So you've cut out all of your pattern pieces for your next sewing project. You've done a really good job at Tetris-ing your pieces together and cutting on a single layer in order to create as little waste as possible, but still there are a few scraps left over. Sure, there are lots of projects that you can do to use up those scraps – like our reusable makeup wipes here – but there will always be scraps leftover after that...You have a bin for all of your scraps, a bag you stash them in, a pillow you stuff them into, but will you actually use them one day? You have dreams of a scrappy quilt, but that seems intimidating and time consuming... You are an earth-conscious person so you will definitely never throw them out! Imagine a pattern that creates absolutely no waste and leaves no scraps! Well you don't have to imagine, because I have put together a list here of a few ingenious patterns that are cut from one single piece of fabric, and leave no waste behind!
We know that our customers are serious about doing their part to reduce their impact on the environment, and we love you guys for that! The wonderful thing about zero waste sewing patterns like these, is that you can feel good about reducing your waste, while looking cool and fashionable in the process!
Thanks to everyone who has read my blog posts over the last year. I have had a great time writing them and have learned a lot along the way.
Thanks for stopping by xo M
]]>If you are using a pattern, it will tell you the yardage required for each size and style. Most patterns have a chart on the back of the pack, find your size on the chart, the pattern variation (if applicable) and then match that with the required yardage for your selection. The pattern should provide you with two yardage options, this is to account for the various fabric widths.
The yard or meter refers to the fabric length and there can be varying widths depending on the fabric so that’ll impact your overall fabric size.
Let’s say I am making the Elodie Wrap dress and I am using the Linen 185gsm - Ginger - European Import - Merchant & Mills. The width of the Ginger linen is 143cm wide / 56". So if I want to make the Maxi version of the dress and I am a size 12, using a fabric that is 56” wide I would require 5yds (or 10 qty as our fabric is sold by ½ yard/meter).
If you’re working with a print such as stripes or fabric with a texture or direction, you’ll want to get a bit of extra fabric to match your pieces. Your pattern should mention if you need extra fabric in these cases, but it’s always good to be aware.
If you are working on a project and do not have a pattern a few things to take into consideration are shrinkage of the fabric and how much of a seam or edge you’ll have.
We get a lot of questions regarding the difference in meters and yards, the conversion is 1 Meter = 1.09 yards.
Let us know if you have any questions about fabric requirements or have any topics you’d love to see us write about!
Happy Sewing
]]>I know I will be using a bunch of these ideas for my scarp pile. What are some of your favorite things to do with scraps?
]]>We started by folding a half meter of 3 different fabrics - there are Hemp Organic Cotton terry 340gsm, bamboo french terry 280gsm and organic cotton terry 340gsm
.
We took a folded half meter and cut it into 16 pieces by folding it in half and cutting, and then in half again and cutting.
They are approximately 8x10" each.
We used a serger to bind the edges all the way around. You could use a sewing machine as well with an overcast stitch or a zip zag close to the edge, or you could bind the edges with bias tape for a nice neat finish.
You could also leave the edges raw as they are all knit fabrics and won’t fray, but they wouldn't look as nice. Because they are a knit the edges would also curl a bit if not finished.
I know I’ll be making a set from my house, how about you?
]]>They decided to put style to work in their presentation and packaging, as a language that would attract the very people that had overlooked sewing. Equally, they were determined to include the steadfast makers and menders who had continued with the practice regardless of current trends.
In supplying patterns, fabrics, and tools that allowed the creation of a desirable functioning wardrobe; they offered a viable, wearable alternative to the increasingly indistinguishable options of the high street fashion.
Merchant & Mills continues to grow steadily, evolving and developing as experience and ideas demand. Carolyn and Roderick now travel the world in search of unique and beautiful fabrics, finding aesthetic and practical inspiration along the way. Merchant & Mills products are stocked in the world’s most respected outlets and the company has successfully collaborated with London’s V&A Museum and Alexander McQueen.
New patterns and products emerge, never rushed to market, but slowly developed to be exemplary, desirable, and pragmatic.
Their ethos is to respect the roots of sewing, from trade to home dressmaking, as they enable and inspire more people to find the satisfaction of simply making. To this end, they have published three instructive, illustrated books.
We love getting new shipments in from Merchant and Mills! From their fabric, patterns, hardware, and books. We are always impressed with the quality and inspired to create!
You will find their products throughout our store or can search for them directly and see all of what we carry from this incredible brand.
Happy Making
Natasha
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1. Burnside Bibs Sewing Pattern - Sew House Seven
A curvy take on the everyday overalls, this pattern comes with two sewing options, various leg lengths and so many possibilities for fabric choices! We love denim with stretch or linen for this style.
2. Floreat Dress - Megan Nielsen Patterns
This asymmetrical pattern can be made using knit or woven fabrics. We love the long sleeve option paired with ankle booties for fall!
3. V-Neck Jumpsuit Pattern - The Assembly Line
Chique simplicity at its very best! This jumpsuit can be dressed down or up!
4. The Whittaker Dress Women's Pattern - Merchant & Mills
This dress can be easily made for work or play! Test your skill with this detail forward pinafore dress.
5. The Florence Top + Dress Pattern - Merchant & Mills
Florence is a sweet swingy top and dress with a button back detail and soft high low gathers. For this pattern, you would want a light weight fabric with great drape.
