Do you love gingham? I loove gingham. Apparently, I love gingham so much, that between my two latest YouTube videos, where I show you my favorite tricks for achieving perfectly smooth bias tape facings around armholes, and then sew up the example blouse from the tutorial, I end up showing 4 different gingham summer tops I've made. I really had no idea until making of those videos that I sewed it that much! If you'd ... Read more »
Sewing
Sewing a 1940s maxi dress for summer
I've really been on a roll sewing dresses! Like I'm sure many people, I go in cycles in terms of what I want to sew and what I want to wear. And lately, that's been dresses. Granted, I type this while wearing a skirt and a top, but I've definitely leaned more towards dresses this year. And I just finished up a fabulous vintage dress! It's featured in my latest YouTube video. I used a 1940s sundress pattern, Simplicity ... Read more »
A walking foot for sewing garments is a game changer!
Let's talk about one of my absolute favorite presser feet: the walking foot! One of the things that's been an interesting discovery for me since I started doing video content in January, is that not everyone knows how absolutely amazing this presser foot is, and that it can be your new best friend for sewing garments. Quilters know about it and use it, but why not more dressmakers?? Ever sewed a seam when the top ... Read more »
The benefits of keeping a sewing journal
It's no secret that I love to sew. A LOT. And sewing is a constant journey of learning. One of the most important things I've learned is that keeping a sewing journal is a total game-changer! It's basically just a big ol' notebook to keep track of projects. I record things like the pattern I used, include a little swatch of the fabric, and any other details I deem important at the time of writing about the project. ... Read more »
Sewing tutorial: all-in-one facing for a center back zipper dress
I love sleeveless dresses, but I don't love sewing separate armhole and neckline facings. They are annoying and even with understitching and tacking them at seam lines, they love to try to flip out, and often require more pressing after laundering than you might want to bother with. And then they still want to flop to the outside when you get dressed. Annoying. For awhile, that was the main reason I preferred lining ... Read more »
Sewing a vintage dress with ribbons on the bodice
As it's been getting warmer, I've been a busy bee lately with life stuff, and my sewing time has been less. You have to enjoy the warm weather when you can, and sometimes that means hanging out on my deck rather than holing up in the basement sewing! (Much as I love holing up in the basement sewing!) But I recently finished sewing a vintage dress, and it's the subject of my latest video on YouTube. It's another ... Read more »