It’s tough work being handy. How about making it easier on the little guys and putting all of their tools into a tool belt…. Perfectly sized for them.
Ik kreeg last van stress, veel stress op het moment dat ik knoopsgaten moest maken in de oh zo schone Urban Hoodie van Roos. Knoopsgaten en...
We were just talking about our love of thread chains in the studio in relation to a new pattern we're about to release and we started wondering, do you guys use thread chains? They're great for keeping two layers of fabric together when you still need to allow for movement such as a main fabric and a lining. threadchain from Grainline Studio on Vimeo. We produced this little video as part of the Cascade sew along but thought it would be fun to post it on it's own since this technique has so many applications. Do you guys use thread chains?
Okay guys, this post has turned into a pretty long and reasonably epic one and that's because there's not actually a lot of information out there on doing Full Bust Adjustments on fitted knit patterns. There are lots of tutorials for FBA's on wovens, but not knits - which I suppose comes down to the fact that knits are much more forgiving. That being said, I completely understand that for some of you, an FBA may be needed, even on a stretchy knit like Bronte. I would always do a muslin to check if you can get away without doing one first though, and one thing you may want to consider trying first is cheating the extra room you need in the front by grading up a size or two in the bust on the front pattern piece only, and then adding length at the 'Lengthen/shorten' line on both pattern pieces. If you don't think that this is going to work for you though, then please read on... Doing an FBA (Full Bust Adjustment) The goal of an FBA is to add width and length to the front pattern piece to accommodate a bust that is larger than a B or C cup (most often a B cup in commercial patterns), without messing with the neckline. To do this, you generally slash and spread your pattern. (Note - you will end up creating a bust dart with a standard FBA, but don't worry, we'll talk about that in a moment). I'm not going to go into detail about how to do a standard FBA, mostly because there are so many great tutorials out there already (I love how clear this one is, but as I said, there are lots of great ones). What I would like to point out though is that when you take your high bust measurement and bust measurement to get how much you should be adding to your bust line, remember that you are dealing with a fitted knit pattern that is meant to have some negative ease (i.e it's deliberately smaller than your measurements and that's where the stretch comes in, to skim and hug your body). For this reason, I wouldn't add in the normal amount you would on a woven. Perhaps try adding half your normal amount to Bronte first, and then see if you need more. For example, if you have a 1 inch difference, try adding in 1/2 an inch first. One other thing you'll need to consider is where your apex actually sits on the pattern. Due to the fact that Bronte is a knit with negative ease, you can't necessarily hold the pattern up to you to find it (as you would on a woven). I honestly don't really have any scientific way of finding this either. All I can suggest is that you try on some other similar tops, locate your apex on them, and then transfer this to your Bronte pattern piece. Alternatively, make up a muslin without the FBA and locate it once you've got it on, then do an FBA on the pattern piece. I can't think of an easier way, but if you have one, do let us know! What to do with that dart you've now created... Now that you've done your standard FBA, you're going to be left with a side bust dart, and that's because you've added length to the side seam of the front and not to the back. That dart takes care of the extra length you've added so that your front and back pattern pieces will match along the side seam. Below is my 'faux' FBA on my mini Bronte pattern piece - I've just guessed where the apex may be and then have slashed and spread my pattern piece to create the imaginary extra room needed and therefore the side dart... Do you see that pesky dart we created on the side seam underneath the arm pit? Bronte (and most knit t-shirts) are dart-less, so how do you deal with this extra side length in a knit t-shirt? Below are three options, but there are probably more, so do