pattern reviews, project updates, book reviews or sewing tips
An Alaska cruise was a dream come true, but one of the most memorable parts of the journey was discovering quilt shops along the way. From Ketchikan to Fairbanks, I visited five unique quilt shops filled with Alaska-themed fabrics, inspiring patterns, and friendly faces. Join me as I share the highlights of these wonderful quilting destinations and the treasures I brought home from the Last Frontier. 🧵🏔️✈️
Finishing my formal dress for our Alaska cruise felt like such a summer win. I used New Look N6696 and stitched it up in a rich navy satin jacquard — simple lines, princess seams, and a few fit tweaks that made it just right. One summer goal officially checked off.
Finishing this in‑the‑hoop embroidery project felt extra special — even if it was supposed to be a gift two holidays ago. The design came together beautifully, almost entirely in the hoop, and I loved being able to use mostly stash fabric. Mistakes and all, it turned into something the grandkids can enjoy right now.
sewing alterations, blouse hemming, shorten blouse, fix neckline, easy sewing fixes, beginner sewing alterations, DIY clothing alterations, ready-to-wear alterations, hemming tutorial, sewing tips for beginners
This summer, I’m embracing a slower, more intentional approach to sewing. Instead of long project lists and unused fabric, I’m focusing on mending, finishing what I’ve already started, and creating just a few meaningful pieces—like a cruise dress and a patriotic quilt. It’s all about enjoying the process, making time for family, and finding joy in every stitch. 🧵☀️
Ever fallen in love with a fabric only to let it sit in your stash because you were afraid to “mess it up”? That was me — until a mindset shift finally pushed me to cut, sew, and finish a dress I ended up loving.
Have you ever spent time sewing the perfect garment—only to never wear it? I recently heard a podcast that got me thinking about why this happens. From lifestyle changes to comfort and fit, here are a few reasons I’ve discovered in my own sewing journey.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! It’s hard to believe we’re already in May—time has gone by so fast. Memorial Day will be here before we know it. I truly enjoy this time of year: seeing our American flag waving, fireworks lighting up the sky, barbecues, vacations, and a few extra days off to… Continue reading Sewing Machine Troubleshooting: What to Do When Your Machine Isn’t Working Right
Pressing your fabric and seams is one of the easiest ways to make any sewing project look crisp, polished, and professional.
Happy Saturday! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week. These weeks seem to be flying by lately, don’t they? Today I’m sharing a quilt that I actually finished several months ago. I love how it turned out, and I realized I never wrote a post about it — so today felt like the perfect time.… Continue reading Creating a Cozy Farmhouse-Chic Quilt
I finally finished my Primrose quilt top, and after hundreds of snowballed corners and lots of patience, it feels wonderful to see it come together. If you’ve ever felt discouraged during a long project, I’m sharing a few tips that helped me keep going.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter holiday. We managed to slip away to Cumberland Island. Seeing the wild horses and the ruins of a historic mansion was such a gift. The quiet that settles your whole spirit embraced us. There are around 150 horses on the island, and we spotted about… Continue reading 540 Snowballs Down: My Queen‑Size Snowball Quilt Progress + What I Learned Along the Way
Happy Saturday - You’re definitely not alone if you’ve ever struggled to find time or motivation for your creative hobbies. This is especially true for sewing enthusiasts. We juggle work, home, and everything in between. It's easy for our creative passions to slip to the bottom of the list. Recently, I started reading Craft a… Continue reading Creative Inspiration from “Craft a Life You Love”
If you’ve been sewing for a while, you know how attached we get to our machines. I’ve had mine for years, and at this point both are well past their warranties. I’ve been slowly saving for my next upgrade, but I wasn’t quite ready to make that investment yet. Recently, my embroidery machine went in… Continue reading 🧵 How a $50 Repair Saved My Embroidery Machine (and My Budget)
If you’ve ever sat down to sew and suddenly found yourself doing everything except sewing, you’re not alone. Let me know some tips that keep you focused.
