Sew Daily

Glamourous Pockets. Yes, It's True!

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Who doesn't love (and need) a little glamour in their life? And pockets! We love (and need) pockets, too.


This was the pocket that started it all.

This rhinestone zipper is on deck for the next glam-o-pocket.

If you're planning a little embellishment for your next project, turn your thoughts to the humble pocket.

In the course of my sewing life I have made my share of totes and bags. And almost always, I either add an extra pocket or two--or wish I had.

One day, when I was working out a fabric/thread/zipper combination, I made a separate little pocket as the test. (see picture at left) I didn't use it for anything at the time--it was just a test sample, after all. I put it in the catch-all drawers with other experiments.

But months later, two things occurred to me: 1) That sample pocket was ready to be sewn into the next tote I made. 2) It was really a very pretty little pocket.

These days, in the course of my sewing, I occasionally just make random pockets. I use some glittery zippers, leftover squares of fun prints, and other bits of glamour. When I'm getting to that point where the tote bag instructions say, "Add extra pockets if desired," I have the pockets ready to go.

And digging tollway change from a rhinestone pocket can be just the thing to add a little cachet to a Wednesday morning.

For more (truly) elegant ideas, pre-order Sewing for a Royal Baby.

Where do you add secret glitz to your sewing projects? Let us know.

Happy stitching,

In Search of an Easy Summer Pattern

stitch magazine — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:09:00 GMT

I feel pretty lucky because, being the editor of Stitch, I have a seemingly limitless supply of modern sewing patterns at my fingertips. Most of them I have been familiar with since they were ... well ... an email proposal!

The large panel has a contrasting serged edge. No hemming required!
The yellow swatch will be a gathered panel insert.
This horizontal print is perfect for the waistband.

I do a lot of dreaming about these patterns. What I love about Stitch is that it is a living, breathing reflection of a talented design community. If I had all the time in the world, I would spend much of it making up Stitch patterns. I just love the projects that much. But, alas, I don't have that much time.

So I am in search of an easy pattern.

A while back I wrote about some vintage barkcloth upholstery samples that I fell in love with at a Rhode Island antiques mall. There were three swatches: one big, one medium, and one small. I knew I wanted to make a '50s-inspired gathered skirt with the fabric, but I had to have the right pattern. Enter the Vintage Embroidered Skirt by Rebecca Smith from Stitch Summer 2013. It's just two squares and no pattern required. Perfect!

Because the barkcloth is such a statement on its own, I have choses to forego the embroidery. And the sample edges are serged with contrasting yellow thread, so I also decided to keep that cool detail and eliminate the need for a hem. This is getting easier and easier.

The problem came in with negotiating three different pieces and prints. I chose the small piece for the waistband (the print worked perfectly for this), the large piece for the bulk of the gathered skirt, and the medium piece for a gathered panel insert in the front of the skirt.

Would you believe that after I measured and cut everything that I came out with exactly enough for two skirts? Okay, I know that this was supposed to be easy and now I will be making two exact skirts. I guess I have to find someone who likes vintage-style skirts as much as I do.

For more easy sewing patterns and products to help you with your sewing, check out the Women's Sewing Essentials Value Pack kit and the free Craft Daily trial with any Sidewalk Sale purchase June 16-19.

Have you ever made a two of the same project because you had too much fabric? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Happy stitching!

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for Kevin Kosbab's June 19 webinar on Patchwork Techniques and Design Details for the Perfect Custom Ottoman!

My May/December Quilt Marriage

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Recently I made a fun little quilt top with a handful of some lovely Scandinavian-flavored prints in fresh, lively colors. Keeping the sashing in white put the focus on the modern prints. With only rectangles and flying geese, it went together fairly quickly. Sewing these fabrics was a delight. (The fabric is Bella by Lotta Jansdotter/Windham Fabrics. The pattern is Apple Dumpling from It's Sew Emma.)


What you see--something new.

The surprise on the back--1997!

As usual, I hadn't thought at all about the backing until the moment came that I needed it. In general, I don't commit to the backing until quite a bit of the top is done. Even though I've laid out the colors and done a test block or two, I like to see how the top looks before I choose what to do on the back.

Originally I had thought to use a solid--picking up either the orange or, if I was in a quieter mood, possibly the grey. But when I was looking through my fabric drawer, I noticed a bright, bright, bright floral from years past that had never made it into a project.

Thanks to a date on the selvedge, I knew this fabric was from 1997 (Alexander Henry). I remembered buying this--and would not have thought it was already in its teen-years! I washed it, pressed it, and put it into service.

And love the flowery backing for this crisp, clean quilt top. The white flowers echo the white on the quilt top. These fabrics were meant for each other.

Find projects and inspirations for your fabrics--old and new--with Interweave's Annual Summer Sidewalk Sale.

What surprising connections have you made with fabrics old and new? I'm sure some of you have done May/December fabric match-making!

