What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

It’s time for some summer fun–in this case a lightweight summer jacket that has languished since last summer!  The pattern is the Moss Jacket from Helen’s Closet Patterns and the fabric is this one from Blackbird Fabrics in Canada.  I’ve ordered from Blackbird before and luckily had no issues with US customs.
I love a super light jacket–I don’t care for the feel of 99% of sunscreens, but I burn very quickly.  This type of garment is my solution.  When making a garment, the first thing I do is figure out my fabric layout ...

Our partnership with SIY Sew it Yourself is continuing and we’ve got a brand new FREE pattern to share with you today! The Sew Simple Skirt made is made from fat quarters so it is super fast and inexpensive to make. 

My version following the sizing instructions as written fits my 9-year-old perfectly. But you can easily adjust the size to use more or less fabric to make it for a smaller child or even for yourself.

My daughter chose the fabrics for today’s skirt from Magic Friends by Mia Charro for FreeSpirit Fabrics. So if she loves ...

Hard to believe the ninth and final lesson is here already!  Thank you for following along.  Links to all nine of the posts in this series are now listed at the bottom of each lesson and on my Resources page!  If you remember this down the line, the fastest way to find it is put “Plaid” in the search box at right on the blog OR look for a link to the Plaid Top Tutorials on my Resources page, here.

To recap, we have:

• Lesson 1:   Choosing a Pattern and Starting Tips
• Lesson 2:   Making a Muslin, Fitting and Sleeves ...

Hong Kong seams are a thing of beauty–a little extra work but a secret delight!  So even though I didn’t use them in this plaid top, I’m including them with all the seam lessons in this series of technique posts.  I did use them on both my Simplicity S8883  top, full blogpost here, and the Brumby Skirt.   I also used this finish on a jacket I made for my daughter-in-law some years ago that I swear I wish she could wear inside out LOL!

That lime green on the shoulder and princess seams is a Hong Kong ...

Lapped and flat-felled seams are two sides of the same coin.  Both are found in ready to wear–the lapped seams I see most often in men’s dress shirts.  Flat-felled seams are found on jeans…they’re that heavy, bulky seam!  The double stitching makes it strong, so it is good for seams that endure strain–like tight jeans!  They can also be used decoratively with contrasting and/or heavy topstitching thread. Let’s start with the ….

Please note:  I am affiliated with Janome as a Janome Artisan and am compensated.  However, my reviews are honest and I would ...

Please note:  I am affiliated with Janome as a Janome Artisan and am compensated.  However, my reviews are honest and I would say what I say whether affiliated or not.  I’ve also chosen to be affiliated with Janome since 2003 (!!!) because their machines are so good and they are so responsive to the interests and needs of their customers.

To make a French seam you sew the seam twice.  My example is on a 5/8″ seam which is standard in the US.  Please adjust accordingly for your pattern and practice.

First, sew the seam with the fabric WRONG ...

Nothing beats a beautifully finished garment, one that is so pretty on the inside that you enjoy it every time you put it on.  Though you might be tempted to wear it inside out it’s so pretty, it remains a secret just for you!  Top technique for a beautiful inside is using a seam finish to hide the raw edges.  Not only does it look nice, it also protects the edges of the fabric, prevents fraying, can improve the way the seam functions, and contributes to a garment that will last longer.  After all, you’ve spent money and ...

While visiting a favorite local shop in nearby Rockland, Maine, Clementine, I happened to fondle this amazing thick, soft flannel and thought it would made a perfect winter top.  The plaid adds a bit of complexity and opportunity to teach a few more advanced skills along with a fairly simple pattern for this series.

Please note:  I am affiliated with Janome as a Janome Artisan and am compensated.  However, my reviews are honest and I would say what I say whether affiliated or not.  I’ve also chosen to be affiliated with Janome since 2003 (!!!) because their machines are so ...

At the end of Lesson 1, I was showing you how far off the fitting is in this pattern when applied to my body: broad shoulders, small bust.

Please note:  I am affiliated with Janome as a Janome Artisan and am compensated.  However, my reviews are honest and I would say what I say whether affiliated or not.  I’ve also chosen to be affiliated with Janome since 2003 (!!!) because their machines are so good and they are so responsive to the interests and needs of their customers.

There’s a LOT of detail in this post, but if you ...

I thought it would be fun to teach some basic garment sewing techniques using a simple “T” top in woven fabric as the platform, tossing in a few special lessons along the way. This isn’t a class in how to make a blouse–rather it is a way to teach several techniques that are useful in garment making and home dec across the board.  There will be 9 posts total that will publish on Tuesday and Friday through March 21. As they go live, I will update a list at the bottom of each ...