let us know if you have one. 1 - Ease the dart into the side seam If you don't want to sew in a side seam dart, then you could think about rounding out the dart and then easing the excess into your side seam. I would approach this in much the same way I would when easing a sleeve cap into a set-in sleeve. Put some basting stitches into the seam allowance, gather them lightly into a 'cup' and sew up the side seam. If you have a length-wise stretch in your fabric, you could also think about stretching your back piece down a little to help accommodate any excess side ease from the front. Be careful when doing this though as you don't want to stretch your fabric so much that you end up with wrinkles and ripples in the final garment. 2 - Dart Manipulation 1. Once you've performed your FBA, you'll be left with a pattern piece that looks something like the below. You'll have a 'dart' at the side bust that you might want to rotate that dart out, so... Does this picture look like half a Transformer to anyone else? 2. Transfer the straight line of your bottom left pattern piece (the red dashed line below) onto the paper below your pattern, you'll use this as a guide in the next few steps. 3. At the pivot point circled below, bring your bottom left bodice section back up and tape in place. Below is what that'll look like, with the grey dashed line indicating the line you drew in step 2. 4. Cut back along that old 'dart' leg indicated by the red dashed line (yes, the one you just joined back up in step 3) BUT leave a pivot point at the side seam (indicated by the circle below). Using your pivot point, bring your bottom left section back up and align it with your original, dashed line. 5. True up your bottom hem. And you're done!! The honey coloured outline below is the original piece - you can see that you've kept the additional length and width that came from doing the FBA, but you've eliminated the dart at the same time. So that, Ladies, is how it's done. Let me know if you have any questions or have any success with this method! I'd love to hear about it. 3 - Sew the dart in For some people, sewing the dart into the t-shirt might just be the best option, particularly if you have a large cup size. This might seem like a strange thing to have in a knit t-shirt, but it's only strange because it's uncommon, and uncommon doesn't mean it's a bad thing. It will mean you will have a beautifully fitting top, and if you have a busy print, you probably won't even notice that little dart line. Two issues you may come across with sewing a dart in however are - if you have a lightweight knit, the dart may move around underneath, and with a heavier knit, you may see the outline from the right side. To combat both of these issues, you could cut the dart out close to the seam once it's been sewn in. Do you have any tricks for doing an FBA with knits? xx J
Guys, I’m not gonna lie, this was one project where I bit off more than I could chew. Every fit revisions has so much nuance that it’s going to be a lot to cover. Way back in January I wrote about how to determine the right bicep for your arm. Since it’s now many months later, I figured it would be a good thing to
Are you guys ready for this? I am probably going to shock some of you and others will close out the window as soon as they hear what I'm talking about because you have been taught and shown one way so it must be right! I'm sure I'm in for a lot of criticism for this one.... But first, a little backstory to give you my
Messy stitches. Loose threads. Clanking metal. Lint clogs. When you’re in the quilting groove, there’s nothing more frustrating than an out-of-whack sewing machine. Luckily, there are a few tips and techniques that can get your machine up and running in no time, and Rob is just the guy to show you how! In fact, he gets pretty excited about taking care of his machines! This week Rob has released a series of three video tutorials to guide you through do-it-yourself repair and maintenance. He’ll also help you diagnose problems that require professional attention. With over 15 years of experience as a sewing machine technician, youRead More →
Free sewing pattern leather & canvas dopp kit, How to sew a dopp kit, travel bag sewing pattern, DIY gifts for guys, Father's Day Gift Ideas
Our list of 23 DIY sewing projects for beginners will mean fun for the whole family. These are simple sewing project ideas to get you started.
