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  • Giveaway Winner + Photo Round-up

    Scrolling through the Seamwork Giveaway submissions has been a bright moment of my day since we announced the giveaway here. When designing Seamwork Patterns we try our best to design garments that can be used as a blank canvas. Pieces for sewists to modify and customize to suit their signature style and build their personal …

  • Are you really a beginner?

    The first time I decided to survey readers and customers several years ago, I got a bit of a shock. I realized, I really had no idea anymore what "beginner" truly meant. I knew what it meant to me. But it clearly meant something different to my readers and customers. The many meanings of "beginner" …

  • Pattern of the Month: Mabel

    Last month I made the move from Los Angeles to Portland. After living in Southern California my whole life this has been a huge change. I could speak volumes on the distinction between the two cities, both of which have their virtues, but today I want to talk about this move in the context of …

  • Free Pattern Hack: The Peony with a Shoulder Yoke

    The Peony Dress is one of those styles I never seem to tire of. I adore the figure flattering simplicity of a fitted bodice and a flared skirt. If you look through my closet you will find a fair amount of my wardrobe consists of this style silhouette. For this exact reason I am constantly …

  • Pattern of the month: Peony

    Our Pattern of the Month for April is Peony! Peony is one of our all-time best selling patterns. It has a sweet, classic shape with a bateau neckline and removable cummerbund belt. Through the end of April, you can get Peony for 20% off when you use code PEONYMONTH at checkout. We’ll also be sharing …

  • How to Prevent DIY Anxiety

    Whether you are a seasoned sewist or still learning, you may experience something I call DIY Anxiety from time to time. Symptoms of DIY Anxiety include, but are not limited to: cold sweats, yelling at inanimate objects, reverting to childhood behaviors, and fabric-related nightmares. Loved ones may become concerned when you are found crying on …

  • Pattern of the Month: Moneta

    I’m a little late hopping on this, but our Pattern of the Month is… Moneta! I’m actually glad to be a little behind schedule, because I just discovered that Moneta is currently on the cover of Threads Magazine! Have you seen it? I actually had no idea. Someone mentioned that the skirt looks very full …

  • Pattern of the Month: Cinnamon is 20% off

    It’s time for our next pattern of the month! This month, we’re featuring Cinnamon, our sweet slip dress or camisole pattern. We have a few modification ideas to share all throughout February, one of which I’ve been saving up for MONTHS. As a child of the 90s, I love a good slip dress. They’re so …

  • Weekend Reading: Pearls, cheap travel, and evil evil glitter

    Maybe it’s the unusually dry, sunny weather we’re having. Maybe it’s that our office is full of flowers at the moment. Maybe it’s the new issue of Seamwork that I am over-the-moon excited to put out on Sunday (the lingerie issue!). Or maybe it’s our lovely and talented new art director who began with us …

  • Giveaway: Win a copy of 110 Creations: A Sewist’s Notebook

    To go along with our new Wardrobe Architect challenge this year, Beth of 110 Creations has kindly offered to give away a free copy of her wonderful planning notebook! 110 Creations: A Sewist’s Notebook is a lovely little planner that you can use to sketch, scheme, and dream. Use the croquis and accompanying notes to …

  • Weekend Reading: Having it all, speeding up intimacy, and tech…

    I’m having an amazing time in the studio these days. It’s insanely busy as we work to create each new issue of Seamwork, looking for the millions of ways we can make it better and expand, while also taking care of the main pattern line. I’ve been writing, editing, playing with fabric, photographing, fabric shopping, …

  • Free pattern hack: Violet sans facing

    I don’t know about you, but I’m not always crazy about facings. Sure, they’re easy to sew, and there are certainly times where a facing is the best option for finishing a neckline. There are even times when it’s really the only option. But with a little more work, you can often change out facings …

  • Weekend Reading: Joan Didion, Eileen Fisher, and How to Read…

    At the dentist this week, the hygienist asked me if I’d made any resolutions (why do they always ask so many questions with their hands in your mouth?). “Not really,” I shrugged. “Me neither,” he said. “I’m a driven person, so I don’t really feel the need just because it’s a new year.” I wouldn’t …

  • Pattern of the Month: Violet

    We’re starting a new feature on the blog this year: Pattern of the Month Each month, we’ll choose one pattern from our catalog to focus on, offering tutorials, tips, and free downloads to go along with it. Plus, each pattern will be discounted for the month it’s featured. I figured it would be a fun …

  • Weekend Reading: mammoths, going braless, and female friendship

    Just a few links for you this week, but I highly recommend the first one, especially if you’re having a bad day, are feeling self-doubt, or are getting pressured by your family this time of year for whatever reason. Weekend Reading: Why you should stop caring what other people think. You must read this. It …

  • Top 9 sewing books for beginners (according to you)

    A long time ago, I asked for your recommendations on books for true beginners. I thought it was high time I rounded up the top choices. I’m going to start with the standouts, the books that by far got the most mentions from you all. Then I’ll list some of the other books people feel …

  • Weekend Reading: Self-care, disney, and Tim Gunn’s vocabulary lessons

    Every winter, I buy paperwhite bulbs in bulk and force them indoors. They’re such a pretty treat and a little reminder of spring as things turn bare and stark outside. These guys are currently sitting on our big work table and perfuming the studio. What are your winter self-care rituals? Weekend Reading: Women talk about …

  • Our most popular posts, topics, freebies, and patterns in 2014

    It’s December, the perfect time to start looking back at what you’ve gone through in the last year: the things you’ve put out into the world, the trials you’ve lived through, the people you’ve met or become closer to. Today, I thought I’d take a look at all the things we’ve done this year. At …

  • Weekend Reading: Custom jeans, vintage sewing films, and weekend listening

    We’ve quickly slipped from a lovely mid-Autumn into the depths of winter this week. I’m looking forward to curling up under a blanket all weekend before our trip next week to somewhere even colder – Denver! I’m adding a new section to my weekend reading posts for things I’ve listened to and recommend. Given that …

  • What trips you up every single time?

    I have a sewing achilles heel. What about you? I don’t know why, but the same blind spot pops up over and over. It seems to be some sort of mental block that I just can’t overcome: I keep cutting things upside down. See, I’m a fast cutter. It’s never been my favorite part of …

  • Weekend Reading: Beauty, aging, and power dressing

    Happy Halloween, all. I’m just back this week from an amazing camping trip in Yosemite, where I snapped a photo of this lovely creature and his family. It was so refreshing, after weeks of staring at a computer screen, to take in all that glorious fresh air and scenery. I have some big stuff to …