I still remember the excitement—and slight overwhelm—I felt when I first received my pattern-making kit at university. The tools, some of which I had never seen before, felt very foreign to me. However, it didn’t take long for them to become second nature, and pattern making soon became my favourite subject. The freedom that comes…
Ready to Draft Your Own Patterns? Here’s What You’ll Need to Get Started
Frank Lloyd Wright might be best known as one of most revered American architects of entire 20th century – he pioneered the Prairie Style, along with ‘organic architecture’ designed in harmony with nature, and cutting-edge icons including New York City’s Guggenheim Museum. But perhaps less well known is his brief foray into textile and wallpaper…
Using sheer curtains can add texture, color or a little light filtering to a room. They provide a lovely way to accent and elevate a space. For this project I wanted to try Fabrics-store’s 2.8oz gauze linen. As with clothing, layering is also a great option. If you wanted something more than the ethereal look…
Most people who sew are familiar with a simple hem but what is the blind hem? This hem is meant to be almost hidden. If you’d like to make your hem less noticeable or have wondered how clothing manufacturers achieve that hem that looks like a couple dash marks that seem to be farther apart…
Choosing fabrics is one of the most exciting parts of any sewing project, but to be honest it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, no matter how long you’ve been sewing. With so many options out there, each with its own unique qualities, fabric choice can make a big difference in the fit, comfort, and…
How often do I talk about my “perfect trouser” mission? Hopefully not too much because the journey continues. The perfect trouser is one that is balanced and hits all “the boxes” (you can read about the start of my journey here)…and guess what? The pants view of the Sol Pattern is one step closer. The…
In the hands of contemporary artist Faig Ahmed, traditional Azerbaijani rugs are given a fantastically surreal twist, with elements that seem to warp, melt, and dissolve into puddles on the gallery floor. An intricate fusion of high quality, traditional weaving techniques and digital design, his visually arresting artworks speak of a need to keep ancient…
We all know that exciting feeling of bringing home a beautiful new fabric, and all you want to do is dive in and start cutting. But, before we begin, there’s an important step we shouldn’t skip: pre-washing your fabric. Sure, it may not be the most exciting task, but pre-washing our fabric can save a…
Shirring with elastic thread is a great skill for you to add to your sewing knowledge. Shirring on tiny baby clothes, a flirty summer tank top or even a great additional panel on the back of a dress that adds interest and size flexibility to a piece much like the FS Rhea Dress. This technique…
The renowned Parisian, inter-war fashion designer Madeleine Vionnet earned the moniker of “architect of couture” amongst her peers during her lifetime, for her innately structural approach to clothing. Her garments were constructed using the diagonal bias cut as a prominent feature, along with Grecian-style drapery, to create the most striking, theatrical visual impact. Much like…
Contemporary, Greek-born fashion designer Sophia Kokosalaki was part of a burgeoning group of designers who rejuvenated the British fashion scene during the early naughties. Her uncanny ability to weave cutting edge, punk templates with the timeless elegance and draped silhouettes of the Greek traditions that had informed her way of thinking since childhood swiftly earned…
Linen is my favorite fabric to sew with—no surprise here, since you’ve probably read my other articles, 90% of which focus on linen patterns. There are a handful of patterns I always reach for when sewing with linen, so here’s a quick roundup of those that have recently moved to the top of my list….
French dressmaker Madame Alix Grès made her name in the mid-20th century with sleek, minimal garments that mimed the slender, vertical lines of Greco-Roman architecture. An outlier in the fashion world, she eschewed mid-20th century trends for a timeless elegance, forging her own singular path. Madame Grès’s aspirations to become a sculptor were quashed by…
Besides the love of sewing itself, there’s another thing that sewists the world over have in common: the excitement we share for free sewing patterns. It’s not just about the zero cost, although that’s certainly a perk—it’s about the thrill of finding new designs, the joy of sharing those patterns with fellow sewists, and the…
Four years ago, I found an old brick house that had been a rental property for years. The realtor wasn’t convinced this was a good house for me because it needed so much work. It was a winter day when we first visited, but the yellow sunshine streaming in the big windows made the house…
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