The Heart of Huddersfield 2024 ‘Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Tweeds’ were recently released, and our amazing Mill Shop team couldn’t wait to get their hands on the fabrics. As soon as the fabric arrived, the team were excited to create something that truly reflects their unique style and sewing expertise.
Throughout this blog, we’ll be showing the inspiring garments from each team member, along with their thoughts on working with the wool. You’ll hear about the patterns they’ve used, their making process, and what they think of the final garment, plus some will also share their top tips for working with wool.
Each week starting January, we will spotlight a maker and show their wonderful garments. We are eager to show you what they have created using Fabworks exclusive Heart of Huddersfield - Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Tweeds.
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Festive Folly
My Heart of Huddersfield make was created with the Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Festive Folly. I was drawn to the rich tones throughout the wool, enhanced by the alternating yarns woven throughout. This subtle contrast adds depth and a unique pop of colour, and I haven’t seen many fabrics quite like it. I love how the complementary red and green yarns showcase the details of the herringbone so beautifully.
My garment is self-drafted- a style I’ve made many times and love. It is a simple yet effective design that highlights the fabric’s natural beauty. I used Viscose & Acetate Shot Lining – Sunset for the lining, as it complements the fabric's tones and adds an extra touch of comfort and luxury to the final garment. I used approximately one meter of fabric, and I absolutely love that this top is zero waste, as it allows me to make the most out of every centimeter! I found the wool very easy to work with- it has excellent structure and handles well.
My top turned out exactly as I expected, I’ve made this style a few times, and it always works beautifully. It’s such a simple yet effective design, and I know I’ll get plenty of wear out of it. The oversized cropped shape and wide sleeves make it a great statement piece over simple outfit, creating a stylish yet cozy look. This design is possibly more suited for winter as it’s perfect for layering. Wool is a fantastic fibre with many benefits, particularly its ability to retain heat, which makes it perfect for layering pieces and outerwear.
My tip, if you are new to sewing, is to not shy away from wool! It’s a versatile, durable fabric that lends itself well to both simple and intricate designs. Wool can sometimes feel intimidating, but it is a fantastic fabric that shows off even simple construction, so although it is often associated with tailoring, you don’t need to create anything overly complex to make something beautiful.
Additional Supplies- Viscose & Acetate Shot Lining - Sunset
Pattern- Self Drafted Pattern (Not available at Fabworks)
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Campion Crush
To create my Heart of Huddersfield garment I picked the Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Tweed- Campion Crush, the rich pink tones really captured my attention- it’s perfect to add a pop of colour to my outfits. Pink is my favourite colour, but I noticed it was missing from my wardrobe. I would recommend our Heart of Huddersfield range of wools to everyone as its very easy to work with. The fabric's weight offers excellent structure for tailored garments, yet it is soft enough to create beautiful gathers.
I used the Vogue V1976 pattern but made a few adjustments to let the beautiful fabric speak for itself. I've always been drawn to the style of 1940’s coats, especially those with strong collars and wide peak lapels. I'd had my eye on this pattern for a while, waiting for the perfect fabric. I'm so glad I waited- the Heart of Huddersfield Yorkshire Wool Tweed turned out to be the best choice, perfectly complementing the design.
For the lining, I selected Chateau Damask (Mystic Topaz) - Jewel Jacquard. I opted for a deep-coloured lining to accentuate the richness of the wool, complementing the wool fabric hues perfectly.
One tip to always remember, once you’ve pre-washed your wool before starting your project, avoid adding steam when pressing, only use heat. Wool is sensitive to moisture and can shrink, so adding water during sewing may cause the fabric to warp, stretch, or distort in shape.
I'm very happy with the finished garment, I found the wool tweed easy to work with and it looks amazing with the radiant pink colour. I can’t wait to style it with a chunky jumper and jeans throughout the cooler seasons.
Additional Supplies- Chateau Damask (Mystic Topaz) - Jewel Jacquard, Buttons (Available at Mill Shop)
Pattern- Vogue V1976 (Not available at Fabworks)
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Rocking Robin
My Heart of Huddersfield make is from the beautiful Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed- Rocking Robin. I really do love red and had wanted to make an equestrian style jacket for some time. I love the traditional style jackets, so the Burda Style- 7321 was the ideal pattern. As I wear a lot of red, I knew this fabric and pattern would be the perfect fit for my wardrobe. The princess seam fitted style was appealing with the curved front hem. I selected the version with pockets and flaps from the pattern so I could add a contrasting fabric in red velvet to match the back vent and complement the wool.
To pair with the wool, I decided to line my jacket bodice and pockets with Liberty Style Lightweight Cotton Pima Lawn - Poppy & Daisy. The delicate flowers in a variety of colours really caught my attention as I love liberty fabrics and prints. I used an alternative silky lining for the sleeves to ensure my jacket would easily slip over garments worn underneath.
