label-free

2009-11-12T21:50:00.002-05:00

I have to tell you about my friend Mary Beth's new videos for Lion Brand yarn, produced by her company Junk Drawer Media...they are called "Two Minute Inspirations" and they are awesome! Not only do they provide great ideas, but my own dress form "Sea Wolf" gets to be the star model! Check them out- there are 10 of them in the series.

vintage fabric

2009-09-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

30,000 year old flax fibers found! Amazing.

Loving My New Shirt

2009-08-07T16:32:00.002-04:00

tula pink applique project

2009-08-06T17:17:00.002-04:00

Finally!!

I figured out a solution to "fix" this great lavender shirt dress that had a hideous stain on the shoulder.

I had some remnants of this fabulous Tula Pink fabric I bought awhile back for another project. I cut out the fabric, ironed the fabric to the dress using small pieces of no-sew iron on hemming tape, and then simply zig-zag stitched it all around the edges.

Voila! A finished dress with a little bit of flair. It's perfect for an outdoor concert on a summer night, which is what I did!

2009-07-17T07:59:00.002-04:00

As promised, here's a picture of me actually wearing my handmade braided trim dress on it's pioneer night out! It was a hit. I'm definitely making more.

summer projects

2009-07-15T08:13:00.003-04:00

Finding myself with little time to start new, complex sewing projects, I've been slowly working through some old things that have piled up (on the kitchen chair). You know... some things that didn't fit right, some things that needed hemmed, some things that needed a little somethin'-somethin'.

This used to be a dress. I made it last summer, half from a vintage pattern and half from imagination. I didn't really like the fit as a dress, so I chopped it off and made it a comfy summer shirt.

Here's a shot of me in my "new" shirt, taken in my photo studio...ahem....bathroom.

Miss Retro Modern - Vintage Patterns & Fashions

2009-07-09T13:24:00.003-04:00

I love this Flickr set. I wasted way to much time at work laughing at this today. Enjoy!
Miss Retro Modern - Vintage Patterns & Fashions

2009-07-04T12:29:00.001-04:00

Katie Did has posted a great tutorial on how to make these totally cute floral collars. Can't wait to try it myself!

Crafty Balboa Craft Show in South Philly

2009-06-10T09:22:00.004-04:00

CRAFTY BALBOA will be held August 2nd, 2009 around the fountain at the intersection of Tasker and Passyunk Ave. The craft market will be held in conjunction with East Passyunk Business Improvement District's 4th Annual Doo Wop. Passyunk Ave will be closed to traffic from McKean St. to Dickinson St. The event will run from 12pm to 5pm.
I got myself a space at the show! Hope to see you there.

2009-05-31T19:54:00.003-04:00

My friend Leya of Curiousbird just made the cutest pair of apartment pants from my pattern, and I just had to share! Check out her blog post for more pics.

Love the fabric- the pants are made from a tapesty she snagged on sale at Urban Outfitters. Best part...I got a pair too! Thanks, Leya!

map quilts!

2009-05-19T18:24:00.003-04:00

I love these map blankets, made by Haptic Lab. I think they are so clever, not to mention beautiful. Although they are set up to do Brooklyn neighborhoods, you can get your own for a small fee.

handmade braided trim

2009-05-10T16:07:00.002-04:00

I got some great pale pink spandex awhile ago and had some left over from a skirt project I was working on. I decided to braid it and it as a trim to a black dress I already own. Fast and simple!

I have something fancy coming up and rather than pushing myself to finish an entire dress, I think this is going to look really cute when it's finished. Rather than hiding the bad side of the fabric, I let both sides show in the braid, giving it a really great texture.

leather and feather accessories on the brain

2009-05-03T17:40:00.005-04:00

red and black feather headband= lovely

a funky leafy one

a little somethin' somethin': purple leather flower

soft book

2009-04-19T09:38:00.001-04:00

I love this soft book by Surya of Wee Gallery. Great idea for a baby shower gift.

Twill Tape Stamping

2009-03-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

I am going to get this stamp from Small Object, a pile of twill tape, and get to work! This would be a great way to package little gifts.

Fabric deals!

2009-03-08T22:31:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone: super hot tip about a new fabric site...

My pal Chris of Wonderboy, the company that makes the cutest little boys clothes, just launched a brand-spanking-new fabric website called Bolt 44. It's a great source for prints you can't get anymore, as well as fabrics that are exclusive to the site. I love that you can sort by color, fabric width, and even pattern. She shows you large, clear photos of each fabric swatch, and also tells you how much she has in stock in case you're working on a big project. And with most fabrics priced at under $8 a yard, it's hard to click away from the site without getting a little something!

Happy shopping!

Donate a Bow Tie for the American Cancer Society.

2009-02-17T18:12:00.002-05:00

Donate a Bow Tie for the American Cancer Society.

Posted using ShareThis

I love the Makery!

2009-02-17T12:54:00.000-05:00

I visited a friend in Louisville last weekend, and while I was there I remembered that The Makery was in town. The Makery is this great little shop full of handmade goodies on one of Louisville's most bustling streets, Bardstown. After grabbing a coffee at one of his favorite spots, Heine Brothers, we stopped in to check it out. We said hi to the kitty brushing against our ankles and admired all of the homemade googies for sale. I wanted a silver horseshoe necklace but spent too much during the rest of the weekend to even consider it.

If you find yourself in Louisville, definitely stop in and say hi to see this great shop and say hi to these fun girls!

Ginkos and Birches

2009-02-16T12:44:00.007-05:00

Lara Cameron of Kirin Notebook and the new Ink & Spindle, has created these great little fabric mix packs that are perfect for little coin purses, patchwork projects, and pin cushions. I absolutely love the colors and prints.

a very cool dress.

2009-02-13T07:43:00.003-05:00

Marissa told me about this cute, frilly, colorful dress. And just like her, I wish I had a reason to wear this every day.
Pretty.Pretty.Paper.>

Happy Valentine's Day!

For you...