6. Elodie Wrap Dress Pattern - Closet Core Patterns
Another versatile pattern with so much potential for diversity in fabric choice! Dress it down with a cute pair of sneakers, Blundstone’s, or heeled booties.
7. I am CASSIOPEE - Dress Pattern - I AM PATTERNS
This dress can be paired with any fabric and is incredibly versatile. The brand even makes suggestions for modifications to change up the style of the dress each time you make it.
8. Mildred Pinafore Dress Pattern - SewGirl UK
Choose from long length or short above the knee A-line shaped apron style dress with adjustable straps with buttons. Try this pattern with thicker linen or denim for fall.
9. The Adrianna Dress - Friday Pattern Company
This easy to sew pullover dress will make a big impact! Designed to be made with woven fabrics we love it for a night out or pair with knit tights and wear it for work.
10. Nikko Top & Dress Sewing Pattern - True Bias
I feel like every wardrobe needs a mock turtle neck for fall! This long sleeve side slit dress is a perfect addition to any closet this fall.
11. Marieke Mum Jumpsuit, Playsuit & Dress Sewing Pattern - Ladies 34/46 - Ikatee
This pattern ticks off all the boxes with multipurpose options. Dress this pattern up or choose a soft fabric and create loungewear!
What pattern will you be trying? We love them all!
]]>Some things to consider when you are deciding on a piece of fabric are stretch, structure, durability, drape, and shrink.
Please note that these are just suggestions based on popular uses for each fabric, feel free to experiment with, play around, and try new things.
Here's a list of popular fabrics and their suggested projects:
Cotton Poplin- Is a natural fibre, light to medium weight and can be used for skirts, shirts, and dresses.
Linen- Is a natural fibre, cool and absorbent. It is great for trousers, skirts, blouses, jackets and bags. (depending on weight, heavier linen can be great for around the house like drapes etc)
Cotton Jersey- A great fabric with stretch often used for tops, skirts, dresses and nightwear.
Wool- (Boiled wool, worsted wool, wool crepe, wool jersey) The drape and hang will depend on the weight of the fabric chosen. Wool is great for trousers, dresses, skirts, coats, hats, scarves and jackets.
Velvet- Velvet has a short dense pile and is smooth brushed in one direction, coarse in the other. Luxurious fabric used for dresses, tops, jackets, trousers and skirts.
Denim- Available in stretch and non stretch. Lighter weights of denim are suitable for dresses, shirts and skirts. Heavier weights of denim are suitable for trousers, jackets and coats.
Fleece- This soft and popular fabric has many uses, such as jackets, hats, sweaters, sweatpants, cloth diapers (nappies), gym clothes, hoodies, blankets, and high-performance outdoor clothing.
Terry- Terry cloth is a cotton fabric with absorbent loops over the entire fabric surface. It has traditionally been used for towels, but has become versatile in use. Make bathrobes, hooded baby towels, burp cloths, bibs and swimsuit cover-ups.
Muslin- This airy and organic fabric has many uses from baby swaddles, summer pants, dresses, tapestry, blankets and quilting.
Velour- Velour can be a woven or a knitted fabric, allowing it to stretch. It combines the stretchy properties of knits with the rich appearance and feel of velvet. Velour is used in dance wear, dresses, robes and loungewear.
Flannel- Flannel is a soft and warm fabric, similar to fleece in what its uses are. Many use flannel for pajamas, crafts, quilts, lining of jackets, bedding, bags and scarves.
The list can go on and on! We love experimenting with new fun projects and fabrics and we hope you do too!
What are you working on next? We would love to know!
]]>Have Fun!
Peanut Butter Eggs - Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs are the Easter dessert you need! This is actually a pretty simple recipe with just six ingredients. Yum!
Chocolate banana bread loafs - These sweet, bite-sized, and adorable Cadbury Mini Eggs Banana Loaves might become your new Easter fave!
Carrot Cake Cupcakes - Soft, fluffy, and moist carrot cake cupcakes! Made completely from scratch with real grated carrots and the option to add nuts or raisins, these cupcakes are always a hit! Make sure to top them off with the absolute best cream cheese frosting.
We have two new collections on their way to us and we just had to share with you in advance! Make sure you have signed up with our newsletter to get notified for when they are available to purchase, as designer collections are limited.
Tropical Garden - by Sue Gibbins
SUE GIBBINS (a.k.a. Rocket & Indigo) is a surface designer from a pretty little village in the northwest of England. Before setting up her design studio back in the UK, she lived in tropical climes teaching scuba diving and finding creative inspiration from her adventures. Her contemporary yet often nostalgic artwork is heavily influenced by nature, pattern and color. She loves to find joy in the small things and translate that into happy designs to brighten people’s day.
www.instagram.com/rocketandindigo
ABOUT THE COLLECTION TROPICAL GARDEN was inspired by the exuberant shapes, colors and sounds of nature in the tropics. This collection features exotic flora and fauna bursting forth after the warm monsoon rains.
The months spent cooped up inside have made our living spaces seem cluttered, dirty, and in need of some TLC. Getting our homes in order at this time of year leaves us free to relish the freshness of the new season without worrying about the dirt and clutter indoors.
So here is our list of eco-friendly spring cleaning ideas:
1) Make the switch to non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products
2) Hang your curtains, laundry, etc outside to dry on warm days.
3) Say goodbye to paper towels and use cloth instead.