Happy stitching,

Scouring Estate Sales for Vintage Fabrics and Patterns

AmberStitch — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:52:00 GMT

I live on the North Shore of Long Island, N.Y, in a former summer colony turned commuter paradise, and the estate sales are out of this world. There's nothing I like better on a warm spring Saturday than driving the backroads of Centerport and Northport looking for tag sale signs that point me to my version of heaven. I have discovered that I am not the only woman in the world with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to fabric. Others have come before me and I like to think that these women are smiling down on me as I look through their boxes of vintage patterns, often with factory folds still intact. I may never make them. They may not be, and often are not, my size. Is it a crime to spend a dime on this pleasure?

Pop-art poppies on linen drapes.
Watercolor florals on silk. Yum!

But my best and most unusual finds have been the fabrics.

Sure, they may be a little musty, but it's nothing that a little cleaning can't take care of. Were the fabrics better back then? It sure seems that way!

My absolute gem finds have not been sewing store yardage from decades past. It's been the draperies! In particular, I found several full length panels of draperies that were to die for. One is a silk floral print, probably from the late 1950s. Another is a modern floral linen print from the late 1960s. These are not your big-box store draperies. These are custom-made babies that I would call couture, complete with silk lining, hand-sewing, the works.

They are the kind of draperies that can change your life.

I have yards and yards and I don't plan to use them for decorating. My creative mind takes a more fashion bend. We are talking a whole store full of handbags, dresses, and skirts. Enough fabric to supply a complete runway show. Yardage to power several sewing lounge classes. And definitely far more fabric than I could ever use.

It's my own little brand of crazy that I keep and covet this fabric. Maybe I will use it all up in a gift-making frenzy. Maybe I will open a clothing store or sewing lounge, or start my own line. Or maybe I will just make one skirt and keep the rest on the shelf as fodder for dreams. I just like to look at it and think of all the things I could do.

So much of sewing is about dreaming--dreaming what I will make is as much fun as making, if not more.

If you have a stash of fabric like mine, check out the Sidewalk Sale in the Sew Daily Shop for plenty of ways to use it up!

Do you love to go to estate sales in search of vintage fabrics and patterns. Do tell!

Happy stitching!

P.S. Don't miss our first live sewing webinar on June 19, featuring Stitch contributing editor Kevin Kosbab, demonstrating Patchwork Techniques & Design Details for the Perfect Custom Ottoman! Register today!

An Invitation to Our First Sewing Webinar!

stitch magazine — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:37:00 GMT

You're Invited!

Take this special invitation to our very first sewing webinar! Join us for a live online seminar with Stitch Contributing Editor Kevin Kosbab as he guides you through creating your own custom patchwork ottoman.

You'll learn techniques for how to combine unique fabrics that will add high-impact design details while using prints in fun ways.

Kevin will teach you:

How to design a custom ottoman
Tufting patchwork cushions
and more practical techniques and ideas for sewing one-of-kind items for your home

You'll be able to ask all of your questions directly to Kevin, live, during the webinar on  Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 4:30 p.m. ET.

With this webinar, you'll be able to break free from using one pattern over and over again. By trying Kevin's techniques you'll be able to measure, alter and create customized ottomans for every room in your home.

Don't worry if you're unable to attend the webinar or if you have to leave early. With your purchase, you will automatically receive:

a recording of the seminar so you won't miss a minute
a bonus coupon to save 30% off of the following products in the Interweave Store
- Secrets of Home Décor Sewing Workshop in DVD, standard, and HD download
- Hexagon Pouf Ottoman ePattern
- Patchwork Cube Slipcover

Just use the coupon code kosbab30 when you checkout in the store.

Handsewing Basics . . . Needles and Thread

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Sometimes trends in the sewing world sneak up on us--and then, all of a sudden--we see them everywhere. I can't help but notice that handsewing--with all the sewing techniques that accompany it--is everywhere. English paper piecing, smocking, hand embroidery--it's all around me and it's wonderful.


Cheap needles. Just say no.

In a fit of organization, I wrapped all my embroidery floss on those little bobbins.

I don't have much silk embroidery floss, but it is such a pleasure to stitch.

Like many of you, I have done my own share of handwork in the past and love the slower pace of that handstitching provides. I've also learned (mostly the hard way) that some shortcuts and cost savings are definitely not worth it when picking up needle and thread.

To keep it short and simple, today let's just deal with those two things: needles and thread.

Once you've tried exquisite hand sewing needles, it's a bit difficult to go back to anything else. Lovely needles don't often cost that much more and are sold in both specialty and the big box stores. In general, needles that come in cardboard sleeves with folksy art not what you're looking for when you want to do some delicate smocking.

And let's talk about thread. Confession: I, too, have That Box of Cheap Thread. Yes, gigantic spools of cheap, cheap, cheap thread used to lure me at the checkout counter. No more. (I'm using these unfortunate purchases to zigzag the cut edges of fabric so they don't fray when I prewash them. I figure I'll use the last spool sometime in the next 45 years or so.)

Handsewing is a slow sport. Invest in the better threads--whether for embroidery, appliqué, or piecing. Quality thread doesn't fray, twist, or fade like bargain thread. It's a pleasure to use and it honors your craftsmanship.

Check out the wonderful handsmocking projects in Perfect Party Dresses--now available for pre-order.

I recently did some embroidery on flour sack towels. What are you up to in the handwork department? Let me know!

