It’s the world wide web….obviously there are more resources out there than anyone can use. I did a version of this blog when I first started sewing. My opinion of the best sewing blogs has evolved. This is an update to that list from last year. In no particular order, of course.
Boomerina– I already did an entire blog on her, one of my favorites!
Colette– more information than can be taken in, great blog
Sewing Parts Online – videos of everything any seamstress wannabe could desire
Sewing In No Mans Land– Great site for everyone in the family. I especially love the box pleat skirt.
Olfa – Great projects and articles using their products. I LOVE my Olfa rotary cutter.
Cloth Habit– lingerie information….great info and lots of it!
FREE classes from Craftsy, download them and hoard them. Their classes are not usually free.
FREE patterns– Actually if you didn’t want to buy patterns, she has most things you would want on her site.
Girl Charlee– This is my very favorite place to buy knit fabric! Okay, honestly I’ve only shopped at this online store. But, I love it! The prices and quality are amazing compared to Joann’s and Hancock Fabric, which are my only other choices.
Simplicity– Perfect site for storing your fabric and pattern stash. A wonderful reference when you are shopping and cannot remember what you need and what you have.
Threads Magazine– So, you’re at home and need inspiration or just want to learn new things? I love this site for that reason.
Mood– I just discovered this one and feel like there is more information than I’ll ever be able to get bored with, they also sell fabric.
My Pintrest– This probably has the most information of all the sites I’ve listed. It will carry you from beginner to infinity!
Melly Sews– Tons and tons of tutorials and how to’s
Inspiration– For those days you want to create because you have this fabric….welll, this site will help on determining what to create.
I know not everyone gets super duper excited like I do, but this is a real holiday to me. September fashion mag season, the colors, the shapes, the looks, the accessories, the trends in make up, hair, shoes, it’s there! Right THERE in 700 pages! Fashion at it’s best….make it or break it time. Growing up that’s how it was. Fashion was dictated by the September fashion mag season. My grandma and I would always buy VOGUE magazine. We looked, page after page at color combinations, shapes, trends, textures, everything! This is so important for a seamstress. I can flip through this magazine, which by the way is not the one mentioned above. I subscribed to BAZAAR this year and probably will purchase at least one of the other issues. I could pick anything I wanted out of the magazine! We would then go shopping for fabric and notions. My sweet, talented grandma would make me the latest trends! I can’t wait to do this for myself! This is a blog to keep an eye on for inspiration.
What do you, my wonderful, glorious, fashion loving readers get out of this? A review, a short, a pictorial of what I took away from my first flip through the magazine.[envira-gallery id="1696"] [envira-gallery slug="fur-vest"]
My ultimate favorite from the entire magazine. We can all own a fur vest this season. Faux fur is on sale right now at several retail and online stores. The pattern for this is basically a kimono without sleeves. You need two rectangles the same size. Cut one of them down the middle, all the way, this is the front of your vest. Put right sides together. Sew shoulder seams. Sew side seams. Then proudly wear it as much as possible. This blog has a pictorial if you need one. I am so ready to buy my purple fur and make my vest. You don’t like vests? Guess what? Fur scarves are huge this year! If you can cut the fur to the size you like best, you too can have a trendy fur scarf. Isn’t sewing wonderful?
I’m tempted to leave you here….mouth drooling wondering what else is in that magazine. But, I can’t I have to share a little more….right? [envira-gallery id="1713"] [envira-gallery slug="not-in-mag"]This isn’t in the magazine! LOL
Too many lists of top ten by different people are in this issue. Light pink is a thing this season. I’m extremely happy. I think this is a color anyone can wear. According to the magazine, the well spent dollar is on black and white.
Black and Bleu are a thing as well as emerald and sea blue. Darker shades of red and purple as well as camel. So, as I’ve heard “pretty much any color” goes. Well, I’ll share more next time. SO much to tell you, I can’t wait. Until then, ENJOY!
I’ve been ultra busy! Sew much going on here, remodeling the hubby’s music studio, my sewing studio, and living in total CHAOS! Sew, I haven’t done a review in awhile. I have been studying like mad though. This sewing business is something else. It seems the less you know the more you sew. Seriously! When I did not know about fitting, altering, adjusting, and sew on and sew on, I mass produced clothing. Yeah, I really did. I’m kinda embarrassed to say, some of that clothing I gave as presents. People loved the presents though! It must not have been that bad, right? I think they are just super nice people and didn’t want to tell me. haha!
While I’ve been, not blogging, I’ve been reading a lot of other blogs! Earlier this year, I posted my list of best sewing blogs. They are still great blogs. I’ve exposed myself to so many more now, and that was just March! WOW…it really is mind boggling, the quality of sewing blogs. Lately, I’ve become obsessed with the perfect fit and vintage everything sewing. It reminds me so much of growing up and sitting next to my grandma while she sewed. I recently found a book, the exact book she had in her sewing room. Amazon has some of the vintage books in electronic format.
This Simplicity book is the one I am really interested in now. It just brings me warm fuzzies!
