Todd Gibson

You could definitely interface one or both ear pieces to make them stiffer. Go for it.

I recently swore like a sailor while seeing a hoodie for the kid. The hood and shoulder were one pattern piece and required a ninety degree pivot at one point. Yet there were no pattern markings at all and determining where that pivot point was, and getting it all to work without puckers was very trying indeed.
Not s hard thing to do if the…[Read more]

Great choice. It’s a nice sew.

Liesl, this made me laugh so much I almost choked on my drink. I was really excited to create samples for you of the “Desktop Wrist Rest Pattern”. I could not get those teeny, tiny oval eyes to have smooth edges. I went through all of the fabric you sent and then used some of my own trying to get 2 eyes that were the same.

What makes things…[Read more]

Here’s how I roll…

I learned to sew in 7th grade Home Economics class. I wasn’t particularly good and got a B (which was devastating to me). The summer before high school, I enrolled in a summer class at the high school for sewing. The pattern that I picked – a fully lined fitted blazer. I sewed it in a no-wale brown corduroy. I’m short,…[Read more]

Well, you’re practically reading my mind! Thanks for the feedback, and I think you’ll be happy with at least one of the fall patterns, then. xo

Ooh, well done @TamaraH! My mom sewed me a very similar prom dress: similar silhouette and fabric, but mine was strapless. I recall multiple fittings and many late nights on her part.

But think of the great memories she’ll have!

What’s on your “to tackle” list? Anything you’re really wanting to learn?

I’m thinking about looking for a heavy twill when I’m in London next week. I’ve realized there’s an outerwear gap in my closet: winter coats, rain coats, and nothing in between. What do most people wear when the weather turns too cool for a raincoat but before you need a full-on winter coat? I’d like something that travels well (i.e., not too bulky).

The imperial measurement of babies makes no sense to me at all. I can much more easily visualise babies in kilograms. A large baby is like an average cat (4-4.5kg) – my second child. An average baby is like a small cat (3-4kg) – my first child.
And you @juliamom2009, on my reference scale, had a pair of guinea pigs! 😅
( I weigh these animals every…[Read more]

@juliamom2009 oh no, Babies MUST be in pounds or I have no idea 😉

I moved from the US to Canada after my oldest two kids were born. All I knew was that my two preemie kids were 1150 grams (about 2.5 pounds) and 950 grams (about 2 pounds) at birth. So, when I’d go to the meat counter, I’d have to stop and think – did I want a Nathaniel’s worth of meat, or a Melissa’s worth of meat….I didn’t want to look like…[Read more]

Nice one @yirg 😃
@todd that cracked me up, your summation of the American psyche almost sounded like it came from a Canadian or Aussie! 😅
…. And made me realise a way in which metric may just pervade after all. Don’t you measure your guns in millimetres? I know nothing of guns but even I’ve heard of a 9mm pistol. How many sixteenths’ of an inch…[Read more]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sascharomeo/5574123033/in/photolist-9uyQzx-bsPzpu-9b1kR9-gCNAJV-xPgH6v-8VU3QW-8SNpk6-8ViBze-9kuP2z-BcU6VQ-m56LEb-h9qWQS-asTYU2-aBudmp-9DbM64-asTYTZ-qEyYrb-qewCcw-avV4c9-b2ff62-9YHyxg-qezTTD-bXfCA2-EkAnSV-EkAkQt-dckbkL-qzMLYM-6WUzPV-9Jyru1-95at95-8cAaFR-9yrwBk-8CEFPW-9YLtPo-qy62T5-a2VrFV-hhMv8S-dckaMq-gJdeT8-qNmtL9-9T1N…[Read more]

Hi @nathaliecarol I think it depends on the border print itself. If, like in Juliamom’s case the border is “soft”. Ie curved, floral or ill defined, then cut as per the pattern.
However, if the border print has a very defined, straight edge bottom, then I would adjust the pattern pieces and “square off” the hem. It’s as simple as lengthenening…[Read more]

Generally if the curved hem is slight you shouldn’t have a problem. As demonstrated by @juliamom2009!

Hi Nathalie – I used a border print and left the hemline as per the pattern piece…you can see it in this photo:

I’ve always waxed afterward so it doesn’t clog up the machine. I know someone who sews with waxed canvas all the time and it does tend to make your machine a bit dirty, so if you wax beforehand be sure to use a press cloth and clean your machine well afterwards!

Good advice, Nicole! I’ll talk a little bit about my thoughts on this in a blog post for next week, ok?