7 Non-Biased Tips for Buying a Dress Form

By |2024-08-05T07:32:39-04:00August 5th, 2024|Sewing Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized|

WARNING… This post won’t let you know what brand of dress form to purchase. Instead, I hope to show you options and maybe save you some hours of research and misinformation.

There are two ways to design clothing – flat pattern drafting and draping. Draping is the process of positioning and pinning the fabric on the […]

Easy 4 Step Hat Patch Tutorial

By |2022-04-10T07:23:39-04:00April 10th, 2022|Sewing Tips and Tricks|

When a client mailed me his baseball cap from California it dawned on me that not everyone  knows how to sew patches on baseball caps. With his hat there was a thank you note saying no one there would sew it and that it would require a special type sewing machine. There is a special […]

Making Patches on a Regular Sewing Machine

By |2021-10-22T07:35:18-04:00October 18th, 2021|Arts and Crafts, Costumes, Uncategorized|

My blog as has taken a back seat after the newest Apple update crashed my computer. Apple was kind enough to wipe it clean and restore it to a 2014 update – and today I am writing you from my cell phone.

So, I’m ten months into my Year of Less and finding even more creative […]

Five Easy Tips to Sew Your Own Vintage Clothing

By |2021-05-17T07:17:05-04:00May 17th, 2021|1940s Style Fashion, Sewing Tips and Tricks, Today's Fashion|

Every day is great day to share my love and knowledge of sewing patterns and because my pattern reading and layout class is tonight I also have motivation.

It all started when I thrifted a cute duvet cover. I cut out a 1940s dress and had half of the cover left over!

Ten Tips for Replicating Clothing

By |2020-10-12T11:24:43-04:00October 12th, 2020|1960s Style Fashion, Tracy Designs Dresses|

Replicating is one of my favorite crafts! I hope you enjoy my tips that can help you remake some of your favorite garments, sew garments from pictures and grow your skillset.

  1. Start simple, whether it be from a photo or a garment to be replicated.
  2. If using a garment you own, cutting up the garment […]

Help! My Dress is too Short! 7 Ways to Lengthen a Hemline

By |2020-04-27T07:42:55-04:00April 27th, 2020|Sewing Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized|

We’ve all been there, we either cut the hemline a bit short, ran out of fabric or have to deal with the thing tall people deal with every day – my garment is too SHORT!!!

I hope you enjoy a few fun things I have done to help lengthen those hemlines over the years.

  1. The easiest […]

No Pattern Needed

By |2020-03-30T08:13:36-04:00March 30th, 2020|1970s Style Fashion, Sewing Tips and Tricks, Tracy Designs Dresses, Uncategorized|

Let’s get fearless and make the perfect maxi dress, the kaftan. This VERY easy dress can be made with any sheer, lace or very light and flowing material. No pattern needed! It’s pull over, no fussy closures to deal with.

I used almost 4 yards of 44″ fabric. Two 40″ pieces for the length of the […]

Essential Safety Tips for Beginners; Guest Blogger Helen Spencer

By |2020-01-13T06:40:36-05:00January 13th, 2020|Interviews w/Sewists, Sewing Tips and Tricks|

Essential Safety Tips for Beginners

Safety always must come first. Whether you’re working, having fun, or exercising, getting injured is no fun at all. You should especially pay attention to safety if you’re a beginner at the activity you’re about to enjoy because you could end up accidentally hurting yourself due to lack of skill.

Sewing might […]

Glitz, Glam, no Shame

By |2019-12-23T07:51:43-05:00December 23rd, 2019|1960s Style Fashion, Costumes, Fashion Dress Replicas, Sewing Tips and Tricks|

I believe talent is inherent and that skills are learned and built upon.

With each new fabric there is another medium that needs to be studied and practiced. Learning a new skill may also be stressful. There are always failures on the road to success.

I have made a few sequin dresses before that either had no […]

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