Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Sewing

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

Sometimes, it's like a blog post just writes itself. Well, almost... don't I wish!

Several weeks ago, I opened up an email from AllFreeSewing and found the unexpected bonus that I'm about to share with you today. Given that we've just flipped the calendar to September, it's also an apt celebration of National Sewing Month.

I have to admit that the mailings from AFS come too fast and too often (several times a day) and I'm more likely to delete them than look through them. Whenever I do open one, it's to scout out new projects, but I'm glad I read further in this particular edition.

This collection is not new, but I had never previously seen all of this stuff gathered together like this.

The best part is, whether you've been sewing for two months or two decades, something here is sure to be new and informative to you.

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History & Basics

From absolute basic stuff like how to sew buttons — divided up into shank buttons, two-holed buttons and four-holed buttons — to what finger to put a thimble on (there's really no right answer to that, by the way, it's wherever you feel it provides the best protection for you), there is a section that answers basic questions about sewing in general. It even includes an article on the origins of sewing; the earliest evidence of threading cord through holes in material dates back to 45000 BC.

Sewing Notions & Stuff

Did you ever wonder why the word "notions"? I mean, if you look the word up in a dictionary, it doesn't give you the meaning that it has with us sewers. Unfortunately, while one of these articles does go in depth on what sewing notions encompass — i.e., basic supplies, cutters, fasteners, trims, measuring implements, and pressing tools — it doesn't go into why the word itself was chosen. Too bad.

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

Among the collection of articles found here is one that covers unconventional sewing tools. You know those hacks that we've come to adopt and use? (Binder clips, anyone?) Maybe there's something new for you to discover.

There's also a discussion on the best glues for fabric. Obviously, it's going to be the kind that's been developed for fabric, but I had an issue with their dismissive assessment of glue sticks. No, they're not going to hold anything together permanently, but they are quite handy for temporary adhesion.

 

Fabrics

What are fat quarters? Well, I certainly asked that question about a decade ago! A few seconds on Google got me the answer then, but this article not only describes the iconic rectangle that's been so personally useful to me, it also includes a guide to the other oddly named precuts of the quilting world. (Which must have been named by some poor soul who was on a diet depriving her from various sugary baked goods.)

Apart from the ways in which fabric can be cut and sold, this section provides tips on how to care for various types of materials from felt to vinyl.

One of my favourite discussions? How to "thrift" fabric; i.e., how to find and purchase unconventional sources of material. I started my sewing journey that way and have made it a priority to conclude it that way.

Sizing & Measurements

If you're into making clothing, this section is for you. Information on all aspects of sizing and measuring, from body types to types of clothing can be found here.

One of the articles tackles the subject of whether making your own clothing is cheaper than buying. If you're of a certain age, you already know the answer to that. (At one time it certainly was cheaper, but not now.)

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All About Sewing Patterns

Again, this section may be of more interest to you if you're a sewer of clothing and need to interpret a traditional "pattern". (I haven't sewn with a clothing pattern in decades.)

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

I like how the articles acknowledge the fact that sewing patterns are very expensive these days and give you guidance on how to alter and reuse them.

My favourites here? Two articles on how to draft your own pattern to make clothing. I've covered the method here on my blog with a pair of shorts, but the process is the same with any item of clothing.

Simply choose something that fits you well and you're off to the races.

Sewing Machine Essentials

It's debatable whether or not you'd be reading any of this if you didn't already have a sewing machine, but perhaps if you've outgrown the one you have, you may want consult this section for some sewing machine and serger essential facts.

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

I took a quick glance through the "choosing a sewing machine" article and smiled when I came upon a heading that stated, the best sewing machines last for decades. I truly don't know how the adage of "you get what you pay for" applies to modern day sewing machines, because I've never had to consider buying a machine in today's marketplace. I was a teenager when I purchased the sewing machine that I am currently using and I'm pretty sure I won't be needing to buy another one before my personal sewing journey is done.

Important one not to miss: how to clean your sewing machine. I've covered the question of tracking when here on my blog, but if you need a refresher course on the "how to" part, give this a gander.

Stitching & Hemming

This part covers everything from hand stitched embroidery to mending in terms of stitching.

And while I know what topstitching is, it never occurred to me that people might do it by hand. (I suppose it's the same as hand quilting.)