2009-02-11T00:24:00.002-05:00

How beautiful is this fabric Valentine's bouquet? Check it out on Burda Style.

(photo from Burda)

fat quarter information

2009-02-10T13:12:00.003-05:00

Click on over to the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog to read a great post about fat quarters- what they are, how they are cut, and how to use them!

I'm back, baby, I'm back!

2009-02-07T19:11:00.008-05:00

Well it certainly doesn't seem like I haven't been around, but apparently that's just not the case.

During stressful times, the first thing that has to go in order to preserve sanity is blogging. But I have to say, I've really missed it, and I've been thinking about all of my web friends and how much I've been wanting to tell you all about what I've been working on. I've been tackling a lot of little projects and thinking up new ones. Still crankin' away on Betsy Ross and my "frankenstein" sewing and collecting ideas for new creations. So rest assured, I'm back in the proverbial saddle and will be posting more often.

And here's what I'm thinkin'...just a few thing in the hopper:

1. My sofa is almost exactly like this one! And it desperately needs recovered. New foam, too. Great February project. Need a good source for cheap foam and great upholstery fabric. I've got some schemes...

2. I love the quote that I read on Keri Smith's blog about winter (distilled: the colder it gets, the more you've got to love it), but I am dreaming of flitty sundresses and summer skirts to take my mind off of the constant boots n' tights routine. Here's some great fabric that might have to make it into my stash.

vintage goodies

2009-01-12T15:37:00.000-05:00

Check out the textile section of Lulu's Vintage Blog, which features some really cute vintage sewing boxes and textiles from all over the web.

new pincushions!

2009-01-11T15:27:00.003-05:00

Cute!! (from Hable Construction)

Weekend Sewing

2009-01-01T15:51:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited to get Heather Ross' new book, "Weekend Sewing!" Read more about it and see some preview photos!

(photo from Heather Ross' blog)

Bow Tie Pattern

2008-12-22T15:20:00.000-05:00

Use the Christmas break to make a totally cute bowtie pattern, available from Burda, for your best guy's New Year's Eve ensemble!

New Pattern from Betsy Ross!

2008-12-21T15:23:00.000-05:00

Introducing the newest pattern from Betsy Ross, #014 Apartment Pants.

Two important things about this pattern: it's unisex, and it's easy! It will only take you an afternoon, and if you trace the pattern pieces onto another piece of paper, you can use the pattern over and over for different sizes.

*Thanks to Michael for suggesting the name for the pattern, Mary Beth for taking these great photos, and Marissa for sewing two great pairs of test pants!

Map Quilts by Leah Evans

2008-12-20T09:37:00.004-05:00

Leah Evans is a textile artist based in Madison, Wisconsin. She makes quilts that are far from traditional. Each piece features a map which is hand-sewn in fine detail forming an almost abstract pattern. Evans uses appliqué, reverse appliqué, piecing, natural and synthetic dyeing, needle-felting, hand printing and a variety of embroidery to make each piece. She takes the imagery from maps, aerial photography and satellite images. However she doesn’t simply translate maps onto here quilts, instead she creates imaginary lands uses elements from different maps.
I so want to do this of the Philadelphia area.
http://www.leahevanstextiles.com/

Abby Glassenberg

2008-12-08T01:38:00.004-05:00

Abby Glassenberg creates beautiful soft sculptures. I look forward to every new piece. She shares a glimpse of her process with this peacock.

Inauguration Fashion!

2008-12-06T21:15:00.005-05:00

You have to check out this slide show of sketches by fashion designers showing their ideas for Michelle Obama's inauguration dress... so much fun to see what everyone imagines her wearing. Which one is your favorite? My favorite (usually is) is Marc Jacobs!

Crazy winter project

2008-11-30T17:04:00.006-05:00

The term "crazy quilting" does not refer to traditional quilting, but rather a type of patchwork. It took off at the end of the 19th century, and was used as a way to utilize extra scraps of fabric from other projects.

I am in love with the way colors are layered on top of each other and the quirky stitching that is used in these quilts. Once you get the base of the patchwork done, you can add appliques, like the brown leaf, shown in the photo, from Crazy Quilt Central.

Although it looks easy and random, sometimes trying to fit everything together can be a challenge. So here's a few tips:

*If you're just getting started, I would recommend checking out this site, which offers four different patterns that you can use to get you started.

*Sharon B's online stitch dictionary is amazing, and covers all of the stitches you will need to embellish your quilt. She shows example stitches and how to do them in easy-t0-follow instructions. Look for these basic stitches in the beginning: Running Stitch, Back Stitch, Stem Stitch, Herringbone Stitch, Blanket Stitch, and the French Knot.

*When you are looking for extras to complete the quilt, look for finishing touches on the Flights of Fancy website.

*Keep in mind that a small quilt is less intimidating and this is a great way to get rid of scraps and practice handsewing techniques. A little inspiration can be found on Children's Quilts of the 19th Century.

inspiration

2008-11-25T18:40:00.004-05:00

I have been super distracted lately with lots of work and moving, but that doesn't mean my eyes haven't been open. First of all, this vintage top that was sold through thirteeneightyfive is so awesome, and since I can't buy it, I'll try to make it.

Next up, these great baby quilts made by Ciucciobaby, which are so adorable and thoughtfully made.

Ok, back to unpacking and getting the sewing corner set up!!

Spoonflower contest!!

2008-11-17T22:23:00.003-05:00

Spoonflower is starting a new element of their site that will allow you to purchase limited edition fabric created by members of their site! You can vote on the fabric of the week here! And if you want to participate, you can read about how to get your own design in the running here. Why have I been putting off getting my designs finished?!

Free Needle

2008-11-12T17:06:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon Free Needle recently, a cool website that compiles cool, free sewing and needcrafts tutorials and patterns. Check it out- but be prepared to stay awhile!

Finished tote!

