Journal

ENGLISH I was having a discussion with my mom the other day about good fitting vintage garments. The main difference was small details, that helped you have a stellar fit. One thing that came up for us was underarm darts.  On vintage garments, there are many details that seem so minor some might even say they are insignificant. If you are like me and have deviated from pattern recommendations only to realize they had a purpose, you understand the importance of step order and garment construction. For your Farmer's Market Dress, I recommend you consider adding one or two small...

  Wondering the best way to have success with a more challenging project? Read below for some tips to help you succeed! ENGLISH 1. Make a toile! Every time I have omitted this step I have regretted it. Making a toile (in the US a muslin) will help you troubleshoot issues in advance. Since everyone has a different shaped back, you should make a toile of the top (without the ruffle), and attach it to the skirt muslin For a skirt muslin, I make this as long as it needs to be to meet the top of my hip. The...

Sometimes you just need a break, and when you return to your project with fresh eyes, you can give it the effort to get it across the finish line.

A friend has been commenting on my garments and toiles lately on social media. She finds it odd that I sew only in white for summer and it just doesn’t make any sense to her. To her, there are so many beautiful prints, so many choices to have. Why white? Well for me, black in Fall/Winter, and white in Spring/Summer are simply the right choices. See, as a Gemini I suffer easily from mental fatigue, and as beautiful as patterned fabric is, it quickly tires my eyes. Recently, by the time the fabric even arrives in the mail, I am...