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Basting Stitch (Machine)

Using the longest straight stitch length on your machine, baste to temporarily hold fabric layers and seams in position for final stitching. It can also be done by hand. When basting, use a contrasting thread to make it easier to spot when you're taking it out.

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  • An Upcycled Sewing Pattern for Denim Pockets
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  • Summer 2013 Call for Submissions is Now Live!
    Start dreaming up projects for the Summer 2013 "Details, Details" issue of Stitch tonight! Visit the Sew Daily site and download the Summer 2013 Call for Submissions!
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  • Learn a New Sewing Technique--Just for Fun
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  • Online Extra for Stitch Winter 2012 "Pillow Fight:" A Date with Design
    A note from Amber: Here is a little more background on designer Anna Bondoc, who created the fabric designs for our authors' pillow challenge . Their mission: to make three distinct pillows from Anna's custom fabrics: Designer Anna Bondoc Artist
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  • Sewing Embellishments: 3 Free Patterns Using Embroidery, Applique, and Other Fabric Embellishment Techniques
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  • First Sewing Steps: How to Make Roman Shade Curtains
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  • Stitch Winter 2012: What's Not to Love About Sewing Accessories?
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  • Learn New Embellishment Techniques from Quilting Arts TV, Series 1000
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  • A Tip to Improve Your Skills--Play!
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  • ATC Card from Vivika
    Summer is the perfect time to take a break from the usual routines of daily life and make time for art. An afternoon at the beach with a sketchbook, a week at an art retreat, and a visit to some local (and not-so-local) museums are all on my short list of goals, but in reality, I only have a few hours
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  • Use Up Your Vintage Button Collection
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  • Free Home Sewing Projects eBook!
    We found our sewing for the home eBook to be so popular that we have updated it, offering some old favorites, along with some new patterns that are sure to get you even more inspired to sew accessories for your home. Make your own fruity, fresh fabric
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  • Sewing Techniques--Two Ways to Make a Gusset
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  • Summer 2012- Convertible Beach Towel-Bag by Ali Winston (pg. 133)
    The template for the handle tabs was omitted from the pattern insert used in step 7. The tab template is included in this pdf :
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  • Tips for Sewing Buttons on Handknits
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  • The Best Kept Secret on Your Sewing Machine
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  • Sewing for the Home: Adding Dimensions to Your Quilts
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  • Shopping for Props for Stitch Spring 2013
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  • A Tip to Keep Your Sewing Supplies Under Control
    How many rotary cutters do you own? I have nine. All these rotary cutters. Why? Eight of my fifteen seam rippers. Yikes! And, at last count, I also own fifteen seam rippers. A little silly, isn't it? (In my defense, I do product testing and haven't
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  • Share Your Sewing Story and Enter to Win Sewing Prizes
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  • Top Sewing Tip from the Sew Daily Archives: My Favorite Trick for Cutting Bias Strips
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  • A Lining Trick from the Industry
    One of the last projects I worked on in my patternmaking class at FIT was a women's vest, and I dreaded it because as with everything else, we had to draft the pattern This is the vest we had to make. and make a sample, but we were given very few
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  • Make This the Summer You Learn How to Sew
    Last year I had the honor of teaching a beginner sewing class for adults who had never sewn before in their lives. Learning about bobbins--Day 1 of bootcamp. Finished Tote--with gusset! This was not a refresher course for lapsed Girl Scouts and 4-H members
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  • New Free Projects! Get Your Free Sewing Accessories eBook Today
    Accessories are some of the best projects to make. Consider the pluses: 1) Accessories are QUICK TO MAKE! 2) Great way to update and refresh the wardrobe! 3) Little or NO FITTING required! So really, what's not to love about making accessories? We've
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  • Fast and Fabulous Bags
    Top: Calendar Patchwork Tote, designed by Susan Wasinger. Bottom: Mudcloth Tote, designed by Zelda Grant. I love sewing a pretty tote for the summer. A basic tote pattern is so quick and simple to make, and the embellishment becomes part of the fun. I
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  • My Top 5 Must-Reads from the Hurt Book Sale
    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
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  • Spring 2013 Call for Submissions Now Live!
    The Spring 2013 call forsubmissions is now live! Click here to download. Can't wait to see what you submit!
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  • Loads of School-Themed Goodies in Stitch Fall 2012
    One of my favorite sections from Stitch Fall 2012 is the School Days section. It's filled with school-themed gifts that you can make for and with children, as well as a gift that thou both can make for their teachers. Here are a few of my favorites
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  • Stitch, Fall 2012
    Revel in the cool, crisp days of the fall season with Stitch , Fall 2012. Enjoy stunning projects ranging from garments and accessories to home accents and fabulous décor.
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  • My Favorite Slipcover Sewing Tips from the New Stitch Workshop Video
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  • We're Throwing a Quilting Modern Blog Party!
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  • Try a Little Trapunto Quilting on Your Next Pillow Project
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  • How I Learned to Create a Simple Patchwork Project
    Until I developed a patchwork project for Stitch Summer 2012, I had literally never done any patchwork sewing. But I was lucky to have someone on the Stitch team, (Mary Walter, our technical editor) who is a quilting whiz and could teach me how to do
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  • FREE Children's Pattern + Little Details in Children's Clothing
    By the time I've put in a zipper, carefully sewn some buttonholes, and stitched the hem in place, I'm usually ready to wave the iron over the project and move on to something new. (Or more realistically, move on to another somewhat-started, halfway
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  • Pattern Weights vs. Pins!