2008-11-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

I just finished this cute and easy tote bag for a friend. This is definitely my go-to tote bag pattern because it only takes 1/2 yard of fabric (plus extra for lining), and is so simple it's crazy. It's made of two rectangles of fabric for the body, and two long pieces of fabric for the handles...you can't get any easier than that. I used one of my favorite Kaffe Fassett fabrics and machine embroidered initials on a scrap of matching blue fabric.

If you'd like to try it, here's how it's done!
(click for larger image)

Sewing Room Envy

2008-11-09T19:40:00.000-05:00

I love this room I spied on Free Closet. How bright, cheerful and organized! What's your ideal sewing space look like?

2008-11-08T10:00:00.001-05:00

I'm planning to make a lot of granola and cookies this season for presents, and plan to wrap the goodies up using lots of beautiful Japanese linen tape and these cool tree buttons.

(linen tape from alittlegoodness and button from Super Buzzy)

Thoughts

2008-11-06T19:29:00.002-05:00

Can't get enough of this fabric...already have it in pink, but maybe I need it in black, too?

Tropical Tree Frog

2008-11-03T18:40:00.004-05:00

Bwa ha ha! I love this too much. This is another Grosgrain creation.

kinokuniya = love

2008-10-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

During a recent, fairly depressing trip to New York for a class, my work friend L. and I happened to pass a shop that had the coolest things in the window. Turns out it was Kinokuniya, a shop I had been wanting to visit for a long time.

I think I touched every item in the lower level in the shop, and hadn't even made it to the main floor before being physically removed from the building by L. so we wouldn't miss our class. I bought several great notebooks and pens (I loooove fresh notebooks and new pens!) but also picked up a book called "Pattern Magic."

I am totally intimidated by the patterns in this book, but am so excited to try some of the things in here, like the interesting bows and woven-fabric bodices. I don't really want to put cubes in my dress, but it's still fun to learn how!

I found one copy available on ebay if you're interested, as well as one from YesAsia. You can use Korallin's helpful tutorial series on sewing from Japanese craft books to help you muddle through!

(window photograph courtesy The Savage's Romance)

Quilt Market!

2008-10-27T10:00:00.001-04:00

The Houston Quilt Market is going on right now....can't wait to hear news about new fabrics, patterns and other good stuff!

Boutique Cafe will be doing a live-feed during the market...I'm sure there will be more posts in the next few days.

If you have any photos, send them along, and I'll post them!

(thanks to M'Liss Rae Hawley for this birds eye view of set-up)

Introducting: Melissa!

2008-10-26T14:02:00.008-04:00

It's my pleasure to introduce a new contributor to Label-Free, Melissa.

I had the pleasure of meeting Melissa in a sewing class I was teaching and was charmed by her sense of humor and personality. She confided that she was trying to overcome her innate preference for handsewing over machine sewing by attempting an a-line skirt.

Not long after the class, I spied the cutest felt toys and photos on Flickr by someone going by the name Melingo Wagamama. Coincidentally, it turns out that it was Melissa!

Melissa lives in a great house with her husband, bursting at the seams with tiny felt softies she's made and can't part with. It's also filled with half-finished projects, which we often joke about. Melissa sews softies by hand, out of felt, cotton fabric, and reclaimed clothes/material from thrift stores. She has also loved to cross stitch since she was a little girl, and was thrilled about five years ago when she discovered that there are a few patterns out there that don't make her want to puke. She recently learned to embroider and to needle felt.

She's a freelance editor and writer who spent ten years working in book publishing before taking her life back! Melissa will have several patterns for undersea creatures featured in The Felt Bible by Brookelynn Morris, to be published by Potter Craft in 2009. Because of her ties to publishing and her unique insights into that field, she will be writing occasionally about new books on the market or favorite books in her library. She will also chime in with handsewing tips and whatever piques her interest!

Welcome!

Fabric Spotter, October 2008

2008-10-22T17:00:00.000-04:00

[Red explosion fabric from Italy, International Fabric Collection &
Blue and Orange fabric from Holland, IFC]

[Elegant gray and purple fabric from Italy, IFC &
Neon botanical tapestry from Urban Outfitters]

[Hide and Seek Bunnies from Karaku &
Blue and orange bird fabric from Holland, IFC]

[Ginseng collection home dec weight fabric from Pink Chalk &
Letterhead pink fabric from Duckcloth]

[Inger fabric from Ikea &
Giant squid fabric from Mendochino by Heather Ross]

[click for larger image]

Found it!

2008-10-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

My next quilt project, that is.

I love this traditional quilt pattern, but have to admit that it looks fresh and modern. When you buy this kit from International Fabric Collection, you also get the silk star fabric (you supply your own background fabric). I love the pop of the color against the black background!

fabric origami

2008-10-19T15:22:00.004-04:00

How cool is this rotating cutting mat? I would use it to make this cute ornament to give away at Christmas.

[images from fabricorigami.com]

Grosgrain

2008-10-08T17:47:00.003-04:00

I have been admiring the clothes made by Kathleen of Grosgrain for months now, ever since I saw this frock. She makes lovely, original clothes like these for girls, and GIVES them away bi-weekly!

Her latest creation, the Sylvan Sorceress costume (not a giveaway), is my favorite so far. I want one in my size for Halloween.

Ah, Paris.

2008-10-06T13:13:00.000-04:00

Another inspiring dress design for fall sewing adventures, pictured here on the blog The Snail and The Cyclops. And what a photo! Bravo!

Creating with My Little One

2008-10-06T05:23:00.006-04:00

My daughter is three years old. She's old enough to help make a softie. Though she's too young to work a sewing machine or use a needle, she can stuff and help choose out fabric. And at this age it's all about, "me try!"

Making a toy with her is a whole new level of sewing love. If you have a little one at home, give it a try. Not only will you have a wonderful memory to cherish, but they'll have a new toy to play with, one that's handmade with love.

Pattern of the day

2008-10-04T12:11:00.003-04:00

Check out this vintage pattern for cute baby booties...only $6 on ebay!

Make sure to check out Hollywood Girl's full store, featuring vintage crochet, knit and quilt patterns.

fabric design q&a

2008-10-02T08:25:00.000-04:00

Jen, the brains behind Tula Pink answers your burning questions about how she creates her fabulous fabric designs on her blog.

