SEW OVER IT Illustration & Packaging Design

Over the last year or so I have been working on an ongoing project with Lisa Comfort, owner of SEW OVER IT, 'a lovely sewing cafe in Clapham, London'.

Lisa's Story:
"Despite being teased for my “uncool” hobby, I persevered and carried on sewing. After studying at the London College of Fashion I worked for British designer Bruce Oldfield and then bridal couture designer Phillipa Lepley. I set up Sew Over It in a response to the growing feeling that sewing was becoming a lost skill. I hope that I can pass on my passion for sewing through Sew Over It and encourage more people in London to pick up a needle and thread!
Since opening Lisa has published her first book, Sew It, Wear It, Love It – an intro to sewing for beginners. She has also appeared on the Alan Titchmarsh Show and Kirstie’s Vintage Home. And finally, she was shortlisted in Red’s Hot Women Awards in the Woman to Watch category."
"I have created a sewing paradise for all of you to enjoy. Take classes, get advice, get inspiration, make friends, drop into take a look, browse the classes page. Tea and cake have always played an important role in my sewing projects so I have married the two and created a sewing café where you can work on your projects whilst munching on some cake and drinking tea!"

The project is ongoing but I thought it was about time I did a blog post about it to show the work I've done so far.
So far I have created four illustrations for the covers of the dressmaking kits. They are all in a vintage 50s/60s style, inspired by old Vogue sewing kits from that era. I've also designed the packaginf for all the sewing kits, and made illustrations for the boxes of Tie and Knicker making kits. Scroll down to see all the various bits and bobs....

Tea Dress illustration:

Rough sketches for the Tea Dress illustration:

Reference images for this illustration:

Shift Dress illustration:

Rough sketches & reference images for the Shift Dress illustration:

Wrap Dress illustration:

Rough sketches & reference images for the Wrap Dress illustration:

Ultimate Trousers illustration:

Rough sketches for the Ultimate Trousers illustration:

Reference images for this illustration:

All of the illustrations were very much influenced by the style of 1950s and 60s sewing kit illustrations, like these:

Here are some cute pictures of the finished kits taken from the SEW OVER IT instagram feed: