Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots shares a free pattern and tutorial on her blog showing how to make a crossover pinafore for little girls. The crossover back gives it a super flexible fit. The width automatically adjusts to fit a growing child, so this year’s pinafore can be next year’s top. Get the pattern and tutorial.
[photo from Smashed Peas and Carrots]
I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.
Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.
Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.
Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.
And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.
[photo credit: Melly Sews]
Hi, I am looking forward to trying your tutorial, but is there anyway to download the pattern pieces without a facebook account as scribd is telling me I need to be on facebook.
many thanks
mardi
Unfortunately, Scribd has a policy that moves older patterns to the “archive”. Without an account (which, if I understand it correctly, you either have to pay for or upload a file in order to obtain), you can’t download the file. I believe that a file can be removed from the archive, but only the author of the file can do that. –Anne
Hi there, I really want to make this pinafore but when I go to download it it brings up a box and asks me to put in credit card details and I have to pay? Is that right? I thought it was a free pattern….help!
Shannon, You’ll need a Scribd account in order to get the pattern. You can either pay for the account, or upload one of your own documents to get an account for free. The author is not getting paid any money for this. This is entirely a Scribd thing, and most likely the author knows nothing about this. If I understand things correctly, all newer documents are available for free download. But once a document has been there a while, it gets moved to the archive where an account is needed to access it. I don’t believe that the authors get notification when this happens, so Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots probably doesn’t that this is going on. –Anne
Thank-you so much for letting me know this :o) I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to email it to me if they already have it downloaded! Bit cheeky of me to ask but worth a shot, thanks heaps x
Thank you very much for the pinafore patern. I look forward to making it.Iris
I would love free patten for size one year old please my grand daughter needs nanny to learn to sew some dresses for her