    People have all sorts of strong feelings about pins in sewing. Some swear by pin basting, and some don't ever use pins at all--to protect the fabric and save time. I prefer to take a softer stance, and I do whatever fits the project. But if you are
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  • There's So Much to Learn About Sewing Pillows
    I was on the set of a video shoot with Stitch author Kevin Kosbab last week. We were making a Stitch Workshop video that was mostly about pillows, and I was truly amazed at all of the tricks Kevin, on set, has a chopstick among his arsenal of pillow sewing
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  • Sew Faster without Pins!
    I just finished working on a Stitch Workshop video with Jil Cappuccio, who owns a great shop for handmade clothing in Denver, Colo., called SEWN. The delightful Jil sews all of the colorful clothes that she sells in her shop. When we Jil Cappuccio, shown
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  • Make Your Projects Look Perfect Every Time With Basting
    I studied haute couture sewing techniques for several years at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and I had brilliant teachers who were working professionals. I would love to say that I remember all the amazing techniques I learned
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  • My Smiley Mug Still Makes Me Smile!
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  • Roll-Up Seed Saver Pattern Available on Sew Daily site
    Correction: Summer 2012 Roll-Up Seed Saver Pattern Available as Download The Stitch Summer 2012 Roll-Up Seed Saver project was not indicated as a downloadable pattern in the magazine. It is available as a downloadable pattern at the following web address
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  • Stitch a Secret into a Little Girl's Dress
    Children's garments are so much fun to sew-for so many reasons. Add a secret facing to a child's dress. This cotton print makes a charming facing. First, since they are small, almost inevitably they turn out very cute. Second , they don't
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  • Introducing Stitch Assistant Editor Rosemarie DeBoer
    Rosemarie (a.k.a. "Rose) is the eagle-eye assistant editor who joined the Stitch staff a few months ago. She relocated to Boston from Chicago and can answer just about every question about Stitch Assistant Editor Rosemarie DeBoer sewing that you
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  • Add (Almost) Invisible Support to Your Blouse
    I recently had to make a blouse pattern for my patternmaking class. The blouse had a yoke and the professor said that to provide extra support in the yoke, you could cut 2 pieces. (FYI: The yoke is the separate piece you see often across the back top
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  • The Coolest Trick Ever for Sewing a Pillow
    I just learned the most amazing tip for sewing a pillow from Modern Patchwork 2012 . Hanging Flags by Melissa Lunden in Modern Patchwork 2012 Whenever I make a pillow, I always get extra-pointy, floppy corners that look like dog ears. It completely baffles
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  • Sewing Tricks for Beginners
    Just because you are a beginner sewist doesn't mean that you have to settle for amateurish garments. As a beginner, I found that it's the little touches that make all the difference in how polished and expensive a handmade garment looks I made
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  • Sleeve Plackets Made Simple
    At one time, just the thought of making a sleeve placket made me shudder. I will gladly put 100 hours into a couture tailored suit--just don't ask me to make a sleeve placket for a blouse ... or read instructions on how to do it. But you know how
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  • Add Some '40s Flounce to Your Blouse
    You can take a plain mandarin collar blouse from blah to adorable in just a few minutes with some easy pattern drafting. Here's how: 1) Draw a straight line on the front bodice from the mid-shoulder to a point on the center-front that is about 3 inches
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  • Sneak Peek! Lace—Magical, Often Mysterious
    We have a guest this week! Below, Jeane Hutchins, editor-in-chief of PieceWork magazine gives us a sneak preview of the May/June 2012 PieceWork : Learning about some of the people from the past who encouraged the development of various types of lace or
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  • Extra! Extra! Get Slim Support for Knit Garments
    I recently came up with a neat trick for dealing with a knit garment that I was making with a pattern for woven garments. The fabric was wayyyyy too stretchy for my liking, especially at the waistline, shoulders and sleeve edges, and stay-stitching alone
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  • Free Collection of Hand Sewing Stitches, Techniques, and Patterns
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  • Keep Your Waistline from Drooping
    For any dress that has a bodice and a skirt, I like to add a waist stay to keep the waistline from drooping. Recently, I was working on a knit dress that was gorgeous, but droopy at the waist, and needed some support. A stay is basically a grosgrain ribbon
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  • Add a Pretty and Secure Edge with a Pickstitch
    I prefer to put in a zipper by hand. Closures are so critical to the look of a garment, and I just like the result I get when putting the zipper manually. That's how I fell in love with the pickstitch. I'm sure you've seen the pickstitch on
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  • Stitch Summer 2012 Now Available!
    Many of you have been writing to ask me when you can get your copy of Stitch Summer 2012, and I am so excited to let you know that this sunny issue is now available! Now that we are all starting to get a taste of warmer weather, the 34 projects in this
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  • The New Quilting Modern Book Rocks!