I love seeing how the idea goes from simple sketch to finished product. I think it must go back to all of those episodes of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood I watched where he shows you how things are made. (Side note: you can actually download the videos for those "How People Make..." segments from the show!!)

Dress of winter 08?

2008-10-01T10:03:00.000-04:00

I am inspired by this wool dress by Steven Alan. It's so simple, yet looks polished. I could wear this dress every day of the week with a rotating selection of scarves, coats and shoes. I saw some similar fabric while shopping this weekend, and may have to go back to get some... it's time to hit the drawing board!

snappy button organizer

2008-09-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

These magnetic tins from The Container Store might have been created for spices, but I think they would be perfect for organizing my sad, sad button box, which I'm scared to even peek into at this point!

Mid-century fabric design

2008-09-28T19:54:00.003-04:00

I may not be able to afford it, but I love this fabric on Eamesfabric.com, featuring fabrics designs by Eames, Girard, Nelson, and more. I find the shapes and whimsical colors inspiring, and I still have hand-printing fabric on the brain..... but no time to do it!

Vintage fabric store opening soon

2008-09-20T19:43:00.004-04:00

For those of you in the San Francisco area (or those who need an excuse to plan a vacation...) you'll be pleased to hear about the opening of Urban Burp, a rare vintage fabric shop. True Up features an extensive photo tour of the soon-to-be-open shop. According to True Up, they are located at 170 Columbus Ave, Ste. 110. I hope they have a good website, since I'm not planning on heading out west anytime soon!

(Photo courtesy True Up)

Organizing My Patterns

2008-09-19T14:59:00.002-04:00

I've used a lot of sewing patterns from international magazines. After my first few patterns, I had an unmanageable mess of traced pieces thrown into a box. But I didn't do anything about it. I kept adding to the mess with each new pattern. That is until last month.

I've finally gotten organized. Now each pattern is placed in it's own letter sized manila envelope. I've written down all the pertinent information:

the ISBN where the pattern comes from

the pattern number

the size

the pieces in the pattern

picture of the project

Now I can find everything just by flipping through. Yay!

Men's Shirt Refashion...more ideas!

2008-09-19T10:00:00.003-04:00

Etsy seller JillEileen is using old men's dress shirts to make cute kid's outfits. Check it out...so cute and creative. Inspiring!

Amy Butler Contest!

2008-09-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

Amy Butler's new, beautiful book, Little Stitches for Little Ones, is now in stores.

Apartment Therapy is sponsoring a contest based on creations you make from the book. Great prizes! Check it out- the deadline is September 30.

The jacket of fall 2008... in my dreams.

2008-09-17T14:47:00.000-04:00

I'm posting an image of this jacket by Marni, because I am in love with it! I do not have $855 to spend on a jacket (" And with no arms!" I can hear my mom saying in my head), so I want to make something similar...does anyone know of any patterns that might work? I've been hunting around for something that I can adapt for this, but haven't had a lot of luck. Any ideas would be appreciated!

follow that thread

2008-09-17T13:03:00.005-04:00

Remember the days when you'd pick up a multi-pack of thread at Rite-Aid or Target? Way back? Before you got serious about sewing?

Back then all you cared about was color, and then maybe not so much if you had to venture outside of black, white, red, or gray.

Things have changed. Nowadays you spring for the good stuff: Madeira, Mettler, Sulky, Gutterman. When you do find yourself using Coats Dual Duty (because, hey, who can resist a sale at Jo-Ann's?), you have suspicions about the lasting quality of the stitches you're sewing. But beyond having heard that the above name brands are good, you still don't know a heckuva lot about sewing thread.

Well, no more. Follow this link to a wealth of knowledge about sewing thread, and never again wonder about all-purpose poly-wrapped cotton vs. silk spun. There's enlightenment about sewing needle types and sizes and an invaluable glossary here too.

Men's Shirt Refashion...more ideas!

2008-09-16T14:36:00.000-04:00

Here's a great idea for turning two men's dress shirts into a dress on Clevergirl.org. Cute!

(via Craftzine)

out of this world

2008-09-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

I found this amazing quilt of the solar system on the National Museum of American History website. Believe it or not, this very modern-looking quilt was made in 1876 by Ellen Harding Baker of Cedar County, Iowa. It is 89" long and 106" wide.

From the NMAH website: "Ellen used the quilt as a visual aid for lectures she gave on astronomy in the towns of West Branch, Moscow, and Lone Tree, Iowa."

(Thanks to the National Museum of American History for images)

Bird and Clamp tool

2008-09-13T13:16:00.007-04:00

After seeing this image in the current issue of Threads Magazine, I knew I had to have that tool- I have been doing some leather braiding (for shoulder straps and bag handles), and had been pining the ends of the leather to my sofa to avoid unraveling but realize this is neither good for my sofa or the best solution to the problem.

This tool is called a "Bird and Clamp" and although they have been in use since the late 18th century, the idea was patented by Charles Waterman in 1853. Sometimes the clamp featured a pincushion, and the part that grabs the fabric wasn't always in the shape of a bird- they featured all types of animals, but sometimes were simply beautiful woods or ivory that had been carved with decorative flourishes.

I found the following information on the National Museum of American History website:

"Before the patent, Waterman was already selling the clamps successfully when an advertisement appeared in the Hartford Times of June 5, 1852, showing two women on opposite sides of a table. The one without a sewing bird is bent over her work in an unhealthy posture, while the woman using a sewing bird is upright, showing the clamp's 'health preserving property.' According to Waterman's daughter, 'he wanted to make sewing a little easier for the ladies.' "

Three thoughts:
1. Why is it so hard to find these anymore?
2. It turns out that the reason they are hard to find is because no one calls them Bird and Clamps because they they don't actually feature birds anymore. They are just plain old clamps. Why is today's version so utilitarian and boring? Stick a bird back on it!!
3. The Monmouth Museum in NJ has North America's largest collection of them. Who knew?

