All posts by Dotty Owl - Beautiful Sewn Items

Dotty Owl - Beautiful Sewn Items I’m Catherine, a mother of two young girls, from the South West of the UK. I have always been crazy about all things creative and my background has been in Photography and Graphic Design. But just recently I have began to discover my real passion for sewing. After some great feedback from gifts that I have sewn I decided it was time to get my website and online shop up and running. Dotty Owl was born! I am so excited to have turned my dream into a business. I welcome comments and feedback. If you are interested in enquiring about any of my products, please get in touch and we can discuss what you might be looking for. Many of my sewn items can be personalised to add that special touch. I hope you like my work... Thanks for visiting! Catherine

Alterations at Dotty Owl

‘Off the peg’ never seems to fit me so I am always adjusting my clothes! Being 5ft, 2 – length is always an issue for me and hemlines are frequently too long. ..


Sometimes we buy something that fits beautifully but it’s too long – then we never wear it as it’s not quite right! Or we try something on in a shop and it’s perfect – apart from a certain issue like it needs a pleat taken out, hem taken up, a tuck in the waist…. So we don’t buy it even though it could have been amazing! 💕

Do you have items in your wardrobe that you never wear as they are in need of alterations….

Standard sizes don’t always fit and clothes look so much nicer tailored…


If you need any alterations I can help. I do free fittings locally and charge £15 per hour for sewing work. Plus any fabric, zip etc in addition at cost price (I always source quality items at the best price).

I can also 🌟 clone clothes 🌟 If you have a favourite item that you just can’t find again – and it’s an amazing fit and a real favourite… I can reproduce the same item again in your choice of fabric! Perhaps its falling apart now and you need a new version!

Every job is different… some take 30 mins… other several hours. But feel free to ask for a rough estimate.


To give you some idea, here’s a list of some of the recent alterations I have done here at Dotty Owl:

✂️ H&M chiffon maxi skirt – taken up the hem

✂️ Next dress for a bridesmaid – taken up the hem and used the offcuts to create a matching belt

✂️ Ted Baker midi dress – adjusted hemline to make it short. Created extra ties for the back using the fabric offcuts. Plan to make a matching skirt from the remaining fabric

✂️ Karen Millen denim skirt – adjusted from size 8 to size 6

✂️ Ted Baker shorts – took a tuck both sides to make them smaller in the waist

✂️ Replaced broken zip in Next jumpsuit and M&S jacket

✂️ ASOS bridesmaid dress – sewed up slit plus added corset panel as the dress didn’t do up at the back

✂️ H&M linen trousers – took up length

✂️ Morgan top – removed old spaghetti straps. Created new straps from satin fabric and added them in (they are wider and now cover bra straps)

✂️ Karen Millen maxi dress (jersey top and pleated bottom) Shortened the pleated skirt portion and made a matching scarf from offcuts

✂️ Phase Eight jersey cardigan 🌟 cloned it 🌟 made another cardigan exactly the same but in a thicker / cosier fabric

✂️ Plus many costume adjustments for a local theatre company 💕

BESPOKE SCHOOL UNIFORM KEEPSAKE – MEMORY CUSHION – STARS VERSION

Following my recent post where I launched my Hearts version… I’m so excited to say that I have now finished a Stars alternative of my Bespoke School Uniform Keepsake Cushion for school leavers. This version may be more suited to boys uniform.

Click here for more information and to enquire about placing an order

BESPOKE SCHOOL UNIFORM KEEPSAKE – MEMORY CUSHION – HEARTS VERSION

I’m feeling quite emotional as my youngest daughter is about to finish primary school. It feels like the end of an era! I’m not ready to have two children at big school!

I really wanted to sew something very special To mark the occasion. Something that she could always keep and treasure forever…

I love the finished design of her lovely Keepsake Cushion with her school uniform fabrics and I’m already working on a Stars version more suitable for boys uniform – watch this space!

Click here for more information and to enquire about placing an order

World Book Day 2020 – Vocabulary Parade! ‘Dauntless’

It’s that time again! World Book Day 2020! This year it was a Vocabulary Parade – where you could choose a word and appropriate costume… Eleanor chose ‘dauntless’ to describe her favourite Dragon Quest XI character, Veronica. I had so much fun making this cute costume for her. Click here to see more pictures!

Foldaway Shopping Bags – Design your own!

I’m so excited to add my new range of Foldaway Shopping Bags to Dotty Owl! These are really unique as they feature a plain white appliqué heart where you (or the children/grandchildren) can use the non-toxic fabric pens provided in the pack to get creative. They make great gifts! Click here for lots of lovely pictures and to find out more!

Option E Front

Glasses Cases – Design your own!

I’ve been busy at Dotty Owl designing and stitching my new range of Glasses Cases! They make lovely gifts as you can choose to have a pack with 3 ‘kid safe’/non toxic fabric pens… the kids can get creative and the result is a lovely unique design – they make fab gifts! I have also used some new UV colour changing fabric which I’m so excited about! Check out all the lovely styles here.

tropical
beachCOLOUR

PLEATED ZIPPERED POUCH – Antique Brooch

I’ve just made another Pleated Zippered Pouch as a Mother’s Day gift. I wanted to sew something special to show off this beautiful antique flower brooch purchased from Susibelle. This lovely antique shop is based in the Vintage Look, in the beautiful town of Henley on Thames.

I love the colour combination and the recipient was thrilled with it! More information and pictures (lots of alternative styles too!) here.