Welcome from Mayra
Hi, I’m Mayra Cecilia. I’ve been sewing nearly all my life and I’m so excited that you have found your way to So Sew Easy!
I grew up in a small town in the foothills of a volcano in Panama, Central America. It rained a lot there and when it rained there wasn’t much to do indoors, except read, draw and, of course, SEW!
My sewing adventures started when I just a kid since I was never very interested in playing with toys. I guess it bored me that the toys always looked the same, especially the dolls. So I had a brilliant idea to cut my little sister’s Barbie’s hair. I tried my best to do a good job, but it was clear I had botched the job and when she found me in the middle of a golden mess of doll hair. I quickly had to beg her not to cry —which surely would have made my mother sprint to her rescue. I whispered quietly, “don’t worry, the hair will grow back”…. Knowing my deceitfulness and feeling guilty I added, “let's sew some beautiful new clothes for Barbie”. And so my love for sewing was born. I was nine years old.
In my late teens, I won a scholarship to study Fashion Design in the US and after that, I haven't stopped traveling since then. I have been blessed with the opportunity to live in Cameroon, West Africa, the Virgin Islands, Switzerland, Sydney, Paris, Chile and Singapore where I've lived for 10 years. I try to bring all these influences into my designs and my sewing.
I have learned there are many ways to do the same thing, that there are no mistakes in fashion only adaptability and making something the hard way is always the wrong way. I look forward to sharing some of these tips with you.
With limited experience in the blogging world, I launched myself headfirst into the world of the internet after purchasing the site from Deby in late 2015. Although this website doesn't record my blogging experience it does record my sewing experiences. I like to design my own patterns and make them available on the site for you to try. It often takes me until the small hours of the morning to finish a post, but it is because it is a never-ending project, which I love to do with all my heart. I love to make beautiful things for the house, gifts for my family and friends and well-fitted clothes.
And you can do it too – it’s so sew easy!
Contact
I love to read your comments and links to your own projects. You can drop me a line any time in the comments below. I speak three languages Spanish, English and French. I read the comments every day!
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Alternatively, you can follow me on Instagram and use #soseweasyofficial so I can see your sewing journey and the use of patterns you have found on this website.
I LOVE Pinterest!
I love to pin all the sewing patterns, tips and tutorials I find on Pinterest along with inspiration such as favourite sewing patterns, favourite fashions, and favourite fabrics! Follow along by joining my Pinterest Boards and you'll discover so much more than I can share here.
Welcome, Mayra!
thank you for sharing your work and knowledge, i have learnt a huge amount from the tutorials you share especially the videos. have been plenty inspired by you. thank you
Thank you Alison. Good to know you are feeling inspired to sew.
Your journey is an amazing one. I just found your site!!! I must say that I love and appreciate you for sharing. I am a quilter. Well, lets just say that I love to quilt. I make quilts for family and friends having babies. I want to sew clothing. I don’t want to look like everyone else so I need to learn to sew my own clothes.
Kim,
Make muslins first! Trust Meeee.
And don’t ask me how I know…
I just want to say i love your patterns and i love your last name it is also my maiden name. I love to sew i have been sewing for about 50 years and i love it. Maybe we are related !!!! LOL !!!!
Deby
What an inspirational website you have created. And, as has been stated previously, how generous you are to share your sewing adventures and resources.
I have recently relocated to Hanoi in Vietnam, and whilst fabrics are a plenty, I am trying to find my way round the fabric markets to find the lovely jerseys, cottons and silks. Since discovering your website yesterday, I have booked my day tomorrow to adventure back to the fabric market.
Keep up the good work and big hugs to you xxx
I’ve visited myself, spent quite a few weeks in Vietnam and loved it so much. Great to have access to all those wonderful fabrics, and custom clothes-makers. Don’t spend too much!
Hi Deby,
I like your blog very much. I came to your blog via Pinterest and Craftsy. Thanks for such a wonderful tutorials and free patterns. They are easy to understand and follow (are in detail).