Some searching turned up the following sources for Bird and Clamp tools:

I found one very reasonably priced set for $9.00 on the Sewing Workshop website. But again, it's boring.

Here's a very cute antique version.

This one is a replica of one made for Marshall Field's. I like it because it features a pincushion.

Antique versions come up through ebay every so often, so add it to your alerts and you could find a bargain! Here's a cool one.

And just it now occurs to me that I have a c-clamp and a bulldog clip at home...so I could just make my own after all and save my sofa from further pin damage!

(photos from antiqbuyer.com and Threads Magazine)

Now I just need that hair!

2008-09-08T17:50:00.005-04:00

And now, without further ado: the reveal for my little jumper/dress combo! Not so bad, eh?

I am pretty happy with it, and if I want to go more subtle (which, I admit, will be about 98% of the time), the dotted dress looks great on it's own. I omitted the sleeves and made linings for the arm holes instead, creating a simple sheath dress. The material really makes it great.

And here's the inspiration... believe me, almost any pattern can be made wearable by a few simple changes and some great fabric!

Art and Science

2008-09-07T12:14:00.002-04:00

Artist Beverly St. Clair uses quilts to encode genetic information. She uses quilt blocks to represent the four bases of DNA. These blocks are placed in sequences determined by the base sequence, so one can read the genetic code by looking at the quilt.

Beautiful!

http://genomequilts.com/genome.php

Knitta, please...

2008-09-06T22:57:00.006-04:00

No, I don't knit. Don't want to. Nothing personal, just not interested. So where does one find a interesting pattern or idea for a winter scarf that's NOT knitted? One sewn. Oh, and yeah, one that a guy could wear. Once again, nothing personal.... you ladies have it much easier than the guys. We have very limited options.

I've just recently started looking for sewn scarf patterns and I'm not coming up with much. I see alot of the same fleece pieced idea. Nice, but I was hoping of something different for this year.

Any ideas?

Swap-O-Rama-Rama!!

2008-09-06T13:03:00.003-04:00

Heads up for all of you Philadelphia residents: On October 19, the Philadelphia Sewing Collective will be hosting a Swap-O-Rama-Rama. Here's the story....
"Founded by Wendy Tremayne, Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a clothing swap and series of DIY workshops in which participants explore creative reuse from recycled clothing. Basically, you bring a bag of clothes and they get sorted into piles by volunteers. You get to sort through all the clothes and work at the various DIY stations and sewing stations to create new clothes!"

I had no idea that the Swap-O-Rama-Rama was such a popular and widespread phenomenon- check out their website to find a location near you.

The Philadelphia Sewing Collective also hosts a Monday night Sewing Cafe and some great classes. I'm not talking about just the usual "Learn to Sew" thing- they have classes in corset-making, alterations, curtains and even marketing. Definitely consider taking a class there if you're in the area and you've been wanting to learn to sew or expand your knowledge.

putting it all together

2008-09-05T14:11:00.006-04:00

I love the little flat flower-head pins for sewing. I use them to pin everything. Or, I have. Last night my new sewing instructor pointed out that the best pins for general sewing are the fine, glass-head pins I most often notice quilters using. I have, on occasion, noticed that my beloved flower-head pins have left perforation marks on my sewing, but I ask you, what is perfection?

Still, I can't resist a reason to upgrade my sewing supplies, so today I've been searching the Internet for glass-head pins. In my search, I came across this very useful explanation of sewing pins. Now I know I don't have to toss my flower-heads, just use them for heavier fabrics.

buttons!

2008-09-04T23:29:00.006-04:00

DuMochelles Auction has some really lovely buttons they are auctioning off in September . Someone has lovingly put together some amazing designs with their collection, which would make some great art for your living room!

Do a search on their website for "buttons" to see all of them. Don't be afraid of the estimates and put in a bid! I'm showing some of my favorites here.

petticoat junction

2008-09-02T22:09:00.002-04:00

Tired of droopy dresses and skirts? Want that 50's Donna Reed flair? Then put the hoop back in your hoop skirt -- make a petticoat!

Trista of Sugardale shows you how, complete with before and after photos of a petticoat in action.

A Dress for Me

2008-09-02T19:58:00.006-04:00

My latest finished project, Butterck 4919:

Men's Shirt Refashion: Part One

2008-09-01T21:35:00.005-04:00

Enjoy this quick and easy project, which is the first installment of my Men's Shirt Refashion series. I completed it in about an hour- there's only a few seams!

Click on the long bar with small images for step-by-step instructions.

inspiration on a Saturday

2008-08-30T13:17:00.002-04:00

Tell me this wouldn't be an awesome applique quilt....

(from the National Portrait Gallery blog)

Shell-sleeve top

2008-08-28T07:49:00.003-04:00

Here's a reveal of a finished project! I have had this blouse in a "must finish" pile for weeks and weeks, and finally did.

The body of the blouse is vintage cotton, and made from the Betsy Ross #011 Raglan Sleeve Top pattern. I made the sleeves from two rectangles of lightweight blue cotton fabric that I pleated on the sides. The fit is much, much easier to do with a dress form- otherwise, you'll be trying it on every two minutes and starting over. That shoulder was so tricky; I think I restarted this project five times.

I decided to leave the edges of the sleeves unfinished so they fray slightly. Eventually I'll put some fray-check on there to stop it from getting out of control.

Finishing touches

2008-08-24T12:53:00.004-04:00

I love shopping for buttons. I went to Fabric Row on Saturday and found some totally cute wooden ones, along with two big rolls of interfacing on sale and some........ wait for it......... spandex. For research purposes.

Does anyone have any good button sources they want to share?

Here's a little update on my questionable jumper/play-suit project: I still have to add buttonholes, affix the cute buttons I bought and finish the shoulder seams by hand. So far it's not costumey, and even if the dress underneath doesn't turn out so well, I can see myself wearing this jumper with a nice gray sweater and jeans this fall. Reveal soon.

