Beginner seamstresses, be fearless in your efforts to learn the art and skill of good sewing. This post is for you. Lets say you want to sew up something where two seam edges are NOT a straight line. This non-linear seam may be a purely creative design or an essential structural element in your sewing… Read More Basic Sewing Concept: Clipping the Curved Seam
Featured Image from Vogue Runway Every year I wait for the Couture collections to seek out over-the-top and apparently unwearable looks. That said, most haute couture offerings have underlying wearability if you look beyond what’s attention grabbing. Some of them are extremely inspiring for seamstresses like me. And, some designs are ripe for a bit… Read More Annual Event: Picking on the Fall 2019 Haute Couture
Happy Birthday, America! May you have many happy birthdays for eternity. Onward, sewing pilgrim! With not much experience in making head wear, I chose this project as a palate cleanser and a learning experience rolled into one. This project is also a bit of unselfish sewing – for someone who lives in sunny, drought-prone California.… Read More Tipping the Hat on Independence Day
The Ladies Waldegrave painted by Joshua Reynolds, 1780. This image is in the book “Women Sewing”. This painting sits in a museum in Edinburgh, Scotland. —————————————————- When I get writer’s block, this is what you get; random sewing thoughts. There’s plenty of sewing blog material in a folder containing half-written posts; I just cannot seem… Read More Random Water Cooler Sewing Talk
If you want to (or have to) make lots of fabric tubes, I advise that you befriend this specialty presser-foot. Like a microwave, you can do without it but it’s faster and therefore more enjoyable to use. It is the Fast Tube foot (not to be confused with the Fast Turn set of tube turners,… Read More Sewing Gadget to Befriend
My curiosity about clothing design and design details in a historical context knows no bounds. It seems that some details in modern apparel which seem so new and fresh can be traced back into the ages. Conversely, I love new and innovative design which has never been seen before. One such new-old detail showed up… Read More Tied, Asymmetrical Neckline
Shortening ready-to-wear pants at the hem sounds easy, but one needs to know some things. It’s good to know your stuff. First, I must bring your attention to Mary A. Roehr’s book, published in 1987. Look beyond the hand drawing and the self-published look of the book and it is a treasure trove! I know,… Read More Basic Sewing Concept: Raising Hem of Tapered Pants
I am loathe to call it cultural appropriation but “khaki” in my language (Urdu) means dry mud or dust. This well-researched book circa 1995, agrees with that fact. I grew up with my mother and grandmother referring to anything in this subdued light brown shade as a “khaki color”. The term was Anglicized when the… Read More What Does “Khaki” Even Mean?
In most general sewing, it’s best to avoid stitching in areas where it’s unnecessary – to avoid the too much thread syndrome. Yes, there is such a thing, although the concept can be quite subjective. However, too much thread can be useful in certain areas of dressmaking and general fashion sewing. Such as, designs where… Read More Too Much Thread Can be a Good Thing: Multiple Rows of Top-Stitching
Well, the excitement got a little dampened along the way. Here’s why: All I wanted was an added pintucked detail to a much loved pants pattern in my favorite ponte knit from Sew Much Fabric. In spite of using all the appropriate threads, twin-needle sizes etc, and all the right sewing tricks, it began to… Read More Finally! White Pants, Vogue 1411
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