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…
Category: Inspiration
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…
Quick Tops with Tabula Rasa Tee Variations
It is so gratifying to be able to whip up a new knit top in just a few hours! Having a fitted core pattern for the easy-to-construct Tabula Rasa Knit Tee & Tunic and its variations makes this possible. This post features two tops that Rae and Carrie sewed up…
Treasured Sewing Tools – Perfect Gifts
Do you have favorite or treasured sewing tools? The two might seem to be the same, but I find I use my favorite tools all the time and my treasured tools seem too special to be used quite as often. One such tool is a lovely pair of hand sewing…
A Soft Purple Wardrobe
In fall of 2022 we welcomed a new friend, Sue, to our Sew Successfully Retreat. She brought along a luscious pile of dusty purple stash fabrics and immediately got started making fitting mock-ups of our Core Wardrobe Patterns. Later in the weekend we sat with her and helped in planning how…
Holiday Gift – Scrap Lace Step-by-Step
Thanksgiving week offers those of us in the United States time to reflect on how fortunate we are. Carrie and I count ourselves so very blessed by the many members of our Fit for Art community who encourage us to bring the weekly blog, newsletters, retreats and other offerings your…
My Book Cover is Finished – La Cascade Report
We are delighted to see this Scrap Lace Book Cover created by Linda, one of our 2023 La Cascade retreat participants! Because she shared her accomplishments with us, we are able to share them with you. Perhaps this will be an encouraging inducement for you to join us July 17-24…
Collage Inspiration
Every year on our Enchanting France – Embellishing Fabric retreat, we wrap up the week by making a group thank you gift for our dear host and chef, Nese. In years past we’ve presented her with a collaged wall hanging and a collaged book cover. This year we went a…
Vests in Soft Corduroy
Vests for kids made with the Tabby Jacket Pattern and for grown-ups using the Tabula Rasa Jacket Pattern are great for the times of year when the seasons change. This pair of vests were made as spring was approaching but they are still perfect for our current move into fall.…
Copy Cat Tops
Over the last year I have added a few new knits to my collection. Two in particular were direct copy cats of tops I had made before, loved and wore out. One, a tee using a multitude of black and white scrap fabrics and the second, my favorite U neck…