Happy stitching,

Gone to the Dogs: Choosing the Right Picture for a Fabric Pet Portrait

AmberStitch — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 07:55:00 GMT

I have to admit that when I first saw the new Quilting Arts Workshop^TM DVD/dowload "Fabric Postcard Pets" by Pauline Salzman I was a little dubious. But when I understood that I would be making little postcards of MY pets from favorite photos, that was a completely different story. I am all on board with that. Wouldn't that just knock the socks off friends and relatives if I could send them postcards of my fabric portraits of my fur kids? I think so!

Sunny, a show dog, is clearly a poser.
Chipper, a lap dog, has more use for napping.
This is the wallpaper on my husband's phone.

This got me to thinking of what pictures I would choose to transform into fabric mementoes. Naturally I have zillions of pictures of my dogs Sunny and Chipper, as does my husband. We don't have human children, and I am not ashamed to admit that both of us have our dogs as the wallpaper on our smart phones, rather than pictures of each other. To say that I have options would be an understatement.

Of course, I know that I could not stop at one picture. This would become a tremendous editing project just trying to winnow down to the perfect expression and position. I have shared a few options here, just so that you can fully understand my conundrum. I can see why a quick project like this would be appealing to beginner or expert sewers. After all, how hard can it be to sew a postcard? The real challenge is choosing the right picture.

Apparently, Pauline feels the same way about her canine friends, as she features her own dog in most of her postcards. And in the DVD/downlaod she shares her techniques of how to transform photographic images of your pets into fabric silhouettes and images, using a few simple machine sewing stitches and supplies. Find out more in the Sew Daily Shop.

Can you help me decide what pictures to stitch up? I would love to have some help!

Happy stitching!

Oh, Bamboo Point Turner! How I Love Thee!

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 29 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Simple in concept, yet oh, so wonderful--may I present the humble bamboo point turner.


Simply beautiful and perfectly designed, it's a bamboo point turner.

Knitting needles and pencils best kept for knitting and writing.

The rounded end is for round collars.

The pointed end makes crisp corners.

When a collar has to be turned, or the corners of cuffs or pillows need to be squared out, instructions will often note to "use a point turner or similar object such as a knitting needle, chopstick, or pencil eraser."

While I acknowledge that knitting needles, chopsticks, and pencil erasers all have their uses, for turning points, I am quite committed to using a point turner--and more specifically, my bamboo point turner.

Silky smooth, rounded on one end (for smoothing out curved seams), gently pointed on the other (for getting into those corners), this notion is possibly one of the simplest, yet most perfectly designed tools on my sewing table.

Yes, you can get into corners with a knitting needle. (And I am an avid knitter, so finding a knitting needle of any size is not a problem.) But knitting needles are round and don't fit corners well. Plus, the smaller sizes are just too pokey.

The chopsticks I've seen have thick, square ends. While they may be effective for stuffing polyfill into small spaces, they are not the best tool for turning.

Pencil erasers have all the issues of knitting needles (round) and chopsticks (too thick) plus the added problem of not being able to slide along the fabric.

When something that will make some sewing tasks pleasant also clocks in at under four dollars, I say go buy two!

For collars and cuffs-and other sewing projects with turnable points, check out the 30% off sale on all Interweave digital resources.

And--with a four dollar limit--what's your perfect notion? Let me know!

Happy stitching,

BurdaStyle Free Sewing Webinar

AmberStitch — Tue, 28 May 2013 15:49:00 GMT

Featured Live Webinar: Everything You Need to Know to Create DIY Fashion!

Back in April, our parent company F+W Media announced an exciting new partnership with Burda Style, a renowned fashion magazine and sewing community. Today, we’re excited to let you know that BurdaStyle.com is launching a new webinar series to help sewing enthusiasts of all levels enjoy the creation of highly tailored designer clothes. Read on to learn more:

Do you have a creative bug? Have you found a piece on Pinterest you’d love to have, but can’t find it anywhere? Do you swoon over those highly tailored designer clothes that are way out of your price range? Why not make them yourself?

Sewing is an empowering skill that lets you not only conceive your own look, but create beautiful clothes that fit you perfectly! If you’ve never stitched a stitch in your life, haven’t sewn in a while, or want to better understand basics like when to add a seam allowance or what fabric to use this webinar is for you!

Getting started can seem daunting, but we break it down for you and help with all of the essentials you need to succeed on your first try.

In this essential webinar BurdaStyle online editor, and sewing extraordinaire Meg Healy, will show you everything you need to start unleashing your inner seamstress. Get a look inside her sewing studio, ask her questions during the webinar, and learn the essentials you need to know to get started.

What You'll Learn

•    How to set-up your sewing space, and what tools you will need
•    The different types of sewing machines
•    How to use and read a sewing pattern
•    How to tell if you need a seam allowance and how to easily add one
•    Intro to different types of fabrics, and how much to buy for your project
•    Determining your size and measuring yourself
•    How to set-up a BurdaStyle profile and upload projects
•    Printing an assembling sewing pattern PDFs from BurdaStyle.com

Date: May 30th 2013
Time: 1:00pm EST
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: FREE

Happy Stitching!

