Earlier this year I tried my hand at sewing a new (new to me) kind of fabric called Plisse. I’m pretty sure you’ve seen it around as the texture is very similar to seersucker. Plisse is a woven type fabric and is characterized by its crinkled appearance that is a result of the application of a caustic solution that causes the fabric to shrink and pucker. It’s lightweight in texture ...
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This sweet girl is all about fashion. She started online window shopping for school clothes in July. She loves to browse all the trendy websites and is constantly filling shopping carts with the latest looks. Unfortunately, her tall, lanky frame doesn't work for a lot of ready-to-wear clothing. She now knows that she can bring me her wish list and we can shop for fabric and patterns to recreate her ...
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I was on a roll making the ever-popular Closet Case Ginger Jeans left and right, but I had yet to make them from something other than denim. The pattern calls for a stretch fabric since it's for skinny jeans, so I wondered what else would work. I saw this olive green heather ponte de roma fabric and thought I could give it a try. And what do you know, it worked! ...
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What do you do when you have a large pattern stash but an idea for a piece that doesn't quite fit what you already have? Why, you dream up the perfect Frankenpattern, of course! UrbanDictionary.com defines the term "Frankenpattern" as: frankenpattern To pattern using multiple styles and mis-matched pattern pieces. The end result is a combination of the garments that leaves the patternmaker horrified as to how it was put together, but usually no one else knows ...
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Full Disclosure: I still feel some type of way writing this post, or even admitting such a thing happened, and even though I have MAJOR FEELS about it, I can't deny that is has indeed happened ...my daughter turned SIX! And with 6 came a new sense of self awareness, independence and strong opinions. Admittedly, I'm not surprised that her already strong spirit has intensified, I just wasn't quite ready ...
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I have finally reached a point where instead of making the latest, greatest, shiniest thing, I'm making wardrobe staples to replace the ill-fitting RTW (Ready-To-Wear) clothes in my closet. It might sound boring to some but I find some of the greatest satisfaction in making clothes I will wear the heck out of and not just for special occasions. Enter the Sewaholic Granville Shirt: I LOVE this pattern to make shirts ...
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It's definitely getting cooler here in Canada... as I type this, I'm sitting under a wool blanket and quilt! That means it's time to put away the sundresses and cosy up in layers. This fall, I decided to use my Cali fabrics to add some trendy colours from the Fall Pantone Palette to my fall wardrobe. I haven't worn this dusty pink or soft burgundy for years, but suddenly they feel ...
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Hi! I'm Tori from The Doing Things Blog. I am a tall (5'11) sewist who is addicted to making clothes that finally fit and that are long enough! #sewingtall I live in the San Francisco Bay area with my husband and son. We're a family of doers (hence - The Doing Things Blog!), and my husband and I are living our dreams. I am a stay at home mom and sewist ...
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I’ve been lusting after the gorgeous jumpsuits and rompers everyone has been wearing for the past year, but after trying on a few ready-to-wear versions I got discouraged. My top and bottom halves are completely different sizes – okay for separates but terrible for jumpsuits. I put my jumpsuit dreams on the shelf for a while until one day about a month ago I had a revelation – I sew! I ...
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The weather is turning hot, hot, hot and my wardrobe needed some serious help! I've been wanting to make the Oceanside Pants from Blank Slate Patterns for ages. They are a breezy, relaxed fit drawstring waist pant or short that look amazing in lightweight fabrics such as linen or chambray. I snatched up this perfect lightweight indigo tencel denim and it was exactly the look I wanted. Several of us Cali ...
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Hi Everyone! Wow. I just realized that the last time I was here I made a cardigan! You would think that I could at least try to be more original. The thing is, it's May. Me Made May is in full swing and come hell or high water....I was gonna be prepared this year! So here you have it....jeans and a cardi! My original plan was to make jeans and a ...
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Hey guys, So I live in California and the weather has been so temperamental. One day it's cold , you wake up the next day and its bright and sunny, but if you dare to go inside for a minute the next thing you know it starts raining! We've been having a steady streak of sun and warmth though, and so it was the perfect opportunity for me to get a ...
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Hi there! I’m Maria, founder of Maria Rose Sews. I started my business to create beautiful, quality clothes and fabric goods for people to use in their everyday lives. In addition to starting my own business, I also work freelance so I’m always sewing something new and unique. My sewing career started in college when I got a job in the costume shop of a dance theatre. After my first year, ...
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I was beyond excited when I saw that Ron had listed Carhartt canvas in some 20 (20!!) colors on the Cali Fabrics site. If you aren’t familiar with the brand, Carhartt is known for high-quality, premium-yet-affordable workwear in sturdy fabrics like denim and duck (aka, canvas). You may have seen their recent feature in Threads magazine, with a tutorial for the Detroit cuff. I knew this would be fantastic quality ...
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Hi Everyone! I'm back again with this cozy cream cardigan. Becca from Free Notion made a gorgeous Toaster sweater from this same knit and wrote about its tricky nature. Her tips are spot on!! She put together a fantastic post...so go read it! The big difference between Becca's use of this knit and mine is the direction of the cables. she put hers vertically which gives it nice stretch and movement ...
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So this is probably the last time this dress will be on my body...not because I don't like it...but because once my daughter saw it and told me she loved it... well... I gave it to her as soon as I took it off. Gotta keep your photographer happy right!? I'm always thrilled when my girls like something that I've made, it's so flattering! So what's up with me and rayon ...
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Hello lovelies!! Truth be told, I've avoided sewing knits because I'm not a very big fan of knit binding. I'm such a perfectionist, and because I don't have a coverstitch machine (yet) it bothers me when my seams and stitches are not symmetrical, that is, until I figured out how to fake it! It really was the most exciting thing I've stumbled upon. A few months ago, I sewed up a knit ...
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I've been a bit absent around here lately, and it's because I'm expecting! I've had an absolute hell of a first trimester, and was sick all day and all night for about 10 weeks straight. The past couple weeks have really been looking up, though, and I'm starting to feel a lot more like myself, and a lot more like sewing! As I've talked about before, I HATE throwing away my ...
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When setting out to make a costume for an event, be sure to plan your entire design around a tiny piece a fabric that you found in your grandmother’s stash. Bonus points if it is falling apart and tremendously difficult to sew with. Don’t even think about using a ready-made pattern! Why make it easy on yourself?! If you want to make harem pants, it is logical to start ...
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Hey Califabrics blogreaders! How are you? How's the New Year going so far? For me, it's been coooooooolllldddd! I'm not sure where in the world you are, but I'm in Calgary, which is in the Western-ish part of Canada, and we are having a very snowy and cold winter this year. No outdoor pictures for me! Ha! So the cold weather means I want to sew all the cozy things! I ...
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