Blog posts

• December 04, 2020 New Skillshare Class + Giveaway: How to sew with cork and make a crossbody bag
  

  In this class you'll learn how to sew with cork fabric to create a simple crossbody bag. 

  So if you are curious about how to sew with cork fabric a.k.a cork leather or vegan leather and you want to learn some basic bag making skills, this is the class for you!

  When I first got interested in cork fabric, I had no idea if you could sew the material with a normal home sewing machine, what needle to use or where to find it. Turns out...yes! You can sew cork leather on a regular sewing machine and with a few handy tools it's not as hard as it looks.

  
  What will you learn in this class?

  • We’ll go over the specifics of working with cork fabric, like what sewing needles to use and my favorite tools for sewing cork.
  • How to shorten zippers set in exposed zippers (metal and plastic)
  • How to add zipper tabs for a refined look.
  • How to get even topstitching
  • how to sew over thick layers
  • And finally, I’ll show you how to alter the pattern to create a smaller bag with a round bottom which will hopefully inspire you to do your own tweaks and customize the design.

  

  What's included in this class?

  • The crossbody PDF sewing pattern included in the resource section, so you can sew along and make your own.
  • My support, I'll do my best to answer your questions in the discussion section.
  • A resource list including my favorite online shops that sell cork and notions
  • 20+ lessons explaining all the key techniques, step-by-step.
    
    

  There is much to love about working with cork leather, but these are my main reasons

   

  Cork leather is:

  • A great alternative for leather
  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Easy to work with on a regular sewing machine
  • Available in many colors and prints

   

  Skill level:

  You’ll need to be confident using a sewing machine and have at least a few projects under your belt...however I am going to show the process step-by-step so if you are an ambitious beginner you should be able to follow along.

  If you are an experienced sewer you’ll probably find that the construction of this bag is fairly straightforward and a fun project to experiment with new material.

  At the end of this class, you'll know how to sew a simple bag using cork leather and you’ll be able to make a few simple tweaks to customize the design. The bag is a great addition to your me-made wardrobe and perfect as a gift.

  
  Skillshare
  If you are new to Skillshare, it's a subscription service like a Netflix but for learning new skills on mostly creative topics like lettering, sewing, embroidery, filmmaking, illustration, procreate, water colour painting, macrame, ceramics, interior desing, graphic desing and much more!

  And if you sign up through this link you got to watch my class and thousands of other classes for free for 2 weeks! By signing up for a free trial I earn a small commission ($10) which supports my work and enables me to create more classes. So thank you if you do! And imagine me doing a tiny, awkward happy dance when you do :)

   

  Giveaway

  however if you are only interested in my class, you can use this link there are only 25 free spots in the class! How does it work:

  - Read this before you click You'll need to make an account (simply don't fill out billing info and you'll automatically have a free account). Then make sure you are logged in, then click on the link to watch and you should be able to unlock the full class.

  - First come first serve. 

  By signing up through the free link, I don't earn a commission, but it does help my class get found on skillshare. More students = more visibility! so thank you for signing up and participating in the class and imagine me doing a little happy dance whilst spilling my morning coffee. 

   

• October 24, 2020 17 crafty podcasts, my favourites + a few bonus non crafty podcasts
  

  
  Even though we've been in lockdown or partial lockdown for months I still have a commute to my part time job as a soapmaker, since that's impossible to do from home. During that commute I almost always listen to podcasts and in the evening when I knit or sew...again lots of podcasts. 

  And since my friend and fellow creative entrpreneur Saskia de Feijter just started a brand new and fabulous podcast...I tought I share my favorite podcasts. I'll start with the craft related ones, but I've included a few other podcasts at the end. 

  Some podcasts aren't updated anymore, but since most will have an archive full of podcast goodness I've added them anyway. Nothing better than discovering a good podcast and binging on the archive.

  A Smaller Life - with Saskia de Feijter

  A smaller life is a brand new podcast, but it's of to a great start!

  I know Saskia since we started collaborating on workshops and teaching beginner knitting workshops at her wool shop. However when she discovered she had a heart condition and then covid hit and she made some radical choices to shape her life and work you can follow her on her journey as she talks to other creatives to explore the ideas of a smaller ife

  With this podcast I want to take you with me on my journey to discover the answers to these questions: What do we buy, Where do we buy, Who do we buy from… Or don’t we buy at all but use what we already have? And how relevant is my job as a yarn shop owner selling people stuff when we already have more than we need? How can I make my life as an entrepreneur and textile crafter smaller and more relevant to these times?

  https://www.ja-wol.com/blogs/podcast

  Making ( Woolful )- with Ashley Yousling

  There haven't been new episodes for a while, but I sometimes go back to this one to relisten a few. It was/is by far my favorite wool/knitting/fiber related podcast out there.
  
  https://woolful.com/podcast-episodes/

  Threads

  Threads is a great source of sewing inspiration, and information.
  
  https://www.threadsmagazine.com/blog/sewing-threads-podcast

  Close Knit - with Ani Lee

  "The Close Knit podcast aims to hold space for conversation about the ways we use fiber to process life and world events"

  It's like listening in on a conversation of friends chatting away while you can focus and enjoy your knitting or sewing.

  http://www.closeknit.com.au/

   

  Thread Cult
  

  Each episode, journalist and sewing blogger Christine Cyr Clisset (of Daughter Fish) interviews master craft people and creators in the home sewing, textile, and fashion communities. From independent pattern and textile designers to couture experts and curators, Christine brings you along on thought-provoking conversations sure to enlighten your own sewing or fibers practice—and give you something to listen to while you stitch, weave, dye, or work!
  

  https://threadcult.com/

  More Crafty podcasts 

  The podcasts below are on my list to check or I've listened to them sporadically, so I don't have much to say about them other than, give them a try!