Meeting Our Stitch People at Portland's Magical International Quilt Market

AmberStitch — Mon, 27 May 2013 07:49:00 GMT

International Quilt Market/Spring, held last week in Portland, Ore., was a very special event. First, Portland is a hub for the handmade crowd, and it's also a magical and quirky town. Plunk down the bustling Interntional Quilt Market in the midst of this, with mouthwatering fabrics and products, and you have quite a show on your hands.

Stitch contributing editors Susan Beal and Kevin Kosbab at the Modern Domestic party.
Contributing editors Linzee McCray, far left, and Kevin Kosbab, far right, with Jenny Gordy, Codi Josephson, and Greta Songe, from left to right, at Spring Quilt Market.
Kevin and I sit in the swan at the Michael Miller booth.

What made International Quilt Market/Spring even more special was that we had three contributing editors for Stitch (Susan Beal, Kevin Kosbab, and Linzee Kull McCray) and loads of Stitch artists on premise and we all had a chance to meet and walk the show and share our impressions ... face to face!. It was like a blue-moon event, but better and rarer.

International Quilt Market as always was overly stimulating and stuffed to the gills with artists, designers, vendors, and lots of gorgeous stuff you want to take promptly home to your sewing studio. We plan to do a big fabric story in an upcoming Stitch and I'm sure that I'll be sharing more of my impressions from Spring Market over the next few weeks, but equally amazing were all the conversations and events that surrounded Market. Portland artists were so gracious in opening their shops, studios and homes to visitors, and it added special warmth to the weekend. Plus, it made me realize how amazingly connected the Stitch community is.

On Friday evening, Sarai Mitnick of Colette Patterns, who was featured recently in Stitch, had an open studio featuring Amy Butler's fabrics, and it was the kind of sewing-celeb-studded party where one conversation was better than the next.

Simultaneously, Modern Domestic sewing studio was hosting an event by the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, which I hear was just as packed as Colette's. I can imagine because by the time I showed up there was still a bustling crowd. And on Saturday, the Modern Quilt Guild had another event near the convention center that was just as jam-packed. I can't tell you how utterly indulgent it felt to be able to share sewing chatter with others who are just as passionate.

With me being in Boston/New York, Kevin in Stockton, Calif., Susan in Portland, and Linzee in Iowa City, the likelihood of all of us being together at a show again is remote, but it was great while it lasted!

I wound up the weekend at Susan's lovely home, having a quiet dinner and sharing all the ideas that had been sparked by Market. What a way to wind down a whirlwind. I wish you could have been there!

For lots of projects and products to infuse with your latest sewing inspiration, check out the great 50% off gift card in the Sew Daily Shop.

Do you have a place where you can connect with other sewists and share creative energy? I would love to know!

Happy stitching!

Win a Year of Craft Video Tutorials from Craft Daily!

stitch magazine — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:59:00 GMT

Listen up! The recently launched Craft Daily is an awesome website with more than 100 hours of full-length craft video workshops and tutorials from world-class instructors on beading, crochet, jewelry, knitting, mixed media, quilting, sewing, spinning, and weaving.

New videos are being added every week and with a monthly or yearly subscription, you can watch as many videos as you like, as often as you like.

So many people are giving us such great feedback, and we want to reward our new audience with a sweepstakes.

Here's how it works:

Between now and June 6, 2013, enter to win a free year-long subscription.

On June 7, 2013, three winners will be chosen to receive a year-long subscription to Craft Daily, worth $200.

If the winner should already have an annual subscription to Craft Daily, they will get a second year free.

Enter now and get your chance at a year of crafting instruction!

That's Not a Sewing Machine! That's an Iron!

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT


My older daughter demonstrates today's principle while making a tablecloth. Step 1: Press before sewing.

Step 2: Sew.

Step 3: Press after sewing. Easy!

If you really want to learn how to use a sewing machine, I have an important tip for you. Set up your iron and ironing board close by. Everything--and I do mean everything--will look better, fit better, and stitch out more accurately if you press as you go along.

Carpenters use the phrase, "Measure twice. Cut once." A good mantra for all sewists would be, "Press twice. Stitch once."

Pressing your fabric before you start cutting is a must. And if you've pulled your pattern pieces from a tightly stuffed envelope, there's no shame is giving them a light once-over. (It's tough to pin and cut accurately using a rumpled pattern piece.) After stitching a few seams, it's a good idea to press the seam as it was sewn, and then (depending on the project) press the seam open or press the seam to one side.

When I first started sewing, I only pressed my projects at the very end--probably in anticipation of stitching up the hem.

I don't remember what article I read, or when the lightbulb went off in my head, but once I realized that pressing was a part of the sewing process, I never looked back.

My iron and ironing board (actually, it's a padded desk top) are now two steps from my sewing machine.

And while my iron doesn't always get the glory, I know that it should.

If you're looking for some simple, charming dresses to sew (and press!), check out I Am Cute Dresses.

How many steps do you walk to get from your sewing machine to your ironing station?

Happy stitching,

The New Stitch with Style Is Now Available!

