Adventures in Skirt Skills
Last January, I became a beginner again. I sharpened my pencils, straightened my glasses, and with a fresh new notepad I hit play.See my friend Brooks Ann Camper has this…
Does this Dress Make My Back Look Bare?
Have you been making anything lately? After a fairly long making-things-for-fun drought, I've dipped my toes back in. Recently I spent some time sketching out, drafting, and making a backless…
Pattern Hacking – Turn a raglan t-shirt pattern into a cowl-necked, zippered “hoody”.
Honestly, raglan sleeves are so much fun. Maybe it's because I sew so many set in sleeves and it's something new, or maybe it's the greater range of motion they…
My first dress, made a dozen years ago from a pattern I made from a knit dress that I owned. Made with quilting cotton. If you know fabric, you know that woven fabrics are often not interchangeable with knits. It fit, but just barely. I was elated!
So, you can use quilting cotton in place of knit fabric…right?!?! (part 2)
Not sure the answer to the question in the subject line? It's NO. Just so you know. Now you don't have to learn the hard way. Like I did. Now,…
…and making a t-shirt pattern into a racerback tank with a shelf bra
Some pattern drafting…. We've been talking about taking a basic, really well-fitting t-shirt pattern and turning it into some sleeveless garments. This week we'll talk about a racerback tank top…
Create a sleeveless cowl tunic from a t-shirt pattern!
This week has found me hand stitching a garment, a la Alabama Chanin, visiting for the first time in months with my mama because it feels like there is a…
Going Sleeveless
Do you know, there was a time when I wouldn't wear sleeveless tops...I thought I didn't have "the arms" for a sleeveless top. Seriously?!? I bet you know what I'm…
Why you don’t sew clothes you love.
One of the biggest frustration I hear from all of my students and when I interact with sewists online is fit. As in, sewing clothes and trying to get the fit right and feeling completely frustrated by that process. I can understand that; it's a deep topic with lots of steps and our bodies are dynamic and wonderfully, three dimensional. But it doesn't have to be so frustrating.
Pockets, pockets, pockets
Adding Pockets to a Dress Pattern Honestly, I don't think I can live without pockets in my knit garments any longer. Your hands need somewhere to go for crying out…
Changing a fit and flare knit dress into a dress with princess seams!
Hey there! We are just finishing up our three-month-long Make-It-Your-Own Project and as you might know, it's turning into a monthly adventure…albeit at a somewhat slower pace. Whew. (you can…