I like the suggestions for topstitching using a decorative stitch (as in the photo here). I have often thought to do my "next" bit of topstitching using the decorative stitching cams that came with my sewing machine, but the plan has never come to fruition for some reason. Maybe next time! ◔ ⌣ ◔

Miscellany

The first article listed under the last section has to do with covering up mistakes. I'm a true believer in that when something is done, it should be done right, so never hesitate to take out the seam ripper and do it over. (If need be, put it aside and wait until you're in the proper frame of mind.) But sometimes, things are just hard to fix and you may need a work-around.

Other articles here run the gamut from how to prevent puckering to how to sew elastic. It finishes off with a compilation of fifty-plus sewing "hacks", many of which are fun to explore and have in your sewing toolbox (some of which were covered in this previous post of mine).

The entire collection of links that I've described above can be found here in one central "index" at AllFreeSewing.

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One final link that I'd like to share today is this one for historical sewing patterns.

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

It's a collection of sewing patterns through the decades spanning styles from pioneer and Victorian days through to the 1990s.

Even if you don't make any of them, it's an interesting read. (And I'm not just saying that because one of my projects was featured in their 1980s collection!)

In closing, I'd like to express my gratitude to the folks at AllFreeSewing for their support over the years... and for providing me with enough material for a post that almost wrote itself. ◕‿↼

Oh, and mustn't forget: you can join in on the National Sewing Month 2022 celebrations throughout September (with giveaways galore as usual) over at AllFreeSewing by clicking here. 

'Til next...

AllFreeSewing & National Sewing Month

I owe a lot to AllFreeSewing.com...

AllFreeSewing.com and I have a long history together... dating back to the beginning of February 2014, to be exact.

I recently realized that in the roughly seven and a half years since — just a few months less than the length of time this blog has been in existence — it has been the most important partner I've had during my sewing journey. What a revelation!

At one point, [original] Craftsy would have held that honour, but the closure of its marketplace at the end of 2018 relegates it to second place.

AllFreeSewing is a bit of an unusual entity in that it has actually managed to improve on itself over its lengthy tenure, in a space where many — including some not so well-intentioned — have tried to make an imprint.

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I've mentioned at various times that I didn't have a clear picture of what I was in for when I started this blog. There was no road map to follow. But from understanding how the world wide web works, I knew that I had to be found in order to build a small following.

While one can interact with other blogs to try to gain traction and visibility with a new blog, it's an excruciatingly slow process with no guarantee of success. At best, one might get five percent of another blogger's audience to come over and have a looksee. If lucky, perhaps one percent of those will remember to come back.

In short, I knew that I had my work cut out for me if I was to go around to various blogs and start commenting or joining in on link parties in hopes of getting return visits. (And honestly, it wasn't the kind of work that I wanted to do.)

That's where AllFreeSewing came to my rescue.

My first project featured on AllFreeSewing...

For those of you who don't know, AllFreeSewing is an organized directory of sewing tutorials and articles that is available — as the name implies — for free. While it hosts some content on the site itself, most of it consists of direct links to blogs and other sites where the tutorials originate.

When I submitted my first tutorial to AllFreeSewing in January 2014, I was hoping that it would open much wider doors for me than I'd get by merely knocking on the doors of other bloggers.

Did it ever. 

Turns out AllFreeSewing had (and still has) a highly successful newsletter campaign that provides unparalleled exposure for sewing designers.

Back then, the descriptions were written by AllFreeSewing staff...

Not only does traffic come from a tutorial being linked by the website itself, every now and then, a project may get featured in one of those newsletters. (Or, in extraordinary circumstances, one might get nine projects featured in a single newsletter, as happened for me recently.) 

The newsletter driven traffic is a game changer, as more often than not, my ad revenue even goes up as a result. Participation in any linky party these days is nothing compared to what I get as a result of being featured in one of AllFreeSewing's newsletters.

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AllFreeSewing's website changes everyday. They feature a project of the day, a hotlist of currently trending tutorials, as well as a list of what's new. Content is managed via categories that range from Accessories to Wedding & Bridal. Within each category, you can view the results alphabetically, by most recent, or by most popular. The site is very easily navigated. (Sure, the ads are somewhat annoying and often clickbait, but remember that all of this comes to you at no cost.) They also run regular giveaways and offer product reviews.

Truly, it's a one stop "shop" for sewing info.

Last fall, one of the editors at AllFreeSewing emailed to thank me for having promoted them on various occasions. That led to my Crossbody Sling Bag being featured on their Facebook page in October.

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing (Facebook)...

Then in November, they added my Handy Hacks for Handmade Bags blog post to their main site. Further correspondence led to plans for me to contribute to their September celebration of National Sewing Month this year.

