passion for sewing and creating their own garments but I noticed that many customers were often confused choosing fabrics to suit their pattern choice, they didn’t want to choose the wrong fabric for the garment and this fear often put them off dressmaking. I loved helping them choose materials or patterns, giving them advice or teaching them in one of my classes. This is when my idea for unique complete sewing kits first emerged. I loved seeing the joy on people’s faces when they had made a complete garment from fabric or patterns I had helped them choose.
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Sadly I had to close this shop as my family and I relocated to Rutland but this didn't stop my passion and I was eager to continue my journey in my new home. Due to ill health I took a step back but after a period of rest and recuperation I was delighted to be able to build my business once again, starting with the creation of my limited edition dressmaking kits and soon followed by classes. My hope was that by providing everything you need in one box to make a complete garment people can lose the fear of mistakes and instead love their sewing journey while building up a wardrobe that is sustainable and timeless. The classes have grown in line with the kits – helping people develop their skills, to learn new technicques and crafts in order to harness a love of sewing and crafting. I wanted to take the stress and fear out of sewing and from this Sew Ab Fab has been developed.
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First forward to May 2022 and I have been fortunate to be able to open a beautiful bricks and mortar shop on Mill Street, Oakham. Our shop sells gorgeous fabrics and patterns as well as housing our sewing and craft school.
The overriding experience of learning a craft and making something to keep or wear has been that of great enjoyment and satisfaction and one I love to pass on and therefore I am pleased to have a shop and to be teaching again.
I love to make clothes, to build my own wardrobe that fits me and suits my personality. I take joy in wearing handmade clothes knowing that I am doing my bit to promote sustainability and slow fashion and to see the smile on people’s faces when I gift homemade items.
