Isn’t it so easy to dismiss potential joys and fulfillment by caving to fear?  It’s scary to look inside.  It’s terrifying to imagine that I might not be who I though I was (or having never really thought about who I am in the first place).  I have self-identified as so many personas; I believed these surface level labels I chose for myself to be all there is to me.

All of these and more make up the “me” I see in the mirror, but I have ignored most of all that I am a teacher.  Until fairly recently (for close to 30 years now – since I started wondering who I am in the first place),  not only did I ignore that I am a teacher, but I actively rallied against it internally; all the while helping, guiding, and supporting friends and strangers… you know – teaching!

In high school I was an exchange student.  I went to West Germany for a year (back in the olden days, before the wall came down) having only studied German for a year (why Germany and not somewhere else is another story altogether!) and when I returned , I was a fluent German Speaker.  In fact, my very first J.O.B. other than restaurant work was teaching German to executives from the auto industry whose families were being relocated for work.  I was 18 years old, teaching professional, degreed engineers and managers of divisions and their families to prepare for a new life that I, barely an adult myself, had lived and succeeded in doing already.  When I think back on that, I am pretty impressed with myself.  At the time I was riding high on accomplishment, and knew I had something to offer the world.  Even then, though, that little sh*tty voice in my head would tell me “You don’t know enough of anything to teach other people” or “Why would they listen to you? You’re just a kid.”  I went away to College (made a poor choice at that) and promptly ran out of courses that interested me.  There was ONE German course I hadn’t tested out of placement, and after that, I would basically have had a 4-year Independent Study if I wanted to continue at that school.  I changed to a French Major, studying economics as well.  I was there on a music scholarship (did you even know I’m a singer?) and so continued those lessons.  When I ran out of French courses to take, I switched to Japanese. Aced it. Boring. 

Eventually, somewhere deep inside, I realized I could teach many of the courses I was taking, considering all the tutoring I did to help pay my tuition. When working two jobs ever school break and full-time during the school year still couldn’t cover my expenses – even with student loans and financial aid, I figured it wasn’t worth my effort to finish College and quit school.  I moved to California to become a singer in a rock band.  (Again, an entire story in itself.)  But, because I had quit school, I was now a “quitter” a loser, a slacker….pick your epithet….and those beliefs took over.  When I ended up living in my car, and couldn’t survive L.A. emotionally, I came crawling back home under the condition that I was to finish school.  After a few false starts at community college, I ended up at a local University – Wayne State in Detroit – and found my academic dream job after just a couple German classes. I was asked to become a research assistant for a Distinguished Professor of German in the German and Slavic Languages Department.  Making 5 dollars an hour, I prepared course packs (again – literal cutting and pasting paper to other paper to photocopy) according to syllabi for the Professor’s classes, wrote footnotes for his research papers, led discussion in my language and literature courses, even sat in on Graduate Courses, and as a side job, helped his History Teacher wife grade her high school class papers. I loved every last bit of it.

Naturally, I was encouraged by my colleagues to consider becoming a professor myself.  I was thrilled with the research, the academic life, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and the application of that new knowledge to traditional topics and cross disciplinary studies.

Why didn’t I pursue that course?  Why did I leave school – again – to take on an administrative and marketing job for an architectural firm?  Tears well up in my eyes every time I think about this, and right now is no exception: FEAR.  I was terrified stiff of standing in front of a class.  It didn’t matter that I had expertise in any of a number of topics.  It didn’t matter that I cared deeply for my chosen course of study, or that I was passionate about sharing it with other people who exhibited even a mild interest; I was petrified of being The Teacher. 

 

I scared myself out of a fulfilling life, because no one ever told me (or perhaps I refused to notice?) that being a teacher isn’t all encompassed in knowing everything, preparing long lectures, or being “tough.” Being a teacher means lighting a spark of interest on fire in someone else.  It is part leading by example and part erasing fear from the learning process.  Being a teacher means it’s okay to not have all the answers, but to lead students in discovering answers for themselves. 