Happy Saturday! I hope you’re doing well. Here in Florida, it finally feels like our little “winter” is over and the sun is back to stay. Wherever you are, I hope spring is starting to peek through for you too. And yes — this Sunday is the time change. I always have mixed feelings about… Continue reading ✂️ My Favorite Fabric Marking Tools (and Why I Keep It Simple)Best marking tools
I hope you’ve had a wonderful week. It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into March—didn’t we just celebrate the New Year? Florida weather has been all over the place lately. We had one morning of freezing temperatures, and now we’re right back to the 80s with pollen coating everything. My Current Project: The Primrose… Continue reading Working on My Queen‑Size Primrose Quilt: Snowballing, Mistakes, and Progress
Hope you can at least smile and let me know if you agree, how sewing has affected you.
Learn when to replace your rotary blade, how a dull blade damages your mat, and tips for safe disposal. Perfect for quilters and sewing enthusiasts.
One tool can make the difference when cutting so many pieces.
How I organize my cuts for my quilts. This quilt has a lot more pieces than I normally deal with.
Hello Friends - Hope you have had a wonderful start of 2026. My last two posts, I talked about my sewing goals. One of the goals that I have set is to get thru my scraps and stash of fabrics. My stash is a little scary and we need to start using what I have. When I… Continue reading DIY Scrappy Potholder: Upcycle Your Fabric Stash
The quilt is now done. One goal for this year is now completed.
Hope your New year has had a great start. We welcomed a new grandchild. Can't get a better start than that. One of my goals for January is to finish this queen quilt. The pattern was purchased on Etsy and the fabric is from Moda. The pattern is called Nantucket Summer Cake. The best part… Continue reading Starting the New Year with a Quilt: Nantucket Summer Cake
I was able to purchase a new machine. Hoping to learn free motion. It looks like I will be working around the cat’s naptime . If you have any suggestions would love to hear from you.
December 27, 2025 Happy Sewing - Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. The holidays can bring such joy. It is nice to be with family and enjoy all that the season has to offer. My personal favorite is how my schedule slows down and I have time to think and plan. At… Continue reading Reflecting on 2025: My Sewing Journey and Future Plans
During the holidays, we need to really practice the science of quiet sewing.
November 29, 2025 Happy Saturday, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and family. We had a great holiday with our family. I am always reminded of how much I have to be grateful. It is hard to believe that we are now in the Christmas holidays. Do you love Black… Continue reading Support Small Businesses This Black Friday
I love doing most of my sewing by the machine. It is accurate and faster than I can hand sew. There are times that the hand sew is the best option and provides the best solution. This shirt below had several times that slip stitching was necessary. It was used on the collar and the… Continue reading Slip Stitch Technique: Elevate Your Sewing Skills
Happy Saturday, Yes, it has been a while since I have posted. Life just got busy. I am just curious what folks are doing now that Joann's is closed. I have to admit, I am already missing this shop. It was easy to pop in buy the needles, threads and zippers with just one stop.… Continue reading Creative Solutions After JoAnn’s Closure
Happy Saturday - This weekended is Easter and we are having the family over. It is nice to slow down and enjoy everyone's company. This year I made Easter baskets for the grand kids. Each basket included something for their family. I also made a small basket for adult children who have no children. Does… Continue reading Mastering the Art of Slowing Down in Sewing
🧵 The Truth: Mistakes Happen to Every Sewist Mistakes will happen — that’s just life, and it’s definitely part of sewing. I’ve cut fabric wrong and had to run back to the store for more. I’ve made pajamas with the animal print upside down. I forgot to check the direction of the penguins. The kids… Continue reading Sewing is not about being Perfect
This is a repost on how to hem pants.
A book that can help motivate and inspire you to work on the hobbies you love.
Happy Saturday, Hope you had a great week and enjoyed your Valentines Day. This week has been incredibly busy with traveling for work. It seems the first couple of months at the beginning of the year, fly by. I am looking forward to a slower weekend and enjoy some sewing therapy. In my last previous… Continue reading How to Hem Fabrics with a Sewing Machine
Here is a basic step by step in putting in a center zipper. If you have any hacks, questions or comments, lt me know.
