My friend, Sheila, always looks great and when complimented her on her clothing she’ll tell you which thrift or consignment store it came from. She has the best of luck at such places but she says it’s not luck; it’s just being there too often. Apparently this must be true because her sisters threw her […] Read more…
Gifts to Sew – Gifts I’ve Sewn
Gift giving season is approaching and every year I try to make some of the gifts I give. I do it because I enjoy making things. Long ago I thought it would save money to make some of the gifts I gave but with all the sales that go on this time of year, I’m […] Read more…
Pegging Men’s Suit Pants
My husband has always worn flat front pegged pants. Even though currently this style is easier to find in the stores, sometimes ready to wear pants are just shy of being how he likes them. So was the case with a recent pair of suit pants. Banana Republic makes a great, trim fitting, men’s suit. […] Read more…
Hemming Ready-to-Wear Pants
I have a girlfriend who ordered some pants that were just too long. She asked me if I knew a good alterations place. “Uh, no, but I know me.” Here’s how I go about hemming ready to wear pants, no double stick tape necessary. Have the pants owner put them on. Fold up the extra […] Read more…
Wide, Non Slip Head Band
I saw via my Pinterest account, a tutorial on non slip headbands. I’ve always liked the look of headbands but I was always so disappointed in them whenever I tried to wear one. They either started to give me head ache, dug into the spot behind my ears or constantly slipped off my head. This […] Read more…
Making a Pattern From a Favorite Skirt
I made the orange skirt without a commercial pattern. I based it off the brown skirt which I had bought years ago. I like the way the brown skirt fits and thought how hard would it be to copy it? It’s simply constructed with ten identical panels, a side zipper and a 2″ facing at […] Read more…
Sewing Darts
Darts are magical. They make a flat piece of fabric take shape. They can blend in to the garment or stand out as a design feature. I admire a well placed dart. I do not like a pointy dart, or one with a pucker and those boo – boos can easily happen to your darts […] Read more…
Quick Baby Quilt
I’ve been working on a quilt the last two weeks. I’m not a quilter but I do love playing with color. I made this as a gift for a soon to be new mom. This quilt is larger than the suggested crib size. I know this new baby’s baby cousin will be spending time visiting […] Read more…
Upcycling a Thrift Store Dress
Recently a young friend of mine showed me a dress she bought second hand. This rayon floral dress featured two strong design elements. The first a corseted center front, purely decorative with a self fabric tie. The second feature was an exposed, silver toothed, zipper along the center back seam from top to hem. The […] Read more…
Make a Lining for an A-Line Skirt. Easier Than Making Fudge
Summer to me means new skirts. I like wearing skirts in the warm weather as much as I love wearing cardigans in the cooler weather – a lot. Usually, I buy a new skirt from Boden at the beginning of spring. The prints are really fun, they’re well made and they’re lined, which wasn’t a […] Read more…