Becoming the Art Teacher for my daughter’s “school” while we functioned as a homeschool co-op (during the time we worked at becoming a charter school) taught me even more about what it means to be a teacher.  Especially with something as personal as art, students need the teacher to help them feel good about what they create. 

I learned that I have a gift in all of my failures and fear. I can comfortably fall right down (literally or figuratively) in front of my students, whether they are younger or older than I am, and show them that it’s okay to not be perfect; that life itself is a journey of discovery and there are many paths to explore. I teach them that it’s better to not be “perfect” because where’s the fun in that?  In my art classes, I always bring extra supplies so starting over isn’t painful. In my sewing classes, I offer “unsewing service.” (Hand me your seam ripper and let’s keep going) I do this because I know that moving forward is more fun than going backward.  There’s no “punishment” for making mistakes, only understanding to be gained.

All my life, I have been a teacher without knowing it.  It took years of exploration to figure that out.

What have you learned about yourself?  There’s so much to discover with a little introspection!  Join the Exploration Party this week, read about all the amazing explorers and share the joy!

Rachel Gander has a new tee pattern available that is just perfect for beginners, and begging for personalization. I was invited to participate in her tumble tour to help launch her sweet pattern. I can definitely see us making a lot of these around here. With just two pieces (three or four if you choose the colorblocking options) Ella will be making her very own as her first “sewing with knits” project. I made this last Friday and she has already worn it 4 times (yes, that’s every. single. day.)

My sweetheart was oh so happy to have a new knit dress, and more thrilled when she saw what I had planned…Briar Rose Strawberries (I got them from Pink Castle Fabrics)

I modified the pattern by cutting the front piece on the fold instead of in two pieces, and then I added collar and sleeve bands for a little contrast. Details can be found in my little graphic:

Ella wasn’t feeling very model-y, but she did want to go for a little hike, so sport setting, engaged, I captured her in spurts of action)

Please be sure to check out my fellow tumble tour reviewers!

8.5 Sew Sweetness & The Crafty Kitty

8.6 One Girl Circus & luvinthemommyhood

8.7 Sew Delicious & Living with Punks

8.8 girl like the sea & Suburbia Soup

8.9 Buzzmills & Miss Matatabi

8.12 Alida Makes & Max California

8.13 Crafterhours & Kitschy Coo

8.14 La Inglesita & sew chibi

8.15 EmmylouBeeDoo & LBG Studio

8.16 Petit a Petit and Family & girl. Inspired

Well, actually I’m not. Skateboarding is the one sport-on-wheels I’ve never really been able to figure out, but when I saw Amanda’s Grown-up version of The Skater Dress, I knew I had to have it.  Every tester photo I saw was super-flattering, so I held high hopes for my first foray into sewing someone else’s knit pattern for myself. I was not disappointed; in fact, this is my new Favorite Dress.

I was so optimistic, that I chose a super-bold and crazy fabric I have been saving for the *perfect* project for nearly seven years:

Aside: You may have noticed that I haven’t been sewing for myself lately.  It’s been a result of too-busy-mama and massive avoidance. I have mysteriously gained 50 lbs since December, and I haven’t wanted to shop or even measure myself for anything new.  In light of that, it was a bit of a risk for me to offer to post pictures of myself in a whole garment, and not just a close-up of my latest hair color. I didn’t want this post to slide the slippery slope of body image, but since the Lady Skater is something I feel great wearing – how about an endorsement for positive body image and a little boldness?

On with the review!

Amanda includes a full-on pictorial tutorial in the pattern and thorough measuring instructions.  I always read an entire pattern first, and I wanted to give you a balanced review so I read in detail instead of skimming (for once).  WOW.   The Lady Skater is a veritable primer on sewing with knits, or sewing for yourself, or both.  The instructions are thorough, full of details and fully illustrated in step-by-step annotated photos, which makes it an excellent beginner pattern.  That doesn’t mean it’s just for beginners, though. The Lady Skater has some nice construction details and a beautiful fit.  Also, it came together like a dream.

