Paper-Tape Dress Form

David Coffin Photo: David Coffin by David Coffin Barbara Deckert, a dressmaker from Elkridge, Maryland, and author of Sewing for Plus Sizes, uses a form-making method that I've seen in sewing texts from the 1930s: Brown-paper tape from an office-supply store forms a body mold as well as duct tape does, then hardens into "papier-mâché" to become a pinnable form, which you don't even have to stuff. from Threads #75, p.41 <A HREF="

The Maxi Remember that one time I used to sew clothes? Well cross country traveling mixed with nausea every night really put a damper on my desire to sew. But I started getting the itch a few weeks ago with all of my gorgeous new fabric. It's long and stretchy. top: Cozy / necklace: J.Crew / bangles: Forever 21 / shoes: Steve Madden My Maxi skirts are available for purchase in my store, leannebarlow.com.

Kool-Aid Dyed Playsilks – Tried and True A couple months ago I came upon a tutorial on The Artful Parent for Kool-Aid Dyed Playsilks. I hadn’t really heard about playsilks before that but upon further investigation found out that they’re awesome. They can be pretty much anything your child wants them to be: capes, dresses, blankets, scenery, tents and the list goes on and on. So, seven of us got together with our seven toddlers (all under 2 years) and dyed 42 playsilks in total. After we did the first batch of Kool-Aid packets, some of the mothers decided to get a bit creative with color combination and as a result we ended up with 14 different color at the end of the day. Edit: Here are a few answers to some of the more popular questions posted in the comments. Where did you get your scarves/What size were they? Will these bleed? Will this process work on other materials (cotton, wool, hair, etc)? I can’t read the color combinations!

GeorgiaPeachez: New Cutting Table Configuration I'm in love with my new cutting table :-> My old cutting table, while very functional, wasn't as fabulous looking. I was using a folding table, sitting on paint cans for height. Remember this? Instead of building a wall of cubbies, I used the cubbies to build the island cutting table. To build this I used 4 sets of cubbies and connected them for stability using L-brackets and mending brackets. The Billy Cardi Tutorial with Guest Katy from No Big Dill when i opened my inbox the other day and saw what katy from the addictive blog "no big dill" had whipped up for comfy sews VS cozy knits i swear i squealed and ran around the house doing a happy dance! wowsa! when she told me she was planning a cardigan i thought great, but this is fantastic. so simple yet so fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!! comfy, stylish and easily personalized. i've been so excited to show you all! if you haven't been over to visit no big dill, make sure you go. katy is a busy mom of 5, yes i said 5, gorgeous kiddos. i have to admit that katy's blog is one of the blogs that i am a lurker on. i never comment, just stare in awe at all she creates and of course, how gorgeous and stylish she is. i would like to know how she stays so slim after 5 babies and how she has the time to sew & blog. i find it hard enough with 2 nevermind 5! i'm always so busy cleaning up my drool after staring at all the goodies she makes that i can't manage to type my thoughts to her posts. The Billy Cardi