Thank you so much. Happy Sewing!
Oh my! *LOL* Please forgive me? As I have gotten older, I have a harder time ‘aging’ people. You are certainly young enough to be my sister and I didn’t miss so far as to be old enough to be your mother, unless I started at a very young age!
You look amazing! And your designs are fabulous! Thank you for sharing your expertise and for the inspiration!
I’ve got no idea on ages either Betty. I panic sometimes when I see what appears to be a child driving a car! Thanks for all your kind words and I hope your sewing projects go well.
Thank you for your generous resources on your site. You are so great to share so many resources! Glad to hear a good ending to your story, and that you live in such a paradise. I hope your health is perfect now!!
Thanks MJ. I hope you enjoy looking around and yes, its a great place to live!
Hi Deby, I love your site. Since finding it I have lived on utube following your videos. Years ago I did a knit wit course which was a stretch sewing course here in Australia. Your stretch sewing methods are a step forward from them and I really enjoy watching the new methods. I have been sewing since I was young and started on a treadle machine and sewed most of my own clothes and those of my three children. Not a great choice in shops in those days. Then I made quilts and bags for many years but have had a yearning to go back to clothes. And then I found your site. I have made the ‘on a roll t shirt ‘ and have the fabric for the cowl top and a lovely grey knit for the knit top (can’t think of the name at the moment) the one with two pattern pieces , rounded v front. Can’t wait to start another. I also love your Safari skirt, that is the next on my list. I love your patterns they have a lovely style, and really comfortable to wear . Love the tip about the waistband on the straight keg pants the chalk marking is a great idea.
Another thought, when I was watching one of your videoes I am sure I heard the ocean in the background. Please don’t tell me it was the washing machine I think the ocean sounds much more romantic and beautiful. You live in a lovely part of the world.
Robyn
Yes the house I live in is right on the ocean so you can hear the sound of the sea in all my videos. Its wonderful here. Sounds like the patterns I make really suit you, which is great. I’d love to see some of what you make sometime Robyn. In fat we all would, I’m sure. Load us up in the forum under the Show and Tell section.
Hi Deby just wanted to say a quick thanks and tell you how inspirational you are. I was in a massive accident and struggled with finding who the new me was until sewing lol. I don’t know what it is about cutting up fabric and sewing it back together that is so healing, but for me its been a life line. I found your page a while ago and followed your tutorials and liked that you too took craftsy classes but only now read the about you section. I just felt like saying atta girl ; ) way to bounce back and use sewing and inspiring others as a new pathway in life. I can’t wait to try your new safari skirt pattern, thanks for all you do here. I have learned so much!
Thanks for sharing your story Melissa. You are so right, cutting fabric and sewing it back together again is therapy! Enjoy your sewing this year and I hope we can learn some new skills together.
I bought my dritz pressing ham about 30 years ago and it seemed pricey at the time. But it’s been a great sewing/pressing buddy. The price listed for the Dritz 82504 Clothing Care Tailor’s Ham on your site should be checked out! LOL
Probably Amazons typo, but for that price I could get…well, just take a look.
Other than that – I’m having a ball with your website, patterns and tutorials. I’ve been sewing for well over 50 years, but not so much for previous 5 years. Now that I’m retired, I’m getting back to it. Just been cruising the net and seeing what’s new. I have been impressed with the number of videos of people – young people – sewing! They are not all that great, but they are creative and they are sewing!! And I’ve seen a few familiar sewing faces from years past on You Tube. How happy I am!
I learned at my Mothers knee, literally, playing on the treadle, graduating quickly to her singer. I miss her most when I’m sewing. And my grandmother sewed too. She had a “button drawer” which fed my addiction at an early age.
I really wanted to tell you that I am impressed with your tutorials. The attention to detail is refreshing and appreciated. I’ve always been a bit picky and prefer to have custom made items instead of home made. Thank you. You are doing a great job.