Based on my high bust measurement, I decided to cut a straight #5 with 3/4 sleeves.  The pattern is easy to put together and easy to follow along your size if you print in color (I did).  I even took a chance and used the sleeve cuff and neckband pattern pieces.  Usually I cut those after – just to make sure – but it felt good to follow the pattern and have everything work out without any tweaks.  I did make a single change, and that was to lengthen the skirt by 4 inches, in order to still reach my knees after skimming around my ample (let’s go with that benign term, ‘mkay?) hips. Again, I simply followed the instructions included in the pattern. Do I know how to do this already?  Yes!  But what kind of review would I post if I simply used my own tricks and didn’t actually follow the pattern instructions?

One more little detail I added was a scalloped edge on the hem and neck and cuffs.  (You can find out how by visiting RaeAnna’s tutorial and scrolling down for the specific settings to achieve this effect.)

I can’t recommend the Lady Skater highly enough. Not only does it come together perfectly, and I mean Perfectly, but Amanda also has some awesome Bonus Content  on her blog.

I’m going to make another one today, because as much as I love this print, I think folks might notice if I were to wear it multiple days in a row, don’t you think?

 

The Goodship Dress a sleeveless pattern, but it’s so easy to include a cap sleeve I thought I’d share the technique with you.  We’ll draft a pattern for the little sleeve from measurements of your partially finished garment. Once you’ve followed along once, it will be really simple for you to add your own sweet cap sleeve on this and any sleeveless pattern you have in your library. My version of a cap sleeve finishes the arm opening, so you’ll end up with a super-comfy, washing-machine-friendly garment that will last.

Here’s a photo of a mod cap-sleeved version of the Goodship:

I made a similar version for the Monaluna booth at Fall Quilt Market to show off Jennifer’s beautiful line Modern Home.  We’ll use that one as our example, since I took photos along the way to share my technique with you, but remember that you can use this method on any sleeveless blouse or dress pattern.

1.  Sew your garment up until the step where you finish off the arm opening.

2. Decide where you would like your sleeve to start and end on the armhole.  Mark with pins.

3.  Measure the distance from pin to pin, over the shoulder, and write down the measurement to use for your pattern piece.

4. Draft your pattern piece onto a piece of paper.  (I keep misprinted sheets from my home printer on hand for precisely this purpose!)

- Measure along a straight edge of the paper and mark the length you measured in step 3.

- Fold the paper in half along that edge, and add 1/2” seam allowance to your original measurement.

- Determine the amount you’d like your sleeve to extend from the finished shoulder. I like 1 1/2”  Measure down this amount, then, add 1/4” seam allowance along the folded edge of your pattern paper as follows:

- use a French Curve ruler (or the edge of a plate, or freehand it) to connect the sleeve depth mark  including 1/4” seam allowance to the mark you made in step X:

Here’s what the pattern piece will look like, once you unfold it and mark your “Place on Fold” line along the straight edge:

- Cut two of these on a fold to get two sleeves:

- Baste the raw edges of each sleeve to the raw edge of each armhole, matching the  center of the sleeve to the shoulder seam on each side.

- Measure the entire armhole, then add 1/2”.  Cut two 2” wide bias strips the length you determined for each armhole.  Sew each strips into a circle, using a 1/4” seam allowance.  Press that seam open, then press the entire strip in half, hiding the seam allowances.

- Pin the folded bias circles to the basted armhole and sleeve raw edges, matching the seam in the circle to the underarm seam of each dress armhole.  note: In some areas you will be pinning through 5 layers (2 layers of bias, 2 layers of sleeve and 1 layer of dress) and in some areas, you will be pinning through 3 layers (just the 2 layers of the folded bias and the dress).

- Sew it together, using 1/4” seam allowance.

- Clip up to, but not through, the seam you just made.

- Once you’ve clipped all the curvy bits, press the bias away from the rest of the sleeve, using a pressing ham if you have one.  (I call mine a Tofurkey…no hams in this house.)

- Understitch the bias facing to the seam allowances, so they will fold neatly inside. Press the bias all the way around to the inside of the dress.

