An absolutely fascinating, one of a kind garment--a dressing gown or banyan made entirely from tiny diamonds of printed fabrics. Bear in mi...
Create custom continuous bias with a fat quarter to match any sewing project. Technique is so simple that you will never look at the package stuff again.
I really enjoy sewing with knits. Yet, if you don't follow the simple less is best principle, you may "over sew" your project! What's "over sew?" My answer
These Fabric Twine Mats are great scrapbuster and so fun! You’ll find the tutorial over at My Poppet! Supplies: Scrap fabric twine, lots and lots of it! Sewing machine and thread Anti-slip rug underlay (she used STOPP underlay from IKEA) Scissors Hot Glue gun and plenty of glue sticks General sewing supplies Marker pen Level:...Read More »
On trouve souvent de vieilles machines à coudre dans les brocantes ou les vide-greniers. Comme celles de la photo, qui décorent les magasins All Saints Même si elles fonctionnent encore, on leur préfère en général leurs petites soeurs électriques ! On peut toutefois leur donner une nouvelle vie en les recyclant et les transformant en table d'appoint, en bureau ou console.
Sewing tutorials for all ages! Whether you're a beginner or you've been sewing all your life, there's something here for everyone.
Keep the kids busy and teach them a skill at the same time! These EASY STITCH Cards teach children beginning sewing skills as well as fine motor skills.
If you follow my Instagram or Facebook feeds, you will have already seen the new pattern I've been working on over the weekend, which includes an icord. I absolutely love them... which is why they appear in many of my projects. For those who are not so keen on knitting just a few stitches, I wanted to show you another way to get the same effect as a two-stitch knitted icord (or, as my mum calls it, "an iphone cord"!!!). It's so simple, even my four year old can do it! (Affiliate links to the supplies are marked with a '*') You will need: - A lucet (also called a 'knitting fork') - Suitable yarn for the size of your lucet. Using a yarn which is too fine will result in an icord that is very loose and loopy. For this tutorial I'm using a Pony Lucet Fork from loveknitting.com* and Rowan Big Wool* in shade 00068 Sun which is a nice size for this lucet - it produces a flexible cord which is neither too tight nor too baggy. It really is that simple! If you're wondering what you can use icords for, stay tuned, there will be a few icord projects coming up soon as well as my new pattern which will be ready later this week. UPDATE: Find it here*.
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The second pattern from Sewing Magic 1952.
Don't trash that dead telephone, scrap that torn sweater, or haul that lifeless bed frame to the junkyard just yet! As these functional and fanciful projects prove, broken or unused electronics, appliances, furniture, and knickknacks can go from junk to can't-live-without essentials in practically no time.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 15-16) and index
Learn how to engineer stability into all sorts of fitted garments with this couture technique.
Simple tips for using your home sewing machine to sew knit fabrics. By Haley Glenn.