While surfing the web, is surfing still a thing? Anyway, I found the most extensive list so far for Sewing blogs as rated by the blogger. Madalynne has her list of sewing blogs in cool categories. [envira-gallery id="883"] [envira-gallery slug="madelynne"]
I love it! There are categories for most inspirational, best bra maker, funniest, best tutorials, and tons more! I love that her list is so extensive. I could spend a few months working my way through that list. Not to shortchange her, because her own blog is spectacular! While you are surfing sewing blogs or Amazon for vintage goodies, ENJOY!
Simplicity 1165 is one of my favorite patterns. I’ve used all the versions and love the way it turns out. I’ve made view A and cropped them to make them look like Audrey pants. For this view I used stretch poplin in pink and white polka dots on a black background. They are wonderfully comfy. I did notice my normal size in Simplicity patterns did not fit. I needed to use a size smaller. Not an issue. It’s easier to reduce a size than enlarge it once the pattern is sewn.
Next I made the shorter shorts view D in denim. They are great! Perfect fit the first time around. I also left the hem off and distressed them a little. I love the lived in look they give. I did not like the largeness of the leg opening at first. Then, I loved the comfort of them so much I didn’t really notice the legs anymore.
Nonetheless,I decided to try the longer tighter shorts. This is view C, I used linen blend fabric in medium gray. I stuck with the same size used for the other shorts and pants. WOW! Not my favorite shorts. Not at all! They are like a second skin. I’m not sure what I’ll end up doing with these. I do know at this point, they will not be worn much. I guess it’s time to start bicycling again? Anyway, I fully recommend this pattern, Simplicity 1165 to anyone looking to add variety to a summer wardrobe without much effort.
When I first started this blog I made a best of list to include what I thought was the best sewing blogs. Well, some time has passed and now I think I need to revise that list or better yet create a best of list for beginners. When I started sewing again, I had no idea where to look for anything! I was so glad I had a friend that was willing to help me find my way around.
Singer it’s the brand of machine I purchased. I don’t know if the brand makes a difference or not but, the section for beginner sewing has projects. I didn’t have a single pattern when I started sewing. They have a very easy section. I used this quite a bit in the beginning.
Pink Chocolate Break she has a great beginner sewing tutorial section. Wonderful, especially if, like me, you haven’t bought any patterns yet.
Andrea’s Notebook I used this and made the most beautiful kimono. HINT*** I used stretch lace with a border. I didn’t need to hem it. That, for me, is always a huge plus!
What the Craft has an awesome tutorial for making a circle skirt. You know, so you have something to wear to work. Your friends will be so impressed!
Sewing Directory one of the best beginner sewing shopping trip guides. Actually, if I was an organized type beginner, this would be number one on my list.
Simplicity this company has a section of patterns called learn to sew. Yes! Of course I have used most of these. I love them! If you like using videos to sew there are several produced by Simplicity that have video tutorials online as well.
Mimi G. this is a designer that produces patterns for Simplicity along with tutorials. The link will take you to her tutorial page.
Pattern Review this is a good resource for pattern shopping. I find a pattern I think I may like and search for a review on here. This helps me decide if the pattern is worth the money or not. It’s saved me a few hours. The occasions I wasted time and money trying to make something and failed I did not refer to this resource. 🙁
Craftsy I love this place! So many free sewing lessons. I have all the free ones I could find. Free topics include everything from sewing machine feet, zippers, bag making, sewing with knits, and probably more I have not found yet.
So Sew Easy she shares tutorials as she masters the technique.
Possibly you haven’t really looked into sewing books much. I got back into sewing and immediately had to have a sewing book my grandmother gave me 30 years ago. It’s the Simplicity Sewing Basics book. Then, I ventured out on my own and found Gertie Sews Vintage Casual. This book is amazing! It’s staggering the amount of information I have learned from this book, not to mention the FREE patterns she includes.
Let me start over, Gertie has a blog and not only do you get to learn from her daily, but you get to see what she looks like. Very refreshing and on trend immediately you feel HIP just for having clicked on her blog. She’s a tattooed girl with great vintage taste and a vast amount of sewing information to share. But, for people like me. I really like to have the book in hand. I wasn’t to use my pretty highlighters, you know? Pages come alive for me when I get to add color and quickly find the information I need. Honestly, I am kicking myself for not purchasing this book sooner. The patterns she included with the book would’ve saved me a ton of money. Because, I’ve purchased as many of those patterns as I could find, and they are not even by Gertie! I wish they were though.
Her book is divided into two sections SKILLS and WARDROBE. The wardrobe section is essential to the seamstress hoping to banish RTW clothing from her life. She included 22 patterns! Okay, this book sells on Amazon for around $25. For the price of the patterns alone on sale for 1.99 each, you know, Hancock and Joann’s like to have the sales. Anyway, at that price you could only walk out the door with 12 patterns. Gertie, that sweet but sassy girl, is packaging the patterns and the book together for $25 what a sweetheart, right? Seriously, don’t take it from me. Look at the Gertie Sews Vintage Casual: A Modern Guide to Sportswear Styles of the 1940s and 1950s“>book, her website, and see what you think.
Most of all ENJOY!
***I was not paid in anyway for this blog. These opinions are solely the opinions of Lucy’s Sewing Lab.
“>book, her website, and see what you think.