AmberStitch — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:24:00 GMT

I am so excited to that share with you that the new special issue Stitch with Style 2013 is now available. The entire Stitch team has done a great job of creating this issue devoted entirely to fashion garments and accessories, and this is definitely a case where a picture says a thousand words. As with every issue, all patterns and full instructions are included. Just take a look at the gorgeous projects Stitch artists have created :


Cap Sleeve Cocktail Dress Gretchen Hirsch	Reversible Girl's Dress Melissa Stramel	High-Low Chevron Skirt Michelle Freedman


Dresden Bag Sara Lawson	Tie-On Collar Tina Lewis	Garden Party Fascinator Sheila Zent



Easy Kimono Sleeve Dress Charise Randell	Upholstery Swatch Clutch Lisa Polderman	It's a Cinch Belt Amanda Madden



*Stitch with Style* Available now!

I hope you enjoy sewing the projects as much as we enjoyed making this magazine. Check out Stitch with Style 2013 in the Sew Daily Shop!

P.S. I would love to know your favorite project!

Happy stitching!

Introducing Craft Daily!

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Two things are vital for my ongoing love affair with sewing--technical instruction and visual inspiration. Now both of these are available with one click of my mouse.

The new Craft Daily site is up and running--with streaming videos for sewists who want to improve their skills and be inspired to expand their sewing horizons. Craft Daily makes these videos available anytime and anywhere. Introducing your new sewing resource: CraftDaily.com.


Online education manager Laura Esposito gives a preview of how Craft Daily works. Watch it here.

Watch Tricia Waddell demonstrate helpful tips for garment sewing.

When I attend sewing workshops or take classes at my local shop, I always come away energized. I'm inspired to try new sewing techniques--and I also have been given the skills to move ahead successfully with more advanced projects.

Watching someone insert a zipper, hem an a-line skirt, or demonstrate an embellishment proves the old proverb that a picture is worth a thousand words.

When a technique is new or unfamiliar to me, I also find that I don't need to see it once. I may need to see it done three or four times--and, I'm not ashamed to admit it--ten or eleven times.

If you want to expand or enhance your skills, Craft Daily will bring all the sewing classes you would want to attend right to any of your devices with a strong internet connection (Mac, PC, iOS). Watch what you want and when you want.

You can also build a library of your favorite videos, so you can keep track of those you've seen and want to watch again. I've been meaning to brush up on some of my dormant quilting skills--I'd like to be able to free-motion quilt better than I do now. Attending some Craft Daily classes while I have my next project in front of me is sure to reduce my frustration and increase my free-motion skills!

Check out Craft Daily. Previews of each video are available so you can get a flavor of what each one offers. It's brand-new, so take a look.

Happy stitching,

P.S. Craft Daily is not just for sewists. Take a break from sitting at your machine to fine-tune your knitting skills, brush up on your collage techniques, or dip into jewelry making. With Craft Daily, you can expand your boundaries and bring talented artisans directly to your desktop.

To Save a Chair

AmberStitch — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:27:00 GMT

Last winter my friend Kitty and I used to walk every Sunday. We live in a beautiful, tree-lined neighborhood and strolling along, commenting on this house or that, provided us endless entertainment.

A seashell pink fabric
inscribed in French gave this
discarded heirloom new life.

As we approached a particularly well kept house one day, I noticed a complete table and chair set in the driveway--marked as a giveaway. While the chair seat pads were dated and worn, the table and chairs were in beautiful condition. The wood gleamed, the legs curved sweetly, and it was clear that this was a handmade set that had been much loved over the years. As if to put a point on that love, each chair had a set of hearts carved out of its back.

A light rain was starting to fall, and I panicked that it would shortly be ruined. I could not understand why someone would put such a lovely set, clearly a kind of family heirloom, out in the rain, but I could see that the sparkling and modern home had no place for sentimental pieces.

We practically ran home to get my car and drove back, hoping fervently that they would still be there. I needed just such a set for my place in Boston. And I had the perfect fabric to cover those worn seats. Some time back, my mother had given me several rolls of decorator fabric and one of them was delightful seashell pink inscribed with French seaside words.

My husband just rolled his eyes as we pulled into the driveway, but he helped unload the chairs and table and immediately set to work helping me to recover the seats. It turned out that he was quite handy with the staple gun and in no time, the chair pads were every bit as pretty as the rest of the set.

These days the set sits in the Stitch offices, known as "The Sewing Café", and it's always available for an impromptu tête a tête. I still wonder about the history of the set, but I am so glad that just a little imagination and some pretty fabric gave it a second life.

There are many kinds of heirlooms worth saving and making. To create some beautiful future heirlooms of your own (in the form of sweetly smocked and embroidered little girls' dresses), check out Sew Beautiful magazine.

Do you have a family heirloom that you gave new life? I would love to hear about it!

Happy stitching!

Staystitch? But I Want To Get Started!

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Last Saturday morning I ran through my errands efficiently because I had a fun sewing project that I was excited to start--a wrap coat in a bright Trenna Travis print (Michael Miller Fabrics). I'd been doing a lot of sewing for babies recently, so it was a treat to be doing some garment sewing in a woman's size again.


For a 5/8" seam, staystitch 1/2" from the cut edge.

