I will be working in Denver all next week so I won’t be able to respond to inquiries and questions in a timely way. I thank you for your patience in advance. To tide you over in my absence, we will be hosting book give-aways, sponsored by OPR. Yay, free books! For now, here...
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Archives 3/16-3/22 2005-2011
Review: Garment Construction Guide (industrial sewing instructions)
Today I want to tell you about a great resource I have for industrial sewing. First I have to back up to explain that unbeknownst to me, the schematics and illustrations I used in Industrial sewing instructions came from the book I’m going to tell you about now. That’s not where I got them...
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Voiding a pattern warranty makes others crazy
One reason experienced pattern makers are reluctant to take on a new entrant is because the designer doesn’t have a clear understanding of what they should or should not do. Specifically, new designers think nothing of taking a professionally made pattern and changing a thing or two without realizing how those changes can impact...
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Top Ten Reasons to Buy Handmade
Photo credit: DIY Headband by Stacie Stacie Stacie (Flickr) There are many reasons consumers choose to leave the traditional model of shopping at big box retailers, malls and chains. But increasingly, handmade is becoming the way to go, with sites like Etsy and Pinterest glorifying craftiness, leading to an overall resurgence in DIY fare at...
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Better than bamboo: Kenaf
Have you ever heard of kenaf? I’ve been eagerly awaiting its commercial development into textiles for years and it seems we’re a bit closer to that goal. If you don’t know what kenaf is it can be briefly summarized as a tall, fast growing plant (hibiscus cannabinus; related to cotton and hibiscus) that requires...
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Archives 3/9-3/15 2005-2011
Today we went to an alpaca farm. Our hosts were Sandy and Lee Liggett. They breed alpacas and are intending to develop some sort of a vertical operation with the fleece. Sandy is still experimenting with fiber and is as yet undecided. I was excited to have a chance to see alpacas up close...
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Russian drafting: girdles, panties & bras
My friend Rita lent me some of her Russian pattern drafting books -Russian pattern drafting being my some time obsession but if you saw some of these, you’d understand. Case in point is one book on the pattern drafting of lingerie such as girdles, panties and bras (I confess to keyword stuffing but too...
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Creative Houses from Reclaimed Materials-Watch this Ted Talk
Link to Ted Talk The Columbia Gorge ReBuild-it Center pointed out this great Ted Talk by Dan Phillips which shows examples of the creative houses he has built from reclaimed stuff that would have ended up in the landfill. Along with inspiration for being creative and individualistic his talk gives us some interesting insights...
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Meet Our Handmade Collection Suppliers, Part Two: Herbal Animals
What do Natalie Merchant, Donny Osmond, and Eartha Kitt all have in common? Their very own Herbal Animal, that’s what! Herbal Animals' Sydney Greensheep Eye Pillow It is 1994 and Lauren Rosenstadt Johnson is a single mom living in Chicago with her 8 year old daughter, Liz. Looking for a way to support her...
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Pi Day or say it isn’t so?
I had another entry planned for today but a link to a video of how baseballs are made that Gini Cornila sent is too perfect to pass up on Pi Day. Yes it’s Pi Day, a day of nerd festivities. If you planned ahead, you’re having pie (I didn’t plan ahead and wish I...
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