May 5, 2020
This week’s free project tutorial is a sunglasses case. It’s time to let the sun shine! Sewing Level: Confident Beginner Find a pdf of the instructions to download at the end of the post. Here’s what you will need: Outer fabric: 7 x 8 inches cotton fabric Lining fabric: 8 x 8 inches cotton fabric Fusible interfacing: 7 x 7 inches (fleece or craft weight) Loop: 3 inches of ribbon…
April 28, 2020
Can you think of a time when sewing has improved your mood? Of all the jobs I do regularly at The Stitchery, preparing the samples for our projects is easily the most soothing. It’s the job I save for doing after my least favorite jobs, like stock taking and accounts! These are anxious times – it’s okay to feel unsettled The COVID-19 pandemic is a time of change and uncertainty…
April 21, 2020
This week’s free project to sew is our popular Scrap Monster! This little guy brings a smile to your face and is a great stash-buster too. This project is easy for kids to sew with a bit of help. You will need: fabric scraps (cotton fabrics are the easiest to work with on this scale) thread sewing machine or hand sewing needle small fabric scraps or fibre fill for stuffing…
April 14, 2020
I’ve had several friends tell me how now that they’re stuck at home, their garage has never looked so organized, the garden is pruned, and even behind the fridge is cleaned; and it’s only week 4 of most people’s isolation! What’s next? Endless scrolling through Netflix recommendations? The kids are likely to kill each other soon. How are we going to get through this?! Many of us live fast and…
April 14, 2020
This week’s free project is face masks. We share a couple of options for instructions, give you a supplies list of what you need, and finish off with some tips for straps options. Project 1: An easy sew option from our friends at Castle Sewing Centre who service all our machines. Download the pdf instructions here. Project 2: PHere is an alternate project tutorial from Craft Passion for a more…
April 6, 2020
A beginner-friendly sewing project: a fabric headband… with a twist. This sweet headband adds a fun pop of colour and is a stylish solution to keep your hair (and therefore hands!) off your face. This pattern is a great scrap buster using only three rectangles, some elastic and basic sewing supplies. A step-by-step photo tutorial is included. This tutorial is brought to you by our wonderful teacher and local…
April 22, 2019
By Kitka Neyedli, Stitchery quilting and sewing instructor and guest blogger. If you are looking for a portable, meditative activity to keep your hands busy and your mind relaxed, then English Paper Piecing might be just your thing! English Paper Piecing (or EPP for short) is a fun method of hand sewing small scraps of fabric together to create a multitude of patterns. This old quilting technique became popular in England (hence the name) in the 1800’s […]
December 7, 2018
Our neighbourhood has lots of gems that you may not know about. On the same corner as The Stitchery is a fantastic home decor consignment store, Around My House, perfect for unique retro pieces that have been hand-picked by the owners. It’s got everything from small gifts like cushions to larger pieces of furniture and wall art. Next door Wil […]
November 28, 2018
A dad and mum popped into the Stitchery Studio saying their daughter wanted to make a shirt. “Help! That sounds so complicated.” It’s so great that she has this ambition, but if she starts with something hard, she’ll get discouraged. “Start at the beginning,” I advised. “Learn some basic stitches. Attend after school classes to improve skills. A shirt might not be a this-year project but she could make hand-stitched felt birds to learn the stitches, and move up from there.” It turns […]
May 23, 2018
The easy sunglasses case. Making a sunglasses case is a practical summer project that is easy enough for beginners. Know a young person who is eager to learn to sew? Or perhaps you have a few hours and want to exercise your creative muscles?Try one of the free patterns with instructions listed below and you too will be able to respond to compliments with, “Why thank you. I made it myself.”We have lots of bright, colourful fabrics in store that are perfect for this project. Come in to the s […]
