I just got back from Germany, Austria and Italy. I’ll share European style and sewing patterns to match in this post. We went to the same town in Germany (Wurtsburg, on the Main river) two years ago – our kids…
Ever wonder who owned your thrifted clothes before you? Years ago, I thrifted a pale blue cashmere sweater, short sleeves with little ties on the sleeves knit right in. I know she was a stylish woman, but the sweater felt…
Uh oh. I think a lot of us have been waiting for the other shoe to drop on this one. Design Group Americas, DGA, which owns Simplicity patterns (and the other “big 4” sewing pattern brands), has announced 60% layoffs.…
Most of us go through a lot of changes in life – at least the lucky ones still hopping around on this pretty rock floating through space. In your teens, sewing might become creative self expression, in your 20s it…
The sewing community is abuzz with the fact that Simplicity Creative Group (the company that makes patterns from Simplicity Patterns – McCalls, Simplicity, Butterick and Vogue) got sold for $1 and 75% of sales to the same liquidator that just…
We’re off to Europe for the second child’s overseas study. Here’s what I’m packing (and sewing). The school group goes for 3+ weeks, we meet them there at the end and continue on our journey. This year, we’re spending time…
Should you sew that? How to decide what to sew next and planning a capsule wardrobe from what you already have. Grab this free worksheet (see below), the Sew Paradise Pick One, Sew Two and go into your closet. Pick…
I’m cataloging the 30 days of handmade outfits in this post, for Me Made May 2025. I’ll wear something I made every day for one month, and my goal is to mix pattern, color and create some visual interest (I…
It’s Earth Day! As sewists, we’re pretty eco friendly (after all, we sew our own clothing) but we still discard scraps. What can you do with literal decades of scraps (and keep filling it up?) Sew an ottoman! I used…
It’s Earth Day! And on this day, probably just this ONE day, you’re thinking about the planet maybe a teensy bit more than usual. And you’re saying, I’d like to start sewing my own clothes. Here’s how to get started:…