I can hardly believe that the last two blocks of this quilt are finished! I suddenly feel lighter, like I've lost a few pounds! The next hurdle will be choosing a layout and putting the quilt top together. I won't even think about the actual quilting and binding just yet. For the next few days I'm going to savor the "doneness" of the blocks. Block 11 The tools block will come as a surprise to a lot of folks. I don't know that tools were ever mentioned in our list of ideas. But, it is so fitting! I love how it adds another dimension to the overall theme. The idea was inspired by my friend, Midge, of course. My little camera doesn't allow me to adjust colors, so the bright, white background always looks gray. :( Over our weekly coffee we chatted about what was needed to complete those last two blocks. "You've represented children and pets," she said, "and, there are several blocks that show women's interests, but what about men? Shouldn't there be something that has a more masculine feel in this quilt?" She was absolutely right, of course. There are lots of very happy homes that have no men in them, but I would guess that there are at least as many homes in which the husband and father is very central to the meaning of family and home. We brainstormed ideas. Lawn mower? Backyard grill? Fishing gear? Tools? Tools won, hands down. How can you keep a home without a few tools? Block 12 What to do with the last little block? I posed the question on my Facebook page and offered a choice of teapot or bookshelf. The bookshelf won the vote by a large margin. That would have been my own first choice, too. If I'm addicted to anything, it's books. And chocolate, of course, but we won't go into that today. I didn't even try to count the actual shelves holding books in my house. It's enough to admit that I have four large bookcases that are absolutely stuffed. Library books are scattered everywhere, too. A home without books? Not for me at all. A quick little sidestep here Have you ever used a hera marker? It's a lovely little tool, and very inexpensive. I marked the lines for lining up my books with a hera marker instead of a quilt marker. So slick! It makes a tiny, visible crease, but leaves no residue that needs to be removed! I also like using the hera marker with anything that needs to fold smoothly and evenly - even for making my own bias tape. The crease creates a natural fold line that presses with beautiful ease. Oh, something else! My friend, The Patchsmith, has a very clever idea for adding book titles using selvages of fabrics. Be sure to check out her bookshelf mug rug in Craftsy patterns. Going back to the bookshelf now I liked the bookshelf so much in all it's bright colors, and it really is the exact size for a mug rug. So I made one of those, too. I chose a totally different color concept for the mug rug. Black and white with just a splash of red can lend sophistication and elegance to almost anything. Even a mug rug. But what if you want a teapot or a coffee mug in your quilt? Can you wait one more week? I'll be posting a pair of mug rugs - just the same size as the quilt block. These will be mix and match. A teapot, a coffeepot, a cup, and a mug. You could easily use one of those to replace either the bookshelf or the spools block. Now to choose a layout. Hmm.... I need better lighting for these photos!! The original idea? Something a little bit different? I think I may want to redo my cookie jar in different fabrics. When I made it I didn't know how my colors and fabrics would come together, but now the cookie jar stands out as different from the other blocks. Fortunately it's a very easy one to do over. I need a couple of weeks to get to the layout plan. Other projects are screaming for attention! Wishing you a lovely month of September!! And, happy stitching!
Messy stitches. Loose threads. Clanking metal. Lint clogs. When you’re in the quilting groove, there’s nothing more frustrating than an out-of-whack sewing machine. Luckily, there are a few tips and techniques that can get your machine up and running in no time, and Rob is just the guy to show you how! In fact, he gets pretty excited about taking care of his machines! This week Rob has released a series of three video tutorials to guide you through do-it-yourself repair and maintenance. He’ll also help you diagnose problems that require professional attention. With over 15 years of experience as a sewing machine technician, youRead More →
If you need help with pilling knits, cutting appliques, turning tubes, rolling hems, or putting off rethreading you machine as long as possible, I'm here for you.
If you need help with pilling knits, cutting appliques, turning tubes, rolling hems, or putting off rethreading you machine as long as possible, I'm here for you.
Have you guys seen this season's new Tilda fabric ranges, Memory Lane and Cabbage Rose? As a Riley Blake designer I pretty much exclusively sew with Riley Blake fabrics these days, but I had to make an exception for these! So much floral pretty! Today is my stop on the Tilda showcase, for which I made a house-shaped sewing case. The pattern for this is in the book 'Tilda's Toy Box', and I heard it's now also available as a kit (with different Tilda fabrics). This sewing kit has been on the road recently going around Australia on the Tilda trunk show. I've been enjoying photos of it popping up on Instagram! So a few of you have seen it already - I am told it got lots of 'oohs' and 'aahs' at the trunk shows which is always lovely to hear. Now, I'll be honest about this pattern. I am a pretty experienced hand-sewist, but I found parts of this pattern a bit of a struggle. All the lovely detail means lots of small pieces that need manipulating, sometimes gluing, and sewing in place by hand. So if you want to have a go at making this, expect to put in some effort and perhaps some trial and error. Still, I am so pleased with it and I think it's worth all the effort, don't you think? Thank you to the Australian distributor, Two Green Zebras, for sending me a lovely bundle of these pretty fabrics to play with! And thank you so much for visiting - if you would like to see more creations by some very talented Australian designers check out the hashtag #tildashowcase on Instagram!