Now about that $9900.00 plus price on the ham… 🙂
Wow, that is one expensive ham! Ha ha, I don’t suppose they’ll be selling many of those. Thanks for telling your sewing story. I’m delighted too by how popular sewing has become. People sew now probably for totally different reasons than our mothers and grandmothers and have a different style, but its keeping the skills alive and changing them in some ways to match our modern times. Of course sewing clothes will never go out of fashion.
I am very glad to find your website. I moved from UK to Botswana(southern africa) end of last year and there is nothing much to do here. I brought my two sewing machines and started making clothing this year.Only trouble here is that finding some nice fabric is so difficult. Even though pattern of fabric is not my cup of tea, I enjoy making my own dress. Thanks for sharing good tips 🙂
Hi, Deby, I’m from Brazil and liked very much your blog and projects, bags, skirts and dresses! They are all beautiful! Thanks.
Thank You for your generous sharing of patterns & tutorials. I was amazed that I could print a pattern & that it really was usable & worked! I just finished the gathering apron. It came out beautifully & I am giving it as a gift to a family member who has a huge garden. Thank You again for being so generous! God Bless!
Yay, well done Joan with your apron. The printable patterns take a bit of getting used to, but you can’t beat them for instant gratification – and even better if they are free.
Love all your patterns !!
I have been sewing for about 50 years now, all different types. I have been making tote bags & other small quick projects to donate to fund raisers for dogs & cats at shelters or ones that need medical treatments.
Thank you for all the great ideas !!!
Hi Deby, have just found you on Youtube. What an inspiration you are. At school, I made, what I thought, was a brilliant a-line skirt – until I lifted it off the table and it all fell apart !! My sewing teacher (who was a lovely lady) told me it was probably best if I didn’t go near a sewing machine again lol. So for many years I didn’t. But I got the bug again a couple of years ago and now happily make (& sell) a few tote bags, pencil cases etc etc etc. I have followed your pinterest board and your facebook page. Keep up the good work & take care xx
Yay, it just meant you weren’t ready the first time, still ‘experimenting’ with fabric, which is where a lot of my projects go! So glad you came back to it and are now making your sewing a success.
Nice idea. But I have a suggestion for you. Instead of those flex frames try using metal rulers. You an cut these any size you need. There is a pattern out there using these rulers. I have made several snap bags using them. Just a thought. You could get a lot of bags from the ruler. This is the ruler that guys use for measuring room sizes or wood.
I love reading your blog and seeing what you come up with for projects.
Rosemarie in MI
Yes, I just learned about that idea. It would require a bit more care to avoid those very sharp and pointed ends on the cut metal, but it could work. Thanks for suggesting it.
This is weird, I have just finished your straight leg pants (worked out very well, thanks so much) and while watching the video about the waistband thought “Deby’s from the South West, must ask where!” And then comes Helen’s message. I was born in Plymouth, spent my formative years near Bath and now live in the East Midlands. My brother lives in Keynsham. It’s a small world.
Wow, Keynsham really is ‘just down the road’. I’ve met quite a few people from the Bristol area out here in Cayman – it’s a nice place, but people who live there seem to travel or emigrate a lot!
Hi Deby
Just found your blog this morning and am half way between inspired and overwhelmed. I am keeping my grandson ( 9 ) away from your d-I-y dummy photos as he wraps everything in tape but has never tackled a person! In the photos you are wearing a sun dress with elasticated top, have you any tips for shirring as I was thinking of a dress like that as my first project. I have done some dressmaking in the past but not for many years. Watched your video of “Penelope”, something to aim for.
I would guess and there is no reason to satisfy my curiosity, that you originated from the Cotswold area, maybe not too far from Oxford. I live in North Devon and feel a bit of an affinity as I was an island dweller,many years ago, Lundy in the Bristol Channel. Very different from Grand Cayman, looks wonderful.