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  • Loving Modern Patchwork
    I mentioned a few posts ago that I am fast turning into a "crossover quilter" with all the exposure that I am getting from the quilting editors in my office. Well, I have gotten a look at Modern Patchwork 2012, and I think that I will be definitely
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  • Stitch, Summer 2012
    Usher in sunny days with Stitch , Summer 2012! With 34 fresh projects inspired by the outdoors, from gardening and flowers to the seashore and natural linen, you’ll find projects and accessories for outdoor living, wardrobe, and home décor−plus adorable gifts to make for your kids
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  • How to Keep Your Garments from Sagging
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  • Make Your Space Sew-Inspired
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  • I am a Crossover Quilter
    I have to be truthful here. I have never been much of a quilter, although I come by the art honestly. My great-grandmother created intricate handstitched quilts that are family heirlooms to this day, and my grandmother was just as much of an artist with
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  • Pass On Your Passion for Sewing - And You Could Win
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  • Send us your ideas for the Winter 2012 issue!
    The deadline is looming and we are looking for projects for the Winter 2012 issue. Get inspired this weekend and send us your project ideas by Monday, March 12. For more information, see the submission guidelines . Can't wait to see what you send
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  • Send us your ideas for the Winter 2012 issue!
    The deadline is looming and we are looking for projects for the Winter 2012 issue. Get inspired this weekend and send your project ideas! Project proposals are due on March 12. For more information, see the submissions guidelines ! Looking forward to
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  • Correction: Summer 2012 Flower-Power Reversible Project Pattern Available as Download
    The Stitch Summer 2012 Flower-Power Reversible Purse project was not indicated as a downloadable pattern in the magazine. It is available as a downloadable pattern at the following web address: http://www.sewdaily.com/media/p/6219.aspx . It can also be
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  • Make a Down-and-Dirty Muslin, Really!
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  • So Excited About Stitch Summer 2012!
    I have to take a break from all the how-to posts to let you know how much I love the Stitch Summer 2012 issue, from the cover to everything that's inside. Granted, I am a little biased, but I think you'll agree once you get a gander at what's
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  • Add an Arty Insert to a Flared Skirt Pattern
    Last week, I posted about turning a straight skirt into a flirty skirt for spring . Now I want to take it a step further and add an arty insert to that flared skirt. Yep, you guessed it, more cutting up patterns. Now that's my idea of fun! It's
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  • Take My Advice: Tips for Cutting Slippery Fabrics
    I can be a pretty stubborn person sometimes, and even though I will hear about a great tip for sewing, I will resist trying it until I absolutely have to resort to changing my ways. Place paper beneath charmeuse to cut. Last weekend, I was working on
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  • What to Do with a Gorgeous Piece of Fabric
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  • Draft a Flirty, Flared Skirt for Spring
    Trace your pattern piece and transfer markings. Fit is everything in sewing and if you have a straight skirt pattern that you have altered to fit you perfectly, there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. You can turn that straight skirt into any number
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  • Stitch Winter 2012 Call for Submissions Now Live!
    Calling all Stitch fans! The Winter 2012 Call of Submissions is now live . Check it out and send your great project ideas in!
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  • Create a Clever and Pretty Nametag Pouch
    Being creative is all about the finishing touches and having the very best nametag pouch ever is definitely a great finishing touch, as well as very practical. Create an embellished nametag pouch by Susan Brubaker Knapp from the Quilting Arts TV 900 series
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  • I Love Zakka!
    I just love it when an overarching design principle is expressed within a craft, which is exactly what happens in "I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistible Zakka Projects to Sew" by Rashida Coleman Hale. "I Love Patchwork" by Rashida Coleman
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  • Great Tips for Sewing with Faux Fur
    People tend to shy away from sewing with faux fur because they assume that it is just too difficult to manage. But faux fur garments usually have simple lines, with no darts and little fitting. So before you avoid sewing with faux fur, read these tips
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  • Create Your own Fabric Designs with Shibori
    I am always looking for new sources of inspiration and lately I have been trolling in Quilting Arts magazine . I recently found this fabulous article on shibori, resist painting, by Jeannie Palmer Moore in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of Quilting
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  • The Shape of Clothes to Come
    I love garments that can be worn in more ways than one. There's just something so ingenious about about a design that can take several shapes. That's why I'm such a huge fan of S hape Shape: Sewing Clothing Patterns to Wear Multiple Ways
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  • Make a Quick and Pretty Fabric Bracelet
    Getting in touch with your craft everyday can be a challenge, but here is an easy and stylish fabric bracelet from Pat Sloan that also (yeah!) uses up extra fabric scraps and pieces of bias strips.. This is a great way to add some zip to your wardrobe
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  • Take a Peek Behind the Scenes at the Stitch Photo Shoot
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  • Spring Stitch is Here!
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  • Choose Your Restyling Weapon Wisely
    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
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  • Corrections: Stitch, Spring 2012
    For the Baby Layette set by Marcia Van Oort (shown on page 50), please note these updates to the instructions (pages 100-101): Step 12: Change 3/16" to 3/8" Step 21: Change 3/16" to 3/8" Step 23: In the fourth sentence, change the
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  • Take Back Your Sewing Studios!
