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 6,000 meters. However, being an … 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
Hello Fabrics for Summer! It is the time of year once again when sewists like us have pulled 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
History Of Cotton Today we’ll take a quick dive into the very interesting history of cotton. Humanity’s history with cotton is extremely old, some of the oldest estimates go back as far as 7,000 years ago! But to the European civilizations, the widespread use of cotton is relatively new. The … Continue reading
Think Mary Antoinette, Queen Elizabeth, or the recently revived 1950s 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
Well, there’s just so much to say about the history of fabric…It’s almost as basic a human need as food or shelter, truly. Where would we be without our clothing, our blankets, our sofas, our mattresses, our curtains? The list goes on and on. Indeed, many of us might not … 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
We have come to Bandung, Indonesia with a group of friends with all our children (5-17 years old), on our yearly charity volunteer trip. We support a school for children with multiple handicaps with financial and material contributions as well as, on our yearly visit, painting, cleaning, and general repairs … Continue reading
I find myself weathering the pandemic in the middle of Chile. Never in my life would I have thought that I’d be here, but the world has changed so much that it’s impossible to know where we will be in a few years from now. One thing for sure is … Continue reading
Have you ever heard of Kraft-Tex? It’s been on my wishlist for ages, but I can’t get it here and had to wait for the lovely Lucy to bring me some over on her bi-annual visit. It’s a strange sort of material. Described as a paper fabric, it is … 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
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