The Seamstress of Bloomsbury

In London 1939, England is on the brink of World War II, and aged 14 Lillian Wells is apprenticed to a Bloomsbury dressmaker. She has little education but can already draw and paint and hand sew and embroider as if she were professionally trained, it is her natural gift.

As she masters the seamstress’s art, her life seems to be clearly mapped out, she dreams that one day perhaps she will have a sewing room of her own, and meet a soldier, marry, and have children, and make beautiful clothes for them too. Sadly Miss Wells dreams didn’t come true; she never met her soldier, but she spent many years perfecting her exquisite sewing skills in a little room in Hamilton House and became known as 'The Seamstress of Bloomsbury'.

We are extremely privileged to have known Miss Lillian Wells, to have worked with her, and to acknowledge the tradition of her skills. In keeping with her wishes, we now revive her original 1940’s patterns and designs and are pleased that we can share them with you.