Happy Saturday, I just love a well-fitting outfit. A dart takes a flat material and helps it take shape to fit an individual. A dart is a triangle that meets at a point. Usually, you see darts at the busts, but you will also see them in skirts and pants. I am showing you today… Continue reading Sewing Darts: A Step-by-Step Guide
What are the top five tools for New Sewers?
Happy Saturday, Hope you are having a great start to your weekend. This weekend, will be going to the North Florida Shop Hop. Visiting 7 quilt shops. This is so much fun as we visit stores outside of our county. You meet so many wonderful people who are passionate about sewing. Have you ever gone… Continue reading Things that I wish I had known before I started sewing
Happy Saturday, Hello Friends. I don't know about you. My iron gets gummed up when I do a lot of pressing with interfacing. Even though, I am careful, I still get that black gum on the iron. Why should you keep your iron clean? The glue can singe your fabric if the iron is hot.… Continue reading Effective Techniques for Iron Cleaning: Pros and Cons
January 3, 2024 Happy Saturday - Hope you had a wonderful start of the year. Are you still working on your goals? I keep looking at my goals so I can stay on track. One of my goals is to sew clothes outside of my normal routine. I can quickly whip up a skirt. My… Continue reading Essential Steps for Sewing a New Pattern Effectively
Happy Saturday, Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. It amazing how quickly Christmas comes and goes and now 2025 is right around the corner. At this time of year, I think about 2024 the successes and the failures. Then I make my new goals for 2025. Yes, I know there are many… Continue reading Setting Effective Goals for 2025
Happy Saturday, Hope you have a wonderful week. Christmas is closing in fast. I thought about everything that I want to get done and became overwhelmed. So instead of going down the path of stressed out. I took a few deep breaths and decided that more than anything I really wanted to enjoy the holidays.… Continue reading Simple Strategies to Embrace the Christmas Spirit
Happy Saturday- With Christmas coming, many of us are spending more time cooking. I've ruined many shirts with grease stains. So, making an apron for the cooks on your list is a great gift idea. Aprons are becoming popular again, and there are many fabric options. The fabric stores are packed with just about anything… Continue reading Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Own Apron
Great Christmas gift that will not take a lot of time.
Happy Saturday, Do you need Christmas ideas for you or someone who loves to sew? It is getting close to Christmas and a dress form is a great gift idea for yourself. You are probably wondering; will I use it? Is it worth the cost? Or is going to be sitting in the corner, gathering… Continue reading Why You Should Invest in a Dress Form
Happy Saturday, I have never done paper piecing before. The pattern for this project is called, Tannenbaum Table Runner by Nicole Moore. This is a fantastic pattern for a beginner. What is paper piecing? It is a technique for quilting that involves sewing fabric on to a paper template. Here are some things that I… Continue reading Beginner’s Guide to Paper Piecing for Quilting
Happy Saturday, Hello Friends, hope you are having a great week. Are you starting your grocery list for Thanksgiving? I love this time of year and looking ahead to the family time and the smoked turkey. We actually host Thanksgiving. It is the one time of the year that the husband is in charge of… Continue reading Creating with Simplicity Pattern: A Jacket Journey part 2
November 9, 2024 Happy Saturday, Hope you have a wonderful week. It seems like this year just flew by. It is hard to believe that it is already November with Thanksgiving & Christmas just around the corner. Just wondering if you have started playing Christmas music. I haven't yet but the mood will be hitting… Continue reading Creating with Simplicity Pattern: A Jacket Journey
Happy Saturday! I hope you are having a wonderful week. July 4th is today, and I am starting on a new quilt to celebrate. I decided to do a patriotic quilt this year. No, it will not be done by tonight, but it will still be spectacular. It is hard to believe that our country… Continue reading Freedom Star Quilt – A Patriotic Start to July 4th
The Saturday Seamstress 