    How many stay-cations have I sworn to spend cleaning my closet once and for all, exploring those mystery boxes in the attic, or some other noble endeavor. As if. But on a recent winter holiday I vowed that I would finally unpack my sewing supplies and
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  • Top Sewing Pattern Posts of 2011
    Looking back over the past year of blog posts, there have been great articles about sewing patterns. I was scrolling through the selection to see what I could curate for a sewing pattern blog post round-up, and I was very impressed by the offerings. It
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  • Stitch, Spring 2012
    The Spring issue of Stitch will jumpstart you into spring! With 36 fresh projects for outdoor living, wardrobe accessories, and home dec-plus several adorable gifts to make for your favorite babies!-Stitch Spring is bursting with the ideas, techniques, and inspiration that will help you welcome back
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  • My Favorite Trick for Cutting Bias Strips
    I am a huge fan of slipcovers, mostly because I own two massive golden retrievers who think they are lap dogs. Not only can you wash slipcovers--you can also change the look of a room in just a few minutes. As a result, I have become pretty good friends
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  • Sewing Perfect Plaids
    Have you ever walked behind someone who is wearing a really well-made plaid jacket and marveled at the perfect matching of the plaid pattern across the seamlines? If you've ever tried to sew with plaids, you would also know that this isn't so
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  • Make a Quick Lavender Trivet
    Sometimes I just want to make something really simple. No patterns. Nothing complicated. Just fast little thing that I can turn out in a couple of hours. Maximum satisfaction, with minimum fuss. This lavender trivet project from the Stitch Spring 2010
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  • Make Your Own Patterns
    Copy your favorite dress and remake it! I've had two posts recently on patternmaking: Cut Up Your Patterns and Your Clothes and The Seven Patternmaking Tools I Would Take to a Deserted Island . And now maybe you are ready to dive into the deep end
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  • Submit a project to Stitch Fall 2012!
    Just a quick note to remind everyone that the Call for Submissions for Stitch Fall 2012 is now posted. We would love to have you submit a project! Happy Holidays and New Year!
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  • The 7 Pattern Making Tools I Would Take to a Deserted Island
    In my recent blog post, Cut Up Your Patterns and Clothes , I wrote about how to make basic alterations to a blazer pattern to give it a more cropped and feminine silhouette. There are some very important and essential tools, in my opinion, to have in
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  • Create Beautiful Pillows with Unusual Design Techniques
    Note from Amber: Pokey Bolton, host of "Quilting Arts TV", has written a wonderful post about her on-set visit with fiber artist Margaret Applin, stocked with great tips on using surface design for home décor projects. You'll love
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  • Embellish Away!
    Embellish Away! One of my favorite things to do is to hit yard sales (or tag sales, as they call them on the East Coast) in search of vintage sewing supplies. I've found precious caches of patterns, fabrics, and even a dress form or two. But by and
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  • Cut Up Your Patterns and Clothes
    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
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  • Make a Quick Beaded Sweater for a Holiday Gift
    When it comes to making a quick handmade gift for someone, there is nothing easier and more satisfying than beading. Think of it: You take a ready-made object (a sweater, top or fabric clutch) and make it all sparkly and beautiful. I studied beading embroidery
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  • Seeing is Learning in Sewing
    I have always found it to be so much easier to learn by watching when it comes to sewing. Maybe that's the reason that I've spent years studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Over the years, I've learned draping
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  • My Life in Studios
    You could call me a little obsessed with sewing spaces and studios. And mine have run the gamut, from minimalist to downright lavish. Growing up, I used my grandmother's Singer (you know, the kind that folds away inside a table). It was tucked into
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  • Be Your Own Photographer
    Whenever I go to a magazine photo shoot, I always say to myself, "In my next life, I want to be a photographer." I think it's just incredible all the details that go into making a great photo: the cameras and lenses, the lighting, the editing
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  • My Favorite Sew Daily Shop Things
    I am so happy to be on board as the new editor of Stitch magazine and SewDaily.com . I've been sewing all my life and am a great admirer of Interweave's products. What perfect timing that there's a big sale just as I join Stitch and Sew Daily
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  • Fabric Design Made Easy
    Learn How to Make Your Own Fabric Designs A recent afternoon spent trying to organize my sewing studio confirmed a long-held suspicion I’ve had: my fabric stash is slowly taking over my house. I have fabric stored everywhere—cupboards, shelves
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  • Meet our New Editor + Free Easy Sewing Projects
    Sewing Basics and Easy Sewing Projects for Beginners A Note from Helen Gregory , Managing Editor of Interweave's Quilt, Paper & Sewing Group: I'm thrilled to introduce the new Editor for Stitch magazine and the Sew Daily community, Amber Eden
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  • Simple Modern Sewing Works for Everyone
    Generation Simple Modern We surveyed a whole team of fashion-loving women to see if the pretty styles in Simple Modern Sewing work for everyone. They do! Here in the book department at Interweave, we covet every Japanese sewing book that comes our way
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  • Stress-Free Holiday Sewing
    Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Sewing Monogrammed Fabric Gift Tags by Marlene Blessing Sewing gifts for loved ones is my favorite activity leading up to the holidays. I look forward to selecting the fabric and embellishments, sewing each gift, and imagining
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  • 5 Free eBooks to expand your sewing skills
    Just in time for the holidays! Celebrate the season with the creative possibilities of fabric and thread. Here we have tons of beautiful ideas, inspiring patterns, expert tips and unique techniques from the experts at Sew Daily and Quilting Daily—
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  • Where Did You Learn How To Sew?