Curved seam edges benefit from being staystitched before construction.

I took the time to cut out the outer coat and the lining in the same cutting session. Sometimes when I just want to start sewing some pieces put together I put off cutting out the lining until later. This time I even cut and fused the interfacing before I put in a new needle and wound the bobbin.

So I was raring to go. And then what's the first instruction? Staystitching. And lots of it.

Like priming the walls before you paint, staystitching is a necessary--but unseen--part of the sewing process.

What is staystitching, exactly? It's a line of stitching 1/8" inside the seamline on a single fabric layer that helps stabilize the fabric. For the coat I was working on, the staystitching went along the princess seams on the front and back, around the neck line of the coat, and the neck edge of the collar. Then repeat for the lining. Lots of staystitching....

So the question is: Is it really, really necessary? And the short answer is: Yes, it is.

In addition to keeping the fabric from stretching during construction, it also acts as a reinforcement stitch line if you need to clip any curved seams. If you are working with a more loosely woven fabric, it will help keep the fabric edges from pulling out of shape.

For all the time you will spend putting together your project, staystitching is a very small part. And once you commit to it, it's a fairly relaxing thing to do.

So, do add staystiching to your sewing repertoire. Your sweet, steady seams will thank you for it.

And if you're looking for a great gift for Mother's Day, check out the Craft Tree eBooks.

Have you embraced staystitching? I'd love to hear if you start with it or skip it.

Happy stitching,

I Owe It All To Mom

AmberStitch — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:43:00 GMT

With Mother's Day coming up, it got me to thinking about my own mother and how grateful I am to her for giving me a love of sewing. My mother is an exceptional seamstress, and I grew up in a home of several sewing machines, ranging from the fancy to the antique (a Singer treadle machine was converted to a vanity for my teen bedroom!)

My mother's childhood sewing machine.
My mom, around the time she was teaching me to sew.

When I think about all the patience my mother practiced when teaching me to sew, I can get a bit emotional. Only now at this point in my life can I really appreciate what it took for her to sit down with a determined, but impatient teenager and show me how to evenly gather a ruffle for a challenging summer top that I simply had to make in a gorgeous navy and white Hawaiian print. And how at almost midnight, when I was nearly in tears because I really wanted to wear that top the next day, she sagely advised me, "If your sewing is starting to make you cry, it's time to stop sewing."

That's the kind of advice that's useful in a wide variety of circumstances.

Sewing has bonded us our whole lives, and it is just between the two of us. Neither of my other sisters got the sewing bug. In fact, my mother mounted her childhood sewing machine on a block of wood and presented it to me (it really sews!). I keep it on the shelf in my office to remind me of that bond we share.

Sewing has given me limitless hours of pleasure, and I doubt I would have ever stitched a stitch, let alone the many garments I've made since that ruffled summer top, if not for her patient tutelage.

For loads of gifts and patterns you can give your mother, check out the Sew Daily Shop.

Did your mother teach you to sew? I would love to hear all about it!

Happy stitching!

What's with All the Sewing Gadgets?

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Walk into any sewing shop and you will see walls of sewing notions and accessories. And every year, more and more gadgets hit the market.


Expand this simple metallic gauge to get perfectly spaced buttonholes.

It takes up so little room!

Buttons right where you want them-- not where the pattern dictates.

Over the years I have accumulated more than my share of them. Which ones are truly worth investing in?

Here at Stitch magazine, we value good quality scissors, obviously. I also insist on marvelous pins and top-of-the-line handsewing needles.

After that, your projects will begin to dictate what sewing accessories will make your stitching experience more pleasant and/or less frustrating.

Here's a notion that I don't use every day, but when I am marking buttonholes on the front of a blouse or want to evenly space some pleats on a skirt, this is the tool I turn to: the Simflex expanding sewing gauge. This gauge really only does one thing--it measures equal distances accurately. That's it. But it does it so well, so quickly, and as a bonus, it's fun to use. Double Bonus: It doesn't take up much space when not being used.

Once I had this gauge, I no longer had to rely on the pattern's recommended buttonhole placement. I could set one of the gauge's points where I wanted my middle button, then easily expand or contract the gauge so that the top buttonhole was in the perfect place and--without any math at all--every buttonhole was spaced precisely. Delightful!

A lot of sewing notions have been around for centuries. To discover beautiful stitching tools and techniques from the past, check out Piecework magazine.

At workshops and classes, I always love to see what people pull out of their sewing kits. So, after the basics, what's one of your must-have notions?

Happy stitching!

Pomme Potholder, Spring 2013

Rose@Stitch — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:20:00 GMT

For the Pomme Potholders, please note the following correction:

Replace Step 16 with the following:

CREATE THE STEM

Step 16. Fold and press the Stem lengthwise, wrong sides together.
Press ¼" under the edges opposite the fold, then edgestitch.
Fold the Stem in half widthwise.

Try This Free eBook: Children's Sewing Patterns

AmberStitch — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:43:00 GMT

I am so excited to introduce you to the Sew Daily ebook Children's Sewing Patterns: 4 Free Sewing Patterns for Kids.