I am from the various suburbs in and around Bristol. Originally Kingswood then Chipping Sodbury, so we were almost neighbors at one time. My Mum was from near Cheltenham so my Bristol accent is a bit more Cotswold than usual. I also would like to do one of those gathered dresses – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried. I’ve read and watched every possible tutorial on shirring but my Brother machine has automatic tension and it WILL NOT allow it to be overridden no matter what I do, so my shirring is always too loose and doesn’t gather up properly. Its the one thing I am stumped by!
Hi, thanks for satisfying my curiosity. I wasn’t toooo far out locating your origins.
I have been struggling. Made the straps for my first project, the shirring sundress, there were a few bad words turning the straps through. Then the shirring elastic kept breaking and instead of thinking I may have wound it too tight I fiddled with the tension screw on the bobbin case. It all flew apart and the screw into part never seen again. I should learn this is the second time I have done this. Now waiting for a new case and it will be raining again before this dress is done. Love the glasses case, now my granddaughter wants one for her new sunnies. Hi Gill, as you say small world.
Hi Deby – am so impressed with your site. I have just gone back to dressmaking after a 30 year break and am now retired. Have downloaded the go anywhere dress and it worked very well (though I think it looks better on you, though your dimensions are virtually the same as mine). I am also British and was inspired also by the Great British Sewing Bee, if you can download it from the BBC you’d love it. I will keep watching what you post. Every best wish.
Gill
I’m a big fan of the Sewing Bee. I didn’t think there was such a clear cut winner this year round and it was interesting to see that everyone had some sewing disasters every now an then- don’t we all! Thanks for trying out one of my patterns and I hope you enjoy all the time you have for sewing now you are enjoying retirement.
Deby , I found your response to my pattern download; I will definitely be visiting your site for future patterns and inspiration. Your story itself is inspirational! You seem to have “taken a lemon and made lemonade”, to borrow an old adage! Oh that we all would take the talents God has given us and USE them for good! I want to make a few bags and will use your bag patterns and info to get started! May God continue to bless your life! Linda in Greensboro, GA, USA
Hi, I am taking the “Sewing with Knits” class on Craftsy.com as per your recommendation. I’m taking a cruise with my mom in the summer and my goal is to make your wrap dress! I love the fabric you used and can’t seem to find anything even close to it anywhere. Could you tell me where you got it and what is the fabric? After looking online, it seems like a charmeuse would be perfect, is that what you used? Stellar patterns, btw!
Thanks, Diane
Hi Diane. The fabric was a remnant I found at my local shop, so I can’t tell you any more about what the design might be called or where you might be able to buy it. This pattern needs a fabric with stretch so a charmeuse isn’t going to work. I suggest an ITY knit fabric, its usually pretty light, the same as the fabric I used, and easy to work with, with a nice recoverable stretch and drape. I get mine from either Fabric.com or Fabric Mart. I hope this helps.
Hello, Deby!
My name is Gladys and I live in Argentina. I do not know their language, but read your blog and communicate through a translator, by what I advance for mistakes apologize that contains this comment.
WOW! That beautiful story! Thanks for sharing it!
I worked many years until I stopped doing so after 21 years due to an illness. Thus began my life as housewife and my quest to do things with my hands. I did first crafts, patchwork 4 years ago and since last year I’ll sewing classes.
Thank you very much your tutorials detailed here in the blog because thanks to the fact that I can read them with the translator I can understand them entirely. I hope that the new PDF of Craftsy have many photos, which is what helps me when I can’t read the PDF writings in English.
I hope soon to make some of their patterns, because all are comfortable, simple and easy! And thank you for much the time you take to make them and share them!
Follow forward making wonderful stitching!
A big hug!
Hello Gladys. I visited your site and you have some very beautiful examples of your quilting and embroidery. You are very talented. Isn’t it wonderful that the internet gives us so many opportunities and that with translation a whole new world becomes available to us. But the PDF files are English only. I sometimes try to do a video with some of my patterns so I hope that with the photos and the video you will be able to follow along. Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to leave a comment in English. I will try to reply in Spanish!