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  • Stitch Gifts, 2011
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  • Stitch, Winter 2011
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  • Set the Table with an Easy Patchwork Project
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  • Stitch, Winter/Spring 2011
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  • Ribbon Embellishment—A Strong Fashion Trend
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  • Stitch, Fall 2011
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  • Add Texture with Beading: Tips from a Pro
    If you want to add texture and interest to a cuff, a collar, or an accessory, one of the quickest ways is to add embellishments like beading or embroidery.
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  • Stitch, Spring 2010
    This 148-page super special issue has 37 fantastic sewing projects for Spring! The theme is Sew Original and inside you'll find exclusive patterns, projects for kids, current trends, and much more! This 148-page super special issue has 37 fantastic sewing projects for Spring! The theme is Sew Original
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  • Button Crazy
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  • Sewing Patterns for the New Generation
    My daughter Meredith, 15, has just started taking sewing lessons, and she has caught on quickly. The first week she made two pillow cases. The second week she moved right along to a skirt
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  • Sewing Fabric Guide—Free eBook
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  • Modern Mix Blog Tour
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  • Explore Texture with the Winter Issue of Stitch!
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  • Fresh Contemporary Sewing Patterns
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  • Stitch, Gifts 2011
    ON THE COVER: Drawstring Gift Bags features sew gifty Nicole Smith Our guide to the perfect sewing sewing tools and supplies to give (and get)! a stress-free handsewn holiday Marlene Blessing Great ideas to make gift sewing fun doable projects sew festive
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  • Quick Projects for Easy Gifting
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  • Sewing Zippers Made Easy
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  • The Right Sewing Supplies = Machine Quilting Success
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  • Preview the Winter 2011 issue of Stitch!
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  • Create a Stylish Wardrobe with 8 Easy Sewing Patterns
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  • Stitch It Up with Machine Embroidery
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  • Sew Wild Blog Tour with Alisa Burke
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  • Easy Sewing Techniques for Sheer Fabrics
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  • Sewing Trends in Designs, Techniques, and Supplies + StashBuster Sale
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  • Stitch, Winter 2011
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  • Create Your Fall Sewing To-Do List
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  • Stitch, Fall 2010
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  • Tips for Organizing Fabric and Sewing Supplies
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  • A Private Sewing Lesson with Liesl Gibson!
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  • Learning by Doing: Follow Along with a Free Project!
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  • Gear Up For Fall Sewing with a Free Project!
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  • Freebie Friday: Timeless Treasures fabric!
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  • Sewing the Perfect Summer Dress
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  • Bits of Thread Sewing Studio in Washington, D.C.
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  • Studio Organization Tips from Genevieve Gorder!
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  • Drawing With Your Bobbin!
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  • Stitch, Fall 2009
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  • Crafting Crossovers
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  • Freebie Friday: Amy Butler's Must-Have Pillows!
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  • Spice Up Your Next Project with Creative Machine Stitching!
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  • 3 Easy Ways to Customize a Skirt Pattern!
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  • Tips and Tricks for Easy Darts
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  • Sew Heavy
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  • Freebie Friday: Sewing In a Straight Line by Brett Bara!
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  • Meet Brett Bara, author of Sewing in a Straight Line
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  • Sewing in Color
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  • Make One-of-a-Kind Fabric with Our Newest eMag!
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  • Textile Arts Center Expands to Manhattan
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  • Use Up Scraps with a Quick Selvedge Pincushion!
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  • Freebie Friday: Coats & Clark Thread!
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  • Free Stuff and Sewing Spaces Revealed
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  • Sew Cute Dress Patterns
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  • Play with Patchwork and Get 20% Off ePatterns!
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  • Freebie Friday: Amy Butler Sandlewood Jacket Pattern!
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  • Preview the Fall 2011 Issue of Stitch!
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  • Introducing Our First Stitch Workshop DVD!
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  • Stitch, Fall 2011
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  • Hand Embroidery Made Easy
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  • Exclusive Q&A with Flirt Skirts Authors Patti Gilstrap and Seryn Potter
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  • Sewing Techniques from the Past
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  • Freebie Friday: Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques!
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  • Five Free Projects in the New Sewing for the Home eBook
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  • Sew Appliques on Knits in a Snap!
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  • 7 Tips on Combining Machine + Hand Stitching
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  • Freebie Friday: OLFA rotary cutters!
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  • New Summer Sewing ePatterns Have Arrived!
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  • Sew Something for Dad This Father's Day
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  • Growing Up Sew Liberated Blog Tour
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  • Project Submissions Call for Stitch Spring 2012
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  • The Next Generation: Mother-Daughter Sewing Teams
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  • Corrections: Stitch, Summer 2011
    Cat House (project instructions page 135) The Roof Panel measurement should read 14 1/4" x 17 1/2" (not 4 1/4" x 17 1/2").
