There are a lot of practical reasons to make your own natural DIY dye from natural ingredients. It’s cost-effective, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. It’s derived from renewable resources and is biodegradable; it can be disposed of safely in your kitchen sink. These are all things to feel good about, but beyond … Continue reading
Viscose (known in the US as Rayon) often elicits very strong feelings. Some sewists hate this material, while others see its benefits. I remember back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when this fabric started to be popular and it was used for numerous garments that you would see … Continue reading
We do not know exactly when and where quilting originated but there is no doubt that it was used as a garment, decoration, and furnishing in many parts of the world many ages ago. From the carved ivory figure of a Pharaoh of the Egyptian First Dynasty to a quilted … Continue reading
I have to admit it right out front. Hunting for Tanzanian fabrics was not my main reason for coming to Africa. Instead, my husband and I were there with some friends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at almost 20,000 feet or 6,ooo meters. However, being an … Continue reading
Hello Fabrics for Summer! It is the time of year once again when sewists like us have pull out our fabrics for summer and think about sewing projects that are not only fashionable, but also functional. Indeed, the summer season means sun, sand and sea, and after the long autumn … Continue reading
Think Mary Antoinette, Queen Elizabeth or the recently revived 1950’s Rockabilly movement, think Swan Lake and the fairy tale wedding gown. What do they all have in common? You’ve got it, serious petticoat action, brought to you by none other than the trusty, centuries-old crinoline… Let’s take a closer look … Continue reading
This simple but important knit fabric stretch test will help you decide what size to choose for a pattern and what to do with the fabric you already have on hand. Why should you know this? The best reason I can give you is that it will really let you leverage … Continue reading
In my last project, the burlap bag I gave you the challenge to guess the name of the technique I used to create the print on the bag. I read your comments and there were many of you who got the right answer, but as you know we can only … Continue reading
Ah, sweater knits! These highly textural, stretch fabrics can be cozy, lacy, casual, or sophisticated. With a good sweater knit and a little practice, you can cut and sew a sweater in a day or less, even if you can’t knit or crochet. Yes, they’re enabling. And they’re beautiful. If … Continue reading
Here’s a quick video on testing fabric content. Before we get started, please be careful if trying this at home. In the video, I’ve used relatively large samples so you can easily see what’s happening. I’m also in a controlled environment and using fabrics I’m confident have not been soaked … Continue reading
For many sewists, working with the stretchy knit fabric for the first time can be daunting, but moving forward, many soon learn to love knits because of the elasticity and texture. Knits are also wrinkle resistant and comfortable to wear. The word knit is derived from “knot” and it originates from … Continue reading
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