Monthly Archives: April 2012

Kilauea Cardi: Another Peek

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Jean

I am really excited about my new design for Summer 2012 — the Kilauea Cardi. It looks fantastic, if I do say so myself. I love it. Unfortunately, I haven’t finished everything it takes to publish the pattern yet, so I can’t … Continue reading →

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Design Friday: I Think You’re a Daffodil

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Jean

Is this our first daffodil of the season? Unfortunately, it fell victim to slugs in the garden, but still managed to bloom!

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What a Snazzy Trench Coat

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Jean

I’ve been enamored of trench coats for quite a while now. They are so classically chic yet tough too. I just saw this really cute style — classic details with one twist — a cool asymmetric zipper  closure and rubberized … Continue reading →

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I Love My Press Cloth

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Jean

I can’t sew without a press cloth. Period. My go-to press cloth is a scrap piece of silk organza that is perfect — it allows me to see through to what I am pressing while protecting my garment fabric from … Continue reading →

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Technique: Reinforcing Zippers for a Pillow Cover

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Jean

For my simple Spring throw pillows, I reinforced the side with the zipper to add extra stability to that edge. Here’s how: 1. Cut strips of fusible interfacing 1-inch wide. For this purpose, I just use scraps of interfacing I … Continue reading →

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Just a Couple of Throw Pillows for Spring/Summer

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Jean

With warmer weather and longer days, the old faux fur pillows just won’t do. I found some great blue/brown home dec fabrics and spent an afternoon making a few basic pillow covers. They are super easy to make: 1. Cut … Continue reading →

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Technique: Stabilizing Seams With Slip-Stitch Crochet

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Jean

One detail that I like to see in knit sweaters and coats is extra stabilization at the shoulders and back neck. These seams make sure the garment hangs well on your body, so a little extra attention could make a … Continue reading →

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Design Friday: Love that Ming

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Jean

I’m still in love with Artfiber’s Ming yarn. Silk and extrafine merino wool is such a luscious blend — it’s crazy how soft and drapey the finished fabric is — and the sheen is stunning. It’s difficult to capture the … Continue reading →

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Nautical Stripes and Gingham are Always In Style

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Jean

Sigh … I’m old enough to remember the original Official Preppy Handbook. And I’m secure enough to admit that I wore penny loafers and plenty of argyle sweaters way back when. These days, I look to J. Crew to feed my … Continue reading →

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Interfacing Gets The Spotlight

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Jean

Beautiful fabrics and snazzy trims often get all of the attention, but the “behind-the-scenes” workhorse — interfacing — makes a big difference in how a finished garment looks. I’ve learned that choosing the appropriate interfacing for a project is worth … Continue reading →

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