Betsy Ross' Journal

Sew Simple Magazine mention

2008-07-12T12:57:00.001-05:00

Guess who's in the new issue of Sew Simple Magazine? That's right....Betsy Ross!

We got a great mention in "The A List" section at the front, and then they used the Betsy Ross #010 Charmed Dress to make this awesome "Piping Dress" in the issue. Check it out!

New Blog!!

2008-06-27T14:00:00.003-05:00

June has been a crazy month... I've had a lot of big things happen to me lately, and I am constantly amazed by this world and how things can change minute by minute. Change is constant with me lately, and although it can be uncomfortable sometimes, it's necessary and ultimately very exciting.

The big news is that I have been hard at work lately on a new blog, which I am calling Label-Free. Label-Free will give me some space to post about sewing, fabric, notions and whatever comes to mind. I want to provide a place for all things sewing, geared to those people who would rather make things than buy them, and who believe that "homesewn is not a dirty word."

There will be tutorials (eventually in video format), guides, downloadable patterns, fabric swaps, a virtual "library" and more....and it will all be free. Importantly, Label-Free is a collaborative venture; I am inviting some amazing bloggers I admire to participate. You no doubt know a few of them from their beautiful blogs and businesses, and I am just as excited as you are to see what they will come up with. Over the next few days I will introduce them individually and then let them speak for themselves!

I am very excited about Label-Free. I will, of course, still post here with things that have to do with Betsy Ross Patterns. My new awesome intern, Anita, is helping me develop some great ideas, which I will show you soon.

Please be sure to bookmark the new blog and check in to see what is new.

Here's to new beginnings!

Fabric Countdown: 54-41

2008-06-26T13:30:00.001-05:00

(Click for larger image!)

2008-06-19T23:34:00.001-05:00

Petey and I are takin' a break to reorganize and enjoy the back porch. See you soon.

The Sewing Machine Song

2008-06-13T16:19:00.002-05:00

Fabric Countdown: 69-55

2008-06-12T08:29:00.000-05:00

Fabric Count Down

2008-06-11T08:59:00.002-05:00

What will be Fabric Type Number 1? We shall see.

I love the colors in these old images. I got this line-up from the Better Homes and Gardens Sewing Book (published in 1961).

Click on the image for a bigger picture.

acorn sundress

2008-06-10T07:45:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, Mr. D and I went to a dinner party at the home of some friends in Northern Liberties. After dinner, we drank homemade margaritas (with 195 limes- or what felt like it- squeezed by yours truly) on their roof, looking at the hazy city and listening to the cars zoom by on I-95.

It was really, really hot that day, and since I couldn't go to the party naked, I figured an icy blue sundress with something fun on it would cheer me up. I was still pretty heat-cranky, but was at least I was wearing a new sundress.

This dress was made with the #013 It's-a-Cinch Sundress pattern, my newest Betsy Ross design! I made it in just a few hours, and since there's no zipper, it comes together really fast. The dress fabric is by Amy Butler ("Honeycomb" in aqua), and the acorn was appliqued out of scraps.

Easy Summer Top

2008-06-09T14:38:00.001-05:00

Due to popular demand (thanks for the positive comments everyone!!) I made a very quick pattern of the Bird Top I featured last week. It's a very rough pattern, but will be a nice guide for you to get started.

You can download it as a pdf in the "Free Patterns and Downloads" section of the sidebar- the instructions are right on the pattern sheet. For printing, try tiling the pdf to print on your home printer, or take it to your local copy shop that prints large format copies.

lining and pocket tutorial

2008-06-09T01:04:00.005-05:00

I have created a little tote bag lining tutorial for those of you who have bought tote bag patterns in the past and are interested in putting linings and/or pockets!

The instructions for this pattern will include instructions for lining from here on out.

Download the guide as a free pdf- it's located in the side bar of this blog.