SCORE!!! Whoo whoo whoo!

2008-08-23T18:59:00.004-04:00

Yep. I just received my purchase from a great Ebay store. 40 yards of fusible, non-woven, 50 inch wide interfacing for about .75 a yard!

http://stores.ebay.com/SB-EMBROIDERY-SUPPLIES-AND-MORE

I'll never have to buy interfacing again. Ever.

Sheesh. Guess who's a sewing geek?

Link Love: Sigrid!

2008-08-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

I love the blog Sigrid- Sewing Projects. Sigrid, a seamstress from the Netherlands, is always up to something and has some really great guidance when it comes to construction. Of note (for me, anyway) are the tips on sewing lingerie, which I have zero experience in but have recently been reading a lot about. I would definitely bookmark this one!

12-year-old experimental suburban fashionista

2008-08-20T16:44:00.003-04:00

Just started reading the Style Rookie's blog. Super fun. Trust me, you'll bookmark it.

http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/

questionable decisions

2008-08-20T07:31:00.005-04:00

So I've had this pattern for awhile and the only thing I've really paid attention to was that woman in the middle with the great bowl-cut.

Something made me stop and look again last week. I think it was the fact that I found more yardage of Amy Butler Mustard/Martini fabric at Cloth and Bobbin last weekend. It's been a slippery slope, my friends- once I started thinking about the opportunity to make a 70's style romper playsuit in coordinating Amy Butler fabric....well, I can't be stopped. I started the jumper, and it's coming together really fast.

One edit- those puffy sleeves might make me look like someone on the set of Heidi, so those will get tamed in some way.

What have I gotten myself into?

2008-08-19T08:27:00.002-04:00

Please note cat tail in upper right corner. Cats make it really difficult to lay out quilt pieces on the floor...

Japanese Craft Books: Finished Dress

2008-08-18T18:26:00.004-04:00

This is my final post for my, how to sew from Japanese craft books, series. We last talked about sewing. Today I'm showing you my finished dress and reviewing where you can find all the posts.

So first, the finished dress:

All that hard work and my husband thinks it looks like a robe! :-D

And here are all the different posts in the series:

Where to start

Sizing and supplies

Tracing and a traced pattern

Cutting

Sewing

And a review of all the translated words:

バスト : bust

ウエスト : waist

ヒップ : hip

材料 : materials

布 : fabric

幅 : width

接着芯 : interfacing

ゴムテープ : elastic

ボタン : button

木綿 : cotton

麻 : linen

ファスナー : zipper

バイアス布 : bias fabric

糸 : thread

カギホック : hook and eye

前 : front

後ろ : back

袖 : sleeve

カフス : cuff

ョーク : yoke

リボン : belt (literally ribbon)

前見返し : front facing

後ろ見返し : back facing

わ : fold

ギャザ : gather

裏 : wrong side

表 : right side

ステッチ : stitch

バイアス布 : bias fabric

切り込む : clip

Here's the picture for those of you who can't see the Japanese text.

I hope this series has helped you tackle any fears of sewing from Japanese craft books. Have fun!

Leather Links

2008-08-17T11:55:00.003-04:00

A lot of people have been asking me where to get leather scraps for handles of purses and totes. There are a few options:

Homestead Heirlooms sells a great selection of pre-made handles, which saves you the trouble of making them yourself, which can be difficult if you don't have a machine that will sew through leather. In addition to many options for length, hardware and style, you also have many color choices. (Thanks to Adrienne for the link)

Tall Poppy sells handles for purses in every style you can think of. This is kind of off the subject- they also sell metal purse frames for little coin purses, if you're looking for that sort of thing.

If you want to make the straps yourself, Brettun's Village sells 5 pound boxes of scrap leather for $35. They have a lot of leather options, from laces to cording, but some of the cording looks like it was salvaged from an old warehouse- it may be a bargain, but ask questions before you buy.

Locally, check your Hobby Lobby or AC Moore or Michaels or whatever craft store is in your area. They sometimes sell bags of scrap leather, although the sizes of the scraps might be too small to work with. Here in Philadelphia, I bought a huge bag of leather laces in different colors for $5 from the Philadelphia Fabric Outlet.

Finally, if you're the kind of person that likes to scavenge and/or meet new people, you can try contacting larger furniture and design showrooms (such as the Merchandise Mart in Chicago) to ask if they have discontinued fabric samples. Those companies are always getting rid of discontinued fabric swatches, so you might be able to pick them up before they take them to the dumpster. My aunt is a rep for a furniture line, and saves all of the discontinued leather samples for me, and it's just the right amount of material for small straps.

Japanese Craft Books: Sewing

2008-08-15T04:30:00.006-04:00

Today I'm continuing my, how to sew from Japanese craft books, series. You can read the last post on cutting here. Today I'm going to talk about sewing. This is pretty straight forward to explain.

Before I start sewing my project I make sure I have all my pieces together. I cannot tell you how many times I've misplaced a piece and have to stop everything to cut it out again. It's a major pain since I don't have a dedicated sewing/cutting area. Sometimes it means moving everything out of the way just to cut and then moving everything back. YIKES!

I also iron my fusible interfacing to my fabric before I start. Then I sew a few lines on some of my leftover scrap fabric to make sure the tension is right. I do some stay stitching on the shoulders and armholes just in case. And I always have at least two bobbins wound. Now with all that done I'm ready to start.

Here are some more translated words from my directions:

ギャザ : gather

裏 : wrong side

表 : right side

ステッチ : stitch

バイアス布 : bias fabric

切り込む : clip

And the picture in case you can't see the characters.

Ok, now to the sewing. To accomplish this, all you need to is decipher the drawings. Most of the steps are easy to understand. It's the detailed drawings which can get a bit tricky, like in my directions: page 2 and page 3. But once you've figured it all out, you just sew in that order and you're done.

