I own a gallery business with my artist husband in Wells-next-the-Sea on the beautiful North Norfolk Coast. I’ve always loved great design and use of colour and pattern (particularly mid-century themes), but I’d never had any interest whatsoever in sewing, until I happened to watch the The Great British Sewing Bee in 2014 and found myself thinking ‘I fancy doing that!’. So the following February, I had three lessons locally and made not one, but two skirts; I couldn’t believe it! By that point I’d learned the basics of reading a pattern; cutting out; transferring markings; adding darts, a waist band, and lining; inserting a zip; adding a button and button hole; and hemming… and I was addicted! My sewing has gone from the basics through to more intermediate makes, in both woven and jersey fabrics, with adaptations to achieve a better fit than I can get on the high street. I couldn’t pick a favourite part of the process: I love it all, from matching a pattern to fabric (or vice versa), deciding the style, working out the fit, the actual sewing and problem-solving as I go along, and of course there’s nothing quite like that sense of achievement when you sew that final stitch. I still surprise myself every time I finish making something. I’ve sewn several patterns from the ‘big 4’, but, like the lovely SewNeedy, my favourite patterns are from Sew Over It. I love their style and the reliable instructions, plus they’re very good at tempting me with their glorious fabrics. PS My real name's Jo! My sewing name, Daphne, came about from my mannequin, who I named after my wonderful nannie. I learnt to sew after she'd passed away, which is quite sad as I know she would've been really proud of what I've achieved, so it's a nice reminder of her every time I make something and finish it off with a 'Daphne' label. xx