4) Reuse and repurpose. We see a lot of purging in the spring, which is great to declutter, but could we be repurposing items in other areas or for other uses?
5) Use stovetop potpourri or essential oil blends in place of an air freshener.
6) Use vinegar, baking soda, or lemon for cleaning alternatives. Replace plastic containers with glass refillable spray containers.
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I’m a massive advocate of taking moments of self care and when I am really feeling the need, an entire day dedicated to caring for yourself.
Sunday is my favorite day for self care, because it’s traditionally the laziest day of the week for me.
For my Sunday self care routine, I like to implement different kinds of self care. This means not only taking baths and doing those cozy things that we usually associate with self care, but also doing a bit of a weekly life reset around the house. After all, self care is more than just face masks! (as great as they are)
So we thought we would share different ideas beyond the bubbles, to reset, unwind, fill your cup and all that goodness.
There is no right or wrong way to practice selfcare, it is for you! We just hope that this list can provide you with some ideas or spark some idea's of your own.
How do you like to practice selfcare?
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Can you believe its been 6 months since this crazy global pandemic upended everyone's normal lives?! What types of changes have you been making in your day to day? I know that many of us are limiting our shop visits, and for me that means using more reusable products. I have wanted to switch to more eco friendly products for a long time, in fact I've been wanting to make reusable make up wipes since I started writing this blog a year ago! It only took a global outbreak to get me off my butt and actually make them!
I'm sure you've all seen these types of wipes out there. They are available at most sustainable goods stores and lots can be found on Etsy, but they are SO easy to make and are a fantastic scrap buster, there is no excuse not to make yourself some! I know a lot of the versions that you can buy have a simple serged edge, but I also know, not everyone has a serger at home, so I've included instructions on how to make these wipes without a serger!
Okay, so let's talk fabric! As this is a low-waste project, I recommend going through your scrap bin and using up some of your smaller pieces. You'll want to use two layers of fabric, they can be the same or different. I'm using scraps of organic cotton flannel and organic cotton waffle but here are some other fabrics that could work well:
If you're going to finish your wipes with a serger, you can choose to either cut them in a circle or in a square. There are benefits and disadvantages to both. Cutting circles create more waste, but are quicker and simpler to sew. Cutting squares mean's less waste and super quick cutting if you use a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, but are a bit slower to sew and mean either turning corners with your serger, or weaving in more ends. If you've chosen to do circles, you'll need to find some sort of round object around the house – like a drinking glass or jar lid – and trace some circles on to your fabric. If you're doing squares, here is a a great video tutorial on how to turn corners with your serger.
Once you've cut out all your pieces, all you need to do is place your two pieces of fabric wrong sides together and serge around all sides. You can then either weave in your serger threads or use a little Fray-check on the stitches and snip them off.
That's it! Super simple and oh-so quick!
Now for the version without a serger. This easy and quick as well, but does have a few extra steps. First you'll want to cut some squares of fabric in your desired size plus seam allowances. I cut mine at 3" square and used a 1/4" seam allowance which made my finished wipes 2.5" square. In the future, I would do them just a bit bigger.. maybe cut them at 3 1/2" so the finished wipes are 3" square, but this is completely up to you. In fact, you can use this technique to make larger wipes to use around the house, or as "un-paper towels".
Once you've got your squares cut, place two with right sides together and sew all the way around using your desired seam allowance, making sure to leave about a 1" opening in your stitching for turning. Clip the corners to reduce bulk, and turn your squares right side out pushing out your corners with a point turner or chopstick. Give your squares a good press making sure to fold in the seam allowances at the opening. Now all that is left to do it topstitch around all sides making sure to catch the seam allowances where you left your opening. C'est tout! Easy peasy.
Keep them in a cute container in your bathroom and when they're dirty, throw them in a mesh bag – we have a tutorial here – and toss them in the wash!
As a bit of a bonus, here are a few ideas for homemade natural makeup remover that I like:
The fact that these are reusable and made from scraps makes them extra eco-friendly, so I hope you give this quick project a try! Make sure to tag us #simplififabric so we can see your makes!
Thanks for stopping by! xo M
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When you're shopping for fabric, do you make sure that it is either organic, or Oeko-Tex certified? If you shop with us then the answer is most likely "yes, definitely!" If I see the Oeko-tex certification on the fabric I'm buying, I feel better about my purchase...but why? I know it's a good thing, but to be quite honest, thats about all I know!
At Simplifi, we work with many different fabric manufacturers and suppliers who offer Organic certification, Oeko-tex certification and GOTS, so I thought I would dive a little deeper in to what these certifications mean for you, our eco-conscious customer! I wanted to start with Oeko-tex certification because this is one we see everywhere! You may see Oeko-tex certification on more than just your fabric, it is awarded to any type of textile product, like clothing, mattresses, towels etc. For instance, you may see an Oeko-Tex label inside your Burton ski jacket, which means everything, from the zippers to the thread, to the printed logo, to the insulation needs to pass Oeko-tex standard testing.
There are many different certifications and standards set by Oeko-Tex or The International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology, including standards for leather production (Leather Standard) and standards for eco-friendly and socially responsible manufacturing (STeP), but this post is going to cover the most common certification which is 100 Standard.
So what are these standards? They are put in place to make sure that the fabric or product has been tested for harmful substances. This includes substances that are regulated or non-regulated which means they go above and beyond national and international testing of harmful substances. The criteria that they follow is also updated at least once yearly with new scientific research and statutory requirements.
