Happiness Through Sewing
Bias binding is used to bind or cover the raw edge of fabric. Bias binding can be made in self or contrasting fabric as a decorative edge of a neckline, sleeve, collar or other feature. It can replace a full facing as with sheer or bulky fabrics or it can bind and finish seam allowances inside […] Read more…
Gathers are small soft folds made by drawing fabric up on a line of hand or machine stitching. Gathers give a softness and fullness to garments and is a way to release a lot of fabric from a tighter area to a fuller area; for example a full skirt on a fitted waistband or yoke, a […] Read more…
I’ve been sewing for 25 years, not counting my childhood when I made numerous hand stitched bean bags which always leak their contents. (My stitches were the same size as the beans. Who knew? Where was the Girl Scout leader in charge of this activity? But I guess I could count this as […] Read more…
Two years ago I started strength training. As with anything new the gains come quickly in the beginning and then plateaus and even setbacks due to sickness and stress can happen. Recently the coaches have started programing “recovery workouts” for clients to do when they are a little sore but not ill, or their muscles […] Read more…
I am distractible by nature. Everything seems to get my attention which really means I’m not putting my attention where I need to. This was happening with my sewing too. I never knew what to project to focus on next. Picking a project became a big deliberation usually settled with impulsively starting a project without […] Read more…
Everyone who sews has a pile of mending. The button falls off, something needs a patch, trim needs to be reattached, hems get caught on a heels and need re-hemming. And because sewers know how to fix these problems they put them aside to fix. And they sit aside, and sit aside, and keep to […] Read more…
I have analyzed it and I think my motivation troubles are originating from transition. In March 2014 I went from full time to part time as an administrative assistant/office manager so I could train my replacement and have more time to work on The Daily Sew. In June 2014 I began The Daily Sew full […] Read more…
Drawstring bags are under appreciated. It’s probably the unglamorous, homey vibe they give off but let’s not judge a book by it’s cover. Drawstring bags are practical, versatile and can be “dressed-up” with fabric choice or even trim but most importantly they are very easy to make. When my kids were little I used them […] Read more…
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…
Is there such thing as sewer’s block? Like writer’s block except it’s the temporary inability to compose with fabric instead of words. Lately, I have found myself avoiding my sewing machine. Instead, I have found myself cleaning the house more, or reading more, or cooking more but not sewing. Am I experiencing a creative block? […] Read more…