Author Archives: Amanda Carestio

Tea House Dress Sew Along, week 3: Tying Options

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

Today we’re concluding our Tea House Dress sew along with tying options. The ties create the subtle shaping on this dress and blouse, with two different versions included in the pattern. We’ll look at those versions and discuss some options … Continue reading →

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Bra Sewing 101: 9 Tips to Know

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

Have you been following along with #braugust2018? This month-long bra and swimwear sewing monthly challenge is so inspiring! We’ve got bras on the brain and are happy to share some bra making tips from our new series with lingerie pattern designer … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips & Techniques | Tagged bra sewing, bras, lingerie | Comments Off

Tea House Dress Sew Along, Week 2: Yoke Assembly Tips

Posted on August 20, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

Welcome to week 2 of the Tea House Dress sew along! One of the most eye-catching features of this dress and blouse pattern is the amazing yoke. Perfectly framing the face, the yoke is a great place for color blocking … Continue reading →

Posted in Sew Along - Teahouse Dress | Tagged tea house dress | 1 Comment

Tea House Dress Sew Along, Week 1: Fabric Selection

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

Welcome to the Tea House Dress Sew Along! We hand picked this pattern for a number of reasons: it’s modern yet timeless, comfortable yet chic and looks amazing in just about every fabric we’ve seen it sewn up in. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Sew Along - Teahouse Dress | Tagged fabric selection, teahouse dress, teahouse dress sew along | 1 Comment

6 Fall Sewing Must-Haves with Allie Olson

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

We hope the August/September installment of Clothes Minded got you in the mood for fall sewing – it worked for us (and we’ll be sharing our plans later this month)! In that installment, IndieSew.com’s Allie Olson shared her tips for … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged allie olson, fall sewing, fall sewing patterns, fall sewing plans, fall wardrobe planning | Comments Off

DIY Textiles: Plastic Bag Painting Technique

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

We’re concluding our exploration of fabric dyeing and painting techniques with a look at plastic bag painting. This is the perfect technique if you’re going for that perfectly imperfect painterly style. Plus, this technique has applications options for a wide … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips & Techniques | Tagged fabric embellishment | Comments Off

All Things Fall (sewing!) with the August/September issue of Sew News

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

Get your fall sewjo working with the August/September issue of Sew News! This issue is all kinds of awesome – here are a few of my favorite things from this packed issue! My favorite thing in this issue – maybe one … Continue reading →

Posted in Project Inspiration, Sewing Inspiration | Tagged fall sewing, Sew News | 4 Comments

DIY Textiles: Painted Brushstrokes Tips

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

We’re continuing our focus on DIY Textiles today with a tutorial for creating bold brushstrokes. We love the high-end, painterly look this technique gives fabric and simple designs, such as this basic a-line skirt – plus, it’s totally one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Project Inspiration | Tagged embellishment, fabric painting, textile | 1 Comment

Fabric Dyeing: Flour Resist Technique – Tips and Tricks

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

If you haven’t seen the new issue yet, you’re in for a trio of terrific DIY textile techniques, perfect for summer experiments (aka, getting messy in the pursuit of creative happiness). DIY textiles or altered fabrics add an extra handmade … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips & Techniques, Tutorials | Tagged altered fabric, diy textiles, flour reist fabric dyeing, flour resist, flour resist for fabric | 2 Comments

Wardrobe Planning Tips from Rachel Pinheiro

Posted on June 19, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

We have been inspired by all the handmade wardrobe planning tips from our favorite sewing designers and bloggers this year, and this issue’s installment – from Rachel Pinheiro – was no exception. By Rachel Pinheiro of House of Pinheiro (Read … Continue reading →

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Summer Fabric Series: Tips for Sewing with Sheers

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

It’s summertime, so bring on all the silky, drapey, flowy fabric goodness. Silk, crepe de chine, chiffon, lawn, voile – these fabrics are among our faves, but they can be intimidating and tricky to work with. This week, we continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips & Techniques | Tagged working with sheers | Comments Off

Shorts Sewing Pattern Roundup: Our Top Picks

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

Whether you’re super into shorts or not, in some climates, they’re a must for summer. Shorts are perfect for testing pants patterns (and many patterns include them as an option), they don’t often require a large amount of fabric and … Continue reading →

Posted in Garment Sewing | Tagged sewing shorts, Shorts | Comments Off

Summer Fabrics Series: How to Sew Gauze Fabric

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

We’re focusing on fun summer fabrics all month long! Gauze is one of our favorite summer fabrics to sew. From swaddle cloths for babies to fashionable garments, accessories and quilts, double gauze fabric is a delight to use and wear. It … Continue reading →

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Favorite Woven T-shirt Sewing Patterns: Roundup Time!

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

We spent May reviewing some of our favorite knit t-shirt patterns but we also wanted to give some love to our other summer favorite, woven t-shirts. From boxy to fitted and basic to interesting details, these are some of our top … Continue reading →

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June Sew Along Preview: BurdaStyle Cap-Sleeve Wrap Blouse #124

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

If your summer sewing plans don’t feature a wrap blouse, get on board! Wrap styles are flattering, comfortable and easy to wear for a variety of body shapes. This month’s sew along features the Cap Sleeve Wrap Blouse #124, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Sew Along - BurdaStyle Cap Sleeve Blouse | Tagged blouse, BurdaStyle, Sew News, Sew-along | Comments Off

Summer Fabrics Series: How to Sew Cork Fabric

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

Join us this month on the Sew News blog as we get geared up for summer sewing with tips for sewing a variety of fun fabrics, from cork to double gauze. First up, we’re talking all things cork. An eco-friendly alternative … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips & Techniques | 4 Comments

New Issue Of Sew News! Summer Sewing At It’s Best!

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Amanda Carestio

It’s MeMadeMay and our sewing lists are growing, friends! Look the pages of the June/July issue of Sew News for tips, techniques, insights, inspiration and more to sew the perfect summer wardrobe. There’s so much to love in this issue … Continue reading →

Posted in Sewing Inspiration | Tagged New Issue | 7 Comments