Oeko-tex certification starts with an application. Companies will pay a licensing fee to have their product certified and must undergo testing every year to keep their certification and allow them to use the label in their products.
The extent of the testing is also based on the intended use of the final product. There are 4 different product classes as follows, meaning that the level of testing for products intended for babies and infants may be more strict than the testing for items other than garments, like curtains.
The audit consists of over 100 test parameters and includes testing for lead, nickel, harmful dyes and formaldehyde among other regulated and non-regulated substances, some that are of concern, but don't yet have any regulations in place. The testing also covers skin-friendly PH levels, colour-fastness and volatile chemicals.
Essentially, the 100 Standard Oeko-tex certification makes sure that your fabric, garment or decor item is safe for you and your family, with updates all the time. It is considered one of the most well known and internationally recognized testing standards for harmful chemicals.
For more information about Oeko-tex's other certifications, or to learn about the 100+ testing credentials or even how to apply to have your product certified you can visit the Oeko-tex website. On the website you can even check the validity of an Oeko-tex label by entering the label number in to their label checker to make sure it is legit!
Ok, so now I know why I feel better about buying 100 Standard Oeko-tex certified fabric, and I hope this has clarified some things for you as well. Are there any other certifications you would like me to explain or clarify? Let me know in the comments!
If you ever have more questions about the certification of your fabrics don't hesitate to reach out at info@simplififabric.com. We strive to be as transparent as possible when it comes to the fabric we carry. Are there any other certifications you would like me to clarify? We care about you, your family and the planet!
Thanks for stopping by! xo M
]]>It is a big deal to parents to provide the very best for their babies. If you had to choose between a tacky plasticky teether and a handcrafted wood and organic fabric teething toy, the choice is pretty clear. Lisa from Thistle&Grove hand crafts each teether to ensure that you are getting the best quality for your precious babies. I'm not a parent, but when I saw Thistle&Grove's teethers for the first time I thought, yes, this is something special! They are adorable, and quite beautiful in their intricate knots and stitched bunny ears, not to mention the amazing photography and perfect styling on their Instagram! I think these would make an amazing baby shower gift and a meaningful keepsake! Here's what Lisa had to say about Thistle&Grove:
Tell me a bit about your company:
What do you make?
Hi! My name is Lisa, owner of, and maker at ‘Thistle&Grove.’ in the small town of Newcastle, Ontario. My little company is a one woman show! Although my husband, a graphic designer, did all of my branding. I make 100% organic teething toys for babies.
How did you get started?
Our daughter was born in December of 2019 and started teething pretty early on. All the teething toys we had were much too big for her teeny tiny mouth, plus too big and heavy for her little hands to hold. This is how it all started, with a small maple wood ring that I crocheted 100% recycled T-shirt fabric on to. Super light weight and so easy for her to hold. From there the ideas just took off!
Each teether has an actual name. The entire existence of our products is owed to our daughter, Vienna. Without her in our life we would have never even dreamed of creating a business like this. So we named a teether after her. That got me thinking, about all those 'littles' in our lives. Every single one of them, special and unique in their own way. What better way to show them and their parents how important they are to us? So we named a teether after each one of them!
Why are eco-certified and organic fabrics important to you?
It was important to me that everything I use is eco-certified and organic because you can never be too safe when it comes to babies. Ever since I had my daughter I have been extra cautious with things we use around the house and toys we give her. Keeping that in mind, I use natural untreated maple wood and beech wood. But I still needed fabric, so I scoured the internet for the best fabric for the job. I found ‘Simplifi Fabric’ on Etsy and instantly fell in love. And if I thought I couldn’t love their product more, the fabric came in compostable mail! I chose to use Simplifi’s Organic Cotton Flannel for my ‘bird wings and bunny ear’ teethers because it is sturdy but has a nice soft texture. I hope to use their linen fabric soon as well!
Happy teething!
Thistle&Grove.
@thistleandgrove
As you can see, Lisa is very passionate about creating the best quality and most beautiful teething toys for babies. Each one is unique just like the babies who will use them, and the families that will cherish them! To order, or for more information DM Thistle&Grove on Instagram!
]]>We miss going out to eat. I'm not gonna lie, that might be the hardest part of isolation. My partner Tyler and I have both worked in the service industry and we love the community here in Ottawa. It's not only about the delicious food and the strange and wonderful wines, but a lot of it has to do with seeing people, catching up with our friends behind the bar. The weather has been so beautiful lately and patios have started to open up all over the city. We aren't quite ready to venture out in to the patio crowds, so what we have started doing is going for picnics! Tyler has been doing a good job at "supporting small businesses"– which is just code word for spending too much money on wine from our friends' restaurants – so we now have a lovely selection of wines that are perfect for dining al-fresco! Now all we need is a way to transport our food and wine to our chosen picnic spot without anything getting warm... I have been wanting to make a cooler, or insulated, bag for years, mainly to transport drinks to our weekly beer-league softball games (sadly, softball was cancelled this year) but now we had even more reason to need one – to the sewing room!
I used the Range Backpack pattern from Noodlehead for a few reasons. One, I love the style. I have been following the hashtag on Instagram for a while now, and there are so many awesome versions out there. Two, the roll top design seemed like a good feature for keeping in the cold, and not allowing it to escape from zippers or other closures. And three, it's fully lined so I knew I wouldn't have to make many adjustments to incorporate my insulated lining.