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  • Indie Pattern Companies
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  • Customizing Bag Sewing Patterns
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  • Freebie Friday: Sew Tina! and Girl's World
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  • Paper Piecing for Perfect Patchwork
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  • Traveling Costumes and 1001 Inventions
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  • Tips on Sewing for Kids Plus a FREE Project!
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  • Freebie Friday: Thermoweb notions!
    Happy Friday stitchy friends and welcome to another entry of Freebie Friday! This week we're giving away a pile of fun notions from Therm-O-Web. This prize package will include: - Heat n Bond Lite iron-on adhesive. This heat-activated adhesive has
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  • Pillows From All Angles
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  • Spring Quilt Market 2011
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  • Design Your Own Fabric That's Good Enough to Eat!
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  • Stripped Down Patchwork Blog Tour: Day 2
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  • Freebie Friday: Charm Clutch pattern by Amy Butler
    Happy Friday stitchy friends and welcome to this week's Freebie Friday! This week we're giving away a sewing pattern: the Charm Clutch by Amy Butler, which includes both clutch, handbag, and shoulder bag styles. This elegantly proportioned charming
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  • Break Out of a Sewing Rut with Artful Stitches
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  • Find Sewing Inspiration at Museums Around the Globe
    Every time my mother comes to visit me, she always asks what exhibits are going on in the city so that she can see a part of sewing and fashion history herself. I then have to go on a quest to find information about museums across the NYC area, combing
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  • Personalized Gift Tags to Make in a Snap!
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  • Freebie Friday: The Printed Pattern by Yvonne and Rebecca Drury
    Happy Friday everyone and welcome to another round of Freebie Friday! This week we're giving away a copy of The Printed Pattern:Techniques and Projects for Inspired Printmaking and Surface Design by Yvonne Drury and Rebecca Drury. The Printed Pattern
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  • Spring Sale on Sewing Inspiration!
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  • Freebie Friday: Modern Log Cabin Quilting by Susan Beal
    Happy Friday everyone, and welcome to this week's Freebie Friday giveaway! This week we're giving away a copy of Modern Log Cabin Quilting by Susan Beal. Susan outlines the entire process from start to finish, including basic quilting how-to as
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  • Customize Your Fabric with DIY Freezer-Paper Stencils
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  • Nicole's Favorite Sewing Inspiration Websites
    In honor of the feature in the summer issue of Stitch on the huge impact of the web on the contemporary sewing world ( Connected! Sewing in a Digital World by Elaine Lipson, Stitch Summer 2011), we are featuring a blog series in which Stitch editors and
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  • 6 Handy Tips for De-Cluttering Your Sewing Space
    Sewing Room Organization My sewing space along the wall in my Denver loft. One of the key things I have realized over the years is that the way my sewing space is set up completely affects how much sewing I accomplish. Based on the space available I've
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  • Sew a Gift for Mom
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  • Asymmetrical Skirt Sew-Along Update
    I whipped up the asymmetrical skirt and here is the result! Overall the skirt is pretty easy to make, but it does have a few tricky elements. Revisiting a sewing pattern from our first issue of Stitch was challenging for me because I know how much we
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  • Freebie Friday: Handmade Nation DVD
    Happy Friday, and welcome to this week's Freebie Friday post! Today is Earth Day, a holiday founded to promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. On Earth Day we like to think more than usual about ways we can reduce
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  • Free Sewing Accessories eBook!
    Style a Garment Project with the Right Accessory As soon as I finish sewing a new garment, the first thing I ask is "what do I have to go with it"? The perfect scarf or bag can complete an outfit, and we all know the frustration of looking for
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  • Ayumi’s Favorite Sewing Inspiration Websites
    In honor of the fascinating feature story in our just-released summer issue on the huge impact of the web on the contemporary sewing world ( Connected! Sewing in a Digital World by Elaine Lipson, Stitch Summer 2011), we are creating a series of blog posts
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  • How do you store your fabric?
    A few months ago, I started on the daunting task of purging my fabric stash. I had the dream of creating a fabric library for myself that would be neat in display and showcase my fabrics in a way that would inspire me to create. So, I purchased an extra
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  • Easy Tips for Experimenting with Color
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  • Freebie Friday: Patterns and Fabric from Lisette!
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  • Sewing with Vintage Patterns
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  • Tricia’s Top 5 Sewing Inspiration Websites
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  • Freebie Friday: Sewn by Hand + more!
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  • What could be better than creating your own custom fabric?
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  • Our First Stitch Sew-Along!
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  • Interview with Susan Wasinger, author of Sewn by Hand
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  • Stitch + Knits = Love!
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  • Freebie Friday - Little Girls, Big Style by Mary Abreu
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  • Introducing Freebie Fridays!!!
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  • Simple Tips for Handprinting Your Own Fabric
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  • Spring into Patchwork with a Free Project!
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  • Stitch Summer is here plus FREE online extras!
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  • Sewing Unplugged
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  • Stitch, Summer 2011
    ON THE COVER: Hexagon Beach Bag features sewn by hand Linda Turner Griepentrog Handsewing techniques step by step connected! sewing in a digital world Elaine Lipson How the Internet has revolutionized the sewing world the remix artist Marlene Blessing
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  • What are your sewing notion necessities?
