The Secrets of Couture Sewing: Unveiling the Magic of High Fashion Techniques

Magic in Sewing: Sewing has long been a beloved craft, with its ability to transform fabric into functional and beautiful items. But there is a certain magic that seems to go hand in hand with sewing. From selecting the perfect fabric to seeing a pattern come to life, there is a sense of wonder and awe that accompanies the process. One of the most magical aspects of sewing is the way it allows us to express our creativity. With a needle and thread, we can bring our imagination to life, turning a simple piece of fabric into a work of art. Whether it's creating intricate embroidery designs or designing a one-of-a-kind garment, sewing gives us the power to make something unique and personal.

The whole thing was a disappointing mess and I should have known better than to get my hopes up. Anne Rice is simultaneously so simple to adapt while also extremely difficult to get right, so entrenched is the readership and fandom. To watch an Anne Rice adaptation is to be so angry you can’t even see your TV because you’re throwing shit at it. So yes, obviously, I’ll be watching season two.

The notion that Anne created this family that was so complicated and so far reaching, twisted and sort of incestuous in so many ways, it is our job to make sure that the thing has as much sort of dramatic heft as possible. The first book of the Mayfair trilogy, The Witching Hour , clocks in at a hefty pre-internet attention span of 1,056 pages, and is at its core, three books in one.

Whether it's creating intricate embroidery designs or designing a one-of-a-kind garment, sewing gives us the power to make something unique and personal. There is also a certain meditative quality to sewing. As we sit at our sewing machines, our focus shifts solely to the task at hand.

Mayfair Witches showrunners explain book to show changes: 'We had to make hard choices'

Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford tell EW why they combined two beloved book characters into one, how their Lasher was inspired by rock stars, and more.

Calie Schepp is an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly, where she writes the script for EW's daily What to Watch podcast and covers a plethora of pop culture. She graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Warning: This post contains spoilers from Mayfair Witches episodes 1-4.

Adapting a beloved book for TV can be a tough task, but adapting one that's almost 1,000 pages is a whole other story. When showrunners and executive producers Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford set out to adapt Anne Rice's Lives of the Mayfair Witches for AMC, they knew they had a lot of material to draw inspiration from but little time to do it in. "We were given eight episodes for a one thousand page book," Spalding says, referring to The Witching Hour, the first book in the three-part series. "It's an absolute cornucopia of deliciousness and we had to make hard choices."

Mayfair Witches details neurosurgeon Dr. Rowan Fielding's (Alexandra Daddario) discovery that she's a witch with deadly powers and a twisted family tree. Ahead of Friday morning's announcement that the series has been renewed for season 2, EW spoke with Spalding and Ashford about how they made those hard choices (and made changes to beloved characters from the novels) and to preview a bit of what's to come in the final half of the season.

Michael + Aaron = Ciprien

In episode 1, we meet Ciprien Grieve (Tongayi Chirisa), a Talamasca agent who harnesses psychic abilities by touching people or objects. The Talamasca, comparable to the Illuminati, is a secret organization within Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches book series whose members keep watch on paranormal activity. Cip, as he's called in the show, is assigned to protect Rowan from any harm. Even though Rowan's skeptical of him at first meeting, a romance eventually blossoms.

Spalding and Ashford modeled Cip after two characters from the novel: Aaron Lightner, a member of the Talamasca, and Michael Curry, a civilian from New Orleans who falls in love with Rowan. Spalding explained that with the addition of the all-knowing spirit Lasher (Jack Huston), three male characters orbiting Rowan in the show would've been one too many.

"In a story that's eight [episodes] where you have to streamline, we really wanted Rowan to have agency," Spalding says. "And we debated long and hard whether or not to call the character Michael, because the character had so many attributes of Michael Curry." "And we didn't wanna call him Aaron, obviously," Ashford says. "So it seemed like, in a weird way, the most respectful way to proceed was to combine them and make him his own original character."

Cip wears a pair of gloves, similar to Michael in the books, to protect himself from being inundated with intense visions. "That that act of touching something and seeing memories gives real empathy to a character," Spalding says. "He has to wear the gloves because the world is so present. Touching things floods him with all kinds of people's pain, sorrow, and sadness."

Rowan rocks blonde hair and grey eyes in the books

Rowan, the 13th Mayfair witch, leaves her job as a neurosurgeon, discovers she's a witch, meets her birth mother for the first time and then watches her die right before her eyes — all within the first half of the season. Spalding and Ashford say that staying true to the color of Rowans hair and eyes was not a priority when casting the role.

"Our job was to make sure that we get the best Rowan possible," Ashford says. "For us, the requirements for Rowan we felt were much bigger than that. It had to be someone who was smart enough to be a surgeon and had a sort of mysterious quality that you would really believe that that woman would find out that she's a witch. Alex, obviously being incredibly beautiful, but also just incredibly magnetic physically, we felt like this was a great choice."