(*photo from Spool)

springy bird top

2008-06-03T17:42:00.000-05:00

Another project completed.... a simple sleeveless top made from $1 sale fabric from a shop on Fabric Row. Not sure about how I feel about yellow on me, but the top itself is pretty cute. I might be able to make this into a free pattern to download- anyone interested?

(photo taken on the computer while balancing on the rung of a chair at work)

fabric design

2008-06-03T08:34:00.003-05:00

I recently received an invitation to try out Spoonflower, a new website where you can print your own custom fabric. Rather than it costing a million dollars with high yardage requirements, you can print little swatches, and it's really reasonably priced. Of course, I'm so excited about this prospect, but coming up with a good idea is harder than you'd think.

I've been going through some old drawings to see if there is anything I could use to get started. I found this bizarro drawing that I don't remember making, but that's definitely my handiwork.

I'm working on a few tutorials to add to the website and the blog soon, so keep checking in.

another project finished, part II

2008-05-27T08:35:00.004-05:00

I had a great day yesterday getting some loose ends tied up- an extra day off can be really good for that.

The biggest accomplishment was taking some time to finish the binding on my quilt that I started with Leya a hundred years ago. She finished hers while mine sat in a sad little pile.

Instead of a traditional quilt pattern, I just collaged a lot of fabrics I had sitting around at home- many are upholstery samples my aunt has given me. Although it's certainly a heavy-duty quilt, it's not ridiculous. I tried to balance the heavier fabrics with some lighter ones (both in tone and weight) as best I could with my scraps. It was good to use some fabric that had been sitting around.

As you can see, Petey likes to lay his paws on it, just like everything else that touches the sofa for a mere 30 seconds. I noticed when I took the photo how I never notice the bars on the windows anymore. When Mr. D's mom was visiting from Indiana recently, she was a little taken aback. Funny how you just get used to things like that.

And then she became a pirate and a pastry chef and an astronaut.

2008-05-24T14:12:00.002-05:00

I found one of the best author biographies ever featured on a book jacket. This one is from "Mend It!" a book about.... mending.

The Thread Buddy

2008-05-21T22:25:00.005-05:00

Hiya everybody!

Happy late spring! Philly looks really pretty right now with all of the blossoming trees, bicyclists, sprouting plants, and sneezy people because of all of the pollen.

I really love this time of year, and May has been really pleasantly cool and crisp. I hate hot weather and this May has been great for people like me. Not being a person that suffers from seasonal allergies, I am pretty happy.... sorry if you're sniffly.

Lately I've been working on some quilting projects for Spool, my awesome day job. I've been learning a lot of great new things while working there. In the past, I've not had a lot of time for quilting in the past because I've been so busy with clothing projects, but working at Spool has given me a chance to learn some new skills.

Right now I'm working on a groovy 9-patch project, which I call my "Minty Fresh" quilt. I hope I will finish hand-quilting it soon before carpal tunnel syndrome sets in. I have to say, it's really soothing to work on. It's kind of like therapy....you think through all of your problems in your head while you hand quilt something very patterned and neat. I'm so used to sewing by machine, and my stitches are very drunk-looking. I'm getting better, but it's a skill, to be sure.

While working away at my 9 patch, I'm reminded of how handy the Thread Buddy is. Thread Buddy? Yes, Thread Buddy.

You know how when you finish a seam on your machine you have to pull out your fabric to the side, leaving a large tail of thread behind? That's fine every so often, but have you have thought of how much thread you waste after a full project is finished?

Quilters already know this, but I'm not sure garment stitchers realize how much thread they waste, because there isn't as much stop and start as when you piece together hundreds and hundreds of little tiny squares. Both types of sewers can utilize this handy little square of fabric.

First, find a little square scrap of fabric. When you finish a seam on your good fabric, leave a little space and then sew right up onto your "thread buddy." Sew a few inches onto your surplus fabric (shown here in blue).

Next, leaving your needle stuck in the surplus fabric, swivel it to the side and cut off your threads, leaving the thread buddy under the machine, holding the thread in place.