{source} Hi readers! I have a little treat for you today: my friend Robin has written you a guest post on her method for maximum sewing efficiency when you're making multiples of a garment. Enjoy!--Gertie Greetings, Gertie Readers! You may be aware that our book-writing, Bombshell-Dress- teaching, sample-sewing blogstress is just a little overloaded these days. So allow me to pontificate on a topic I don't see much about, but gives me great sewing pleasure. Imagine you are the proprietress of a small, but well-appointed little sewing factory. It's OK to sweat in this shop, and in fact, I encourage it. Crank up some Michael Jackson, and get into the groove to do some assembly-line sewing. The sewing factory is all about efficiency and with that in mind, I recommend using: • a tried and true pattern – if you don’t have one yet, how about an apron pattern? There shouldn’t be any fitting issues or construction surprises for assembly-line sewing • multiple pieces of fabric with the same properties - this is very important! ◦ same weight ◦ same hand (amount of drapey-ness) ◦ same background color, so you can use the same thread on everything • rotary scissors, cutting mat & pattern weights Attitude A good factory worker strives for optimal performance. Boredom is welcome – just call it zen and relax into it. As the boss, you get to choose how the employee (also you) will be graded. Perhaps it’s a matter of punching in on the time clock to sew for 30 minutes. Or the worker can be rewarded after milestones are reached. All of the apron straps are sewn? Let’s order in lunch to boost morale! Cutting By now the fabric has been pre-washed and any fusible interfacing has been obtained. Fold each piece of fabric consistently with the rest. For example, if the right side is folded in on one piece, make it folded in on all pieces of fabric. If you aren’t yet a convert, try a rotary cutter, cutting mat and pattern weights. You can save time by not pinning the pattern to the fabric, which you only have to unpin in order to sew. Because I prefer my patterns without seam allowances, I love a rotary cutter with a guide. It may take practice to gain speed with the rotary cutter, but think of yourself as an ice skater doing your compulsories. Slow and steady in the beginning will get the job done. Speed comes naturally with practice. Hey, all the more reason to cut out multiples, right? Cut the fusible interfacing, now, too. Another time-saver is marking the notches and darts with little clips into the seam allowances and for this, scissors are a lot more accurate than rotary cutters. To mark darts, I insert pins on both sides, like so: It might be time for the afore-mentioned employee morale-boosting exercise. Donuts, yoga – boss lady (or boss gentleman) it’s your choice! Fusing Here is where the sweating comes in. Fire up the iron and take the time to fuse each necessary piece now. After fusing, double check that it hasn’t stretched or shrunk, by comparing the pattern piece your work. Taking time at this stage increases quality of the finished goods. Organizational Strategy Lay out each individual garment in its own pile. It is not considered anal to lay the pieces in the same order. No, this is called efficiency and some might even take pride in their little piles of sewing goodness. Let’s say you want to sew all of the collars first, then cuffs, which are then attached to sleeves, which are then sewn to bodices. Lay the bodice pieces on the bottom, the sleeves on top of the bodices, the cuffs next and the collars on top. The Beauty of the System Not only will assembly-line sewing generate a wardrobe in short order, these techniques will build the fine motor skills necessary to master techniques. You will never fear another zipper after you have installed three, four, or, let’s get wild – five in a row. You can just look at the fifth zipper and see the improvement. Awesome. Another benefit is less thinking. Once you have identified the steps you will take, you can go on auto-pilot. That allows for turning up the volume on the music, or even having a movie playing in the background. One caution: advise the spouse, the kids, or the pets that mommy gets mad sometimes. Mommy is just frustrated about ripping out a seam now and then. You know it will happen. You will not sew everything perfectly; no factory worker is perfect. And let’s assume they get a raise every year, anyway, so it is OK! Fun Decisions – How is it best to maximize The Win? When sewing assembly-line style, there are many variations on this theme. I like to repeat as many steps as I can before moving on. I like to get all of the cutting, the marking and the fusing done before sitting down at the sewing machine and/or serger. Then it is buckle-down-and-master-the-skill time. I would rather sew 30 buttonholes so that the last six are perfect than finish one shirt at a time. Let’s not forget that hand-sewing may be involved. There may be times to sit and sew. Remember, boredom can be transformed into zen and/or learning time. You will choose your own approach – because you are the boss of this shop and you are in charge. (Can you tell I like that part?) Whether you finish several garments at once, or you space them out between other projects, assembly-line sewing makes sense. If you are like me, you have invested time and money into this hobby, so it feels good to get tangible results. Naturally, you may simply find it easier to buy most things, but if you hanker for the perfect gym shorts, skirts, dresses, whatever – you can fill your closet this way. Pat yourself on the back for making such efficient use of your time and your resources. You have leveraged the power of the tried & true pattern, you have saved money, clothed yourself, improved your skills and listened to some good music, too. Check out Robin's blog, A Little Sewing!
Ancrés dans la tradition et la vie quotidienne américaines, les quilts ont inspiré de nombreuses petites phrases proverbiales. On les accompagne souvent de dessins nostalgiques et kitchissimes ! Le…
This week we are creating a slow stitching panel, taking time to enjoy the process and decide just what this beautiful piece might become...
