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I just wanted to say what excellent service I have received from Abakhan, good quality, good prices, excellent communication and very fast delivery, and delivered when it said that it would! There are many companies out there who could learn alot from Abakhan.

Many thanks, Kath, 24th January 2012

Sewing can be one of those things that you’re either a whizz at, or something you’ll struggle with. Some people are able to pick up the needle and thread and start clicking away, finishing their creation in no time at all, while people at the other end of the spectrum are still pondering how to get started. Men are particularly difficult to buy anything for, which means sewing them something can be a great idea. Here are a few sewing pattern ideas that can help you create a great gift for the special man in your life.

Whilst women have a reputation as being tricky to buy for, men can actually be just as fussy. By sewing them something special, you can keep them in the loop and make sure that the sizes and colours are right. By doing it this way, you are able to ensure that the trousers reach the floor, (evenly), there is enough material in the body, and that the sleeves are the correct size. If you want to keep the gift a secret of course, you can try the clothes out on a friend or family member who is of a similar size.

Men’s pyjamas are particularly difficult to buy, usually because men resort to sleeping in their underwear or old clothes when they’re in bed. This means that you have no hints to go by in terms of their preferences for comfort and size. The first of our sewing pattern ideas is the ideal solution; giving you all the suggestions and directions you need to make a set of pyjamas and nightshirt for the man in your life. This means that you’re in a position to make something based around their exact measurements – or at least very close – rather than guessing. Also, you can make it according to their favourite colours, and won’t be restricted to what is on the hanger in stores.

Another useful sewing pattern for men is the boys and mens boxer shorts pattern. You can never have enough underwear. You can guarantee that over time you’ll lose underwear in the washing machine – nobody ever knows why – or a family member will claim them as their own. By making them, you’ll give the man in your life that little reason to think about you every time they get dressed in the morning.

For more sewing pattern ideas for men, visit our product page. Alternatively, you can contact your local branch – which you can find by clicking on the stores link – or give us a call on 01745 562133.

The Birdcage in Skipton has been the focus of an article in the Yorkshire Post, and it’s easy to see why. As well as the usual bric-a-brac you’d expect to see in any charity shop, there are also a variety of sewing machines, knitting wool, a dress-maker’s dummy and many other knitting and sewing accessories.

Behind Closed Doors, the Leeds Charity who are responsible for the birdcage, are keen to point out that the difference between their project and other charity shops is entirely intentional. Louise Tyne, Behind Closed Door’s manager said that:

We don’t want to be just any other charity shop on the high street. It’s about harnessing the creative skills in the local community and giving people an opportunity to express themselves creatively; and also to share their skills and their experiences.’

‘As an organisation we recognise the need to be sustainable and to generate income but we wanted to do it in such a way that the actual enterprise itself had a purpose so it’s not a typical charity shop.’

The aim of the community enterprise is to raise funds for those who have suffered from domestic violence.

Needless to say, we here at Abakhan applaud using such a wonderful hobby for such a great cause. Good on them!

To view our wide range of knitting accessories , click the link here .

Firstly, you should definitely expect to spend some time working with a sewing machine, so if the idea rather alarms you, either consider yourself warned or don’t attend the course! Sewing machine skills are essential when it comes to creating dresses (doing so by hand would take ages), so don’t be surprised when you walk into a room full of them!

You’ll also be getting involved in designing a range of different types of dresses, so if you’ve only ever created dresses of a specific kind before, be prepared to get a bit out of your comfort zone. Obviously, once you’re used to it you’ll be a far better dressmaker than you started, so it’s well worth the effort.

Also, if you’ve never really done much fabric work before, be prepared to work with quite a wide variety of kit, including fabric scissors, pins, needles, thread and the like. Obviously it’s likely you’ll have carried out some form of needlework before, but just in case you haven’t – be prepared!

To find out more about dressmaking courses, give Abakhan a call.

It’ll mean you can share your creativity and become inspired. Whilst the technical side of dressmaking is without doubt important (it’s only a dream until it’s made!), it’s nothing without that spark of ingenuity that creates the design itself. Being around others with a passion for dressmaking will further ignite your passion for this unique skill.

It’ll teach you the technical skills you need. Alright, this is sort of a contradiction with the above, but we promise it makes sense! Just as technicality without inspiration can be unvaried, creativity without technicality can be rather messy! A good tutor will be able to help you improve your existing technique as well as learning new ones, making you a more confident dressmaker all round.

