7 Things Sewers Do To KILL Their Creativity
I wrote these 7 points that I observed back during my retail storefront days, and I continue to find them true to this day - teaching from my home studio. 1. They are way too hard on themselves, underestimating their capabilities. Sewers forget that the sewing process (unlike cooking!) is wonderfully 'forgiving'. I have over 50 years of sewing behind me and with 45 of these in a professional/teaching capacity,Read More
Reversible Knit Top with Wave-Rotary Cut Edges -Test Top #2
I designed and stitched up this knit top as yet another try to come up with THE design for the 'favorite' fabric. Goal Though this design isn't yet 'quite it, I am happy with it and love some of the features I came up with to take full advantage of the reversible fabric shown here at the right, a digital rayon/lycra print I purchased at marcytilton.com Fabric in this TopRead More
Learn How Fabric is Made
I've found a few quick yet informative videos to help you understand how fabric is made and printed. I wrote this for my sewing students in a newsletter, but thought my Blog followers would enjoy as well.... Hop over to the Newsletter by clicking on the photo below to access the videos - clicking on the Adobe Link on the page you'll be taken to in order to open theRead More
My Alabama Chanin-Inspired Knit Top
Like many of you, I'm spending alot of time in front of the TV at night these days. Since the Florence, AL headquarters for Alabama Chanin is just 2 hours from my home, I've been privileged to visit there twice. This is my 2nd 'Alabama Chanin-inspired' Top. This time, I decided to use 2 ready-made T-shirts of the exact same size. These are by Bella: 65% polyester and 35% rayonRead More
Closet Confessions
Now that I've got your attention, OH MY GOSH!!! I'm not sure if I feel blessed or ashamed, or perhaps proud of my frugal creativity, but I got curious ... Just HOW MANY CLOTHES ARE HANGING IN MY CLOSET(S)? Especially these days as I have absolutely nowhere to go - like all the rest of us. SEW...as a clothes-lover, pattern-designer, and passionate Sewist, here's a peak.... 'Go Out and LookRead More
Refashioning Fall Clothes for the Spring
Enjoy this contributed guest post written by Jany Harding. "With the spring season in full swing, that means it’s time to update our wardrobes once again. But instead of buying new clothes, however, it’s much more interesting (and economically smart) to refashion pieces you already own. Not only will you be contributing to overall sustainability, but you’ll also get another chance to fall in love with your clothes all overRead More
Side Tie Knit Top – Test Top #1
Since we are all sequestered at home these days and likely sewing up a storm, I thought this would be a good time to share more of the specifics of my 'Test Tops' for my favorite new fabric as I shared at THIS BLOG POST . Honestly, for every year I can remember, even as a child, Easter Sunday was celebrated with something NEW and Special. I remember Mom teaching us thatRead More
Thread Spool Sewing Room Mobile
A student gifted me with a box of antique thread spools - and during these 'slow-paced' days, I found them and turned them into this mobile for my Sewing Studio with motivation from my crafty sister. You can do the same...and I've even put the leftover spools up on my website in 3 different collections: each a Baker's Dozen for $12. Here's my mobile. The base is a wireRead More
Face Mask with Pocket: Assembly Line Style
Last week I'll always remember as 'Face Mask Week', as I tested directions wrote my 'version' and churned out over 100 face masks (for use in nursing homes as requested) to do my part in this battle against Covid-19. I had promised some to a home where my niece works in southern IL, but then when Celeste Mergens, founder of Days for Girls, encouraged our participation and I received aRead More
Wrapped Edge How-To’s for Wearable Art
I developed these How-To's for the edges of my creative sweatshirt jackets. I share everything about my techniques in this new video on my YouTube Channel, including stabilization of the edges on a knit with Straight Fusible Stay Tape so they don't stretch. You'll also learn how to calculate the width you need for any application. https://youtu.be/QC03CHIYDkA Here are some pictures of jackets of mine on which I used theseRead More
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