Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
An from StraightGrain shares a tutorial over at Sew, Mama, Sew! showing how to make a little girl’s bubble skirt. She includes a pattern for cutting the lining, with sizes based on child’s hip measurements. Get the how-to.
[photo from StraightGrain]
It doesn’t matter whether you sew by hand or by machine, you need a pincushion. You need a spot to parks pins and needles and keep them within easy reach for when you need them again. There are a lot of styles of pincushion to choose from. Some magnetic, some fabric. Some cute, some purely functional. This “little bit extra” pincushion has a spot to store all the different types of pins and needles you might need while sewing. Polka Dot Chair has a free sewing pattern you can use to make one for yourself.
This handy little pincushion has a circular shape and is divided into sections to store different types of pins. The bottom section is for your regular straight pins. Just poke them in and they’re ready for when you need them. The top has one section with a felt flap perfect for holding your sewing needles. I don’t know about you but I don’t like mixing my hand sewing needles in with my pins on a pincushion. It makes it hard to find the needle when I want it. So having a separate section for the needles is a great idea.
This “little bit extra” pincushion also has a spot to hold a few fabric clips. Fabric clips have become popular alternatives to a traditional straight pin. They hold fabric pieces together without piercing the fabric, which is important when sewing leather, vinyl, or other materials that will show permanent holes from pins.
You can sew the “little bit extra” pincushion from large fabric scraps or small fabric cuts (fat eighth). You probably already have all the supplies you need to sew one in your sewing supplies already.
Get the free pattern for this “little bit extra” pincushion over at Polka Dot Chair.
[photo credit: Polka Dot Chair]
I am trying to make simple flower girl dresses from a picture my daughter saw. She liked the tank top style, full bubble skirt with ribbon sash above the waist.
I found a pattern that is exactly what she liked except it does not have the bubble skirt.
I am assuming that the bubble skirt is created by cutting the lining a few inches shorter than the garment fabric, allowing a couple of extra inches of length and finishing the finishing the hemline before attaching the lining and garment fabric to the bodice of the dress.
I can just experiment, but do you have any suggestions?