Bath Time Buddies by Lisa Cox
Springtime Bibs by Heidi Boyd
Loopy Elephant by Heidi Boyd

We have pulled together a collection of some of our most favorite children's sewing patterns to create an adorable quartet of projects. Children's patterns are often quick to stitch, and these items give you maximum cute for your efforts.

The Bath Time Buddies by Lisa Cox are cute animal wash mitts that will make bath time fun! Easily constructed from super-soft terry toweling, cotton fabric, and polar fleece, they can be sewn up in no time. Choose from three different animal variations for the perfect buddy.

The Springtime Bibs by Heidi Boyd are garden-inspired bibs that are almost too pretty for dinnertime! Plush organic terry makes a great absorbent backing and Velcro makes the bib easy to get on and off wiggly toddlers. Colorful bias tape frames the bib while holding the layers together.

The Loopy Elephant by Heidi Boyd boasts playful flapping ears that are studded with silky loops for little fingers to explore. Lovingly made with super-soft flannel and Minky fabrics, he's intentionally designed without detachable eyes to be a safe baby gift.

The Hilltop Drive Baby Quilt by Kevin Kosbab is the perfect gift for a toddler ready to move into his "big boy" room! With rolling hills and fusible appliqué inspired by a fun landscape print, this baby quilt can quickly come together in a weekend.

I hope you enjoy making and giving these treasure in Children's Sewing Patterns: 4 Free Sewing Patterns for Kids. Each is design to bring pleasure and make memories for the little ones in your life.

P.S. Be sure to forward this email to your friends so that they can get this eBook, too!

Happy stitching,

Amber Eden
Editor, Stitch magazine and Sew Daily

Do I Really Need to Interface? Really?

Rose@Stitch — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Recently, one of my daughter's friends used her Facebook page to put out a request for sewing information. "I'm new to sewing. I'm making a dress for myself, and the pattern says to interface. Do I really need to? It seems like it a lot of trouble."


Interfacing. Boring to look at... but using it will give you fabulous results!

Rather than respond, "YES! YES! YES! A THOUSAND TIMES, YES," I took a few moments to collect myself, and then more gently encouraged her to indeed, take the extra time to interface. It is a little extra effort, but the results are certainly worth it.

Those of you who already interface will not need much encouragement to continue doing so. You have experienced the crisper collars, the stable button bands, and the well-turned cuffs.

But if you have resisted interfacing, it may be for the following reasons:

1) It takes time. Yes, it does. But not that much time in comparison to the results. Your garments and projects will thank you for giving them the support they need.

2) I don't know what interfacing to use. It is overwhelming when you consider the options. Sew-in? Fusible? Knit? Woven? Lightweight? Heavyweight? And what exactly is fusible web? Your choice of interfacing will depend mainly on your fabric and what you want the interfacing to accomplish. When you're starting out, rely on a knowledgeable sales clerk and the pattern recommendations.

3) I'm not sure how to use it. The thing about sewing is that there is always something to learn--and plenty of people and places that are happy to help you. Your local shop, your friend's mom, books, YouTube, classes and workshops... the world is your educational oyster!

So, if you've not interfaced before, I hope you'll give it a try!

And for some inspiring projects and patterns, pre-order your copy of Stitch with Style--or digitally download it here.

And my question is, if you could only interface one thing on a garment, what would it be? Tough choice, eh? Let us know!

Happy stitching!

Tip for Beginning Sewists: Handsewing is your friend

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:18:00 GMT

When I was a beginning sewist, I avoided handsewing at all costs. If the fabric could be coerced under my machine's foot, that's where it went. Just recently, I began to change my ways. Why? Because sometimes, it is so much easier to handsew. So, so, so much easier.


Handstitching the binding to the inside was easier.

This baby jacket sleeve cap was meant to be handsewn.

Handstitching--it's not just for hems!

Want proof? Of course you do. Well, here it is.

Last weekend I was working on a small baby jacket, to fit a nine-month old. It's a fun and easy pattern with only three pieces--front, back, and sleeves. I added a lining so that it would be a bit warmer, and it also makes the inside look so nice. The edges are bound with bias tape. This pattern could not be easier.

The thing is, some of these areas are really tiny--the ends of the sleeves, for example. And some are just tricky to maneuver--such as setting in the lining sleeve.

After I wrestled with machine-stitching one side of the binding to the outside of the jacket sleeve, I got out my hand needle and handstitched the other side of the binding to the lining. It was far more relaxing--and actually took less time! For the lining, I pulled the jacket inside out, and pinned the lining sleeve cap to the jacket body. (I realized looking at that middle picture that I have a lot of random pins, and a fairly random method of pinning!)

Handstitching around the sleeve was a 10" sewing commitment. Two sleeves--20" total.

(Those of you who are really thinking this through may wonder why I didn't stitch the lining sleeve by machine, the same way I stitched the outer jacket sleeve to the jacket body. Good question! I wasn't paying attention for awhile, and got a step ahead of myself. Oh well.)

So, if you're looking at a tiny, tricky, or otherwise noodle-y bit of sewing, lift that presser foot and pull out your hand needle. You'll be glad you did.

And if you're looking for some inspiration for things to sew, you can pre-order the 2012 Stitch Collection.