Hola Gladys. Visité su sitio y usted tiene algunos ejemplos muy bellos de su acolchado y bordado. Usted es muy talentoso. ¿No es maravilloso que el Internet nos da muchas oportunidades y que con la traducción de un mundo completamente nuevo se vuelve disponible para nosotros. Sin embargo, los archivos PDF son sólo Inglés. A veces trato de hacer un video con algunos de mis patrones, así que espero que con las fotos y el video que será capaz de seguir adelante. Gracias por tomarse el tiempo y hacer el esfuerzo de dejar un comentario en Inglés usted. Voy a tratar de responder en español!
I just found you today via Pinterest. I’m hooked. I downloaded two of your free patterns. The criss cross halter and the dress with the sleeves built in. Im a long time sewer. Started at age 11 and now at 56 find it more satisfying. Recently found Girl Charlee fabrics and Im hooked on knits. I watched your tute on the twin needle and the stay tape. Two must haves on my next trip to the fabric store. I signed up for your newsletter and you page will be a regular stopping point for me. Thanks Deby!
I’m so glad we found each other Terri. Sounds like you’ve found some useful stuff here and I hope you enjoy the patterns. I’d love it if you had time to share your completed projects on Craftsy, and link them to the pattern when you are done. Then I can see what you make. Enjoy your sewing.
I am in awe of all that you have done. There is hope for me yet. I love all the patterns and can’t wait to try the undies. I used to love the Stretch n Sew patterns and was disheartened when they folded. It was the one sewing I could do.
Hi Deby I have returned to sewing since being diagnosed with having brain tumors and having to finish working, I like many others cannot thank you enough for your inspiration and generosity I love to follow your site, craftsy and pinterest your talent and the way you communicate is truly amazing and I for one am so glad that I found you! Even though I have been sewing on and off for 40yrs I am still very much a novice but intend to use the skills and knowledge you so readily share to increase my own knowledge base. to get to my main reason for contacting you, I have been tying all week to purchase your skirt pattern a via craftsy and when go to paypal it comes back as error on the site, could you please when you have the time check this out or advise alternative.
Once again Thank You so much
God Bless
Carole
Hi Carole and thanks for leaving a message. Sorry to hear you’ve been ill, but glad to hear you are loving your sewing! Not sure what’s up with the skirt e-book, I’ve had other sales go through just fine. I’m sending you an email now Carole.
I can’t thank you enough for your inspiration as well as your generosity in sharing not only your knowledge base but your patterns as well! I’m looking forward to learning to sew articles of clothing for myself.
Really great site. Your talent is beyond novice. Love your style also. Thank you for all you are doing.
I have been a sewer for over 30 years. Once my daughters reached about 10 yrs. old I stopped sewing cloths for them because they were picky and it was hard to “fit” patterns for them. I gave up sewing for me decades ago because I couldn’t “fit” the pattern to my curves or arm length etc. I see that you are a fit and trim woman, not overweight like me. Is it possible to take your patterns and easily alter them to fit my imperfections?
Hi Kelly. The patterns I make tend to make me appear rather more trim that I am. If you check my measurements, you’ll see I’m certainly a bit soft around the middle these days so somethings I make or design will tend to have a drape or softness to them to hide that belly bulge. Most of the time pattern grading for larger sizes is very difficult, because we all tend to hold our little extra weight in different places – some in the tummy, some in the hip, some in the bust etc. The best thing to do – on the wrap dress for example – is to see where your measurements fall in the table and then pick each part of the pattern according to your size. So if you are fuller in the bust but slimmer in the hip, you might cut a larger size at the bust and smooth the lines out to a smaller size in the waist and hip. But as I learned recently in the Sew the Perfect Fit course – fitting is NOT easy and often requires several practice runs before you make up the final dress. I certainly recommend this course – and there is presently a giveaway running to win you own Perfect Fit course which shows you all about how to alter patterns and clothes to fit. Try this course – it applies to all patterns. Good luck and thanks for writing. Deby
Debbie Coles You NEVER STOP AMAZING ME!!! WOW WOW WEE!!! I am just so super impressed with what you have created here – you are simply ….BRILLIANT!!! well done Debbie and keep it up you are SUCH AN INSPIRATION!!! and you continue to prove hat you can do ANYTHING you set your mind to!!! xxx well done my friend YOU REALLY REALLY REALLY ROCK!!!! xxx Martinne xxx
Blush – Martinne you really are a STAR! I couldn’t have done any of this without you.
