-
Because I see the sewing space as a very special place where I create, I like to fill that space with items that put me in a creative state. That includes items from my childhood. The richness of memories that certain objects invoke makes me feel nurtured and creative. This basket holds a thousand memories...
-
If there is one overriding peril of being a "dog-person," it is the extensive damage that needle-sharp puppy teeth can do to furniture. Indeed, one particularly energetic puppy named Chipper managed to chew through 4 chairs, 4 table legs, and the corner of a console in a very short period of...
-
I love the concept of upcycling: turning something old and useless into something beautiful and useful. I have taken worn but well-made vintage garments and transformed them, either whole cloth or in bit by lovely bit. How to upcycle a caftan sweater? However, it's one thing to give new life to a...
-
I am delighted to introduce our latest free eBook: Upcycling Ideas: 3 Free Sewing Projects for Refashioning and Upcycled Clothes . We know that you adore refashioning well-loved garments into something new and stylish, along with upcycling discarded objects into something useful and beautiful, so I am...
-
Fall is right around the corner, and Mary Walter, Technical Editor of Stitch came up with an innovative project that everyone is talking about. In fact, friend and colleague Cate Prato liked it so much she blogged about it on our sister site ClothPaperScissors.com . After hearing all the positive feedback...
-
When I was asked to choose five favorite sewing books from the Hurt Book Sale, I knew it was going to be a tough decision. But I have finally winnowed it down to five. Here are my picks: 1) The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques: Essential Step-by-Step Techniques for Professional...
-
Sewists are a passionate group. Who else could get so excited about a new line of spring fabrics or an easy way to adapt a pattern? And we love to pass on our passion to others. In fact, I bet most of you learned how to sew from your mom, grandmother, aunt, or an enthusiastic teacher. To celebrate National...
-
Have you ever wondered how you can take one garment and transform it into another? There you are looking at your closet at, say, a mega-shouldered designer jacket that you inherited and you know it cost a mint, but it will never see the light of day in its current state. While shoulders are back, they...
-
One of the biggest discoveries that I made about commercial sewing patterns was that I didn't have to stick to the pattern. I could change it. I was sewing for years before I learned this valuable lesson. I wanted to sew the fashions that I saw in the magazines, and I couldn't always find these...
-
Hooded Baby Towel made with organic terry cloth by Katie Himmelberg. The Odekake Tote by Ayumi Takahashi is a great example of Japanese design influences. Alissa Haight Carlton's Yellow Pop quilt shows off modern quilting style. Contemporary Sewing Trends Over the last three years of Stitch , we've...
-
White linen dress before refashioning. Finished front and back (inset) of dress with ribbon embellishments. Projects from Customizing Cool Clothes . Clockwise from top left: Flower Tank, Beaded Flower Blouse, Pink Jewel Sweater, Glamorous Party Skirt. Refashionista Last month, I took a week off and had...
-
I love making lists, and I love seeing other people's lists of the top this and that. There is something very satisfying about having someone else do the legwork for you, wade through the clutter, and highlight things you might like. So here are my Top 10 favorite products for sewists from our online...
-
As part of my ongoing commitment for 2010 to buy no new clothes, and instead sew new items or refashioning clothes from my closet, I went hunting through my closet recently and identified three dresses for refashion makeovers. In this project diary, you'll see what I did with the first dress, a simple...
-
As the editor of Stitch , I have the incredible pleasure of working on a publication that celebrates my passion for sewing. If there has been any downside at all, it's that I'm often working on the magazine when I want to actually be sewing. And being the Type A person that I am, I've been...