Have you ever held back from sharing your sewing or pattern ideas because you were afraid that others might not take them seriously? Do you tend to stick with the same patterns and fabrics because they’re familiar and feel safe, even though you know there’s so much more out there to try? Maybe you’ve avoided…
Self Doubt, the Nemesis of Progress
Cecilia Vicuña has made a lifelong mission to reinvent the quipu, (meaning ‘knot’ in the Quechua language) an ancient system of coloured, knotted threads from the Andean mountains, once used for keeping records, telling stories, recording communal rules, and even writing poems. Throughout her career, which has spanned more than five decades, she has produced…
New to sewing or pattern making and feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the terminology? From draping to selvedges, this mini glossary has got you covered! Armscye: The armhole opening in a garment where the sleeve is attached. Basting (or tacking): Temporary stitching, either done by hand or machine, that is used to hold pieces…
The French Fauvist painter Andre Derain made paintings of France that were charged with electrifyingly bolts of colour, including the blazing shade of ochre seen in YELLOW Linen. Along with Henri Matisse and Maurice de Vlaminck (among others) they spearheaded a new brand of painting that moved beyond the real world into the realms of…
A few years ago I made a digital sewing course to help people gain the confidence to start sewing garments at home. In this course I stressed the value of customization for sewing your own garments. I am 5’8” tall, my daughter Amanda is 6’1” tall and our friend Angela is possibly under 5’ tall….
I’ll admit it—I’m guilty of not changing my sewing machine needles as often as I should, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this! However, I have gotten better over time, recognising just how much these small tools can impact the outcome of a sewing project. Picking the right needle can improve stitch quality, make…
Good morning from my sewing studio here in Florida. Today we are possibly learning something new and definitely celebrating that the sun is shining through the window and onto my projects after several days affected by the tropical storm that just went through. If you’d like to add a slit to your sleeve cuff or…
The soft sculptures of Maria A. Guzmán Capron depict larger-than-life curvy, vibrant characters whose joyful effervescence reflects the rich complexity of Capron’s multicultural identity, which spans Europe, South America and the United States. She says, “I need a variety of sources, because that is the only way I will approximate the complexity of a self…
When I first started sewing garments, I immediately fell in love with linen. I loved how it wrinkled with wear and it felt very forgiving as I taught myself how to sew a straight line or maintain the same seam allowance throughout a pattern. So when I sat down to think of my seven favorite…
Last fall, my family and I relocated to a small rural town south of Phoenix, Arizona—a stark contrast to our previous urban lifestyle just minutes from downtown LA. One of the things I knew I would miss was the easy access to the Fabric District, where I could find endless bolts of deadstock fabrics. As…
When you open a sewing pattern for the first time, the different lines, symbols, and shapes can seem a little overwhelming, especially if you’re new to sewing. However, they typically follow a similar format no matter which pattern company you’re using. As you become familiar with them, understanding these markings will eventually become second nature,…
Oxytocin. The hormone responsible for the squishy feeling you get inside when you hug someone you love or stroke a fluffy dog. And, I found out while I was pregnant, the hormone pretty single-handedly responsible for a successful labour. Of course, there’s more going on, but from what I could tell, the more of it…
Artist, designer and thinker, Josef Frank was an outspoken pioneer, whose practice spanned diverse disciplines, including art, architecture and textiles. In his textile and embroidery work he broke away from the simplicity of modernism with fluid, organic repeat patterns designed entirely by hand, featuring swirling flora and fauna in bold, Matisse-like motifs and intensely vivid…
Empathy is a concept that I am sure most of you are familiar with, but what about applying it to our relationship with our wardrobes? When considering the production of “fashion” we often don’t think about the fact that our clothes have passed through many hands to make it into our wardrobes. Farmers, spinners, dyers,…
Chilean arpilleras might at first look like playful, whimsical patchworks, featuring brightly coloured houses, scattered children and blazing suns. But closer inspection reveal that they are a potent, emotionally raw form of resistance and rebellion, one that emerged during the brutalist regime of Augusto Pinochet from 1973-1989. While women were forced into submissive silence by…
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30 Dec 2025 @ 3:41 am by charlotte COOK
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08 Aug 2017 @ 8:00 am by Sashiko Stitching Tutorial: Step?by?Step Guide to Traditional Japanese Embroidery