I used traditional tailoring methods to make my jacket to ensure its well-made and will last well in my wardrobe. I added vintage buttons to the front and cuffs, plus velvet elbow pads with military style braided trim to complete the look. The fabric is soft medium weight- closely woven and was a pleasure to sew. I love how the softness of the wool can form to the body with a few clever seams, and I love the neat back pleat detail within the garment.
The jacket is a complex make because of all the details: I really took my time and enjoyed the process and wanted to take pride in what I created. It is exactly what I envisioned and so glad I decided to create this style of jacket with the beautiful herringbone fabric.
My top tip for working with wool is to always ensure you press the seams with a cloth between the iron and fabric. I’d recommend this for a neat, professional finish and if you’re creating a tailored garment, always use a tailor’s ham and block to make sure the seams are pressed and shaped well.
Additional Supplies- Liberty Style Lightweight Cotton Pima Lawn - Poppy & Daisy
Pattern- Burda Style- 7321 (Not available at Fabworks)
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Barley Bounty
My Heart of Huddersfield make uses the Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Barley Bounty. I chose this fabric as the golden tones really compliment my style with it’s a neutral colour palette being so versatile. All the colours in the new Heart of Huddersfield collection inspire me and I’m already thinking about what I can make next with other fabrics in the collection!
The inspiration behind my garment is a vest/waistcoat called a ‘baeja’ which is worn as part of traditional South Korean dress. The pattern I found online from CBC Life & Sewing Therapy (free to download) called the ‘Hanbok Vest’. The pattern was easy to make and adjust for my preference, I picked it because I wanted to create something different to my usual makes, and I knew I could wear this with a lot of different outfits. It's a garment made for layering, so it is perfect for transitional seasons. The pattern is also reversible, making it super versatile—I can already picture myself wearing it with so many different outfits.
For the lining, I chose the Celestial Navigation (Bronze & Citrine) - Jewel Jacquard, I also used cotton bump to pad out the vest, making it more gilet like. The bump was quilted with the lining using diagonal lines, I did find using a walking foot helped a lot with this step in the process as it eased the fabric though the sewing machine a lot easier.
To complete the look, I made the binding and tie fastening from a co-ordinated wool. The tones of the herringbone, lining and wool used for the binding really pulled everything together! I’m so happy with the final outcome as I love how the simple shape of the garment really let the herringbone be the focus.
Additional Supplies- Celestial Navigation (Bronze & Citrine) - Jewel Jacquard
Pattern- 'Hanbok Vest' by CBC Life & Sewing Therapy, Free Pattern (Not available at Fabworks)
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Verdant Valley
To create my Heart of Huddersfield garment I used the Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed- Verdant Valley. I chose the green colourway, because I love the tones throughout the fabric, plus it is Mother Natures 'go to' colour and I know it’ll co-ordinate with a lot of what I wear. The wool is very easy to work with, it has good structure and looks super smart - this timeless herringbone fabric will never date! It was the perfect fabric for my project, providing stability and structure to the jacket I chose to make. I decided to use the Ilford Jacket by The Friday Pattern co, as it caught my eye for its practical design and versatility. The herringbone adds a nice touch to the utility style, with its visible weave giving the jacket some added texture and depth.
Before I start making a new garment, I always double check that I don’t have anything similar; I want to make sure I’m investing my time creating something I know I’ll wear over and over again. I realised I was missing a transitional jacket in my wardrobe, and I knew this fabric and pattern would be the perfect fit!
I found the pattern very straightforward to make and jumped straight in without making a toile. I did make a few adjustments like shortening the jacket to hip height, as I prefer that length and know it will be more wearable for me. I loved making the design and this timeless herringbone fabric will never date making this jacket a great addition to my wardrobe! I’m really happy with the outcome, I can picture myself styling it with so many things, I love a green and denim combination so will definitely be wearing it day to day with jeans!
My tip for anyone working with wool fabrics is to make sure you properly prep the fabric before sewing. Wash or steam the wool to relax the fibres and allow any shrinkage to happen before you begin working with it.
Additional Supplies- Buttons (Available at Mill Shop)
Pattern- 'llford Jacket' by Friday Pattern Co
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Blackthorn Blue
I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Heart of Huddersfield- Eco Herringbone collection as soon as it was released at Fabworks and I knew it would be a wonderful fabric to get inspired and creative with!
The colour I chose, Blackthorn Blue, spoke to me for its variation in colour and sophistication, the wonderful blues and purple lent itself perfectly to a more evening orientated garment. For the lining I used Viscose & Acetate Satin Lining - Damson Jam. The deep purple plum colour from the lining really compliments the combination of dark blues and purples throughout the wool.
Looking for inspiration in a more classical direction but with a twist, I found this American Duchess Pattern (free to download) for a 1910’s cape, which was a good starting point to help inform my own pattern drafting. It was detailed enough to create a wonderful shape, yet had large enough pattern pieces to allow the fabric to speak for itself and show off all the different tones within the herringbone fabric.
The Yorkshire Tweed fabric is a delight to work with: stable, lovely to press and sew, and has an amazing hand feel that is softer than typical woollen fabrics. The boldness of the herringbone enabled me to pattern match the weave across the curved darts easily, whilst the fabric was stiff enough to hold its shape and create a structured feel.
