7 Reasons to enter DOTY 2019!

In the words of Dressmaker of the Year judge and previous winner, Portia Lawrie: “Shut down that inner critic, get out there and enter!” The Sew team believe that every stitcher has the ability to make fantastic garments no matter what their skill level, plus we love it when you show us your creations, and Dressmaker of the Year is the perfect opportunity to do just that! Still not convinced? Here are seven reasons to enter that you won’t be able to resist…

Win fabulous prizes!

The 2019 Dressmaker of the Year champion will win a prize bundle worth over £1,100, including the Brother Innov-is F420 machine! Whether you're a beginner or a more experienced sewer, this incredible model allows you to show off your creativity and makes stitching a breeze. It's also packed with user-friendly features, including 140 built-in stitches and a quick-set bobbin.

Category winner goodies!

Not only does the overall DOTY champ walk away with some amazing goodies, but the category winners will, too! They will be given a noteworthy selection of prizes including the Brother Innov-is A50 machine. This fantastic model boasts plenty of bonus features to make your crafting speedy and simple, including a drop feed for free-motion sewing and one-step automatic buttonholes.

Share your makes

We'll be featuring some of your entries in Sew before the competition deadline on 11th March 2019 to inspire others with your stitching! Plus, we'll share your garments across all of our social media channels – we even have a special DOTY highlight button on Instagram dedicated entirely to entries! See it for yourself here.

FREE dressmaking patterns!

Yes, you heard correctly, we'll be awarding everyone FREE Simplicity patterns for taking part! Last year, Jennie Stones initially entered the competition just for the Simplicity goodies, so being crowned 2018's Dressmaker of the Year was an added bonus!

Step out of your comfort zone

Trying something new is always worthwhile, and our five categories provide the perfect opportunity to do so! Sew special garments that showcase the finest designs for the Occasion category, breathe new life into existing items in the Upcycling one, send in your favourite mini make to the Children's group, or why not enter the Vintage and Everyday categories, too?

Enter multiple garments

Are you finding it difficult to narrow down your amazing makes to just one? Then enter all of them! So long as the garments are different, you can submit as many as you like into each category.

Have fun!

What's the point of crafting if you don't enjoy it? DOTY is a competition that allows you to take part with lots of like-minded sewists, and is a chance to show off your stitchy skills. Plus, we've got a line-up of amazing judges including Doctor Who costume designer Ray Holman, and Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Gill, who will be giving their expert opinion on your makes!

To enter DOTY, simply take a clear photo of your garment against a plain background and enter it here. You can include up to five shots of a make for detail, and you’ll also get the chance to tell us the story behind your creation. All entries must be received by 11th March 2019. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for DOTY updates!