Nothing like spring and a looming special event to instill the feeling that one’s wardrobe needs a little boost. This week I will head out of town to celebrate the wedding of a nephew with lots of family, some of whom I was with this time last year at the celebration…
Author: Rae Cumbie
Asymmetrical Band Front
We have been playing around with an asymmetrical band front for the Tabula Rasa Jacket for many years. It is now time to show you the adjustments needed to change your Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern into this less predictable style. You have recently seen a garment made in this style…
Spring Coats – Rain or Shine Style
As we gathered on a chilly spring weekend in Baltimore for our annual early spring retreat, Rain or Shine Variations of the Tabula Rasa Jacket seemed to be on many agendas. It is also a great way to focus on more openings and closings before tonight’s virtual class for Fabric…
Openings in DIY Pants
Seems like an age since we wrote about sewing Eureka! Pants in this blog. We will solve that here with a deep dive into the openings and closings that work best in pants. This, of course, is a promotion for the last class I am teaching in Fabric Mart’s How to…
Sew Beautiful Facings
The Carpe Diem Dress and Tunic Pattern was introduced during the pandemic and we have written about its versatility often. But to my surprise, we have not shown the ins and outs of making a beautiful facing, one of the essential elements of a finely finished and easy to wear…
DIY Cruise Wardrobe
We were blown away by the wonderful wardrobe of Fit for Art makes that our friend Therese crafted for her anniversary celebration with family on an island cruise in December. We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming Therese to several of our recent retreats where she worked on developing her Eureka!…
Pin on the Seam Line
Seams are such an integral part of garment sewing, yet they are often taken for granted. My DIY clothes move up a notch when I pay close attention to each seam. Today we will begin to think differently about seams. That magical 5/8” garment sewing seam allowance is the first place to…
Everyday Swing Tops
The Swing Variation pattern for the Tabula Rasa Jacket is one of my favorite designs, so comfortable and perfect for using soft and drapey fabrics in my stash. I guess that so many of my swing tops have a dressy appearance because they are made with luscious fabric. Intentionally Plan your…
Slow Stitching
There is a movement in sewing, like in many other old established practices, to move back to the pre-industrial methods of creating. Embrace the process, one teacher might say. Another will say, experience the calm and creativity of a hand stitching practice. As a custom dressmaker, my career prior to…
The Blue Skies of France are Calling
We hope you are considering joining us in France this year for one of our two retreat weeks in the countryside. The cold and snowy weather in the mid atlantic the last couple of weeks makes these excursions seem so very sweet. Why don’t you plan to come along for…