AllFreeSewing typically has a ton of content on offer during National Sewing Month, as well as giveaways galore. In my post from 2020, you can see that they gave away everything from a sewing machine to thread. It's a great place to hang out every September, as the whole atmosphere is elevated.

[Word has it that a Bernina B-325 valued at about $1300 is the grand prize this year. For those who are aiming to up their embroidery game, there's also a draw for a Floriani Total Control U Embroidery software package. Other goodies up for grabs include an Oliso iron, various fabric and thread.]

This year, I'm super pleased to report that my Things to Sew for Travel series will be part of the fun over there. (If you missed them, here is part 1 last month about toiletry cases; part 2 about drawstring bags was a couple of weeks ago.) I seriously doubt that I would have lasted this long without the promotional power of AllFreeSewing, so I'm both tickled and honoured to be a contributor!

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National Sewing Month celebrates with a different theme every year. Last year, it was I create with fabric and thread. What's your superpower?

Celebrate National Sewing Month this September...

For 2021, the theme has to do with new sewing traditions and traditional sewing techniques. Maybe it's how traditional sewing techniques have led to the development of new sewing traditions during the age of COVID?

There's no doubt that the past year and a half has seen a lot of sewing machines being taken out of storage and dusted off to make masks and other PPE.

Whatever the theme means to you, embrace it and be thankful for being one of those special people who — as was touted last year — has a real life superpower worth celebrating.

Happy sewing and make sure you check out AllFreeSewing during National Sewing Month. You never know what you might find.

'Til next...

What's Your Sign?

Takes me back to the 60s and 70s...

As we reach the heights — or the depths, depending on how you see it — of the silly season south of the border, it seems the right time for a frivolous diversion.

Every now and then, it's fun to explore what one "should" like or prefer, based on some arbitrary point of fact like a birthdate, which is what zodiac signs are all about.

A couple of years ago, I posted about something similar regarding colours, patterns and personality.

Colour and style preferences play large roles in what we choose for sewing and crafting projects, as well as the materials used. I am constantly surprised by how much I like or dislike something (a bag, a pouch, etc.) based on what fabrics were chosen for it.

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I think back to the project that consumed much of the month of August here: the crossbody sling bag. Had the original bag — hanging in that market in faraway Honolulu — been made out of a less attractive (to me) material, I would never have noticed it from "across the way". I would then never have purchased it, never would have found it almost perfect for my current shopping needs, and would never have designed my own version of it.

Even more strange, that would mean that maybe one or two of you might not now be making your own version of that bag!

Back to the subject of zodiac signs, though, I've never paid attention to my horoscope on any sort of regular basis. On rare occasions, if I've perused the entire newspaper and I'm still craving something more to occupy my time, I'll go to the puzzle pages or the classifieds, encounter the horoscopes there and give them a read.

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Admittedly, most of the time, they aren't even entertaining.

Even so, I had higher hopes when I came across these zodiac-based amusements. They weren't entire time wasters. Maybe you'll feel the same. ;-)

Quilt Pattern Preference

This first link is from Seams and Scissors, AllFreeSewing's blog. It gives you the usual basic info about your sign and then suggests three quilt patterns that are right for your traits.

image courtesy of Seams and Scissors...

The links go to FaveQuilts, which is a site with free quilting patterns, so if quilting is your thing, so much the better.

This one gave me a bit of a pause. I actually liked two of the ones that were suggested for my sign, but my favourite was the one shown for Sagittarius.

Love of Sewing Ranked by Zodiac Sign

Well, you're reading this because you're already interested in sewing, but here's the lowdown on which zodiac signs are the most into sewing.

I'll spoil it for you: number one is Virgo.

Find Your Perfect Palette

Do you have trouble putting together the right colours when you choose fabrics for a project? Maybe you need to find out what your zodiac sign recommends for you. This little bit of entertainment also tells you what colours to avoid.

image courtesy of nowletsgetgoing.com...

The recommendations for my sign were half right and half wrong... about par for the course. (By the way, I'll be returning to this topic of selecting a perfect palette in a couple of weeks.)

Your Fave Colour as Determined by Your Zodiac Sign

This one's simple. It's a "here is your favourite colour as determined by your zodiac sign" prediction, courtesy of a site called SweetyHigh. (Look for another link at the end that goes into what your favourite colour says about your personality.)

To be honest, I actually have a hard time deciding what my favourite colour really is, but the one assigned to my zodiac is not one that is among my usual faves.

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These next two zodiac themed diversions have to do with home decor.

