When you are learning to sew, especially clothes, chances are you will be sewing from a pattern. A sewing pattern that...
About the Blog
This. Is not your mother’s sewing and craft blog. I don’t make cute projects out of quilting cotton with tiny farm animals on it. I’m not going to make kitschy kitchen organizers or bathroom caddies. You won’t see baby blankets or toddler’s clothes.
My how-to’s are based on things I’ve learned and times I’ve failed. My preferred fabrics are satin, velvet, chiffon (though I hate sewing with chiffon, I like the way it looks), 2 and 4-way stretch fabric as well as other apparel and home décor based fabrics. My preferred aesthetics are fantasy, dark industrial, apocalyptic, gothic, steampunk, and utilitarian. With a dash of modern sleekness. I build furniture, furnishings, clothes, and costumes.
No, dear reader, this blog contains the musings and madness of a maker who pushes her own boundaries and gives the finger to her own lack of knowledge. For having a lack of knowledge only provides the greatest opportunity to learn. And learning is one of humanity’s greatest abilities.
Are you hungry for knowledge? Do you want to make your own badass shit? Through this blog, I’ll impart my knowledge, my successes, and my failures. I hope you can find some knowledge or inspiration within these pages.
Articles
Conquer Elastic Confusion: 3 Essential Types Demystified
Elastic. Such a useful notion. (Or, is it a fabric?) But when you try to buy elastic, you’re faced with gasp choices!...
2 Essential Sewing Machine Maintenance Tips for Flawless Performance
One of the best ways to reduce jams and other malfunctions when sewing is to perform regular basic sewing machine...
Effortless Jam Prevention: 3 Sewing Machine Hacks for Smooth Sewing
Sewing is, for many of us, a hobby. And because of this, it’s really nice when it’s low-stress. I know there are...
3 Jam Prevention Sewing Tips: Sew Stress-Free with these Simple Steps
Sewing is, for many of us, a hobby. And because of this, it’s really nice when it’s low-stress. Unfortunately, things...
Super Cool Sewing Machine Feet
There are some cool and useful sewing machine feet beyond the basics that usually come with your machine. Here are a few you might want to consider. Though, none of these are strictly necessary for quality sewing.
Needle Sizes: Considerations for Choosing
Sewing machine needles are important. Picking the correct one for what you are sewing will make all the difference in...
Sewing Needle Type and Fabric Pairing
Needles are important when sewing. In fact, they might be the most important choice you will make when sewing. If you...
3 Simple Zipper Installations – an Overview
Zipper installations can trip you up, especially when you are just learning to sew. And, even if you’ve been sewing...
Matching Thread to Fabric
When sewing, matching thread is important. Usually. Honestly, for Many seams, if your machine is set correctly, the...
Making 3 of the “Everything is Awesome” Costumes
In 2018, my bellydance partner and I (in my dance troupe Tonic) had just finished two years of performing some angsty,...
Belly Dance Belt Fails (What I did wrong and How I’d fix it)
Over the years I've made many belts. Not all were as successful as the ones mentioned in this article. All of the...
My Favorite Belly Dance Belts I’ve made (And what I’d do differently)
Over the years I've made quite a few belly dance belts for myself (and others). And maybe we aren't supposed to play...
2020 Creations: Sewing Room Cover-Ups (Housewares)
Every now and then I have to make something that isn't clothing or accessories. Sometimes I have to make houseware...
2020 Creations: A Gardening Apron from Scratch
I asked my mother what she wanted for her birthday (in 2020). Her first response isn't worth repeating. 😉 It wasn't...
2020 Creations: Unique Shirts I Made As Gifts
I lost my job in late 2019 and decided to give handmade gifts to my family for Christmas and other gift-giving...
2020 Face Masks – My Journey Part 3: The Gifts
2020 was a shit year for a lot of folks. And my real change started in late 2019 when I was laid off. So, for...
2020 Face Masks – My Journey Part 2: The Face Mask Products
I think that if we have to wear masks, we might as well let our personality shine through. Somewhat like a tie, or a...
2020 Face Masks – My Journey Part 1: The Beginning
2020 started out like almost any other year. My year's start was a little different. I was focused on starting a...
Intro to Zippers
Oh, the mighty zipper. It sure beats all those lacings one used to have to do up. Of course, I'm kind of fond of...
Intro to Interfacing
Sometimes in a garment or accessory, the main fabric needs to be modified in such a way to add stability, weight, or...
Master Your Craft: Learn About the Sewing Machine
A sewing machine can be a pretty intimidating piece of machinery if you have never used one or are still really...
Prewash Fabric – Yes or No?
Recently I was browsing around on the interwebs, and I ran into a question regarding pre-washing fabric. The question...
8 Tools for Pressing – There’s More than Just an Iron
I use a lot of products for my DIY. As such I may recommend products or companies. In some cases, I may get a small...
4 Unexpected Sewing Tools You Haven’t Considered
There are hundreds of products out there made just for sewing. I mean, I have written 3 articles on just that, sewing...
7 Super Cool Sewing Notions
I use a lot of products for my DIY. As such I may recommend products or companies. In some cases, I may get a small...
13 Mistakes Beginners Make When Using a Commercial Pattern and How to Avoid Them
You finally did it. You bought a stylish pants pattern, picked out gorgeous fabric, and made your first pair of pants....
Using Commercial Sewing Patterns – Tips
Getting a new pattern is exciting. But dealing with the massive pieces of tissue can be a pain in the butt. It's...
10 Reasons to Make Your Own Clothes
I grew up with a mother that sewed our clothes and taught me to sew. She recently admitted to me that she only did it...
3 Rules to Lay Out Patterns and Cut Fabric Confidently
One of the first things you have to learn to sew well is to lay out patterns and cut fabric correctly, or you won't...
How to Read Commercial Sewing Patterns
If you've found your way to this article, chances are, you want to sew clothes and you need to know how to read the...
5 Cool Sewing Notions to Make Your Hobby Easier
Sewing should be fun. In this day and age, it's relatively inexpensive to buy clothes. But, while there are really...
What to look for when buying a Sewing Machine
Alright, if you're going to start sewing clothes with a machine, you'll need a machine. There's a wide variety of...
Introduction to Basic Fabric and Fiber Types
One of the most critical things to get right when making clothes is fabric. There are so many characteristics that can...
15 Essential Notions for Sewing Clothes: Unlock Your Sewing Potential
If you are just starting out sewing, it can be overwhelming. What all do you really need to get started? I have an...
Constructing a Men’s Raglan Sleeve t-Shirt
Last year for Christmas I got the bright idea to make handmade gifts for all of my family members (Mom, Dad and...
5 Basic Steps and Tools Needed to Start Sewing Clothes (With a Machine)
Is the following you? You want to start sewing clothes (or costumes or cosplay) for yourself, but you don't know where...