An example of my sewing order:

1. Sew the gathered front pieces to the yokes.
2. Sew the front to the back pieces at the shoulder.
3. Sew the side seams.
4. Fold up and sew the hem.
5. Fold and sew the front edges of the dress.
6. Sew the facings on the back and front pieces.
7. Make 2 button loops.
8. Sew the waistband area.
9. Sew the cuffs and sleeves.
10. Sew the sleeves into the armholes.
11. Sew the belt.
12. Sew the buttonholes and the buttons in the cuffs and the make the belt loops.

For those of you who are curious, I've gone into more details of the tricky steps on my dress here on my blog.

My next post will be the finished dress.

To-Market Purse results!

2008-08-12T07:36:00.004-04:00

Nicole of Elephant and Castle just posted this photo of the lovely bag she made from the To-Market Purse pattern I posted a few weeks back. Try it yourself- it's really easy!

Measure yourself...it's fun!

2008-08-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

I found this illustration in an old Home Ec textbook I borrowed recently from my friend Melissa.

The overly excited look on that woman's face, the written-in notes from the book's former owner, and the clear instructions on where to measure yourself- all things to love.

{You can click on it to see a larger photo, and even print it out to keep for reference!}

Vintage Sewing Pattern Wiki

2008-08-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

I just heard about about the Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki, started by Erin from A Dress A Day. What a great idea!

I have tons and tons of old sewing patterns, and I love the idea of organizing them and making the information available to other people.

I particularly love the photo gallery, which features garments made from the vintage patterns. How fun is that?

Winter coats!

2008-08-09T13:51:00.007-04:00

I'm already thinking about fall projects, of course. Why can't I just finish the stuff I already have started? There's a very good reason: I have the attention span of a 2 year old.

But seriously, isn't this coat cute? It's McCalls 5531, and it's my favorite so far.
I like:
+the nice collar
+gathers (but not across the front)
+allows some extra room for full skirts or dresses
+Nice length
+Would be awesome with some of the bright wools I found recently at the Philadelphia Fabric Outlet on 4th street here in Philadelphia.

This babydoll style coat is cute too, but it looks a little bit like one of those smocks they put on you at the hair salon, and probably would not be very flattering on me.

The next one- in green- let me just explain myself. I am really into dolman sleeves right now, and so whenever I see them somewhere, I stop. I really dislike this coat for a few different reasons, but I definitely want to do something with dolman sleeves soon- more on that later. So let's just say this one is for inspiration.

And last, but certainly not least: Butterick presents a full length velvet cloak, the perfect covering for the upcoming winter season.......ok, I am totally lying. I can't think of anything I would be less likely to sew than a floor-length velvet cape, and I'm even a Stevie Nicks fan. I think this definitely fits into one of my favorite topics of conversation, "Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should."

I love you, Marni.

2008-08-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

While in New York recently, a friend whisked me into Marni, and gee whiz. The fabrics, the smart design, the ingenious fit... I love it all. I am inspired. If you find yourself in Soho, definitely seek out this boutique.

I am particularly in love with this top, which, alas, I cannot afford. I started fiddling at home on a top after seeing this one, and although it's turning out to be a totally different top, that's ok. At least the trip inspired me to get cracking on some projects that have been piling up!

zig-zaggin'

2008-08-04T22:45:00.002-04:00

I hope to get the Applique Library up and running very soon... but in the meantime, here's a little preview to show you what's to come!

Japanese Craft Books: Cutting

2008-08-02T00:52:00.007-04:00

This is the next installment of my, how to sew from Japanese craft books, series. You can read about tracing here and see an example of a traced pattern here. Today I'm going to talk about cutting pattern pieces out.

I've already washed and dried my new fabric several times just in case of shrinkage. I've ironed it and now it's ready to be cut. I find this step to be the simplest, rarely any translation is needed. But here are some words from the pattern I'm working on:

前 : front

後ろ : back

袖 : sleeve

カフス : cuff

ョーク : yoke

リボン : belt (literally ribbon)

前見返し : front facing

後ろ見返し : back facing

わ : fold

If you cannot see the characters, here is a picture.

So, let's look at the diagram. All seven of my pattern pieces are here. There are also several pieces that are not. I've highlighted them in yellow. Those are the pieces that did not come on the pattern paper. But not to worry, the dimensions are listed on the diagram.

So for example, the 3 highlighted pieces on the left are bias strips at 3.5 cm wide. And the highlighted piece on the right says 12 and 104/106/109/111. Those correspond to size 7, 9, 11, 13.

Now how to lay out the fabric for cutting. To figure that out, look at the areas I've marked in blue. That shows the grainline and how to fold your fabric. Pay close attention to where the fold is because there are pieces that are cut on the fold (the back piece and the belt).

The pieces on the left are folded parallel to the grainline. It's only folded down enough for that back piece. That leaves more fabric for the bias strips which are cut on a single layer of fabric.

And the pieces on the right are folded perpendicular to the grainline so I'll end up with two of all the pieces on that side. The exception is the back facing. I only need one. And the diagram says that (1 some Japanese character).

Once I know how everything is supposed to be cut, I copy any markings such as darts or notches onto my fabric. I then lay my interfacing on the pieces that need it so I only need to cut once. Then I use items to hold down my pattern pieces and cut.

See, simple. :) The next post will be on sewing.

rashida... it's no lie... i love a good gingham too!

2008-08-01T21:42:00.002-04:00

oh so lovely organic fabrics...

2008-08-01T21:08:00.003-04:00

can be found here at my favorite online shop... near sea naturals...
they also have really love notions too!

(i'm finally on some sort of summer vacation... and i hope to use my three weeks to sew up a storm... as well as be much more regular on this!)

Design your own fabrics

2008-07-30T09:22:00.003-04:00

I just found this new site. They are to fabric as Threadless.com is to T-shirts.

http://www.bonbonkakku.com/

You submit your fabric design and the visitors to the site vote on all the submissions. If your design scores high with the public, it's sold in the shop. Cool.

It's pricier than spoonflower.com, yes, but as they put it, it's a chance to let "the whole wide world to see how talented you are"

Where to get..........

