Chinelo Bally

My name is Chinelo Bally, I am a fashion designer, an author, a television personality and an avid lover of all things creative and creating. I specialise in a unique method of garment production called Freehand Cutting.

Over the past 10 years I have shared my skill with interested students and audiences all over the world. I run workshops all over the UK, regularly participate in craft exhibitions, and take part in loads of fun craft centred series for national television stations in the UK. My first television appearance was as a contestant on BBC2's "The Great British Sewing Bee" (season 2) where I came second.

Following the success of the show, I have written 2 bestselling books, "Freehand Fashion" (2015) and "Sew Chinelo" (2021), that guides the reader step by step through the projects ensuring that makers of all abilities can participate in this thrilling craft.

My passion for fashion design and dressmaking takes root in fund memories dotted throughout my life. From nostalgic memories of looking through my mum's wardrobes and trunks as a child, to walking through the narrow lanes of the fabric section of old Alade Market in 90s Lagos, playing with scrap off cuts from my mum's store to describing my desired dress to the very patient local dressmaker. I've always had a special appreciation for clothes and fabric, experimenting with embellishments and up-cycling store bought clothes. In January 2010, I decided that I was tried of ill fitting clothes that didn’t fully represent my style profile; I bought my very first sewing machine the day I decided I would start making my own clothes; and so the story began! I learnt the basics of freehand cutting from my aunty and then went on to develop my own version of the traditional African method of garment construction.

The allure of this method is how beautifully the clothes fit. There is also the creative freedom you are afforded because the starting point isn't a pre-prescribed design by the commercial pattern company; you may chose to start off with a design in mind and stay guided or you can let it evolve organically into another amazing creation; freehand cutting is truly liberating.

Freehand cutting help you develop a deeper understanding of how and why clothes fit the body, this understanding is essential for upgrading you dressmaking skills from basic to extraordinary.

I like to describe my style as a celebration of the many facets of femininity, it’s s a celebration of the female form in all its variations. If you love originality, appreciate a great fit and want to freely explore and experiment with you style, then Freehand cutting is for you.