- Press the sleeve away from the dress (it’s so cute, already!)

- Edgestitch (right next to the folded edge) in place to enclose all those seam allowances.

- Here’s what it looks like before you trim away those threads!  (If you want the double-topstitched look pictured below, you can topstitch right next to the arm opening. 

- All done!

Nita was the winner of the Collage Giveaway.

I wish I could give you all a layer cake of Collage from Carrie Bloomston but alas, Windham only authorized one per social media freak-out (blog tour) stop.

I hope you’ll contact your local quilt shops and ask them to order Collage from their Windham Representatives.  I already asked mine to carry it. (Yes, I have to buy it, like everyone else. ) I always support my small business owner friends.

Please email me, Nita, with your address.

 

 

You know that special spark you feel when you meet a kindred spirit?  There’s electricity when such souls connect. At Quilt Market in Kansas City last Spring, those synchronicity sparks were flying around Carrie Bloomston’s SUCH Designs display.  I loved all Carrie’s work, especially her finger puppet sets and her Mandala Yoga Mat (Good Karma Quilt).  I loved that she used fabrics from the gorgeous Marcia Derse lines, which not enough people know about, in my opinion.

Kansas City 2012 was my accidental Anti-Marketing Conference Trip.  I went to simply enjoy the Quilt Market Atmosphere and see my little Goodship Dresses on display.  I forgot my business cards at home. Rae and I met loads of people, reconnected with old friends, and had a blast.  Naturally, I was surprised and delighted (blown away, really) when I received an email from Carrie that she was designing her OWN LINE for Windham Fabrics and wanted me to make her a dress to wear from her own fabric.  COLLAGE is fascinating, unique and so, so fun.

The result of back and forth emails about styles, inspirations, and ideas led to Carrie’s Rock and Roll Princess Dress:

A knee-length strapless dress, with boning, a side zipper, and shirring in back, the dress features Carrie’s beautiful Bird Dot fabric in Ivory and some sweet pink cotton trim. In fact, when Carrie wore it to Anthropologie to style the outfit for her photo shoot, the sales people thought the dress came from their store.  I guess that means we hit the Anthro-vibe nail on the head?

I loved working with this fabric.  It washes into a soft and gorgeous feel, and presses nicely.  Quilting cotton is notoriously crisp and wrinkly, but I’m telling you, if you pull it out of the dryer right away, you can wear it without bothering to iron.

She designed her fabric with such love and care; I was compelled to give her garment the same love in the details:

Carrie is a force for good in the universe.  I cried when I read the mail she sent the designers revealing that she had truly achieved her mission to enable the inner artist:

“My whole life I have been the artist–even my brand is about enabling the inner-artist for others. But, this is different. In designing fabric, I have become…the PAINT.”

Dear Carrie, you truly have become a medium through which garment and accessory and textile goods designers can express ourselves!

I loved the entire line, so I requested some fabrics to use in my menswear for the latest Kentucky Derby Fashion Party (last weekend here in Northville). Janna was kind enough to rush over some unedited photos of the darling Michael Pack in his Bauhaus Red dress shirt:

I bound the unlined Jacket seams with bias strips of the same print:

I love designing menswear with unexpected details. This outfit was a huge hit at the event. That little peek of collar in the stunning red really pulls a fashion punch in an otherwise traditional outfit:

I loved the selvedges so much that I used them as interior design details:

And I couldn’t resist playing with some of the not-quite-solids in the collection. I used the Charcoal for the inside cuffs, sleeve plackets, and the inside yoke of the shirt:

So, you see, quilting cotton CAN be used in garment sewing; and is practical, comfortable, and surprising.

If you’ve been following along with the Collage series, you know there’s a special opportunity for you to get your hands on some of Carrie’s fabric. Windham is offering a Layer Cake to a lucky winner from each stop on the blog tour. 

If you would like to enter, leave a comment here, telling me about your experiences sewing garments with quilting cotton.