My advice to get the best out of this wool is to really take your time with the matching of the herringbone weave, it adds a professional and luxury finish to a garment when all the weave is matched accurately.
I’m so pleased with the finished result; the colour combination of the wool and lining is gorgeous and works so well with the drama of the cape. I have worked with a fair few woollen fabrics, but this has been by far the most delightful to work with. It’s not as fuzzy as the typical woollen which means it is less irritating when directly next to the skin, a great thing for versatility, and I can’t wait to plan my next creation with the Eco- Herringbone collection.
Additional Supplies- Viscose & Acetate Satin Lining - Damson Jam
Pattern- Self Drafted Pattern (Not available at Fabworks)
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Teal Tale
For my Heart of Huddersfield creation, I used the Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed in Teal Tale. I love the rich teal and lilac tones, and the herringbone gives wonderful detail throughout the fabric. I used a hack of the Sew Different Artist’s Smock pattern, which I have used before, and I know I can make a few adjustments to make the finished result more suited to my style. I felt this pattern was good to use with the wool as the structure from the fabric compliments the silhouette.
The biggest change I made was to the sleeves; I self-drafted a bishop sleeve, making it as a toile first, and the pattern turned out great! The sleeves were the most challenging part of the make, because I hadn't made a bishop sleeve in wool before. I'd done them for a blouse, but with a completely different fabric, so I was concerned about how the shape would hold. I'm so pleased I made the changes, as it turned out even better than I expected, and the stable handle of the wool ensured the sleeves held the shape perfectly.
I also chose not to add the pockets from the original pattern and shortened the length. For the back hem, I left it slightly longer and curved the shape. I really enjoy making small adjustments to patterns to make them perfect for me!
For the lining, I added an alternative colour by using Pompadour Damask (Rose Quartz) - Jewel Jacquard. The rose tones in the lining contrast beautifully with the rich teal hues of the wool. To create the cuff, I chose Silken Viscose Stretch Rib - Turquoise Jade, which was the perfect match for the wool's colour.
The fabric selvedge is so pretty that I decided to make it a feature by incorporating it into the neckband for a little added detail. Since I hadn’t done this before I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but I found the selvedge rests beautifully against the wool in the neckband! I love experimenting when I create new things, and I’m so pleased with the final outcome. The wool is such a pleasure to work with—its quality and texture make this garment extra special; the wool fabric is beautiful!
Additional Supplies- Pompadour Damask (Rose Quartz) - Jewel Jacquard, Silken Viscose Stretch Rib - Turquoise Jade
Pattern- 'Artist’s Smock' by Sew Different (Not available at Fabworks)
Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed - Frosted Valley
My Heart of Huddersfield make was created using the Frosted Valley Eco Herringbone Yorkshire Wool Tweed. I really wanted something that would let the wool shine, as the herringbone is so beautiful, and I decided to use the I AM Julie sewing pattern, by I AM Patterns. I chose this garment for its elegant simplicity, with the pleats adding a subtle detail to the classic silhouette.
The pattern didn’t include a lining, but I decided to add one, for extra comfort and that added touch of luxury! I went for the Viscose & Acetate Shot Lining – Sunset for the lining, which creates a stunning contrast to the mixture of light aqua and cool lilac tones throughout the wool, alongside the 8 buttons I got from the Mill shop that are required to complete the look. I could have chosen a simple wrap skirt, but I decided to challenge myself, and I’m so pleased with the overall outcome.
It was definitely worth the extra time that I spent on it, and made up into a really nicely finished piece that I can wear on a variety of occasions. I can picture myself styling my skirt with so many things in my wardrobe: for a more formal occasion I’d wear it with a white button-down shirt, and for day to day wear a lovely chunky knitted jumper. I just love how timeless the design is!
I don’t often sew with wool, but I really enjoyed working with this Yorkshire Tweed, it has just the right amount of structure with a small amount of bias stretch, so it stays perfectly in place when sewing. The simplicity of the pattern lets the fabric do the talking. As this is not my usual style of sewing, adding the lining and buttons were a challenge for me, but I loved working with the wool and can’t wait to plan my next project using fabrics in this collection.
My biggest tip for sewists new to wool is to add extra seam allowance to your patterns. Adding a little extra allowance to what’s originally recommended gives more flexibility for adjustments, and wiggle room in case of any small mistake. I made this adaptation to the pattern and I’m so glad I did- especially because there were some intricate parts to sew to ensure the lining and wool fitted together perfectly.
Additional Supplies- Viscose & Acetate Shot Lining –Sunset, Buttons (Available at Mill Shop)
Pattern- 'I AM Julie' by I AM Patterns (Not available at Fabworks)
FREE Heart of Huddersfield sew-in label with all cut length orders of HoH fabrics!
Perfect for adding a professional finishing touch to your creations!
Colour variations may appear in images due to lighting. For the most accurate reference, please refer to the product images. A detailed colour description is also added within the fabric descriptions.