When you start a new seam, simply stitch off the side of the thread buddy onto your new piece of fabric, saving you a bunch of wasted thread.

Of course, you want a nice sturdy seam, so make sure to backstitch well before stitching up onto your thread buddy. You don't have to do that if you're working on patchwork projects, since you're sewing a bunch of squares together in the end anyway.

It's so funny how even the sewing vocabulary changes in quilting. Sometimes when I am helping quilters in the shop I feel like we're speaking in different languages. Similarly, it's been interesting as well to see what fabrics "quilting people" chose versus what "clothing people" choose. It's kind of obvious...some things that look good on quilts will look hideous on your body.

Speaking of buying fabric, I just bought some lovely Kaffe Fassett fabric today I'm really excited about using, but I have three unfinished projects to finish before starting on something new. I'll give you some photos soon.

Enjoy spring- back soon.

Don't be one of the "Don't Knows"

2008-05-17T17:24:00.001-05:00

Another jewel from "Sewing Made Easy":

"Hint: The Don't Knows are the women who sew everything, or almost everything, with white thread."

2008-05-08T09:05:00.002-05:00

Been a little busy with work, big plans, finishing projects, graduations, and family visiting. If you're interested in seeing some of the projects I've been working on for Spool, please check out the blog! Have a great weekend!

TWO NEW PATTERNS!

2008-04-30T22:52:00.005-05:00

After a major website re-arrangement, two mini photo shoots, several booklet edits, one killer migraine, six episodes of The Wire and some Oreos..... two new Betsy Ross patterns have been added to the website!

First up, we have a raglan sleeve top, which is one of my favorite patterns I've made so far. It's comfortable, versatile and simple. It looks great in a number of different fabrics. I think you're really going to like this one. Big thanks to my girl Leya of Curiousbird for modeling this for me. Although she doesn't agree, she's so photogenic it was hard for me to decide which photo use for the package label.

Secondly, there's the "In-a-Cinch Sundress," modeled here by the lovely red-haired Laura, one of the owners of Spool.

This dress is really, really easy. Laura says she has grand plans to make it in a rainbow of colors from the shop for her summer uniform. Since there's no zipper- only drawstrings- this dress is a "cinch" to make. Get it? Uhhhhhh.

A nice bonus is that this dress can also be a fun summer top.

So there you have it- the birth of two new patterns. So now I will focus on some other projects on my plate, which will gel up later this summer- more on those things later. Thanks for your patience as I've been working on these two patterns, but I wanted to make sure they were right. I'm pretty happy with them, and I hope you enjoy!

another project finished

2008-04-25T11:04:00.004-05:00

I finished another project in my "to do" pile, a top from a Built By Wendy pattern. I used an Alexander Henry bird pattern fabric for the body of the top and one of the "shot cottons" by Kaffe Fassett for the sleeves. The shot cotton (the color is called "Sludge") is one of my favorites. I had originally made the entire shirt from the bird fabric, but it made me look like I was an extra from "The Birds," so I toned it down a little bit and did a contrasting color for the sleeves.

It turns out that I had to re-do the sleeves anyway, because as they were designed, the arm holes were so small they were cutting off my circulation. Either my arms abnormally thick or there was a slight miscalculation on the pattern. Regardless, I recut the arms a little wider and it's perfect now. Very comfortable top and I will probably make another.

My eyes are really crossed in that photo. Don't look at my creepy eyes. Focus on the top.

I have been doing some research about fabrics lately for an upcoming project, and while digging I found some things I am particularly liking right now. Very whimsical, unusual prints!

Click for larger images.

(Fabrics by Maija Louekari, Anna Griffin and Yoshiko Jizenji)

where am i? what's my name again?

2008-04-20T17:51:00.004-05:00

Wow...where have I been?

I'm glad you asked.

