Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Bev from Flamingo Toes used some of the new Sunnyside Ave by Amy Smart (Diary of a Quilter) to make the cutest retro pillow, and she’s got a tutorial showing how to make it. The fabric criss crosses and bows are so cute and perfect for the retro fabric!! Her tutorial includes her easy method for creating narrow fabric tubes.
Click below for her tutorial:
Retro Gingham Pillow with Sunnyside Ave Fabrics, by Flamingo Toes
[photo from Flamingo Toes]
Welcome to another edition of our Sunday Etsy Spotlight Series, where we at CraftGossip.com shine the light on some of the most delightful indie patterns you can get your hands on—while championing the small businesses that keep our creative community thriving.
This week’s gem? A beautifully balanced Dress with Sleeves and a Gathered Skirt sewing pattern that’s just the right mix of timeless, wearable, and charmingly DIY.
It’s the kind of project that beginner sewists will find approachable, but even seasoned makers will appreciate the clean lines and customizable details. Want to shorten the skirt? Add a belt? Try it in a patterned linen or a silky solid? Go for it—this pattern is your new canvas.
What we love most? It’s all in the little things. The pattern includes helpful tips and detailed instructions that make it smooth sailing from print to final press. The sleeves are the perfect Goldilocks length—modest, practical, and totally stylish. And that gathered skirt? It’s forgiving and flattering all in one.
Whether you’re sewing for yourself, your teen, or a friend, this is one of those patterns that feels just right for everyday wear.
This dress is like the sourdough starter of your handmade wardrobe—it keeps giving. Make it casual with cotton chambray, elevate it with voile or tencel, or keep it comfy with soft double gauze. Play with prints, add lace trims, or make it monochrome for a minimalist look.
Seriously, once you sew one, you’ll be itching to make five more.
Here at CraftGossip, we believe in celebrating the magic behind handmade—and that includes championing the pattern makers who make it all possible. Purchasing from Etsy means supporting small businesses, indie designers, and passionate creatives. You’re not just buying a PDF file—you’re encouraging someone’s dream.
This spotlight series is our way of giving back, and giving you fresh inspiration each week from the talented folks who deserve to be seen.
Tell us below: would you make this in florals, solids, or maybe a fun gingham? We’d love to see your creations!
Join us again next Sunday for another Etsy Spotlight, where we keep the indie sewing love alive—one irresistible pattern at a time.