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  • Join the First Stitch Sew-Along!
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  • Q&A and Quilting Tips from Fresh Quilting
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  • Stitch on TV
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  • The Museum at FIT Presents Vivienne Westwood
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  • Have a Great Studio? Send Fiberarts a Photo!
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  • Studio Tips from Ty Pennington
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  • Fashion Week
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  • First Look at the Stitch Summer Issue!
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  • Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts
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  • Sew and Go
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  • Stitch, Spring 2009
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  • Stitching in Cyberspace
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  • Sew Daily Website Launch and Free Sewing Patterns eBook
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  • Coming Attractions
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  • BIG NEWS! Stitch Auto-Ship Program
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  • Birds to Beat the Winter Blues
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  • The Twirl Moment
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  • A New Twist on Eco-Fashion
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  • Stretch Your Sewing Knowledge
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  • Tricia's Top 10
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  • Top Product Picks for 2011
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  • Stitch, Winter 2008
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  • Sewing from Start to Finish
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  • Stitch News and Free Stuff!
    Free project: Feel Good Love Pillow, designed by Malka Dubrawsky. Free project: Improv Scarf, designed by Alissa Haight Carlton . The winter/spring issue of Stitch should be showing up in stores as I write this. While you are waiting to get the latest
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  • Guide to Printing Pattern PDFs
    Download the PDF and save the file where you will find it easily. Once the pattern has downloaded, open the file and check that it has downloaded fully. The first page of the PDF is a layout drawing of the assembled tiles; use this as a guide while putting
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  • Stitch, Winter/Spring 2011
    ON THE COVER: Felt Confetti Pillow features top 10 Linda Turner Griepentrog Ten techniques + tips every sewer should know different by design Elaine Lipson Alison Willoughby transforms the skirt into a work of art projects the art of appliqué Get
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  • Ready, Set, Sew!
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  • Stitch Submissions
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  • Corrections: Stitch, Fall 2008
    Well-Suited Messenger Bag (project instructions page 66) Flap Front (leather) and Flap Front (wool) pieces should both be labeled as 16" wide, not 15" as they are labeled. Asymmetrical Fold Skirt (page 73) Step 6 contains an error, instructing
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  • Welcome!
    Stitch is a quarterly special issue sewing magazine all about creating with fabric and thread. Whether you are new to sewing, have been sewing for years, or are returning to sewing after a long hiatus, Stitch will give you a fresh perspective on sewing
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  • Creating with Fabric
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  • Call for Submissions: Fall 2011
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  • A New Year of Sewing
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  • Winter/Spring Stitch Preview
    Chipmunk Hot Pad from The Art of Applique section. Kimono Wrap Top from the Knit Wit section. Spaghetti Strap Necklace from the Sew Small, Sew Stylish section. The new issue of Stitch hits newsstands January 18, and it's the exciting start of our
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  • A Timeless (And Easy!) Holiday Gift for Kids
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  • Q&A: Erin Gilday
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  • Updated Pattern: Plaid Curves Table Runner
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  • Tips for an Efficient and Organized Sewing Space
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  • I Want Sew Daily!
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  • Living the Handmade Life
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  • Sewing for a Cause: Stitching Up the Spirit of Giving
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  • Tricia's Burdastyle Interview
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  • Stylish Holiday Gift Sewing
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  • Thanksgiving Sewing and a Free Amy Butler Download!
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  • Easy Applique in 4 Simple Steps
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  • Thinking Outside the Bolt
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  • Five Easy Steps for a Fabulous Ribbon Embellishment Project
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  • What is Your Type?
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  • New Car vs. New Sewing Machine
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  • Shopping Project Runway Style At Mood Fabrics
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  • Stitch Flickr Group Update
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  • SeaHope Partners and More: News from The Sewing Machine Project
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  • Fashion and Fabric: Fall Museum Update
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  • Tutorial: Sewing Faux Fur
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  • New York Fashion Week S/S 2011 - Part 2
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  • New York Fashion Week S/S 2011 - Part 1
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  • Q&A: Jil Cappuccio of One of a Kinds, Limited Lines
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  • Sewing with Silk: Free Extras!
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  • Match Perfect Plaids: A Stitch Tutorial
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  • September is National Sewing Month
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  • Big Stitch News!
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  • Get Organized With Free Fabric Stash Book Pages
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  • Behind the Scenes at the Fall Stitch Photo Shoot
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  • Q&A: Ayumi Takahashi of Pink Penguin
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  • Sneak Peek Preview: Stitch Fall 2010!
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  • Stitch, Fall 2010
    ON THE COVER: Patchwork Cube Slipcover features quilting the modern way Alissa Haight Carlton Contemporary quilting goes graphic + bold fabric visionary Marlene Blessing Christina Kim of global inspired design house Dosa projects off the couch Transform
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  • World of Sewing Fabric: Scottish Tartans
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  • Get Inspired: Mad Sewing
    Last week we looked at a few fall fashion trends, and it got me thinking about where sewists look for inspiration and ideas. Inspiration is all around us! It's on the street, in magazines, on style blogs, on the runway, and in the media, especially
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  • Sewing Up Fall Fashion Trends
    If you've spent the summer just trying to beat the heat with your breeziest skirts and tank tops, you might be wondering, as we are--what's in style for fall? We took a quick tour of fashion websites to see which trends stand out for fall and
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  • Adventures of a New Sewist: Kerry's Bag Sewing Story
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  • Dog Days and Doll Days of Sewing Projects
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  • Divine Color!