I started a new series on my blog last month called The Modern Home Economist. My first set of features posts are all about sewing. I’m highilighting your blog and your tutorial on invisible zippers (sharing links not your actual posts) in my most current post which I hope to have up over the weekend. Thank you for sharing your knowledge through your blog so that it can help others learn this skill.
Thank you very much for the link Terri. I’ll certainly drop on over to visit. I enjoyed reading your Coffee Morning Chats – felt like you were right there with me telling me about your day and your thoughts.
Hi Deby,
Recently I re-discovered sewing for me. I am very happy that I have found your page during my research and I must say it is the best I have read so far 😉
I share your passion for alterations of patterns. Best part is your great sense of humour and that you also write about failed attempts, that makes it so human.
Your free pattern overviews are gorgeous, this would have saved me a lot of research time 😉
I am very keen on reading more 😉
Greetings from Germany,
Jessica
Hi Jessica and thank you for taking the time to write and let me know that you find the site useful. I’m so glad to hear it. I’ll be working hard to review some of those free patterns as well as design some of my own. Thanks once again, your comment means a lot to me.
I think I was born with a sewing needle and thread in one hand and scissors in the other….I have tons of information in my head and techniques and no how….I pass on my head full of information to people as it is required and teach from time to time…I love you have put you new found skills into an open forum where anyone in the world can access hints, tips, patterns and be able to develop new skills…as well as access tons of free patterns….
Thank you for being so generous with your Gift and your time….
And thank you for taking the time to leave a comment Sue. Sewing certainly hasn’t come naturally to me, but I really am enjoying the challenge.
Keep up the good work !! I admire your sense of humour and your spirt in positive thinking. I feel that taking classes on sewing helps especially when it comes to fitting.I am at this point of my sewing.
Hi Brenda and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I am signed up to two more Craftsy courses and fitting is going to be my focus this year, along with a good standard of finish on the inside. I’m loving my new hobby and wish I had come to it sooner.
Hi, amazing what the brain does. Looking forward to trying out some of your patterns. Tried to sign up to your blog but not the most competent on computers and it doesn’t seem to have worked!
Hi Sandra, sorry you weren’t able to sign up – did you mean to join the mailing list? If you send me your email address I can certainly add you to the list manually. Use the email link at the top of the page. Thanks for reading.
Sandra and myself must be on the same wave,I can;t seem to sign up onto ur blog either
I’m dropping you an email Patricia….we’ll get this sorted out.
Wow, that’s an incredible story. I would love to be able to sew but I have the worst eye-hand coordination ever! My mother is pretty amazing with the sewing machine though – she didn’t pass the genes along to me. Came across your blog today from Handy Man, Crafty Woman! I’m jealous that you live in Grand Cayman :0)
Deby: I am so impressed! I love the magenta new dress from McCalls, and admire your courage to make the jersey black and white dresses fit to your measurements! They don’t look alike , even from the same pattern because you ventured out and made them each fit! You are definitely accessing a brain function that we wouldn’t normally key into!
Thanks for the free pattern and tutorial on panties – I cant wait to try them!
Oh my goodness, I love this intro! I laughed out loud. You are one fun lady! I’m so glad you’ve taken up sewing and can’t wait to see what else you create.
Congratulations on your accomplishments. Sewing is a lost art and it is great that you have started this wonderful and amazing journey with the fine art of sewing!!!! Thank you for sharing your story! If I can help in any way please let me know. I design clothing and teach sewing lessons here in Arizona for all ages. I look forward to seeing your future wardrobe that you will create!! The best advice….take your time and you will fully enjoy wearing your own designs!!
Where in Az. I live in Prescott