Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Don’t miss this chance to save big time with this special holiday subscription offer on Sew News . For a limited time, subscribe or renew your subscription to Sew News at a special low rate and give a one-year gift subscription to a friend absolutely FREE (Offer valid in the U.S. only.).  That’s two subscriptions for the price of one! This special holiday offer won’t last long, so act fast. It’s a great way to check your sewing buddies off your holiday list, or give the priceless gift of sewing and inspiration to a budding seamstress.

The Dec ‘09/Jan ‘10 issue of Sew News is now on newsstands, and it’s packed with tons of fun holiday decorating and gift ideas. What’s your favorite project or tip? As always we’d love to know what you think!

There’s nothing quite like a cheesecake-filled pumpkin cupcake.

I love to bake–especially when pumpkin is involved. And although I should have been starting my holiday sewing (the gifts I plan to make for family & friends), I made these delicious cupcakes this weekend instead! It was snowing outside and the smell of pumpkin was so lovely. If you’re looking for the recipe, it’s in the November issue of Every Day with Rachel Ray. It’s probably on their Web site too!

What are your favorite pumpkin dishes? I”m always looking for new ones to try!

Happy Pumpkin Fest!

Ellen

Rather than spend money on a garment class, I recruited my coworker, Kim, the Editorial Assistant, to help guide me through the steps to making a jacket. Kim graduated with a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY, so I was confident in her lesson.

At JoAnn, we selected the pattern, fabric and notions. I chose a purple and white houndstooth fabric to use with View A of this pattern:

I began by cutting the pattern pieces:

Then I learned the importance of the grainline. I pinned each pattern piece to the fabric:

I cut out the pieces:

Then I fused interfacing to the appropriate pattern pieces:

Following the pattern guidesheet and Kim’s expertise, I constructed the jacket pieces.

In that lesson I learned:

• Pattern symbols
• Darts
• Pressing collars
• Grainline
• Setting sleeves
• Ease

I constructed the back and front panels, the collar and one sleeve. I still have to sew on the remaining sleeve, finish the  hem and stitch the buttons and buttonholes.

Stay tuned for pictures of the finished garment!

Are you looking for gift ideas for the little ones in your life? Stitched Toys by Kate Haxell features 20 super-cute designs, many of which you can make with fabric from your stash. As promised, three Sew News readers will win an exclusive copy of the book. Send and e-mail with the subject line “Stitched Toys” to info@sewnews.com that includes your name, phone number, e-mail and address. We’ll choose three winners at random. Stay tuned to find out if you’re one of the lucky ones!

I love going to the market at this time of year to see all of the beautiful produce, especially apples. Last week, I made apple butter from scratch for the first time–such a treat with toast, biscuits or oatmeal. I did it the easy slow-cooker way, using a recipe I modified from this one, and I had enough to keep for myself and share with family and friends. Make your own batch before apples go out of season!

I’m noticing that the sewing world has also been inspired by this very aesthetically pleasing fruit. In the July/August issue, our sister magazine, CME, featured this adorable apple-themed skirt project.

Download the free pocket pattern here, and get the cute apple embroidery design here.

Here’s some pretty apple-print oilcloth available from Hart’s Fabric. How cute would it be to make a fall apron or tablecloth from this?

Or if you want to spiff up your sewing kit, check out this apple-top basket available from Jo-Ann:

Repro Depot has this super-sweet apple applique:

I just got back from a trip to Manhattan. I ate a lot, walked a lot and observed a lot. I saw so many cool, fun, chic, weird and interesting fashion trends.

The great thing about New York is that it’s an agglomeration of people from around the world. There’s no place in the United States quite like New York. One street is filled with the sights and sounds of Chinese culture; turn the corner and suddenly you’re in Italy. Walk a few blocks down and you’re in Mexico. And just up the street is the best row of sports bars a football fanatic could ever want.