    I bought this fabulous color-wheel umbrella (at left) from the Museum of Modern Art's online store last week, and it has me thinking about color palettes. When you love every color, as I do, it's easy to respond impulsively to color and end up
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  • Refashioning Clothes Project Diary: Upcycling a Summer Dress
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  • Sewing for Kids: Q&A with Heidi Boyd of Crafty Inspiration
    When we're looking for cute and charming sewing projects for children, there's one person we know we can rely on. Hailing from mid-coastal Maine, Heidi Boyd is the author of twelve craft books and got her start in professional crafting as a contributor
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  • Celebrate Your Sewing Independence
    While the fireworks are going off and the burgers and vegetables are grilling this weekend, are you searching for a little time to sew up a lovely linen pillow or a cool cotton skirt? Make this the week to celebrate your sewing independence. Here at Stitch
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  • World of Sewing Fabric: American Quilts
    With Independence Day coming right up, it's a good time to celebrate some of the great stitching legacies of the United States. Along with denim and blue jeans and Betsy Ross's' flags, patchwork quilts are probably the most iconic American
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  • 6 Ways Technology Can Make You a Sewing Superstar
    In theory, you don't even need electricity to make things with fabric and thread--in fact, humans did it for thousands of years! But today, there are so many fun ways to blend technology and creativity. We have sewing machines that remember our buttonhole
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  • Sewing Gifts for Grads and Newlyweds
    June is a month for celebrations and for honoring happy milestones--graduations and weddings, for example. Both of these transitions often mean that loved ones are furnishing and decorating a new home or apartment without a lot of money, or traveling
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  • Sewing Techniques Tutorial: Joining Opposing Curves
    Joining Two Opposing Curves Joining opposing curves can be daunting, but with the right sewing technique , it really isn't all that difficult. I've chosen to demonstrate by sewing a partial muslin sample of the pattern pieces for Heidi Boyd 's
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  • Stitch + Travel: You Can Take It With You!
    Summertime means travel, right? I love being on the road under the summer sun, whether it's in a car trip on the highways of the West (yes, you can still get your kicks on Route 66), a weekend at the beach, or a transcontinental adventure. Travel
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  • Q&A: Kevin Kosbab of Feed Dog Designs
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  • World of Sewing Fabric: Mudcloth
    Gorgeous fabrics from faraway places -- that was the theme of Stitch Fall 2009 . It's also a favorite theme of mine; I think of myself as a global textile explorer, and I love the incredible diversity and beauty of textile traditions from around the
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  • Promise to Sew
    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
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  • Back to the Future: Sewing Vintage Modern
    There are so many ways for creative sewers to be inspired by designs, patterns, and notions from decades past, when elegant details and fine construction methods were a part of every seamstress's knowledge base. Fortunately, Marlene Blessing, Interweave's
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  • Stitch Magazine Creations
    We're on Flickr ! We were thrilled to learn this week that an intrepid sewist named Layla has launched the Stitch Magazine Creations group on Flickr.com, a popular free photo-sharing site. Anyone can join and upload photos, as long as they're
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  • Spring into Sewing
    Here in Colorado, spring has been late in coming, but it's not stopping us from thinking about spring and summer sewing. Although the Stitch editors are looking ahead to fall, we're all yearning to sew sundresses, summer tops and skirts, and fabric
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  • Stitch Rules!
    Sewing often seems full of rules--some of them made for breaking, and some of them really useful. I thought I'd share a few of my personal rules for successful sewing. If you're just learning to sew, these suggestions may be helpful. If you're
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  • Welcome!
    Welcome to the brand-new blog for Stitch magazine! We're so excited to bring you more Stitch , more often. The heart of Stitch is helping you to express yourself through sewing by taking patterns and making them your own, and by helping you to improve
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  • Stitch, Spring 2010
    ON THE COVER: Odekakke Tote from Zakka Style features Vintage Modern Marlene Blessing Discover endless sewing inspiration in fashions from the past Sewing Playground Anne Merrow Meet children's wear designer Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S projects Modern
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  • Stitch, Fall 2009
    ON THE COVER: Odekakke Tote from Zakka Style features I Love Japan Elaine Lipson Join the Japanese-inspired sewing craze Fabric First Marlene Blessing Max Osterweis, SUNO, and the Kanga Revolution projects Around the World Get creative with global fabrics
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    ON THE COVER: Tuesday Pillow features Print Me Susan Beal Customize your sewing with DIY screen-printed fabrics The Whir and the Power of Making Linzee Kull McCray Sewing with Diana Rupp, Founder of Make Workshop projects Stitch it Up Get creative with
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  • Stitch, Winter 2008
    Get creative with fabric & thread Download the Digital Addition of Stitch 2008 magazine! A special issue devoted to the creative possibilities of sewing wearables, home decor, accessories, and gifts. Get a fresh perspective on sewing! Quilting Arts Stitch speaks to a new generation of sewing enthusiasts
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