2008-07-30T02:28:00.000-04:00

the gingham! I've gotten quite a few inquiries as to where I get mine. Enough that I figured I'd make a little post about it. Wanna hear it, well here it go.....

Most of what I have is Japanese, which I've managed to acquire from several places around the web. This gingham is almost always 100% linen or cotton.

Etsy Sellers I recommend:

Matatabi - Francis has some chocolate linen gingham here. I know, are those three words allowed to be together? Chocolate, linen, gingham? Trouble.

A Little Goodness - Leslie's got some lovely reversible gingham with polka dots on the back! More trouble.

Talk to the Wind - Lot's here too. More reversible with dots.

Cotton Blue - Some gingham fabric, as well as linen gingham ribbon.

Cotton Break - Some black and white here.

SaucyLouise - A few with smaller checks.

Down Shadow Lane - Not Japanese, but big lovely gingham checks to be had here.

Non-Etsy:

Kitty-Craft - There's some pretty Mocha Brown Double Gauze that would make a great scarf here.

and of course we all know Superbuzzy.

Then there is the non-Japanese gingham that I've acquired. It's really difficult to find 100% cotton gingham here in the US. There are few places to buy 100%. Usually what you find is a PolyCotton blend, mostly polyester and a little cotton. *shudders* I refuse to use synthetics. I'm quite threadjudiced indeed!

Ebay - Sometimes you can score some nice ginghams here, in fact I've gotten most of the cotton fabric from here. You can bid or you can 'buy it now'. Be sure to read the listing thoroughly and see if it is a blend or 100% cotton. If it doesn't say then ask the seller.

These other places have gingham as well(some polycotton if you don't mind):

Fabric.com - Heaps!

Fabric Direct - 1 inch checks here

Vogue Fabrics - They have some flannels too! Mmmm....flannel.

Warm Biscuit - Great shop, 2 yard minimum though.

I hope that helps. Now go get your ging on! ^_^
If anyone has other places to add, please comment.
Share your knowledge, homie.

Oh, Jennifer commented with a great link showing some really lovely scarfs in Japan! Thanks Jennifer!

The Ging and I

2008-07-29T13:12:00.005-04:00

I've got this crazy, super nutty love affair with gingham.
I don't like the little squares.
1/4 inch squares and up please.

I mostly like black and white.
(I'm keeping this for myself if no one buys it soon...Did I just say that out loud?)
Other colors make me happy as well.

I decided a gingham scarf would make me oh so very happy.
So I made one.

Cut some fabric to the length and width you want.
Get comfy with a good movie and start pulling out threads on either end to make some fringe.
Fold the long sides over twice and hem them.
Voila!
Scarf.
There's a great tutorial here and even one for twisted fringe!
Enjoy! ^_^

Quilt Planning

2008-07-27T15:48:00.004-04:00

I find that I always want to make changes to quilt designs that I see in books, like making them larger or in different color combinations. Although these changes are not super complicated, sometimes it can be difficult to picture how something will look when it's finished or how many blocks you will need for the finished size you desire. A simple color adjustment can change the whole look of a quilt. I find the planning process to be very daunting!

I realized I could plot out my quilt ideas by using Adobe Illustrator. I can create simple shapes, color them, and arrange them on a grid. That way, I can rearrange the blocks to play with the design quickly and easily. I can also print out the design and keep it in a folder so if I don't have time to start something now, I can reference it later.

The design doesn't have to be perfect- I don't worry about making sure the pieces perfectly line up, because it's just to help me visualize the finished project a lot better. I like working on these while I'm watching movies!

By the way, I'm still on a hexagon kick. I can't get it out of my system!

Introducing: Michael

2008-07-25T08:31:00.007-04:00

I am a self taught sewer. Waaaaaaaay back in the eighties, vests were very popular. Being a poor college student, I decided I could make totally tubular vests instead of buying them. I went off to the Goodwill a bought a 1912 Damascus Grand sewing machine. It had once been a peddle machine but someone had put on a motor. It looked like this: From that moment on, I was hooked. I sewed everything i could think of. My sister Terri introduced me to quilting. She is an amazing quilter herself, and we started talking. Umpteen and more years later, I'm still quilting and sewing . Although I haven't made a vest in years, I see they are back in style. I think I know what my first tutorial will be. I was told I couldn't post a picture of myself wearing a superhero cape, so instead, I thought I show a different side of myself. This is my inspiration board. This is the place I tack anything that inspires me to create and just makes me laugh. There are two pictures of me on the board, by the way.

To-Market Purse

2008-07-25T00:00:00.002-04:00

Enjoy this free pattern for a easy, cute purse by Betsy Ross!

I think it would also be super cute as a larger tote bag, and you can easily size it larger by tracing it onto a larger piece of paper- there's only two pattern pieces.

Have a great weekend!

Japanese Craft Books: Showing a Traced Pattern

2008-07-20T18:54:00.006-04:00

I've just finished tracing one of the pieces and I thought I'd share so everyone can see how it looks.

I trace everything, even down to the Japanese characters. That way I can match them up to the book. I also add the isbn of the book, any translations I've figured out, and the piece number (for example 1 of 7). I write this all down so if I make it again I'll know I have everything I need.

Read about how I trace a pattern here. Cutting will be next.

handprinting textiles

2008-07-20T13:55:00.007-04:00

Ever since I spied Lotta Prints, I have had handprinting on the brain. Printing your own designs on textiles has gotten a lot more accessible with products like Gocco (RIP), and if you print your own fabric, you can you be assured that no one else on earth will be wearing the same thing you are!
Here's some inspiration:

[clockwise, starting at upper right)
*Lena Corwin's book, Printing by Hand
*woodblock printed fabric by Jezze
*beautiful handprinted pillowcases by Maramiki
*blockprinted stuffed animals, via Felt Cafe East + West
*elegant pink and black print by The Cut Cloth
*graphic blue and white fabric
*antique hankies with handprinted messages by fellow Philadelphians, Bird and Banner
*intricate kangaroo print by Laughing Bird Shop (I want everything on this site!)