So speaking of insulated lining – I used InsulBright. InsulBright is essentially a polyester batting that has a reflective metalized core. "The polyester fibers resist conduction while the reflective metalized polyester film reflects radiant energy, hot and cold, back to its source" It is perfect for both hot and cold applications and many people use it for pot holders, oven mitts and lunch bags.
For the exterior of the bag I used our 9oz Hemp Cotton Canvas in Light Grey with accents of our Vintage Vegan Leather in Khaki as well as 1" Hemp webbing for the straps, closures and hanging loops. I am so happy with how they all compliment each other.
I also used black PUL (polyurethane laminate) for the lining, not so much to make it waterproof – I will not be putting any loose ice in here – but more to protect my back against any condensation from the ice packs or cold items. I think this also probably adds another layer of cold retention, but I can't be sure... I am no scientist. If you've ever used PUL, for reusable diapers perhaps, you know that it has two sides. I call them the soft side and the shiny side. PUL is a polyester woven fabric with a coating of polyurethane on one side. I chose to use the shiny side out, so that the inside of the bag would be easy to wipe clean in case of faulty tupperware. I didn't want the PUL to show at the opening of the bag, so I drafted an easy facing for the lining, so that you just see more of the hemp canvas poking out instead of the polyurethane lining. I am very happy with how sleek this looks.
One last modification I made to the pattern is the addition of padded straps. I knew that if this bag was full of food and drink that it might get a bit heavy and so I wanted to protect our shoulders. I wasn't entirely sure how I was going to go about this, so I inspected a couple backpacks we had and just kind of winged it! I used bra foam and scraps of quilt batting, and here's how I did it:
First I made a template. This was freehanded, but based off of a travel backpack I have. I cut it out of paper and tried that up against my body to see if the shape and length were alright. I ended up changing the curve slightly and trying it again. I assume that everyone will have a different shape that feels best for them. I then added a 3/8" seam allowance to this pattern piece and cut out 2 pairs from my hemp canvas and sewed them with right sides together keeping the top portion open for turning later. I trimmed the seam allowance to 1/4" and clipped the curves.
With the original shape (the one without the seam allowances) I cut out 2 from the bra foam and 2 from the batting. With some basting spay, I adhered one layer of foam and one layer of batting to the wrong side of each strap, keeping the foam and batting within the seam allowance. Once everything was all stuck together I carefully turned the entire thing right-side-out so that the batting and foam were now sandwiched in between the two layers of canvas. I then topstitched around the outer edge of the strap, catching all layers and added a couple of horizontal lines of topstitching to keep the foam and batting in place. All done!
When it came to the insulation, It was so easy to use I simply basted it to the lining pieces on all edges just inside the seam allowance and treated them as one.
We test-drove our new bag last night, and stuffed it with homemade Thai salad, and delicious natural wine. We found a lovely spot at the top of a hill with a view of the Cattle Castle to our left, and a drive-in screening of Guardians of the Galaxy behind us in the football field. Below us was a group of people playing frisbee and few little kids running around enjoying the longest day of the year. It was truly magical, but made even more glorious by the fact that the wine stayed chilled while we sipped it. All that was missing was our bartender friends, but we will see them again soon.
Thanks for stopping by xo M
]]>I was working on a blog post about re-usable makeup pads (still to come) but couldn't bring myself to post it. During a time like this, it just didn't feel right. While I was sewing however, I was listening to the podcast 1619, "an audio series on how slavery has transformed America..." from the NY Times and found myself wondering if there might be an equivalent that focuses on the systemic racism specifically seen in Canada. As Canadians we are just as guilty of systemic racism and discrimination as any other nation, but sadly, it was slim pickings. In my quick research I did come across some other helpful resources including books to read and organizations to learn about and donate to here in Canada. I know this list is just a small sampling of resources available, so if you have any to add please leave a comment! (Comments will be moderated!) Unfortunately the Shopify Blog platform does not allow for me to respond to comments (seriously Shopify, get it together...) but I will make sure to read them all. Also, because I have been listening to podcasts while I work (and sew) I would love your suggestions for Canadian podcasts about race and racism, or even specific episodes or interviews that tackle the subject. I will try to update this list as suggestions come in!
Missing and Murdered - This CBC podcast specifically tackles the National crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada and the mistreatment and murders of thousands of Indigenous people in Residential Schools. Hosted by Connie Walker.
Colour Code - Denise Balkissoon and Hannah Sung host this Globe and Mail podcast about race in Canada.
The Secret Life of Canada - A bi-weekly CBC podcast that looks at all the people, places and events regularly left out of Canadian history. Hosted by Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson
Elle Canada has put together a great list of 19 Organizations Supporting Black Canadians to Donate to - I recommend going through and reading about each one. If you are able to, please donate to one or more.
Edmonton Centre for Race and Culture - (from their site) The Centre for Race and Culture works within the community to promote and support individual, collective, and systemic change to address racism and encourage intercultural understanding. Our expertise spans workplace development, community building, research, and education.
Canadian Race Relations Foundations - (from their site) The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is committed to building a national framework for the fight against racism in Canadian society. We will do this through knowledge-sharing and community support in the pursuit of equity, fairness, social justice and systemic change.
Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion - (from their site) The Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) was formed in 2006 as a result of the work undertaken through the Strengthening Hamilton Community’s Initiative (SHCI), an initiative formed as a response to the burning of a local Hindu Temple in 2001, the same year the terrorist attacks occurred in the United States on September 11th.
HCCI’s short-term goal was to deal with the distress in the community caused by the burning of the Hindu Temple, but it was anticipated that to address issues of racism in the longer term, a more profound systemic change would be required. To this end, HCCI was established to develop a civic resource centre to create an inclusive and welcoming city through respecting diversity, practicing equity, and speaking out against discrimination.
Hoodstock MTL - (translated from their website) Generate spaces for dialogue and mobilizing initiatives to eliminate systemic inequalities and develop supportive, inclusive, secure and dynamic communities.
Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) (from their site) The Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) is an initiative dedicated to supporting the success of African, Caribbean, Black (ACB) and other racialized undergraduate and graduate students on campus, while encouraging them to be confident members in our Ottawa community.
We recognize that the experiences of ACB and other racialized minorities encounter racism, such as anti-black racism, and other forms of discrimination, that impede upon their social development as students. Advocating for an inclusive campus is ACMP’s mission while supporting the success of racialized students.
Woodland Cultural Centre - Woodland Cultural Centre serves to preserve and promote Indigenous history, art, language and culture. Their campaign - Save the Evidence - is to raise awareness and support for the restoration of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, and to develop the building into an Interpreted Historic Site and Educational Resource. As a site of conscience, the final goal is to create a fully-realized Interpretive Centre that will be the definitive destination for information about the history of Residential Schools in Canada, the experiences of Survivors of the schools, and the impact that the Residential School system has had on our communities.
Afrobiz - ** link has been fixed** Canada's most comprehensive directory of black owned businesses & black entrepreneurs, searchable by city and by category.
Descriptions are adapted from Goodreads and wherever possible, please try to buy these books from local independent shops, I bought mine from Octopus Books here in Ottawa - or try your local library!
BlackLife: Post-BLM and the Struggle for Freedom
by Rinaldo Walcott and Idil Abdillahi
BlackLife discloses the ongoing destruction of Black people as enacted not simply by state structures, but beneath them in the foundational modernist ideology that underlies thinking around migration and movement, as Black erasure and death are unveiled as horrifically acceptable throughout western culture. With exactitude and celerity, Idil Abdillahi and Rinaldo Walcott pull from local history, literature, theory, music, and public policy around everything from arts funding, to crime and mental health––presenting a convincing call to challenge pervasive thought on dominant culture's conception of Black personhood. They argue that artists, theorists, activists, and scholars offer us the opportunity to rethink and expose flawed thought, providing us new avenues into potential new lives and a more livable reality of BlackLife.
Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present
by Robyn Maynard
Delving behind Canada's veneer of multiculturalism and tolerance, Policing Black Lives traces the violent realities of anti-blackness from the slave ships to prisons, classrooms and beyond. Robyn Maynard provides readers with the first comprehensive account of nearly four hundred years of state-sanctioned surveillance, criminalization and punishment of Black lives in Canada.
The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power
by Desmond Cole
In his 2015 cover story for Toronto Life magazine, Desmond Cole exposed the racist actions of the Toronto police force, detailing the dozens of times he had been stopped and interrogated under the controversial practice of carding. The story quickly came to national prominence, shaking the country to its core and catapulting its author into the public sphere. Cole used his newfound profile to draw insistent, unyielding attention to the injustices faced by Black Canadians on a daily basis.
They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up
by Eternity Martis (Memoir)
A booksmart kid from Toronto, Eternity Martis was excited to move away to Western University for her undergraduate degree. But as one of the few Black students there, she soon discovered that the campus experiences she'd seen in movies were far more complex in reality. Over the next four years, Eternity learned more about what someone like her brought out in other people than she did about herself. She was confronted by white students in blackface at parties, dealt with being the only person of colour in class and was tokenized by her romantic partners. She heard racial slurs in bars, on the street, and during lectures. And she gathered labels she never asked for: Abuse survivor. Token. Bad feminist. But, by graduation, she found an unshakeable sense of self—and a support network of other women of colour.
Until We Are Free: Refelections on Black Lives Matter in Canada
by various contributors, edited by Rodney Diverlus, Sandy Hudson and Syrus Marcus Ware
The killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012 by a white assailant inspired the Black Lives Matter movement, which quickly spread outside the borders of the United States. The movement’s message found fertile ground in Canada, where Black activists speak of generations of injustice and continue the work of the Black liberators who have come before them.
Until We Are Free contains some of the very best writing on the hottest issues facing the Black community in Canada. It describes the latest developments in Canadian Black activism, organizing efforts through the use of social media, Black-Indigenous alliances, and more.
A Space for Race: Decoding Issues of Racism, Multiculturalism and Post-Colonialism in the Quest for Belonging
by Kathy Hogarth, Wendy L Fletcher
Canada at a Crossroads: Boundaries, Bridges, and Laissez-Faire Racism in Indigenous-Settler Relations
by Jeffrey Denis
Drawing on group position theory, settler colonial studies, critical race theory, and Indigenous theorizing, Canada at a Crossroads emphasizes the social psychological barriers to transforming white settler ideologies and practices and working towards decolonization.