The collection is just now hitting the road with the Windham reps and it will ship to stores July 1st. So Carrie needs your help. Please forward these posts to your favorite online and brick & mortar retailers. Let them know about the line and tell them to order it for their store!

No, I don’t watch the horse races – and Mint Juleps make me woozy – but I love a Kentucky Derby Style Event. Last year I had so much fun making garments and working with Rachelle and Janna and all the lovely models, that I jumped at the chance to do it again!  If you know me then you also know that I am not one to shrink from a challenge.  So, this year, I’ll be making menswear.   Last year I also had a bit of menswear sneak its way into the photoshoot by David Mello.  Underneath the Jacket from Banana Republic and the tie from Gabriella Gonzales, you can see the dress shirt by me:

The color story for last year will be repeated. Red, Neutral, and Black seem to be Rachelle’s favorite colors and I am so happy to oblige her! Last year I made a tan soy and bamboo knit maxi dress for Joan with a vertical Black Stripe:

A red crossweave cotton one-shouldered sundress for Sophie and a Tan Wrap Dress with black Piping for Marlene:

Perhaps my favorite outfit of last year’s collection was the one I made for Janna. It was a Black knit petaled ”Lucky Skirt” and draped black tank tunic: (The steel blue and backless dresses by Sarah Jane)

This year’s event promises to be even more fun. Will you save the date and meet me in Northville?

February 2nd, Janna and I held a fantastic opening event at LilacPOP Studio in Ferndale. It was so much fun and, despite the blizzard conditions, despite a giant Blues Festival being held locally that took up all the convenient parking, despite a million other events being held that very same day, we had a huge turnout. We were interviewed and photographed.  The local paper even wrote about us the following week (which was very exciting)!

We have a couple classes coming up this month.  You can sign up over on our Studio Website.  Janna took some lovely photos wearing the infinity sweater from the workshop I’ll be leading next Monday.  There are 3 spots left as of this posting, so if you’re local, and you want to learn to sew with knit fabrics, this is a good starting point!

Next up, on February 22nd, Annie will be teaching a Crafty U Winter Session. More details and registration information can be found on her site.

And the following Monday, February 25th, I’ll be teaching a Pencil Skirt class. I have worn this skirt 4 times since I made it – I feel so beautiful in it, and I know anyone who makes one will feel the same. I even feel glamorous wearing a tee shirt and cardigan with it. I’ll have to break out the Mad Men shoes for that class. I’m pretty sure this will be my wardrobe staple until it’s summer dress time. As soon as I get the photos back, I’ll share them with you.

Next month, we have a Friday Night SEWcial planned – more details in the works, but I’ll let you know as soon as we have it written in ink on our calendars.

I’m so excited to announce

the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale,

sponsored by The Southern Institute and Fat Quarter Shop!

Over the past eight weeks a lot of behind the scenes work has taken place to bring you this amazing bundle of ePatterns from several of the top pattern designers and bloggers in the sewing and blogging world. The result is a bundle of 18 PDF sewing patterns that you don’t want to miss.

For one week only, ten pattern designers have come together to bring you 18 of their best PDF patterns, valued together at over $139.00, for the incredible price of $24.95! That’s over 80% off of the combined retail value! Plus you can enter to win a dream of a giveaway valued at (…) from some really great shops!

For less than $25.00 you will have a library of resources that you can use over and over again. The designers that have joined this sale are experts in their craft. They have been sewing for a very long time and are well known in blogland and elsewhere. Each designer has contributed one or two of their favorite patterns to create a bundle that is sure to please! Whether you are sewing for your own family or making gifts for others, these are patterns that you will love to use.

If you’ve never sewn with a PDF pattern before, let me tell you how great it is! After downloading your pattern instructions and your pattern, you will print out the pattern itself, creating pattern tiles, if you will. Simply tape the tiles together to create the full pattern! At that point you can cut out the size that you need and pin the paper pattern directly to your fabric or you can trace the pattern size that you need onto sewing paper or tissue paper and cut it out, saving the paper pattern for later when you need to sew another size. Paper patterns are so convenient because you can print them out as many times as you need!

