Happiness Through Sewing
The Details: The skirt, like its parent dress, was simple but now, without its boat neck to echo the horizontal tuck near the hem, it lacked something the dress had. The tuck looked like a mistake; like I added on fabric to the hem as a way to add length. I needed to accent the […] Read more…
Recently my mom was cleaning out her closet and thought I might like a dress she had made in 1982. Maybe I could put it in a consignment store she suggested. It was a simple, straight sheath dress made in a silvery grey raw silk with a boat neck and an interesting detail of a […] Read more…
I know I’m lucky to have a room, with a door, just for my sewing. In previous years I sewed in a family room, a dining room, in my bedroom and in the basement. It truly is a luxury to be able to keep all my tools out where I can easily find them. To […] Read more…
When you go on vacation, even just a weekend away, do you do what you love to do. If you love sewing do you bring your mending pile with you? I will pack a knitting project, and I’m no knitter, but I don’t see my sewing as portable. This is a bummer because aren’t you […] Read more…
I haven’t been sewing for the last week now but I have been in the sewing room overtime. I’m up to my eyeballs in hand painting silk scarves. My mother had a great idea. My mother, for as long as I can remember has always had great ideas. I’m not being sarcastic. I’m not saying […] Read more…
It’s done! Did I finish it in a week? No but I came close. I lost momentum when my daughter was never home for a fitting (I needed to fit the straps on her for the correct length) and on the day before our trip she said it was no big deal if she packed […] Read more…
This video shows you how to begin any garment project. Prepping your fabric correctly, dealing with a nap, and lining up the selvedges. My favorite type of nap is the siesta kind, of course, but if you don’t know what a nap in the fabric is it means a one way design. The fabric I […] Read more…
Just a quick introduction to my one-week-until-she-needs-it sundress project. I’m using a commercial pattern, McCalls 5313. My teenage daughter picked out both the fabric and the pattern and I promised to have it done before summer was over and before she moved out of the house. That basically meant this was my last summer to […] Read more…
Alright, I just started the project and already I have a tip, two actually, to share. This little video shows you how to keep your pieces on grain when the directions request that you not line up your selvedges. The other tip just happens to be one of the best secrets ever; iron those wrinkly, […] Read more…
I’m half way through my week to get this project done but not necessarily half way done with the project. Funny how that happens. However, it’s Saturday and I don’t have to be at my day job so I believe I can get a lot done today. I had a tiny set back. My bodice […] Read more…