Make this simple boy's apron pattern following the tutorial. Great for a Christmas present!
My 3 year old son has recently been playing a lot with his toy tools. Apparently, carrying them in his tool box was too difficult so he started just stuffing them down his shorts and letting the elastic hold them up. He would take two steps, and the tools would hit the floor with a loud bang. I decided to remedy this situation by making him his very own kid’s tool belt. To make for a special child in your life, cut one 13″ x 4 1/4″ piece of canvas (or any fabric you choose) for the base, one 7 3/4″ x 3 1/4″ piece for the pocket, two 14″ x 1 1/2 ” pieces for the ties, and two 3 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ pieces for the tool loops. Then, fold and sew the tie and loop pieces to make straps. 1. Using a clothes iron, press in half. 2. Unfold. Then, fold and iron edges to the center crease line. 3. Fold and press in half again. 4. Sew along the edges. Take your base section, fold and pin sides under to hide raw edges. Tuck your tie pieces in and sew around the rectangle. To hide rough edges, fold and sew around your pocket portion. Place the pocket on top of the base and attach leaving the top side open. Sew a straight line down the pocket piece to make separate sections. To attach the tool loops sew one edge down. Then loop it around to make a circle. Repeat for the second loop, add some tools and you are finished!
blog about kidsfashion, diy, design and mostly about sewing
Guys, I’m not gonna lie, this was one project where I bit off more than I could chew. Every fit revisions has so much nuance that it’s going to be a lot to cover. Way back in January I wrote about how to determine the right bicep for your arm. Since it’s now many months later, I figured it would be a good thing to
Prepare yourself to be your kid’s hero because I have found a beautiful selection of backpack sewing pattern ideas for you!
This is the Boxy Zipper Pouch sewing pattern that comes in three sizes from the designer Miss Freckles Design.
I've gotten a lot of questions about where to buy ribbing since publishing the Linden pattern. I have a few places that I've been able to find ribbing but I knew there were more out there so I asked you guys in a previous post where you've found ribbing you liked either online or in a brick & mortar store. You guys really came through with suggestions, so many that it took me quite a while to compile this list! I've listed the shops in order of the country they're based in for easier and cheaper shipping options for you guys, then divided those lists into online and brick and mortar only shops. Each shop includes a link and on each online shop that link will take you directly to the ribbing section of the website as this is what people seem more interested in rather than just knits in general. If a shop only sells knits and not ribbing I've excluded it from the list as pretty much every shop ever sells at least one knit and I didn't want the list to get bogged down and out of hand. I've also listed where the shop ships to based on what I could find on their websites. I'm sure there are more we're missing so if you've come across this list and have a great shop that should be included, leave me a comment below and I'll do my best to keep the list updated! *Please note that this is a crowdsourced list and I have not personally ordered ribbing from each one of these shops. Feel free to review any of them in the comments below if you do end up ordering! US SHOPS SELLS ONLINEFabric Depot | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyFabric.com | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyFabrications Online | Ribbing | Knits | Ships to US and CanadaGirl Charlee | Ribbing | Knits | Ships to US and CanadaHart's Fabric | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyNancy's Notions | Ribbing | Knits |Ships Internationally on most itemsOrganic Cotton Plus | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyRockywoods | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally (large range of technical outdoor fabrics)Rose City Textiles / Fabricline.com | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally (large range of technical fabrics from Portland outerwear companies)Seattle Fabrics | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally (large range of technical outdoor fabrics)Stylish Fabrics | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally BRICK & MORTAR ONLY Bontai Trimmings | New