Maggie

Right on, @lightningmcstitch! The drape is important for this one. The fabric can be relatively thick as long as it’s not too stiff. @Ginger, I’d suggest going to a fabric store and looking at the coatings section so you can see the type of fabric we’ve recommended for this pattern. That way you’ll know what to look for when you shop your stash!

Right on, @lightningmcstitch! The drape is important for this one. The fabric can be relatively thick as long as it’s not too stiff. @Ginger, I’d suggest going to a fabric store and looking at the coatings section so you can see the type of fabric we’ve recommended for this pattern. That way you’ll know what to look for when you shop your stash!

I sometimes use tailor’s tacks and sometimes use tailor’s chalk. Depending on the fabric, they can both work.

We’re huge fans, too. S has worn them since she could walk. We buy a pair every spring and they last and last.

Interfacing usually works well for me when it comes to hemming. You might need to adjust the tension on your machine for the double needle, too. I usually have to crank up the upper tension by quite a bit to balance things out. Good luck!

I would suggest a really easy route for this. If you want to enlarge it, be sure the seam allowances are drawn into the pattern piece. Then enlarge all the pieces the same percentage and draw new cut lines from the seam lines. That way everything will be enlarged so it all still fits together, but since the seam allowances will also increase you…[Read more]

How lovely of you to put this together! Facebook keeps making it more and more difficult for us to reach our fans, so we really appreciate all your efforts.

Very sweet! Now I know what to do with all those buttons I’ve let S buy over the years to reward her for her patience at the trim store…

The Sandbox Pants have a drawstring like you’re describing, Emily. Maybe look at those instructions and convert them to the After School? It would certainly be do-able, and the elastic makes it possible to pull the pants on and off without untying…

Hi all,

So I think I figured out why the polo placket was giving some of you issues. We’ve issued an errata for the pattern, so check the page before you sew your next one. However, rest assured that if you’ve already started sewing one it will still work without the corrections! You’ll just apply the collar a little differently and start from…[Read more]

All of our knit patterns have additional tips and guidance included in the instructions, so that’s probably a good place to start as well. It’s not very difficult, and it’s actually much faster than sewing with wovens, so don’t be intimidated!

If you do decide to taper the legs, the one piece of quick advice I’d give you is to taper equally from the inseam and the outseam. You can narrow any pattern this way (or widen it, for that matter) if you keep that in mind. And yes, sew the rise and then pin the seams to adjust as needed.

xo

I usually buy long zippers and just cut them to the length I need so I don’t have a big inventory of different lengths. You can simply zigzag over the teeth at the length you want, or you can buy metal stoppers to place at the end of the zipper. If you use a pliers you can also pull out the extra coil, but it can take a little fiddling to do this…[Read more]

I’m with @Inder–use it or trim and yokes and details and you’ll get lots of mileage out of it! But I love @with-love-heidi‘s list! Can’t wait to see it.

I think it’s a matter of personal preference, yes. I used this method for the instructions because it’s less fiddly. But if you prefer the single fold bias method that’s an easy change to make.

Every Staples apparently sets their own prices. Ours is really expensive, but I’ve found a blueprint place that’s really inexpensive, much more friendly, and always does a great job. You’re right, Sarvi; they know what they’re doing and I’ve never had a problem there.

I think probably it couldn’t hurt to interface a bit at the bottom of the keyhole opening. I wouldn’t interface the entire opening, but maybe at the bottom where there might be some stress you could fuse a little square. It could also work to edgestitch the opening if you’re concerned that it might fray. It will really depend on the fabric, I think.

I was just going to mention this, @aussie! Looks like it’s a versatile bow tie pattern–you can even make it for your dog…or probably cat.