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Personalizing with Patches

I have self-diagnosed as having a massive patch problem.  I am a patch addict. I’ve written about the satchel-style backpacks I made for our children who vigorously pursue the Junior Ranger program at every National Park we visit.  They…

Emerson Shorts in moss linen

When our family took a trip to Maui this spring, I started packing pretty late in the game, for me: only a week ahead.  Because, for real, I get SO EXCITED when we travel that I am honestly thinking…

Lost Project: Beatrix Top in Liberty Cotton

This is the Beatrix Top from Made By Rae, which I made up in Liberty lawn before ever making a muslin, and learned a valuable lesson. The pattern itself is really excellent—I love the sleeve styling and length, and…

Lost Project: Liberty Lawn Tuxedo Tank Top

This particular Lost Project actually got a lot of screen time, just not publicly: I originally drafted this pattern for my League of Dressmakers, and we worked with it in various capacities for a few months in 2016, and…

Florence Kimono in rayon–with cherries!

I have a truly absurd number of garments hiding in my closet.  Things that I’ve made, for myself, over the past few years that have never been shared or blogged about.  Or more accurately, have made it on to…

Registration Open: The Murder Mystery Quilt 2018

It’s back!  The Murder Mystery Quilt is now open for registration for next year.  I am so, so excited–will you come play with us? For the past two years, I have had the honor and the pleasure of sewing…

Knitting Fail: the Top-Down Turtleneck Cardigan

This is the first knitting project I’ve done where I finished and said, Huh.  I don’t really like this.  And that’s a little sad. Let’s start by saying that this post is NOT about: this post is not about…

How To Sew On Patches

For our children’s Junior Ranger backpacks, I worked hard to plan the design to enable the maximum number of patches to be added over the years.  Every Junior Ranger receives a pin when they are sworn in, and I’ve…

Junior Ranger Backpacks with Patches and Pins

I make a lot of things for my children.  I don’t often make things for them that I want to get out and play with when they’re not home.  This time?  Yes, I totally do. These are one of…

Organizational Tools for Creative Folks: On My Desk

Over the years as I have grown Whipstitch and altered focus or direction, I have developed an ad hoc system for keeping organized through both short-range and long-range projects.  This isn’t a “system” so much as the means I…

Great Women in Sewing: The Seamstresses of Manzanar

I taught tenth grade for a long time.  Part of the curriculum for that level in the state of Georgia is to cover the Holocaust, a tough topic no matter where you live.  Here in the South, discussion of…

How to Store Wool Yarn & Fabric

When I started knitting, I realized I needed to think about storing my textiles differently.  For one good reason:  MOTHS. Moths are the enemy of long-term textile storage, which we learned the hard way at our house from one…

Hand-Knitted Socks

Hand-knitted? Hand knit?  Whichever.  I thought at one point I would never, ever, ever knit socks.  The stitches are just soooooo tiny, you guys. But my friend Alexia assured me that once I got going they were really fast,…

Fiesta Fun Fabrics Romper for Summer

I first met Dana through a benefit auction online.  I offered up one of the dresses I used to design, and she was the second bidder–outbid by a dollar.  And we bonded over how, in a benefit/charity situation, maybe…