For our final video in our Intro to Garment Sewing series we wanted to have a little show and tell so you can get some ideas of garments you can make from quilting cotton.

The Stephanie’s are joined by Courtney Berry, our video editor, and we take turns showing off the projects we’ve made over the years with quilting cotton.

There are lots of little girl dresses, tunics, skirts, dresses and even a western-inspired men’s vest. We hope you enjoy seeing our projects and get inspired to make something yourself.

Check out our garment patterns and book ...

Hopefully this series will just be the start of your journey into garment sewing. In today’s video both of the Stephanie’s go over some additional resources you may want to check out to expand your sewing skill set.

We talk about pattern companies we like, books that can be helpful when you get stuck and projects you may want to try next.

We have stocked some of the patterns and books over on our website. Make sure to check out this link to get inspired for your next make: https://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product-category/patterns/apparel-patterns-patterns/

Make sure ...

In this video we’re going to wrap up the Simple A-Line Skirt series with a video on sewing a double-fold hem.

We’ve already covered this technique in our Simple Pull-On Skirt segment, but we are taking it a step up in this video by covering how to make adjustments if your waist to knee measurement is different in the front and back of your body.

Stephanie Brennan will talk you through how to mark both measurements on your skirt so the hem will be parallel to the ground when you are wearing it.

While this is the last ...

We are almost done with the Simple A-Line Skirt! In today’s video Stephanie Brennan will show you how to attach the lining.

The lining will help conceal the raw edges of the waistband and add an extra layer of opaqueness so you can’t see the outline of your legs when the sun shines through.

We used a lightweight solid quilting cotton for our lining, but you could search for a solid cotton lawn or voile as well.

Just make sure you have followed along with the pattern so you know what steps need to be completed to the ...

In today’s video we are going to join our front and back panels with a French seam.

I feel like whenever you say the words “French seam” people just cringe and think it’s going to be fancy and hard, but it is really very simple.

You are just going to sew the seam twice, first with the wrong sides of the fabric together with a 1/4-inch seam. Then trim the seam to an 1/8-inch and sew a second time with the right sides together at 3/8-inch seam.

The two seams added together give you the ...

In today’s video we’re going to show you how to attach the waistband to the skirt panels.

We’re going to do this in two steps to make it easy, first attaching the flat front waistband to the front of the skirt, then making the elastic casing for the skirt back, threading the elastic through and securing the ends.

In the next video we’ll sew the side seams up with a French seam to enclose all of the raw edges for a nice professional looking finish.

Make sure you grab one or both of the skirt patterns ...

In today’s video we’re going to show you how to prep the waistband for the Simple A-Line Skirt.

Stephanie Brennan will walk you through attaching fusible interfacing to the front waistband. This will give the fabric extra stability and help it look nice when worn.

Each fusible interfacing will come with its own set of instructions, but they all are pretty similar in how they are applied and how to tell which side has fusible applied to it. Stephanie will make sure you know exactly what you’re doing so you don’t accidentally attach it to your ...

In today’s video we’re going to teach you how to mark and sew darts.

If you haven’t sewn darts before, they are often found on skirt and pant front and backs as well as on bustlines to create shaping. Basically darts are what makes the flat fabric round around the curves of the body.

Stephanie Brennan will show you how to accurately mark, pin and sew darts so they create the curves where they are supposed to be so your garments will be flattering on your body.

In the Simple A-Line skirt pattern, you will only be ...

In today’s video we’re going to teach you how to cut out garment patterns so you have accurately sized pieces that fit your body perfectly.

Stephanie Brennan will take you through her process of pinning the pattern pieces to the fabric, explain what the markings on the pattern pieces mean and talk about why the scissors you use matter.

When you’re done you’ll be ready to cut out any garment pattern so that it follows the grainline properly and hangs the right way on your body when the clothing is finished.

Make sure you grab one ...

We’re back with the second half of our Intro to Garment Sewing course! In this series we’ll be making a Simple Pull-On A-Line Skirt.

The pattern, designed by our very own Stephanie Brennan, features a flat front waistband with simple darts for a more professional look, and an elastic back waistband so there are no buttons or zippers to deal with. It also makes it super forgiving if you gain or lose a few pounds.

To follow along, just download one or both of the skirt patterns, and we’ll send you all of the FREE video tutorials ...