Your Zodiac Inspired Design Style

Does your sign influence your choice in how you decorate your home or how you wish you could decorate your home? Check it out here.

Here's an example of an eye-catching suggestion for Aries. (I would never do this, but it's eye-catching.)

image courtesy of TonTectonix/Shutterstock

I did not find the one recommended for my sign to be anywhere near my preference at all, while the one for Scorpio was totally up my alley.

Your Statement Piece

From The Spruce, this one tells you what statement piece your zodiac sign would splurge on, if it could.

image courtesy of The Spruce...

Seriously, they all leave me cold, but most notably not to my taste was the one that was recommended for my sign.

On the upside, once you get to the bottom of that page, there are a bunch of links to other like minded articles about how your zodiac influences your tastes. Check them out to see how wrong they might also be. ;-)

Perhaps my problem with these latter two is my dubious interest in home decor, period.

Your 2020 Lucky Colour

Finally, during this horribly unlucky year, here is what astrologist Jim Ventura thinks are each zodiac sign's lucky colours for 2020... whatever that means.

To be fair, this little bit of frivolity came out in early February, before this side of the world was hit by the reality of a novel coronavirus that will render nothing lucky in 2020.

But we do still need diversions from that reality, so I hope these have been somewhat delightful for you!

'Til next...

It's National Sewing Month

image courtesy of NationalSewingMonth.org...

Did you know that National Sewing Month (September) came into being in 1982 as a result of a proclamation issued by US president Ronald Reagan in recognition of the importance of home sewing to our nation?

Further proclamations stated that "Tens of millions of Americans sew at home. Their efforts demonstrate the industry, the skill and the self-reliance which are so characteristic of this nation.”

Pay no mind that the comments are USA-centric. Obviously, when something is declared "national", it has to originate in one particular country. But in the unprecedented year that is 2020, those statements can apply world-wide.

If nothing else, it's a great time to be a sewer.

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Unlike 1982, in more recent years, National Sewing Month has had an online presence with themes, projects and giveaways. Today's post will highlight some of them, hopefully giving you new ways to celebrate this "superpower" that we have in common.

image courtesy of NationalSewingMonth.org...

The National Sewing Month website (http://www.nationalsewingmonth.org/) offers up the entire history of this annual September celebration. This year, they've also featured four projects for you to try, including this one from ghees.com:

image courtesy of ghees.com...

I wasn't personally drawn to any of them, but if you're looking for projects, there are plenty more for you to discover at AllFreeSewing.com. I'm giving them a shout-out here for their month long features — they'll be uploading new content every day, so check in regularly throughout September — and for their awesome giveaways in honour of National Sewing Month.

For an idea of how the month long celebration will unfold at AllFreeSewing, check out their 2019 and 2018 pages. (Apparently I contributed some content in 2018, but I can't remember what it was!)

As for the giveaways, here are some examples of what's up for grabs this year. (Unfortunately, these are only open to residents of the US and Canada.)

Mega Handi Quilter HQ Stitch 710

As described on AllFreeSewing, this HQ Stitch 710 has 170 built-in stitches up to 9 mm wide, stitching at speeds up to 1,000 stitches per minute, with 11″ of clearance space to the right of the needle, and an ergonomic knee presser-foot lift.

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing; gifted by Handy Quilter...

Loaded with decorative stitches and multiple alphabet "fonts", you'll be able to go embellishment crazy with this machine worth a whopping $3,495 USD.

Sew Now Sew Wow Hydraulic Sewing Chair

How about a new sewing chair?

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing; gifted by Arrow...

Don't let its colourful appearance fool you. This one is ergonomically designed and made to provide maximum comfort. Oh, and if you flip up the seat cushion, you have access to a hidden storage area! Has a retail value of $399 USD.

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Thread

Who can't use more thread? AllFreeSewing has two giveaways to cover that off, this one (Dual Duty XP All-purpose Thread 50 spool assortment) worth $75...

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

... and this one of 32 spools worth $30...

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

Both are gifted by Coats and Clark.

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Notions

This $97 value gift package from Clover includes a pair of Bordeaux Ultimate Scissors 130, and a 3 yard roll of 18" wide Wonder Fuse and a package of something called Wonder Pins.

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

Now, I'm familiar with the clips and their no name varieties, but I've never heard of these pins, have you? Apparently, they're kind of like a safety pin that you can operate with one finger. Made for quilters.

Fabric

With it already being September in such an uncommon year, December will be here before you know it. If you're planning on doing some Christmas-themed sewing, this might be up your alley.

image courtesy of AllFreeSewing...