This week we are creating a slow stitching panel, taking time to enjoy the process and decide just what this beautiful piece might become...
Free kippah sewing pattern with written directions and video tutorial. Sewing for Hanukkah, Passover or any other time you need a kippah.
A number of different tips and tricks for organizing your bobbins and keeping your sanity!
Jesus Christ, Easter, Mormon, LDS, Family Proclamation, General Conference
part of the sewing area in my loft.
An all-in-one facing is perfect for sleeveless tops. Learn how to draft an all-in-one facing for your pattern and how to sew it together.
One of the design issues we’ve encountered relates to making a sweetheart neckline. Sometimes the neckline V at center front would not be as sharp as we wanted it to…
Take this 15 minute upcycled fabric tray tutorial to make lovely fabric trays. . Use them to catch threads or keep your sewing notions tidy.
This Fall, at the annual Baby Lock Tech Retailer’s Convention, The Tacony Corporation and Baby Lock Sewing Machines honored Nancy Zieman’s intense passion and
notes on life and craft inside the home and studio of Charlotte Lyons
Today I’ll be showing you how to use a twin needle or double needle on your sewing machine all in a video tutorial. There’s a photo tutorial as well along with some great close up examples to help you be as successful as possible with sewing with a twin needle. There’s something about sewing two […]
My mother used to tease me and suggest that "if I put a book on my head maybe I would learn by *Osmosis" *Osmosis: unconscious assimilation I'm wondering if the same process might work with quilting? ** Do you think there is a possibility that all of those "WIP's" (Works in Progress) or the hundreds of quilt ideas floating in my head would magically get done if I put a sewing machine on my head? "Quilting By Osmosis"? Might be worth a try. Mahafaly woman/ Southern Mdagascar Image found on Pinterest
A few weeks ago I made a trip down the street to the CMU School of Drama warehouse where the historic costume collection is housed to view originals with the Couture Techniques class. I snapped a few pictures of my favorite couture techniques for future reference. Above it a bow trimmed interior coat pocket, now in shreds. Below is a similar style pocket with the addition of pleated trim. The bows and trim on the pockets make the pockets look pretty as well as aiding in guiding the hand to the pocket. I thought the addition of the bows was adorable. Above soutache trimmed buttons. These would be easy to create to add interest to fabric covered buttons. Pin Tuck Buttons - another great way to cover buttons to make them interesting. The interior of an antique bodice showing the carefully bound seam allowances with bound notches. Fabulous color combination and trim on a jacket. This trim is fabulous and easy to create. The trim is created by drawing the fabric over two rows of cording to create a gathered look. So creative. Delicate cut steel buckles and velvet trim. Isn't the color combination fabulous, too? I have been pushing myself to make bolder color choices in my modern wardrobe and I want to also push myself to make bolder color choices and color combinations in my reenacting wardrobe. I'll look forward to future trips to the collection. Tomorrow I leave for a fabric shopping trip to NYC to purchase fabrics for the dress(es) that I will be creating as part of my thesis. I'll be keeping an eye out for fabulous fabrics for 1860s dresses as well! Wish me luck!
Keep your coffee cozy with this simple DIY.
I was asked to give a little more detail about the inserts that I like to pleat up ahead of time. I generally use Imperial Broadcloth because is soft enough for pleating but also has enough body that it is suitable for Geometric or Picture Smocking. The standard length of fabric for a pleated insert is 45" long and I like to pleat 10 rows since I am rarely smocking anything that calls for more than 8 rows of smocking. The smocked insert in the picture is for baby playsuit pattern #123 that I will be teaching at Martha Pullen School. You are instructed in this pattern to pleat a strip of fabric 36" long. After a very busy day, I started smocking last night thinking that I would only get a few rows done, but I actually completed the whole thing in 3 hours! I know.....who sits and smocks for 3 hours! I was just soooo close to being done that I couldn't put it down. :) It is an original design of simple 3 step waves. Michie'