+sewing pillows
+sewing tops
+sewing dresses
+teaching classes
+ripping seams out
+sewing seams again
+drinking pastis (yes, it's that time of the year again)
+hosting friends from Chicago for the weekend-- record shopping, eating good food, going to a Phillies game, and watching the "puppet show" at the Franklin Museum, which I am convinced is one of the scariest things in Philadelphia, other than all of the guns.
+getting two new patterns ready to launch
+and a bunch of stuff that has turned into a big old blur in my mind.

I had big plans to do some urban gardening this weekend on our patio but awoke to this on Friday morning:

Uh....what now? Excuse me? Three large men and a huge pile of lumber and rusty nails staring at me through the backdoor. And every 2 minutes, there was the sound of another piece of wood being thrown from the roof onto the pile. Needless to say, I stayed off the patio, lest I risk blunt force trauma. I potted my azaleas and herbs and whatnot inside instead.

More soon, friends. I hope to launch the new patterns straight away- they are being rigorously tested so they will be ready for you to tackle. Can't wait to show them to you!!

Hopefully it's getting warmer where you are and you're taking long walks, pulling the sunglasses back out, and enjoying every minute of it.

2008-04-07T09:40:00.003-05:00

I poked myself in the eye with a pin the other day. Let's be careful out there, folks. (Click for larger image)

leather tassel tutorial and small rant

2008-04-04T22:01:00.000-05:00

I have a lot on my mind regarding ownership of ideas. I have a feeling this is going to be a long post....

I think the more sharing of ideas in this world, the better. I've learned a lot about this concept lately, and I really think it's true. The more you share ideas and thoughts with other people, the more you learn. The more proprietary you are about your ideas and thoughts, the less you get back. This can be hard, but talking about what you're working on can be really helpful, and other people can help you a lot. Like Paul Arden says in his awesome little book, we should be open with our knowledge, and we will gain more in the long run.

However...

Unfortunately, some folks I respect a lot have recently had their ideas ripped off by other people who are selling almost exactly the same thing they are doing on venues like Etsy. And it's very upsetting. I want to believe that the people involved in our community are respectful, decent people, but unfortunately, there are some bad apples who aren't willing to respect other people's work.

So I want to say that if you have the brains and the spunk to copy someone's design, then you also have the ability to come up with your own designs, right? I mean, if I can copy a design I see at H&M while I'm out shopping, then theoretically, I could sit down and sketch out something original. It's one thing to see something that you like and to go home and try to make it yourself instead. Heck, I do it all the time, partly because I'm curious to see if I can replicate the style myself, and partly because I have virtually no budget for clothes shopping. Besides, why should you buy a very simple dress if you have a piece of fabric, your sewing machine and a basic understanding of how clothes go together?

But it's another thing entirely to knock off someone's design and start selling it. The people who created these designs worked for years to come up with their products, and then for someone to steal their ideas and produce the object cheaper and faster is unethical, disrespectful and distasteful.

So please respect this community and above all, yourself.

I had planned to share a tutorial today, and it just so happens that it fits pretty perfectly with what this post is about. I saw something I liked, decided to tinker around to make it myself, and am now making them for myself and my friends as gifts. I'm not putting them on Etsy, I'm not selling them. Even though this item came from a big luxury brand company, I still want to be respectful of the people who came up with the concept and the craftsmen who created the item.

So here's the tutorial in the spirit of DIY. But just know that there is always a fine line to this DIY world, and always consider first how you would feel if someone stole your good ideas to profit from them.

Out with the jive!! Moving on.

I was flipping through the recent domino magazine and saw this beautiful little tassel keychain by Hermes. For those of us that love beautiful little things, this is right up there. But $180? I thought for a second....it's purple....it's buttery soft... but it's still $180. (click for a larger picture and to see the super cute illustration of the bird).

I remembered that my aunt, a rep for a furniture company, had given me a big pile of leather samples about a year ago. I couldn't figure out what to do with them, because I was sure my machine would eat them up if I were to attempt a bag or purse.

