Happiness Through Sewing
Sometimes the easy solution is the best. Like, don’t overthink it, but do think it through first. My client wanted to remove the skirt from this empire waist dress. The Dress was an odd length; too short for a dress and too long for a top, and therefore it went unworn. However, if I could […] Read more…
Taking an existing item of clothing that isn’t being worn and changing it in some way so it is worn is exciting. And even though I won’t be following the cropped button-up shirt trend, I want to show you how you can. Get out that shirt that’s being ignored and crop it, freshen it up, […] Read more…
Everybody loves a pocket, so why is it that a lot of clothes don’t have them? And tiny, useless pockets don’t count as pockets. Luckily, pockets are easy to construct and add to your store-bought clothes, and they’re easy to draft for your me-mades. There are so many types of pockets that there are entire […] Read more…
There are a few patterns we will sew more than once. There are patterns we will never sew again, and there are patterns we might sew again, if we could make them a little different. Maybe we would add pockets, leave the sleeves off, or change the neckline. Welcome to pattern hacking. It’s easier than […] Read more…
It’s easy to change the neckline of a top with no collar. Really. It’s just a matter of tracing off the pattern pieces that contain the neckline and drawing in the new neckline shape you want. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The neckline is an external style line, meaning […] Read more…
The neck opening of a shirt can be finished with a collar stand, a collar, a facing, a lining, or a bias binding. While the collars and collar stands are for style, the facings, linings, and bias strips are for function. Linings are usually sewn to a facing, but not always, and function to line […] Read more…
Sewing is a creative process, yet recently it has felt boring and chore-like. It has become a bit stale, and I realized these feelings in me when I actually considered ditching garment sewing for quilting. Quilting! For someone who still can’t quite grasp why you’d cut up perfectly good fabric just to sew it back […] Read more…
It’s true that little things make a difference. Hidden details in our self-made clothing, like linings, special seam allowance finishes, and strap guards, take a garment from fine to special. Lingerie strap guards allow you to move freely without your bra straps peeking or slipping out. And I realize some people don’t care about this, […] Read more…
Do you want to learn how to sew but are unsure where or how to start? While you could start by sewing rows of stitches on a scrap of fabric to learn you could be making something you can use. When I teach sewing all my students sew a project even those who have never […] Read more…
When you think bandana you probably think of a black and white printed paisley design with a border. Classic choice. But bandanas come in all sorts of fabric designs and as far as projects go, they may be one of the easiest things to sew. So why not sew your own, in your choice of […] Read more…