All posts by Michaela Smith

A comfy-cute pair of striped pants – with pockets! All you need to know to make this summer the most comfortable season yet. Linen is a great fabric to wear during the summer – it’s light weight, it’s an open fabric that lets your skin sweat and breathe and keep cooler than other materials, and…

Even as fall starts drawing near, a nice’ dress can be part of an classy’ ensemble by being worn in layers with a light scarf, long sleeved shirt and your favorite pair of boots… Okay, maybe that’s just my favorite way to wear a dress! All the same, this simple, pleated dress can be made very easily…

It’s full on summer here in sunny California! The leaves on the trees are green, the sun is shining, and the weather has amped up to the ’90s. Time to make some lovely linen summer wear! Difficulty: Beginner Time: 2 to 3 hours Materials: 2 yards of IL044-720 (or IL019 in your favorite color) ‘¼…

Here in Los Angeles, plastic bags are being phased out in favor of reusable cloth shopping bags. In most counties, you can’t even get plastic bags in stores and they charge 10 cents per paper bag. Why do that when you can make your own awesome tote bags (that double as reuseable shopping bags!). Materials:…

Difficulty: Beginner Time: ~1 hour Materials: 1 yard 4C22 Natural Softened 1/4 to 1/2 yard 4C22 Bleached Softened Approx. 4 1/2 yards bias tape (1/2″ double fold, or a 1″ single fold that is ironed in half) To make this hooded baby towel, you’ll need to make a pattern for the hooded portion of the…

Skill level: Advanced Time: ~2-4 hours Materials: Pillow form 1 yard 4C22 Bleached 1/2 yard 4C22 Natural This was my first time handling the 4C22 Natural color and wow, it’s so incredibly beautiful! It handles wonderfully too. I just had to slide this little comment in here before getting onto the tutorial steps for this…

Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced Time: Approx. 2 hours Materials: Approx. 1 yard of IL020 Light Blue (with IL020 Light Pink stripe) Pattern Interfacing Hand Sewing Needle Download your PATTERN here Print out your pattern pieces. Cut out the individual pieces and tape them together at the matching edges (for example, match both edges together that…

Difficulty: Advanced Time: About 1 hour Materials: Approx. 1/4 to 1/3 yard IL019 Crown Blue or Transparent Yellow Needle Thread Clasp/Hook Iron (lots, and lots, and lots) Start by cutting out the fabric. You’ll need 4 pieces to make this bow tie. The first is a long rectangle that is 3″ x 11″, cut twice….

Difficulty: Easy Time to complete: Approx. 30 minutes – 1 hour Materials: IL019 Fog Green IL019 Bleached Cotton or Linen Batting Tea Pot Measuring Tape You can make this tea cozy for any size tea pot! Since most teapots aren’t the same size, here’s how to design a pattern that will work with your teapot….

Difficulty: Beginner Time: About 30 minutes per pillow Materials: A little over 1/2 yard per pillow IL019 Krista Natural Thread Cotton stuffing Pins   This is the simplest way to make a lovely-looking linen pillow to help give your couch or bed a more inviting spark. These pillows are quick and easy to create and…

Difficulty: Beginner Materials: 2 yards of IL019 or 4C22 Mix Natural (click on links) A sewing machine Lots of patience Time: 3 – 5 hours 1. Decide how large you want your blanket to be. A standard throw blanket is approx. 50″ x 60″. Add in 3.5″ to each side for the fringe. This will…

Gathering is an essential part of many fabulous sewing projects. Want to add some sophistication to those standard curtains? A bit of ruffling may do the trick. Gathered fabric can transform a few yards of linen fabric into a beautiful tiered skirt. My favorite projects usually start as skirts and dresses, so there are often…