Colour-Coded: A Legal History of Racism in Canada, 1900-1950 (Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History)
by Constance Backhouse
Historically Canadians have considered themselves to be more or less free of racial prejudice. Although this conception has been challenged in recent years, it has not been completely dispelled. In Colour-Coded, Constance Backhouse illustrates the tenacious hold that white supremacy had on our legal system in the first half of this century, and underscores the damaging legacy of inequality that continues today.
Where the Waters Divide: Neoliberalism, White Privilege, and Environmental Racism in Canada
by Michael Mascarenhas
This timely and important scholarship advances an empirical understanding of Canada's contemporary "Indian" problem. Where the Waters Divide is one of the few book monographs that analyze how contemporary neoliberal reforms (in the manner of de-regulation, austerity measures, common sense policies, privatization, etc.) are woven through and shape contemporary racial inequality in Canadian society. Using recent controversies in drinking water contamination and solid waste and sewage pollution, Where the Waters Divide illustrates in concrete ways how cherished notions of liberalism and common sense reform -- neoliberalism -- also constitute a particular form of racial oppression and white privilege.
Titles by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson:
Islands of Decolonial Love: Stories & Songs
This Accident of Being Lost: Songs and Stories
As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resistance
Lighting the Eighth Fire: The Liberation, Resurgence, and Protection of Indigenous Nations
And many more From Leanne Betasamosake Simpson here.
Brother by David Chariandy (Fiction)
An intensely beautiful, searingly powerful, tightly constructed novel, Brother explores questions of masculinity, family, race, and identity as they are played out in a Scarborough housing complex during the sweltering heat and simmering violence of the summer of 1991.
I know this is a different type of blog post for us but if you are here, I want to say in the most sincere way, thanks for stopping by xo M
]]>So is it just me, or did spring just fly by? It's hard to believe that the summer solstice and Father's Day are just a few weeks away! This year, Father's day is Sunday June 21st so there are still 3 weeks for you to sew up something really special for the fathers or father figures in your life. If you're like me, you love giving gifts, but thinking of the perfect one can sometimes stress me out. The wonderful thing about a handmade gift is that they have to love it because you made it! I started searching for some thoughtfully handmade gift ideas for my own fathers (dad, step-dad and FIL) and I've compiled a few ideas that I wanted to share with you! So here goes:
Simplifi Yoga Bag - our tutorial will guide you through all the steps to make a beautifully finished yoga mat bag for the yogi dad.
Jalie Patterns Polo Shirt - a perfect polo for wearing on the links
Jalie Patterns Thermal Underwear - ok so maybe we aren't thinking about Thermal anything right now, but these would be a great gift for the hiker/skier/dog walker dad.
Friday Pattern Company Ilford Jacket - a chore-style jacket pattern for the on-trend dad.
Elbe textiles Sage Tee - A classic tee pattern that is free to download!
Elbe Textiles Sanders Button Up - a button up shirt with some clever and stylish details.
Elbe Textiles Freemantle Pants - comfortable and very cool elastic waist pants.
Helen's Closet Dogwood Apron - a perfect maker apron to keep dad's tools close at hand.
Treasurie Sewing Pattern Laptop Sleeve - a padded sleeve to protect dad's precious Macbook
Noodlehead Range Backpack - a super sleek roll top style backpack for the dad on the go, would also make a gread diaper bag for the new dad!
Grainline Studio Portside Travel Set - all of the necessary accessories for the travelling dad.
Wardrobe By Me Cargo Shorts - big pockets to carry everything dad needs to take with him.
Sew DIY Tasi Robe - a unisex pattern, this robe is perfect for the dad who likes to lounge.
True Bias Hudson Pants - Comfortable and stylish sweat pants with pockets.
Thread Theory Eastwood Pyjamas - classic and comfortable pyjama pants pattern.
Merchant and Mills Victor Apron A super stylish and useful chef's apron or great for the workshop too!
Sew 4 Home Classic Chef's apron - another option for a chef's apron - free pattern!
Sew 4 Home Wrap and Tie Half Apron - a simple half apron pattern, easy to wear and easy to sew!
All Well Workshop Bucket Bag as a growler tote?? - ok this one is just an idea, but I think its a good one! Would love to see this if someone gives it a try!
Bombazine Mitt - a quick and easy scrap-busting gift for the dad who loves to bake or cook!
DIY Ring Sling from the Doing Things Blog - the perfect and easy gift for the new mom on the go!
Divided Basket from Noodlehead - the perfect organizing tote for diaper supplies
Sew 4 Home Backpack Diaper bag - a very useful gift for the new dad!
Thread Theory Wallet - 3 options for different styles of wallet depending on your dad's style!
Named Clothing Tie and Bowtie - a free pattern to make either a classic necktie or a bowtie for dad!
Klum House Woodland Dopp Kit - the perfect gift for any dad!
Thread Theory Strathcona Henley - something just a bit different than a plain t shirt.
Sew 4 Home Sturdy Wraparound Firewood Holder - probably not a lot of fires happening in the middle of summer, but dad will get lots of use in the dead of winter.
Friday Pattern Company Sunday V Neck - a cool raglan sleeved v neck tee... did I mention it was free?
I hope you find some good ideas, or at least inspiration in this list.