Finally, whilst it might not be a haberdashery reason as such, it’s a great way to meet people who have the same passion for fashion and creativity that you do. Dressmaking courses are taught by people who love what they do, and taught to people who love what they do. Get involved, and you won’t regret it.

To find out more about how dressmaking courses can benefit you, get in contact with Abakhan now.

Received with thanks on the date and time you said will defo use you again thank you!!

J Reay, Saturday Oct 8, 2011 .

Received parcel on due date and I am delighted with it. The lengths are good and the quality great. I will be ordering again in the future.

J Many thanks - Maggie 4th November 2011

Dear all, I would like to congradulate you on your delivery service and especially the email to confirm, which gives the customer time to re-arrange if not convienient.... well done for a very good service. Order date 28/10/2011 & delivery date 2/11/2011 (within the time stated on the email).

regards, l.dorricott, 3rd November 2011

Hi I’m Vicky, I’ve been blogging via my Make Do Not Spend Challenge at www.sewabee.co.uk for nearly a year & Abakhan have now invited me to blog on their website. On December 1st 2010 I vowed to buy no new clothes or accessories and wear a different outfit every day for a whole year. The only concession I allowed myself is that I can buy material and make clothes to augment my existing wardrobe. Since I started sewing three years ago, Abakhan in Manchester has been one of my regular haunts and over the course of my blogs I’d like to share with you the items I have made using their range of fabrics.

One pattern – two different looks

This Simplicity pattern (3833) is a classic shift dress in a 1960’s retro style. I first made this dress in February with teal and brown leopard print material, leopard print is a classic in my book and I have it in a wide range of colours. I love the colour teal and again I had a lot of pieces in my wardrobe that would tone in with the material. In this photo I have teamed it with teal leggings from Florence and Fred and a brown leather jacket from Warehouse. I have also worn it with brown leggings and a fur shrug, changing the overall look of the outfit is in keeping with my challenge and also means that I can wear dresses more than once.

When I was at Abakhan over the summer, I fell in love with this gorgeous electric blue and silver material - I wasn’t sure what I was going to make with it but I knew I had to have it. As you can see from the photo I had the perfect tights and shoes to go with it! The more I thought about it the more I felt the style of the dress had to be quite plain in order to show the material off and let it speak for itself. So when I went back to my sewing class in September this was my first project. I opted for the short sleeved version of the dress and I think the pattern really suits the material.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my first blog for Abakhan, please let me know what you think about the dresses I’ve made and why not keep up to date with my ‘Make Do Not Spend Challenge’ on my website.

Many thanks, Vicky.

It’s that time of year again when your little loved one wants to dress up as a devil, a ghost or even a pumpkin! Here is our guide to choosing and making Halloween costumes:

Halloween Patterns - Simplicity Patterns have a great range of dressing up costumes to choose from including vampires, pumpkins and witches for a typical Halloween themed outfit. Take a look and see what you can find. There are plenty of adult sized costumes too!

Make your own Pattern - If you cannot find a suitable pattern or do not feel you have the experience to follow the instructions it is amazing what you can do with a bit of imagination and a length of fabric. Get your little loved one to lie on the floor, with their arms out, on an old newspaper and draw round them to make a pattern in a large ‘T’ shape. Cut this out on folded fabric then make a hole for the head and you have an instant tunic ready to decorate. Use this shape in black or purple for a witch or wizard, green for Robin Hood and orange for a pumpkin varying the tunic length as required.

Adding decoration - Apply cut out shapes to embellish your costume to improve the effect using Bondaweb or fabric glue to stick them on. Add stars to a wizard’s cloak and spiders for a creepy effect on a witch’s hat. You could even cut out white bone shapes and stick them to an old black T-shirt and leggings to make into a little skeleton. For a pumpkin, cut a large, round, orange tunic and sew up the edges. Glue on black triangles for the eyes and nose and a long jagged shape for the mouth. Stuff this with cushions to improve the shape. The simplest idea of all is a square of white fabric with spooky eyes and mouth stuck in place to make a ghost!

Props and Makeup - Finish your Halloween costume with the right props for a perfect look. A witch isn’t a witch without a pointed hat and broom or a devil without a trident. Don’t forget the face paints to add gory scars and bruises.

Sewing Shortcuts for Beginners - If you are not a confident sewer don’t let this put you off just choose fabric that doesn’t fray, or cut out with pinking shears to save the trouble of sewing hems. Just select the right colour of fabric to work with and add the most appropriate props and your little loved one will be delighted by your efforts!

For more information or sewing advice please contact Lorna Knight - Click here to view Lorna’s website.