Meet the owner

Hello & welcome to Just Sew Helen, a personal blog and sewing diary by Helen Baker, based in the West Midlands, UK.

I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember and have made everything from tailored coats, to dresses, jeans & tee shirts.  I’ve also made cushions, curtains and recovered old furniture.  I love all things fabric and textile related and rediscovered hand embroidery a few years ago.

I describe myself as a dressmaker, fabric lover and textile artist & more recently, indulge myself with beautiful fabrics in my new role as a freelance product photographer for a fabric company.

Alongside my long term career in Midwifery I ran a small business for a few years designing & creating textile bereavement & sympathy gifts.  I have scaled back my shop this year after starting my new photography role.

The lady who made this beautiful wedding dress for her own wedding is who I thank for my name and where it all began.⁣
⁣
She wore this dress in 1962 and while her children were young she worked from home as a dressmaker.  Over the years she worked on many types of crafts but always returned to sewing. When arthritis damaged her hands & made dressmaking difficult to handle, due to the fabric weight, she concentrated on cross stitch & crewel work.⁣

⁣Sadly, in 2015 she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and died 66 days after diagnosis. Consequently, I pledge to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer.⁣
⁣
My name, simply - Just Sew(ing) & I'm called Helen.⁣
I wanted the name to be obvious that is it is textile and sewing related but broad enough that my business can expand or change over time, but it will always be sewing related.⁣
⁣
This talented lady taught me everything I know about sewing, until Google took over :-) ⁣
⁣
Thanks Mom ❤️ ❤️