York, NYMill End | Portland, ORPacific Trimmings | New York, NY (also one of the only sites that has a good selection of RiRi zippers, the dreamiest zippers that have ever existed).Rose City Textiles | Portland, ORSR Harris Fabric | Minneapolis, MNThe Fabric Store | Los Angeles, CA ASIA SELLS ONLINELand of Oh | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally AUSTRALIA & NZ SELLS ONLINECrafty Mama's Fabric | Ribbing | Knit | Ships InternationallyThe Remnant Shop | Ribbing | Knit | Ships to Australia and New Zealand BRICK & MORTAR ONLYRathdowne Remnants | Brunswick, VIC, AustraliaThe Fabric Store | Australia, New Zealand CANADA SELLS ONLINEPeak Fabrics | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally (large range of technical fabrics)Simplifi Fabric | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally BRICK & MORTAR ONLYFabrications Ottawa | Ottawa, Ontario EU SELLS ONLINEOttobre |Ribbing | Knits | Ships to Europe, North America, Canada, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand UK SELLS ONLINEDots n Stripes | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyMy Fabric cuff fabric here | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyPlush Addict | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyTia Knight | Ribbing | Knits | Ships InternationallyTissu Fabrics | Ribbing | Knits | Ships Internationally BRICK & MORTAR ONLYCloth House | London, UKMisan | London, UK Still can't find what you're looking for ribbing wise? Try these ideas... Recycle the ribbing from an existing sweater or sweatshirt Pick up and knit along the edge of your garment (this works best with sweater knits)
Need to let hems down but don't have enough fabric? Learn what to do.
This is the Boxy Zipper Pouch sewing pattern that comes in three sizes from the designer Miss Freckles Design.
Fabric. The heart and soul of any sewing project, it can make or break you (and your new item). Here's a guide on how to choose the right fabric!
Rivets are everywhere. Airliners have rivets. The pockets of your Levis® have rivets. Frogs make the sound, "rrriiiiiivvvet." That last example probably isn't applicable, but it kinda makes you wonder
"Looking for ideas to sew faster but still get professional results? Check out this great list of tips and tricks for fast sew that you need to have in your arsenal, whether you’re an experienced seamstress or a beginner just starting out! Hey guys! Today I have a few little tips and tricks to share with you to help you sew faster and more efficiently but still get the same professional results as you would normally! I started to use these tips for fast sewing in the last few months and I believe I’ve gotten a lot more productive in my sewing projects."
We can't tell you how thrilled we are that Lindsay from The Cottage Home is joining us today! She is one of those people who actually, legitimately knows how to sew (if you're like us and you kind of piece-meal and fake it, you definitely should check out her tutorials on sewing basics!). She makes
Have you guys seen this season's new Tilda fabric ranges, Memory Lane and Cabbage Rose? As a Riley Blake designer I pretty much exclusively sew with Riley Blake fabrics these days, but I had to make an exception for these! So much floral pretty! Today is my stop on the Tilda showcase, for which I made a house-shaped sewing case. The pattern for this is in the book 'Tilda's Toy Box', and I heard it's now also available as a kit (with different Tilda fabrics). This sewing kit has been on the road recently going around Australia on the Tilda trunk show. I've been enjoying photos of it popping up on Instagram! So a few of you have seen it already - I am told it got lots of 'oohs' and 'aahs' at the trunk shows which is always lovely to hear. Now, I'll be honest about this pattern. I am a pretty experienced hand-sewist, but I found parts of this pattern a bit of a struggle. All the lovely detail means lots of small pieces that need manipulating, sometimes gluing, and sewing in place by hand. So if you want to have a go at making this, expect to put in some effort and perhaps some trial and error. Still, I am so pleased with it and I think it's worth all the effort, don't you think? Thank you to the Australian distributor, Two Green Zebras, for sending me a lovely bundle of these pretty fabrics to play with! And thank you so much for visiting - if you would like to see more creations by some very talented Australian designers check out the hashtag #tildashowcase on Instagram!
