GillyMac Designs

GillyMac Designs Award-winning sewing school with friendly classes in Maidenhead and online.

Learn to sew, create quilts, clothes and bags, or build your skills—all with expert guidance, encouragement and a warm GillyMac welcome. 🧵 Tutor of Sewing, Patchwork and Quilting for Adults and Children in 1 off and weekly groups.

Superb work for all the Junior Sewing Bee. With one eye on the ⚽️, everybody finished their beach bags. We used my eyel...
01/07/2026

Superb work for all the Junior Sewing Bee. With one eye on the ⚽️, everybody finished their beach bags. We used my eyelet press with 25mm eyelets and 20mm rope and hey presto - beautiful bags !

Well done everybody !

Lovely day out at the Selvedge Quilt Jamboree at the Museum of the Home with two great pals. Lots of inspiring speakers ...
19/06/2026

Lovely day out at the Selvedge Quilt Jamboree at the Museum of the Home with two great pals. Lots of inspiring speakers I wouldn’t have come into contact with. It felt like a refresh and reset of my ideas for my own work.

Big shout out to the House of Quinn and the American Museum & Gardens who were both fabulous and great to talk to afterwards.

Suzanne Jones Maureen Ballard

Never too hot for Coffee & Walnut Cake. Though yesterday we did keep it in the fridge. Recipe - Jane Dunn Coffee & Walnu...
19/06/2026

Never too hot for Coffee & Walnut Cake. Though yesterday we did keep it in the fridge.

Recipe - Jane Dunn Coffee & Walnut Loaf Cake

✨ Another Incredible Finish ✨On Tuesday, Ivy completed her half-zip sweatshirt — and what an achievement it is! From mas...
21/05/2026

✨ Another Incredible Finish ✨

On Tuesday, Ivy completed her half-zip sweatshirt — and what an achievement it is! From mastering tricky construction techniques to creating a beautifully professional finish, she has worked so hard on every detail of this garment.

This was far from a beginner project, and the confidence, patience, and skill Ivy has shown throughout have been truly impressive. Seeing her so proud of what she created — and excited to wear it this weekend — is exactly what makes these teen sewing classes so special.

There is nothing better than watching young makers realise just how capable and talented they are. ✂️🧵✨

The fabric is from and the pattern is the Dale Sweatshirt and Expansion Pack by

✨ Ice Dyeing and Thermofax Printing ✨It’s been a few years since I last worked on a piece using a thermofax screen, but ...
20/05/2026

✨ Ice Dyeing and Thermofax Printing ✨

It’s been a few years since I last worked on a piece using a thermofax screen, but for this project it felt absolutely perfect. The screen was created from Ella’s handwritten words, which adds such a beautiful layer of personality and meaning to the work. I love how thermofax printing can capture those fine, expressive details so effectively.
Ice dyeing also creates the most wonderful surface to print onto — the organic movement of colour and texture makes every piece completely unique and gives the printed layers real depth.

As this is Ella's competition piece, so I can’t share the full project just yet, but I’ll post little snippets along the way.

Have you tried screen printing or thermofax printing before? I have my screens made by , and I also buy all my textile screen-printing paints from them. Their products and service are consistently excellent.

✨ Latest WI project ✨This month’s project has been a blend of hand and machine sewing — a reminder that progress doesn’t...
19/05/2026

✨ Latest WI project ✨

This month’s project has been a blend of hand and machine sewing — a reminder that progress doesn’t always come from speed. The slower rhythm of hand stitching has been a welcome balance to what has been an incredibly full and fast-paced May.

What I’ve been reminded of this month is that busy seasons are often the most rewarding when they are grounded in purpose, creativity and connection. Every weekend away has brought fresh inspiration: new friendships formed, old ones strengthened, and countless conversations about quilts, patchwork and sewing that have sparked even more ideas for the months ahead.

There’s something powerful about making time to create, even in the busiest periods. Piece by piece, stitch by stitch, good things come together.

May has turned out to be a truly brilliant month. ✨

Last weekend I was supporting and Sew Creative at the Quilts UK Malvern Show. As normal, there was lots of interest, d...
18/05/2026

Last weekend I was supporting and Sew Creative at the Quilts UK Malvern Show. As normal, there was lots of interest, demos and sales of the Janome products. It's great to be in the position to ask customers what they enjoy sewing, and what they might want to sew in the future, and help them narrow down the best machine.

Thanks to Marie and Mike for making me feel so welcome and to all the people who came and said hello or waved at me as they wandered past.

Here is my sample piece sewn using my interpretation of Kawandi Quilting. It was built from the outside in, directly han...
16/05/2026

Here is my sample piece sewn using my interpretation of Kawandi Quilting. It was built from the outside in, directly hand quilting the fabric pieces (scraps) onto wadding and backing.

My small project incorporates some dressmaking fabrics as well as quilting cottons. This use of several fabric types, and the dense hand quilting, provides a wonderfully textured piece.

I’m going to turn this into a table mat for the plates of cakes to sit on. It’s great to stretch my brain and try new ideas.

Yesterday we had Raspberry Crumble Bars … a crumble base, then a layer of (homemade) raspberry jam and fresh raspberries...
15/05/2026

Yesterday we had Raspberry Crumble Bars … a crumble base, then a layer of (homemade) raspberry jam and fresh raspberries topped with another layer of crumble!

Very tasty !

Recipe: janespatisserie

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SL65AU

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