My leather may not be the same purple, but it's nice in it's own way, and I have quite a selection of colors and textures to work with!

I set to work making my own tassels with a little trial and error. I have two options for you. First, there's one where the leather strips hang straight down, and then there's one where they fold up like the one by Hermes. You can try both ways and they both have their charm. (Keep in mind that you can click on all of the images to make them bigger.)

Options: Folded or straight leather strips? Maybe try the simple one first, and then attempt the folded leather version.

So here it is: The totally easy, fast, keychain tassel! Impress your friends with your cutting and gluing skills.

1.
Put your snacks away folks, because leather "dust" will fly everywhere when you cut it. And when you get to the glue part, you're definitely going to get goo on your hands.

2.
For the simpler of the two tassel styles (the one that doesn't have folded strips of leather), cut a strip of leather about 10 1/4 inches long and 2 1/2 wide. Make a line on the wrong side of the leather 3/4" from the edge, lengthwise. This will be your cutting guide.

3.
Make small (as small as you can- I did 1/8" or so) cuts in the leather to the cutting guideline. Continue making these cuts for about 8 inches of the strip.

4.
Once you've covered about 8 inches with the small cuts, trim off the bottom part to make a flap. This flap will wrap around the top of the tassel to create a finished look.

5.
Cut a small piece of leather from the same or coordinating color for the loop. I made mine about three inches long and about 1/4 inch wide. That's just long enough that you can secure it within the tassel.

6.
Apply some Shoe Goo (available at most hardware stores) to the leather and start rolling up the tassel, bit by bit. Start rolling the strip, and after one rotation, place one side of the loop into the roll. Rotate once more and place the other side in.

7.
Keep rolling until you get to the end, and then apply another blob of Shoe Goo to secure the flap.

Tassel #2 has a bit more work, but it's also pretty easy.

Cut the leather strip extra wide. I made mine about 6 inches wide. Cut the strips like you did before, but fold the leather strips up to form a loop, a little at a time so you don't get glue everywhere. Roll it just like you did for the other tassel, but you might not need to do as many strips because it will be a thicker roll.

If you like this project but don't want to use leather, you can buy "pleather" at lots of fabric stores. I had some left over from a previous project that has a great look to it. However, the "wrong" side of the pleather has a white fabric adhered to it, so it won't be as uniform of a look. I bet you can find something comperable with some digging. Or maybe you can try a fun vinyl, which is made in a million colors and would be just as durable.

#002 Girly Dress

2008-03-30T19:50:00.001-05:00

#002 Girly Dress, originally uploaded by aimeedoats1.

Here's the Betsy Ross #002 Girly Dress made from fabric I purchased on 4th Street in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. I love the color and pattern juxtaposition.

I wanted to finish it in time for the Spool Grand Opening yesterday night but kept putting it off for other projects. An hour before the party started I was still fixing the straps and finishing the hem. That left just enough time to jump in a cab and put the drinks on ice!

Thanks to everyone who came out to say hello yesterday!

Fabric Pick....new Amy Butler!

2008-03-28T16:30:00.001-05:00

Amy Butler's new Midwest Modern fabrics are so much fun. And the best part about working in a fabric store is getting to open the boxes and unwrap each of the bolts. I've been staring at these for about a week now, and I think I've picked my favorite.

I love, love, love the combination of the gray/yellow flower pattern (bottom row, second from right) with the gray/yellow mod dots (not shown, but similar to the one at the bottom left). I will steal Laura's idea of using the flowery one for the body of a dress, and the dots for the sleeves!

(images from Amy Butler!)

snapshot

2008-03-24T21:36:00.004-05:00

It was a busy weekend, full of making pancakes, folding piles and piles of instruction booklets, working on new patterns, sewing little pouches out of my favorite fabrics just for fun, and making a big Easter dinner for friends. A creative, productive weekend puts me in a good mood and ready for the week ahead. I find it hard to sleep at night with all of the ideas swirling in my head. More soon.