Sibling Switch: In the books, Cortland and Carlotta are a generation apart

Harry Hamlin as Cortland Mayfair and Beth Grant as Carlotta Mayfair in 'Mayfair Witches'. Alfonso Bresciani/AMC (2)

The TV series introduces Cortland Mayfair (Harry Hamlin) and Carlotta Mayfair (Beth Grant) as brother and sister, when in the books they're a generation apart. Similar to the condensing of Michael and Aaron into Ciprien, Ashford says that making the family as concentrated and tight as possible seemed to work best dramatically.

"You say brother or sister and immediately the audience has a visceral reaction, like oh, I know what that's like," she explains. "The notion that Anne created this family that was so complicated and so far reaching, twisted and sort of incestuous in so many ways, it is our job to make sure that the thing has as much sort of dramatic heft as possible."

Spalding adds, "And the primal relationships that exist between siblings, the rivalry, jealousies, and so on. We are trying to find ways to make these connections between characters."

Lasher, the all-knowing. rock star?

An evil spirit called Lasher has haunted the Mayfair family for generations, seducing the witches and using their powers for his own sinister motives. While not much about Lasher is really changed from book to show, Spalding revealed that they came to cast Huston because he had a certain rock 'n roll je ne sais quoi.

"How are you gonna have somebody who's both present and not present, who's seductive, but also evil? What does this person live like in a human body? And we would always talk about rock stars. The way a rockstar walks into a room and the air kind of bristles with the knowledge that that being is there, that's how Lasher would be in the Mayfair family. When we met Jack, we thought he has the most extraordinarily warm, charismatic, amazing presence, it felt like our Lasher had stepped in front of us."

Huston started his journey of transforming into Lasher by first nailing down the voice. "I think that was one of his ways into the character," Ashford says. "He found a really, very specific voice that transcends, it does feel sort of otherworldly."

Spalding reveals that we'll be hearing various accents from the dashing demon as the season progresses, including a Scottish accent that she says Huston modeled after a friend of his.

What's to come is under lock and key

The bond between Lasher and Rowan's late mother Deirdre (Annabeth Gish) is represented by a key-shaped gold necklace adorned with emeralds. The piece had been worn by generations of Mayfair witches in allegiance to Lasher, and in episode three we see Carlotta lock her maid Delphine in the basement with the necklace, only to find that Lasher kills her and gifts the necklace to Rowan. In episode 4, Carlotta sees Rowan wearing the key around her neck and sets her own dining room ablaze, locking herself and Rowan in.

The full significance of the necklace is still a mystery to viewers, but to readers of the books there's been an obvious visual change. The jewelry was originally just an emerald, not a key. When asked why the switch was made, Spalding hinted "that question will be very definitively answered in episode 6."

Until then, new episodes of Mayfair Witches stream Thursdays on AMC+ and air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

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Related content:

• Mayfair Witches' Harry Hamlin admits he 'couldn't get through the whole' 50-hour audiobook
• Lives of the Mayfair Witches series brewing at AMC as part of its 'Anne Rice universe'
• See the stars get snapped in EW's New York Comic Con portrait studio

On first impression, AMC’s Mayfair Witches appears as lush as the overgrown yard of the New Orleans bungalow where much of it takes place.

The world around us seems to fade away as we immerse ourselves in the rhythm of sewing. This sense of concentration and mindfulness can be incredibly calming and soothing, allowing us to find a sense of peace and tranquility amidst the chaos of daily life. Sewing also has the power to connect us to our past. Many of us have fond memories of watching our grandmothers or mothers sew, and the smell of fabric and sound of a sewing machine can transport us back to those cherished moments. By carrying on the tradition of sewing, we not only honor our heritage but also create new memories to pass down to future generations. The magic of sewing also lies in the sense of accomplishment it brings. There is a certain pride that comes with finishing a sewing project, whether it's a beautifully tailored dress or a simple patch on a pair of jeans. The ability to say "I made this" is a testament to our skills and creativity, and can boost our self-confidence and self-worth. Sewing also has the power to bring people together. Whether it's joining a sewing circle or taking a class, sewing provides a shared experience that can foster friendships and community. It's not uncommon to see sewists coming together to share tips, tricks, and inspiration with one another. The bond that forms over a shared love of sewing is something truly special. In conclusion, sewing is a magical and transformative craft. It allows us to channel our creativity, find solace in the present moment, connect with our past, and experience a sense of accomplishment. The magic of sewing is not just found in the end result, but in the entire process itself. So, pick up a needle and thread, and let the magic of sewing unfold..

Reviews for "Quilting Magic: Exploring the Art of Patchwork and Appliqué"

1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic Coins Sewing". The plot was confusing and scattered, making it hard to follow along. Additionally, the characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, which made it difficult to connect with them. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and not worth the time or money.

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4. David - 3/5 stars - While "Magic Coins Sewing" had its moments, overall, I wasn't impressed. The storyline had potential, but it lacked proper execution. The writing style was average, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The ending also felt rushed and unsatisfying. While it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, I wouldn't particularly recommend it either.

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