  Love to Sew

  http://lovetosewpodcast.com/

  A Coffee with Makers

   http://www.acoffeewithmakers.com/podcast/

  While She Naps 

  https://whileshenaps.com/category/the-podcast/episodes

  Dear Handmade Life

  https://dearhandmadelife.com/podcast/

  Vogue Knitting

  https://www.vogueknitting.com/magazine/vogue-knitting-knitterviews-podcasts/

  Clothes Making Mavens

  http://www.clothesmakingmavens.com/category/blog/

  Sew and Tell

  https://www.sewdaily.com/

  Yarn in the City

  https://www.yarninthecity.com/blog/19/9/2016/episode-45-yarn-crawlers-of-the-baskervilles#

  Sewciety

  http://modernsewciety.com/podcast-gallery

  Very Pink Knits

  https://verypink.com/category/podcast/

  Pom Pom Mag

  https://www.pompommag.com/category/podcast/

  Knit British

  http://www.knitbritish.net/category/podcast/

  
  The other podcasts

  Tara Brach

  It's not really a podcast, but Tara Brach's teachings are uploaded so you can listen and enjoy + join along in the meditations. Tara Brach’s teachings blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. 

  My favorite meditation (maybe not the best for a commute though) is the one called "Relaxing into sleep (no bell at the end)" 

  https://www.tarabrach.com/talks-audio-video/

  Focus on This podcast

  This podcast is not craft related, but it 's connected to the Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt.....which I don't use, I'm an avid and messy BuJo user! However I do use some of it's principals when I'm planning my day. It's a fun podcast to listen too if you are into planning and want tools to get things done.

  https://focusonthispodcast.com/

  Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

  https://brenebrown.com/podcasts/

  The Michelle Obama Podcast

  The Michelle Obama Podcast

   

  The list is a bit all over the place, but I hope you enjoy listening to them and maybe find a new podcast to add to your list, and please share your favorite podcasts in the comments below!

  Charlotte

• July 12, 2020 My favourite way to tape & assemble large PDF Sewing Patterns

  I know a lot of you out there are daunted by the idea, that to make a print at home PDF sewing pattern you have to tape it together, and that means taping together 20, 30, and even 40+ pages.

  I have to admit I mostly send my patterns to the copy shop, but sometimes you see a pattern, and you want to dive right in so there's no way around it and you have to bring out the tape.

  But I have done my fair share of PDF sewing pattern taping, so I thought I'd share my favorite way to prepare and to assemble them in a video.
  
  I’ll be using my Elskan dress pattern, which if you print all versions, contains 44 pages. I've printed around 24 pages to make the dress with the long sleeves.
  
  
  
  To trim the pages I use an Exacto utility knife + a metal ruler + a cutting mat.
  
  
  
  
  My step by step process:

  1. before you do anything, check the scale of the pattern by measuring the test square.
     
     On my patterns, each tile has squares to line up the pattern pieces and check the scale. The rows have numbers and the columns have letters.
     The smaller squares are 1cm and these larger squares are 1inch.
     
     
     
  2. I'll start by trimming the bottom edge of each row, then one of the sides. To speed it up a bit I stack the papers per row and trim the entire stack.
     
     
     
  3. I'll tape each row first and set them aside until they are all done.
     
     
     
  4. Complete the pattern by taping the rows together. I roll the pattern up as I go or hang the pattern over the edge of the table.
     
     
     
  5. Once the pattern is all taped together I roll it up and set it aside until I find time to trace and sew.

  
  But because it's easier to show than to explain I made a step by step video of my favorite way to prepare the pattern tiles and assemble a large PDF sewing pattern:

   

  Click & Subscribe on youtube

     
  
  As always there are other ways to do this. For example:

  1. Cut the edges off with scissors or simply fold them back, although that does sound like it would get a bit bulky.
     
     
  2. Cut off only the corners and don't trim any of the sides, there will be overlap, but for the most part, it won’t matter. I like the idea of this method, but with my pattern, the markings are probably to light to be seen through the paper.
     
     
  3. Use a glue stick instead of tape.

  I don’t know if there is a huge difference in how long it will take to use these different methods but it’s interesting to give these different methods a try and see what works best for you.

  I would love to hear your favorite way to assemble PDF sewing patterns, please leave a comment and share your fav technique.
  
  PS: Newsletter subscribers and customers can download handy templates from the resource library. click here and sign up.
  
  
  
  

• June 26, 2020 How to download and print PDF sewing patterns at home

  
  
  To download and print a PDF sewing pattern, you'll need to download Adobe Acrobat (you can download it for free here) a printer that can print on A4 or letter size paper and a desktop/laptop.

  Make sure you are using the latest version of Adobe and that your printer software/driver is up to date.
  
  I've made a video showing the steps for the Elskan dress / top pattern, which covers the basics but I wanted to elaborate on a few topics and common questions on how to print and download PDF sewing Patterns at home.