Category: Books & Articles

All about member Lu Peters

shear-accident-smallWe are proud to have the very talented Lu Peters as one of our members.   She is a frequent attendee of the Toujour Couture neighborhood group, that meets the first Thursday of the month at Fabrique! fabrics.  AND Lu will be teaching one of our workshop seminars at the upcoming “share fair” on September 27th.… Read the rest

Vintage, what is old is new again

simplicity halter

Have you notice the resurgence of vintage?  Simplicity and Vogue have been re releasing vintage patterns, Butterick has a line of retro inspired patterns with the designer Gertie of the blog “blogforbettersewing.com“.  Pattern review is running a vintage sewing contest.  I adore the 1950’s playsuit by Madssews.   http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/ContestGallery.pl?ContestID=208

I started sewing very early on, but in all the moves from high school to college, from this place to that place, I only kept one of my patterns from my high school sewing days.  … Read the rest

From craft to art: Richardson quilter brings home the gold

By KAREL HOLLOWAY
Special Contributor of Dallas News
(original article)

When Melissa Sobotka quilts, there are no pinwheels, no wedding rings, no log cabins.

There are, instead, sinuous waves, Christmas-like ornaments filled with swooping whorls and re-creations of painted masterpieces.

Sobotka’s quilts are art, hanging in private collections and galleries.… Read the rest

Pattern Making Books Bibliography

patternmakingfashiondesignHere is the list of pattern making books that Mary Jo and Debby recommend for the Designing Divas neighborhood group. These books have directions for different design techniques.

All purchases ordered via the book links below support our local chapter. Of course you’re free to purchase the books elsewhere. To save yourself some money also check out the used books/second hand sellers.… Read the rest

A Handbook of Lettering for Stitchers

tumblr_kzpvdursay1qa53iwo1_500Public Collectors is founded upon the concern that there are many types of cultural artifacts that public libraries, museums and other institutions and archives either do not collect or do not make freely accessible. Public Collectors asks individuals that have had the luxury to amass, organize, and inventory these materials to help reverse this lack by making their collections public.… Read the rest

Dressing down a culture for refusing to dress up

Markita sent me this article by Nancy Giles about the dressing down culture. Make sure to watch the video as well!

(CBS News) Dressing elegantly for the most routine matters is a tradition from a distant past — and our Nancy Giles thinks that’s a shame (see the orginal CBS article here)

“There’s got to be a happy medium between wearing a burka and running around half-naked,” said Przybyszewski.… Read the rest

All about buttonholes

This morning’s Toujour Couture meeting was all about buttonholes.

A buttonhole by definition is a small slit in a garment or piece of fabric for fastening a button, but we all know a buttonhole is much more than a slit in cloth!

It can be either utilitarian or a design element depending on the garment being created.… Read the rest

The Secret Strength of Silk Organza

If you envision frilly little girls’ dresses, crisp sheer collars, or a translucent evening concoction when you hear the name “silk organza,” reconsider.

In this Threads Magazine article (download here) Marla Kazell, teacher of fine-sewing techniques, will show you several ways silk organza can greatly improve the results of your sewing.… Read the rest

ASG Sewing Hall of Fame 2012

Each year the National ASG picks a Hall of Fame Honoree. Induction into the Sewing Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have had a lasting impact on the home sewing industry with unique and innovative contributions through sewing education, product development, media or other sewing industry related endeavors.

Claire Shaeffer was the 2012 Inductee into the ASG Sewing Hall of Fame.… Read the rest