If you think you need to have a certain look to fit in, think again. I saw women sporting the ’80s look like it was 1984. There were men who wore tights with long T-shirts, kids dressed in fancy hats, elderly women in short skirts and teenagers in buttoned wool cardigans and pleated skirts and slacks. And let’s not forget about the sea of I Heart NY shirts.

I had to pick up one of these shirts while I was there. It’s a must-have item when visiting NY.

Shopping in SoHo was a really fun experience. There’s something for everyone (and everyone’s pocket book!).

I definitely saw proof of the ’80s comeback when I was in NY (in stores and on people). I’m not quite sure how I feel about this decade’s style, but I do like the bright, daring colors and fabric patterns. But don’t worry. If the ’80s isn’t for you, everyone has a place in New York. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes. New York is all about walking, and painful blisters are definitely not chic!

Do you live in New York City, or have you ever visited? Tell me about the craziest, coolest or most interesting fashion trend you’ve spotted there!

Last week, my friend Pam and I got to the fun part of her sewing lesson: construction! I set up my trusty beginner-friendly  Singer machine for Pam to sew her new shark print PJ pants (Butterick 4037), because I thought it might look a little less daunting than my more high tech-looking computerized machine. Turns out, Pam is a sewing natural! After I gave her a little overview of the basic parts and workings of the machine, she was off and stitching. We had very few snags during the process, and Pam was amazed and excited at how quickly and easily she was actually sewing. I made sure to show her how to press as she sewed, and she immediately understood the importance of back tacking. I think this pattern was a great choice for a beginner, plus now Pam has several other projects (robe, shorts, etc.) she can tackle as she feels more confident in her skills. I’m so excited to see what she makes next and feel really proud to have spread the sewing bug!

Here are a few highlights from our sewing marathon.

Pam sews her very first seam:

Reno helps interpret the pattern instructions:

Pam models the finished project. Nice work!

Have you ever taught someone to sew? I’d love to hear your success (and not-so-successful) stories. Please share below!

I think that handmade gifts are always the most special. While fabric and thread have always been my medium, my sister Wendy is a whiz with yarn and a crochet hook. She’s also very good at planning ahead. Last year, she mysteriously asked me in early October if I preferred orange or navy blue. I chose orange and  quickly forgot about it, but I was delighted when she presented me with a beautiful sunset-orange scarf on Christmas morning. This year I plan to follow Wendy’s example and get a head start on the presents I want to make in time for the big 12/25. Here at Sew News, we want to help you get a jump on the Holiday season too, so we’re offering a very special Buy One, Get One 50% off discount on our ‘06 and ‘07 Holiday issues. These issues are packed with great gift and decorating ideas and each includes a huge full-size pattern insert. But hurry–this exclusive web offer expires  October 9th! Happy holiday sewing!

I vowed to get a head start on my Halloween costume this year, and here I am on September 23 with NO ideas! I’ve searched and searched…do I come up with a couples costume and make my husband join in the fun? Or do I find something for me and my dog (since he’s more likely to not care about getting into costume)?

Every costume I like seems more appropriate for a child. Like these:

How cute are those?!

Or I could always go as OctoMom:

But that just seems too scary!

I do like Mad Men…

But would anyone really get it??

Please let me know what you’ll be dressing up as for Halloween this year…I need some good ideas!!

Thanks in advance!

Ellen

So last Thursday was Pam’s second sewing “lesson,” which coincided very nicely with Project Runway (BTW–I was really happy to finally see a more interesting challenge on PR.  So far, the challenges have been sort of a yawn. I think using newspaper really brought out the creativity of the best designers–and rooted out Johnny, which was a good thing). We worked on cutting out the pieces for Pam’s shark-print pj pants, and I gave her a little overview on all the symbols and markings you commonly find on a pattern. Pam did a great job meticulously cutting out the pieces. I even let her use my own very precious dressmaker’s shears that I’ve had since I was 17.  Now onto the fun part–construction! Tonight we’re going to get to start sewing, and I’m really excited to see how Pam does using the machine for the very first time. Here’s a picture of her with the cut-out pj pants pieces. So proud! Shark pants, here we come.