Worth $39, this is a Red Truck wreath panel, along with one yard of pinecone fabric and one yard of plaid reindeer fabric by Timeless Treasures.

To enter any of these giveaways, go to AllFreeSewing.com and click on the Giveaways tab. All of the current promotions will be listed on a single page for easy access. You can enter multiple times for the duration of each promo.

What Will You Do?

Are you planning on doing anything special to celebrate National Sewing Month?

Some people attempt to sew a little bit each day for the whole month (in which case you may already be five days behind). Others might plan to learn and implement a new technique in a sewing project. Still others will dig up various works in progress and pick at least one to finish.

How about learning more about your sewing machine? Do you have one that's fairly modern, but that you only use for straight stitching? Maybe it's time to find out what else it can do. Break out that manual and do some reading. Then make yourself a stitch book for future reference.

Or maybe you can do something to ensure smooth sewing for the coming year: organize your sewing room!

'Til next...

What's Up With "Grandma"?

What is the appeal behind "grandma" sewing projects??

In late July, I sent this message to AllFreeSewing, after suffering through many, many months of latent curiosity... LOL!

"Just wondering about something. I've been a subscriber to the Sewing it Up newsletter for some time now and am curious as to why there are so many mentions of "grandma" in those newsletters. Is it something on trend that I'm not aware of that people are attracted to "grandma" styles and projects?? I can't imagine young sewers clicking on them when I (in my 50s) don't tend to click on them. So I'm just curious if someone is specifically doing this as some sort of marketing strategy."

I'm not sure what I expected in return — perhaps some revelation that would educate me? — but I did get a response to my inquiry.

AllFreeSewing's reply to my query...

Did it satisfy my curiosity? Sadly, no, unless I get invited to that next quarterly innovation meeting.

So I'm asking all of you for elucidation. Are you drawn to sewing projects and patterns (or anything else, for that matter) that are headlined with the term "grandma"? If so, are you personally a grandmother? And if not, might you still be a grandmother?

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From all that I can gather in today's world, actual grandmothers — who can be as young as in their early 40s, by gosh and by golly — are not exactly fans of being called "grandma".

By choice, I had no children, therefore I will never be a grandmother. As the years have flown by, in my own body and mind, I — almost — feel no different from when I was a teenager. Having children undoubtedly transforms a person in some way, so if you've had kids, you likely have memories of a "pre" and "post" life in terms of being a parent. Therefore, how you feel about a word like "grandma" may be very, very different from how I feel.

Or maybe not.

When used as a descriptor in some way, I'm personally turned off by the word "grandma". For AllFreeSewing projects that are described as such — and here is a list from a newsletter where four projects out of twenty include the term — I never click on them.

Actually, that's a bit of a lie, since for the purposes of this post, I did click on these four just to see what they were. None of them were specifically referenced as being for grandma or inspired by grandma by the people who provided the original links.

Isn't that interesting?

By the way, here is the project that was linked to #9...

Photo courtesy of Melanie Lalonde from thelittleststudio.com...

I've checked out the whole blog post that the tutorial is featured on and nowhere does the word "grandma" appear. The project itself is actually quite cool and trendy, but I wouldn't have known about it had I not been doing research for this post.

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So back to the original conundrum... does anyone have any evidence that today's sewers are fascinated by projects that are grandma oriented?

Image courtesy of CottonandCurls.com...
the designer did not mention "grandma" in her listing of this project

I'm truly curious as to why AllFreeSewing does this when it can easily describe projects that allude to a previous generation by using a decade descriptor; i.e., the 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s. And yes, it does do that on occasion; the oddity is that I see the term "grandma" show up on virtually every newsletter! (Another seemingly favourite term of theirs is "little old lady"!)

This list came from a recent newsletter titled 25 Retirement Patterns...
I'm actually quite appalled by #4!

I mean, I get the attraction to vintage... that trend has been around since forever, in varying degrees. What's in fashion now has undoubtedly been in fashion before. The whole "what's old is new again" saying applies on a regular basis. But admiring items from decades ago is different from applying the word "grandma" to describe them.

My MyTie Makeover Mini Bag being described as made from "grandpa's tie"...

No doubt, part of the personal aversion that I feel relates to being reminded that I'm getting older... and not liking that fact. I could be totally wrong about assuming that younger crafters would avoid projects labelled for "grandma".

So let me hear from you, whether you're young or old: are you intrigued by things that are described as being for "grandma"? I am so genuinely curious!