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Adding Tags To Handmade Clothing

Years ago, when I was very young, my mother made clothes for me and my sisters, and she had these little embroidered tags from the fabric shop that she’d put in the waistbands of our elasticized shorts so we…

The Quilt of Doom: Harry Potter Quilts for Five

I’ve had this project on my list for the past four years, even to the point of printing out the first four patterns, but never launched the ship. Today: we begin. The Project of Doom The Quilt of Doom…

Knitting In Progress: Picking Up Stitches

I started this sweater more than three years ago. And I was SO EXCITED about it. And at some point, I set it down. I didn’t even remember why. I was having a phone conversation the other day–which was…

Nautical Stripes Quilt: Pattern Tester Round-Up

When I wrote the Nautical Stripes Quilt pattern, I sent an email asking for pattern testers, and y’all: they really came through. Get a load of these amazing sample quilts they’ve made! Jane chose the “nautical” layout, which makes…

McCall’s 7774: Wearable Muslin in Grey Linen

I’ve had a copy of McCall’s 7774 for years, and love the shape of it. I found this incredible rayon blend in this funky tie-dye-ikat-nutty fabric and they seemed like a match made in heaven. The drape alone!! Oh,…

FINISHED! Matching Twin Postage Stamp Quilts

Every time I’ve worked on these quilts lately, I’ve joked that they’re five years in the making. Today, I looked back at the past posts I’ve shared of their progress, and reader: THESE TOOK EIGHT POINT FIVE YEARS TO…

Ogden Cami Hack: Tiered Maxi Dress

It’s Ogden Cami month! And I’ve made…a bunch. Once I completed the first version, it was easy to see why this is such a tried-and-true pattern for so many folks on the internets. I’ve got three of my own…

So Green Is My Garden: A Metaphor, Of Sorts

Garden writing is the place where metaphors yearn to live their best lives. There is no concept of growth, renewal, regeneration, nourishment, cultivation, encouragement that cannot be communicated beautifully with the garden as comparison and vehicle. For my part,…

Plantain Tee In Stretch Cotton Jersey

During MeMadeMay2021, I didn’t sew anything new–except this tee. At the time, we were living without a closet, since ours was under renovation, and sleeping in our basement surrounded by half a dozen IKEA clothes racks with all our…

Carolyn Pajamas with Ric-Rac Trim

I admired the Carolyn Pajamas pattern for ages before sewing them up, like a lot of us did. The style is classic and classy, and the shape seems like it would lend itself equally to silky rayons for summer…

Flashback 70s Archer Shirt in Cotton Lawn

I am (forever, it would seem) on the hunt for the very most perfect button-up shirt with a stand collar that I can find. This one is ALMOST it, not exactly, but super close. And in this fabric, it…

Sewing A Men’s Bathrobe: Vintage Kwik Sew 1366

Each year for Christmas, I make our children a new pair of pajamas. Over time, they’ve needed them less and less, because they grow less and less from year to year–but a pair of pajama pants nearly always makes…