Guess what?... I'm pregnant! And you know what that means: tons of adorable maternity outfits... if only. Actually it turns out that growing a little person is actually pretty uncomfortable, so some new stretchy shorts were a must! Because I'm staying active and the majority of my pregnancy will be during the hot and humid Texas summer, I'm pretty much living in these shorts. I decided to give Cali Fabric's double brushed poly ...
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Do you have children that prevent you from sewing as much as you want to? (How come they need to eat so often anyway?) How would you like to suddenly have more time to sew? And what if a fabric could give you this extra time? Well, if you answered yes to these questions, I have a fabric suggestion for you! If you’ve ever been around reversible sequin fabric, you know ...
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By Sarah Connell, from Sewing with Sarah One of my favorite things to do as a sewist is to take a fabric designed for one thing, and make it into something entirely different. When I saw the Tori Richards Striped Shirting on the site a few weeks back, I was desperate to order a few yards and dive into a shirt-making frenzy, with a popular pattern like the Grainline Archer Shirt Dress ...
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As summer approaches, I knew I needed a new batch of t-shirts. I'm forever on the quest to find the perfect fabric for those slouchy tees I love so much. I grabbed six different knit substrates from the site and got to work! I debated on which pattern to use for this comparison and settled on the Love Notions Classic Tee. It is full of options, comes in sizes XS-XXXL, and ...
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Have you ever sewn with stretch cotton sateen fabric before? It's often listed as a suitable fabric for making a variety of pants, dress, and jacket patterns, but I've just never really selected it for myself. I think I had this preconceived notion that it might be too fancy for this stay-at-home mom to get much wear out of, but I just couldn't ignore this beautiful vintage inspired print when ...
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Hey! Today, I am sharing a jacket that is inspired by a previous make of mine. Way back in 2011 I made another version of this same Simplicity 2223 (now OOP) pattern. It was made in a similar shade of green twill. It was and still is one of my most favorite pieces. It got a lot of wears and now 8 years later, it is faded and too small. ...
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Often I get asked which fabrics I like to use for baby clothes. Since I seem to have a lot of experience with babies and making baby clothes, this is one area where I have some definite experience and recommendations. I love to use knit fabrics for baby clothes and gifts. It’s soft, stretchy and there are no hard edges to poke or scratch that delicate skin. Since there are ...
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Several months ago I started this project and now, about six months later -- IT'S FINISHED! Have you ever had a project that you "worked" on for so long and then when it's finally in the "completed" pile, you are so satisfied with yourself that you can't stop looking at it or admiring it while you're wearing it? Well.... that's me. Also, when I say "worked" on ...
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Hello, Cali Fabric fans! I don't know about you, but I am anxiously awaiting spring. The calendar may say it is spring, but I am waiting for the green to come back in my life. That may be why I have been gravitating towards green fabrics as of late. This skirt is no exception to that. The fabric is a solid forest green midweight cotton twill. It has a pretty ...
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Did I get you yesterday with my April Fool's joke? Maybe a little? It's time to show you what I really made with that lovely soft sweater knit! I didn't lie when I said this hot pink heathered sweaterknit was super soft, drapey, and my favorite color! And I really love how the heathered black tones down the brightness. As stated on the Cali Fabrics website, it's a fairly loosely woven ...
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When I got this squishy, soft sweater knit in the mail from Cali, I knew it had to be made into something special. It’s PINK which is my favorite color, drapey, and super cozy. I really couldn't wait to wear it so I just took my 2 yards and made this great no-sew rectangle which is about 72” x 60”. Easy to take it sporty with tennies and no-show socks. But also versatile, ...
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Meet my sister, Anne! She is a conference planner for a governance non-profit that regularly hosts heads of state, politicians and dignitaries, along with lead researchers from around the world. When it's time for an event, she needs to be able to set up chairs and tables and lug around equipment... and then look elegant and professional as the guests arrive! We've been working on her wardrobe for years (she ...
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Curtains are a great way to update any room, and with this simple curtain construction method, my bedroom was transformed in just a couple of hours! When I moved in, my windows had old mini blinds which were outdated and seem to always be dusty. I knew I wanted a nice sheer fabric that would let in a lot of light but would obscure the view since my bedroom windows face ...
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This winter has felt long and especially cold. Full disclosure, I live in Northern California, where “cold” is somewhere between 45-60 degrees. I am fully aware that this makes me a complete and utter cold weather wimp and garners no sympathy from anyone who has to contend with ACTUAL winter. Regardless, I’ve been living in sweaters this “chilly” season. Since spring doesn’t seem to be upon us yet, I thought ...
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Necklines play such an important role in a garment since they're front and center, yet I find myself sewing the same one over and over when it comes to my knit clothing (I'm talking about you neckband). I can't remember ever having sewn a draped cowl neckline before, so I think it finally deserves some attention in my wardrobe. This neckline has a put-together look that can be casual, professional, ...
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As a Cali Fabrics Blogger, I get to order fabric every quarter... and time after time, I find myself fawning over French Terry! Cali always has a great selection of solids and prints, including cotton, rayon, poly and bamboo fabrics. Here are a few of the French Terry projects I've sewn for Cali over the years: a drapy vest and a cosy cowl sweatshirt! But wait! Digging through my blog, ...
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Hello friends! I have something a bit different to share with you today! As sewists, I’m sure we’re all inspired by rtw (ready-to-wear) from time to time and happily modify amazing patterns to suit our vision. While I don’t do this too often, I’m certainly no exception. And admittedly, as much as I love drooling over the high-end runway designs, when it comes to actually making something, shops such as J.Crew ...
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Have you ever liked BOTH sides of a fabric and had a hard time choosing which side to use for your final garment? That happened to us with the indigo denim-look knit fabric. (currently only available in brown) The front is a very denim-looking fabric except that it’s knit. And the back is a pretty silvery gray color. So ultimately, we decided to use both sides by making the ...
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My husband got a new tattoo this year, so of course I had to make him a shirt to show it off! I knew I wanted this Cali Fabrics Black and White Checkerboard Knit as soon as I saw it. It's a perfect weight for t-shirt - one of the things I love about Cali is that Ron's fabric descriptions are so reliable! He says it's light mid-weight, and ...
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Roses, jewellery and a table for two are all well and good... but me-time is a girl's best friend! This Valentine's Day, I'm planning a date with myself! Whether you are single or in a couple, your relationship with yourself is life-long. My favourite gifts from my husband are always ones that show he values my interests and hobbies - i.e. SEWING! For Christmas he gave me fabric gift certificates ...
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