Click here to buy the bundle!

Now let me tell you a little bit about the giveaway! The Sew Fab Giveaway is amazing! One lucky winner will win a bunch of amazing prizes from Craftsy, Fat Quarter Shop, fabricworm, Jennifer’s Jewels Custom Labels on Etsy, Green Bee Patterns, author Deborah Moebes, Mee a Bee, Gussy Sews, I’m Feeling Crafty, and Ball and Chain on Etsy. See the end of the post for giveaway details. This giveaway is not to be missed!

I know you’re dying to know “What is included in the pattern bundle?”

18 well-loved ePatterns from 10 well-known designers are instantly accessible to you by PDF download upon purchase of the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle. Here are the patterns that you will receive (click on each title to see more details):

The Commuter Cowl Pattern

From luvinthemommyhood

 

Alex and Anna Winter PJs Pattern

From peek-a-boo pattern shop

(6 mos. to 8 years)

 

Alex and Anna Summer PJs Pattern

From peek-a-boo pattern shop

(6 mos. to 8 years)

 

The Forget Me Knot Dress Pattern

From Me Sew Crazy Patterns

(2-6 years)

 

The Madeline Dress Pattern

From Me Sew Crazy Patterns

(2-6 years)

 

The Sidekick Suitcase Pattern

From Sew Fearless

 

Go To Gift Bags Pattern

From Go To Patterns

 

Go To Shift Dress Pattern

From Go To Patterns

(12 mos. to 12 years)

 

Banyan Trousers and Shorts Pattern

and Banyan Tee and Tunic Pattern

From Figgy’s Patterns

(18 mos. to 8/9 years)

 

Scirocco Dress Pattern

From Figgy’s Patterns

(18 mos. to 8/9 years)

 

Modern Folksy Bunny Pattern

From Gingercake

 

Love Your Lunch Box Pattern

From Gingercake

 

Miss Mod Top Pattern for Women

From Seamingly Smitten

(XS-XL)

 

Mimi Maxi Dress Pattern for Women

From Seamingly Smitten

(XS-XL)

 

Ruby Lou Doll Pattern

From Sew Much Ado

 

Mommy & Mia Apron Pattern

From Sew Much Ado

(sized for women’s regular and girls’ 3-6)

 

The Goodship Dress Pattern

From One Girl Circus

(2T-13/14)

 

The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle is only available for one week and will never be available again! You can purchase the bundle from February 4th at 8 a.m. EST through February 11th at 8 a.m. EST and there will be no late sales offered. Due to the nature of the sale there will be no refunds offered.

You don’t want to miss this unique opportunity to purchase a ready made collection of 18 PDF sewing patterns from 10 of the best designers out there!

 

And now for The Sew Fab Giveaway!

You are not going to believe the prizes included in this giveaway! Can’t buy the bundle? It’s okay… purchase is not required to enter. Take a look at what you have the chance to win:

A free online class from Craftsy.com

The latest release, Stitch Savvy, by Deborah Moebes

 

Sterling Silver Sewing Machine necklace from Ball and Chain on Etsy

 

$50 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

 

Fabulous Wristlet from Gussy Sews (not necessarily the one pictured)

 

$50 Gift Certificate to fabricworm

 

The Scoop Tote Pattern from Green Bee Patterns

 

60 Custom Tags from Jennifer’s Jewels

 

Red Riding Hood Little Girl’s Satchel from Mee a Bee.

 

Handmade Sewing Machine Cover from I’m Feeling Crafty.

 

A Sewing Themed Box of Goodies from Pick Your Plum

 

YES, ONE WINNER WILL WIN ALL OF THOSE GOODIES!!!

There are lots of chances to win and no purchase required to enter the giveaway. Just use the Rafflecopter widget and enter to win this amazing prize package that will inspire you in your sewing as well as keep you stocked with fabric for many projects to come!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale!

Sew Much Inspiration right at your finger tips…

only $24.95!

Get your bundle now!