I'm curious. When do you switch to handstitching--or do you avoid it at all costs? I'd love to know!

Happy stitching!

The Fabric Had Me at Hello

AmberStitch — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:16:00 GMT

I've had a lifelong love affair with fabric, and I really think that my love of fabric is what got me started sewing. As a beginning sewist, I would l wander the fabric store aisles with lust in my heart and big plans on my mind. I often bit off more than I could chew and had much more fabric than I could stitch up.

I have just one rule of fabric shopping:
I never pass up vintage bark cloth.

At a certain point, I had to be careful about walking into fabric stores because I just didn't have any more room for fabric.

But there always comes that time when the fabric lies in wait and springs on you when you least expect it. That's exactly what happened to me when I walked into an antique mall recently.

I was there scouting out a chair for a photo shoot. I found the chair, sent the images over to the art director, and waited to hear back.

That was some fateful time on my hands. I wandered into one corner of the house of treasures and there it was: a stack of vintage bark cloth, just looking at me like, "Hello."

Now, I have one rule about fabric: I never, never, EVER pass up vintage bark cloth. First of all, I just don't come across it that often. Second, I am a complete sucker for it. Whenever I see bark cloth, visions of scatter pillows and full, gathered skirts start dancing in my head.

You will be glad to know the restraint that I showed. The fabrics looked to be 1940s or 1950s upholstery swatches from a long-gone fancy showroom on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

I swear that fabric was stalking me. I had no choice. I only bought 3 panels and I have absolutely no idea what I will do with it.

For now, I'm just happy to look at it adoringly.

For plenty of patterns to use your favorite fabric on, check out the Spring Clearance Sale in the Sew Daily Shop, featuring tons of items 30% to 70% off.

Do you have a story of a fabric love affair to share? Do tell!

Happy stitching!

Sewing Gifts with a Sentimental Twist

Rose@Stitch — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:00:00 GMT

One of the best things about being handy with a sewing machine is being able to sew gifts for family and friends. And if you can throw in a little sentimentality with it, so much the better. Here's a little idea from something I made a few years ago for my mom and my sisters.


Our piano bench cover had a lot of memories--but also showed a lot of wear.

Making notebook covers preserved the good memories--and let us, literally, hold onto my mom's handiwork.

Let me set the stage for you. Growing up, my three sisters and I all took piano lessons. My mom had made a wonderful cover for the piano bench back in the day when crewel embroidery was all the rage. And though none of us were prodigies, we spent quite a bit of time sitting on the bench plinking out scales and bits of Mozart and Bach.

At some point, the linen wore through and parts of the embroidery ceased to exist. My mom bought some lovely upholstery fabric and I recovered the bench for her. I took home the sad little cover and put it in a drawer.

Years later, it occurred to me that although I couldn't bear to toss this worn textile out, it also didn't have much purpose languishing in the drawer. So I carefully washed it, assessed how much was salvageable, and decided to make little notebook covers for my family for Christmas. Even though no one had seen the bench cover for years, and each notebook had a very different look, they immediately knew that these were little bits of our family history. What fun!

If you need a little inspiration for gifts to sew for your family and friends, check out Mollie Makes Feathered Friends or The Artful Bird.

Sewists tend to be very generous people. I would love to hear about some of the gifts you've made--and the stories behind them.

Happy stitching!

How Could One Adorable Pattern Cause So Much Trouble?

AmberStitch — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:09:00 GMT

Not long after I started at Stitch, I received a note from a frantic reader. She was in the dead heat of making a baby swaddle for a newly arrived relative and she could not figure out the pattern instructions. I could just picture the situation because I have been there many times myself.

This adorable swaddle has
been one of our most popular patterns.

I quickly turned the query over to the technical editor, who spent 10 hours trying to determine the issue with the pattern, including actually taking the pattern home and sewing it from scratch herself. In the end it came down to a simple matter of reversing a pattern piece and we posted the correction on SewDaily.com.

The Stitch editorial team puts tremendous diligence into producing clear and accurate instructions because, being ardent sewists ourselves, we know just how frustrating it is to find a mistake in a pattern. If there is a reader query on a pattern, we make it a point to respond asap. We do that because we've all been there, stitching our way to a deadline, only to be stopped in our tracks by a mistake in the instructions.

Back to the baby swaddle. It is a very popular pattern--with good reason, because it's adorable. Like clockwork every few months, we get another frantic email, from an aunt or grandmother or sister, and the baby swaddle strikes again! We direct that person to the corrections page and avert a crisis. But one day Rose, Eliane, and I got to talking, and we realized that many readers may not know about the corrections page.

We would like to be perfect, but sometimes we do make mistakes and that's what the corrections page on SewDaily.com is for (located under the Magazines tab.) We recommend checking there if you have a concern with a pattern. (You can still write to us, too. We like to hear from you!)

I want to add that I have a new nephew who is of swaddling age, and I plan to make that darling swaddle, too. Stay posted for the finished product!

For many more adorable children's patterns, please check out Sew Beautiful magazine.

What do you do when you can't figure out instructions for a sewing pattern? I would love know.

Happy stitching!