Happiness Through Sewing
A pattern piece has a lot of information on it as discussed in a previous post/video “How to Read a Pattern”. You need that information when you are sewing all the pieces together, but you want to transfer that information, from pattern to fabric, at the beginning while the fabric is still on the cutting […] Read more…
A sewing friend recently joked that sewing was actually only 50% sewing and 50% cutting, pressing, and fussing. She’s pretty accurate. But let’s not let that stop us from sewing. We’ll just accept it as part of the process. This post and video are all about the process of laying out your pattern pieces and […] Read more…
Folding your fabric to cut out your pattern, as most patterns instruct you to do, means you obviously cannot see the fabric on the bottom layer. So when you cut out a pattern from folded striped or checked or plaid fabric how do you know if the stripes on both layers are lining up with […] Read more…
What is Fabric Nap and why do you need to know? You may have seen the word Nap, or With Nap or Without Nap, on the back of patterns. And it’s important to know if your fabric has a Nap because it can change the amount of fabric you need to make the garment. You […] Read more…
You’re excited to sew. You know it’s going to be great when you’re done. People are going to stop you and ask where you got it. You smile and reply “I made it”. You carve out some sewing time and do your best. When you’re done you try it on and…deflate. It doesn’t look so […] Read more…
Novelty is a powerful attraction to me. I like trying new things; new Ritter chocolate bar flavors, new music, new hair cuts and so forth. Of course life is a contradiction and there are some things I am fiercely loyal to; flannel sheets, Breyers Vanilla, Dr Hauschka soap for example. However most things in my […] Read more…
The most important piece of sewing equipment I own is my sewing machine (I mean, we are talking sewing equipment) but the second most important, most appreciated and maybe the most used sewing tool I own is my cutting/ironing/work surface/table. Yes, it is all of those things and yet it is only a cheap door […] Read more…
Some of us grew up in a household where sewing happened frequently and so we picked up a lot of sewing knowledge without trying. Some of us first learned how to sew through scouts or a middle school Home Ec class where we may or may not have paid attention to the teacher. And some of […] Read more…
Downloadable patterns are pretty common. They’re convenient and easy, if not impulsive, to purchase. Just pay and click. However when you go to use the pattern there are a few steps or tricks to remember. We all know how one little inaccuracy at the beginning of a project can snowball into a big frustrating mess. […] Read more…
When I pull fabric off the shelf, or out of the dryer, it’s pretty wrinkly and needs to be ironed before cutting. Sometimes it’s still wonky after ironing. The grain is slightly twisting one way or the other. Right here I have an easy decision to make. 1. I line up the fabric best I […] Read more…