I was reminded of an important step when cutting out your garment pieces and the more expensive your fabric is the more important the step. Before you cut any piece out of your fabric, lay out the pattern pieces on your fabric according to the pattern’s plan to be sure they fit. You don’t have […] Read more…
10 Gift Ideas for People Who Sew
Last night I spent too much time searching the internet for gift ideas for all the men and almost men in my life. Didn’t really get a solid idea except for this one – a post about what sewers might like to receive. Here are my ten quick ideas. Some are tiny gifts and some […] Read more…
Coat Collar
Geez Louise! I’m so happy that I did not skip making this coat in muslin first. I did it to make sure the fit was right but it’s the opportunity to figure out the collar construction that makes me glad I’m sewing a muslin. Let me share my confusion; Read more…
The Start of a New Project – A Wool Coat
I always say if I’m going to take the time to make a garment then I’m going to take the time to make it right. Trying my best to be efficient, by all means, but no short cuts. And now I sound like a complete hypocrite by challenging myself to get this coat done in […] Read more…
Bunting; An Easy and Fast Project For Any Festive Occasion
I see bunting for sale in catalogs and at craft shows. It can turn any room instantly festive. We use it outdoors at the school I work at on special days and and at booths when we have a table. Teachers have borrowed it to use at home when they’ve hosted baby showers. If done […] Read more…
Tinkerbell Costume – Completed
I finished. I made a gathered tulle skirt to wear under the “skirt” of the pattern. I think it should be called a peplum and I added an inch to the length. I cut the bottom edge of the tulle skirt in a points. Just random points, after I had sewn the skirt. Since the […] Read more…
Sewing the Lining to the Bodice – Not How I Thought it Would Be.
Sewing my daughter’s Halloween costume, Simplicity #2757. I didn’t have the camera when I was sewing this part so I drew the steps out. Because the front and back pieces form a right angle with the side pieces at the neckline I couldn’t just sew one seam starting at the left side center front, around […] Read more…
Clipping the Princess Seam Allowance
That’s odd. They don’t look like they go together. (next time I’ll smile) You’re not flat and fabric is so unless you’re going for an ancient Greek look the fabric has to be manipulated to go over your curves. This is why we use darts and seams like the princess seam. However, sewing convex curves […] Read more…
Tinker Bell Halloween Costume
My daughter is 18. She wants to be Tinker Bell for Halloween this year. When you’re 18 your Halloween costume has to be somewhat stylish no matter what you’re dressing up as (I’ve seen Mean Girls). My daughter is away at University so pattern decisions took place via email. Measurements were taken on a recent […] Read more…
How a dress became a skirt and a purse. Part 3: the Purse.
What got me started on this project, or what made this project (turning my mom’s dress into a skirt) jump to the front of the line, is that I really wanted a simple bag for summer. And I really wanted a grey bag. I saw that dress crumbled up in my mending pile and realized […] Read more…