Thanks for stopping by! xo M
]]>Welcome back to a long-overdue Maker Monday featuring Maryke (Mah-RYE-kah) Dolls! You cannot scroll past Maryke Dolls profile on Instagram without stopping to marvel at the sweet, whimsical and beautifully intricate heirloom dolls that Robyn creates. Each one is unique and has its own little personality. Dressed in handmade and hand knit clothing, these collector dolls are not for rough and tough children with grimy hands, these are for adults and children who appreciate handcraft and the finer things! These dolls are the type to be loved for years and handed down to generations to come. Here is what Robyn has to say about Maryke Dolls:
What do you make?
Mother's day is this Sunday and if you're anything like me, you're last-minute panicking about what to get/make for the moms in your life. I'm lucky enough to have 3 moms to celebrate on Mother's Day; my mom, my step mom and my partner's mom. They're all so wonderful, but also sooooo different which means I need a unique gift for each of them, which also means 3 times the panic! Have no fear, however, because I have put together a list of gifts for every type of mom, momma, ma, mum, mumby, mother that you can sew in just a few hours or less!
Dogwood apron from Helen's Closet - a utility style apron perfect for keeping mom's tools close at hand.
The Gardening Tool Bag from So Sew Easy - an easy and stylish way to organize all mom's tools or gardening supplies.
Wrist Pin Cushion from Sew Very Crafty - Mom never has to go looking or her tin of pins again! This sweet tufted design is something just a bit more special.
Quilt-as-you-go Thread Catcher from The Sewing Chick - everyone needs one of these thread catchers close by when sewing.
Closet Case Patterns sewing machine cover - keep mom's babies dust-free and organized.
Fabric Pattern Weights - just fill with them with rice to make the perfect accompaniment to the rotary cutter
Wiksten Baby Bloomers - adorable little baby bloomers that can be sewn out of fabric scraps.
DIY Ring Sling from the Doing Things Blog - the perfect and easy gift for the new mom on the go!
Divided Basket from Noodlehead - the perfect organizing tote for diaper supplies
Indigo Bird Design Sierra Tote - a lovely and practical project bag to hold all of mom's knitting projects and tools.
Roll-up Knitting Needle Case from The Spruce Crafts - A great way for mom to keep track of all her knitting needles.
Mandy Boat Tee from Tessuti fabrics - a free pattern with a relaxed easy-to-fit style.
Cris Woods Envelope Dress - a quick and easy and super stylish sewing pattern that uses very little fabric for big impact.
All Well Bucket Bag - a very on-trend purse pattern for every day.
Infinity Scarf - Melly Sews shows you how darn easy and quick it is to make a practical and stylish infinity scarf for mom.
Wiksten Shift Dress and Top - a relaxed fit shift-style top and dress thats quick and easy to sew.
Klum House Fremont Tote - an effortlessly cool crossbody tote to keep mom's hands free.
Organic cotton Beeswax wraps - Perfect for wrapping anything from leftovers to cut fruit and cheese. Say no to single use plastic!
Reusable Makeup Removing Wipes - the ultimate scrap buster. Make a mesh produce bag (see below) to store and wash them in!
Reusable Mesh Produce Bags - follow our simple tutorial to make these produce bags.
Laptop/Tablet Sleeve - protect mom's tablet with a cool, quilted or simple zippered tablet sleeve.
Phone Charger Holder from So Sew Easy - mom can keep her cords and phone all in one place and off of a cluttered counter with this easy to sew hanger.
Fabric cord-keeper - Make sure mom never has to untangle any wires with this handy and quick gift.
Circle Zip Earbud Pouch from Dog Under My Desk
Insulating Coffee Sleeve - keep that coffee warm (or that wine cold) on walks during isolation with this clever gift.
Reusable Coffee Filters - use our tutorial to make reusable and waste free coffee filters for the coffee loving mom in your life!
Bombazine Mitt - a quick and easy scrap-busting gift for the mom who loves to bake or cook.
Cross Back Apron -Tessuti Fabric or Helen's Closet have the perfect apron pattern for the mom who loves to bake, cook or create!
Quilt-as-you-go Placemats - The Midnight Quilter is my new obsession and these QAYG placemats are another reason to love her.
Quilted Pillow Covers - here are 3 different options for modern, stylish throw pillow covers from Suzy Quilts for the mom who loves to decorate.
Scrap Busting Cooling Eye Mask - sure this is our own blog post, but we love this cooling eye mask tutorial that uses scraps and rice to create a hot or cool pack for mom to relax with.
Tilly and the Buttons Sleep Mask - a free pattern for a classic and comfortable sleep mask for the mom who loves to sleep in peace.
Zippered Pouch - the Petal Pouch from Noodlehead is the Perfect zippered pouch in 2 sizes!
I hope you are able to find a quick last-minute gift to make for your deserving moms!
Thanks for stopping by! xo M
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I have been wanting to make myself some beeswax wraps for a while, and there have been a few half-hearted attempts at researching the process and even searching out materials, but I never got around to it until today, and I wanted to share the process with you!
Beeswax wraps are essentially a piece of fabric impregnated with beeswax and other ingredients to create a moldable, breathable and reusable alternative to plastic wrap. They are perfect for wrapping up leftover food and cut vegetables or covering up bowls. Pretty much anything plastic wrap can do a beeswax wrap can do, but with less waste!
I had seen some wraps for sale at health food and bulk food stores, but knew for sure that I wanted to make some myself. I did a little snooping and found that the ingredients in the wraps you can buy weren't just beeswax and fabric. With a little more research I found that with the addition of a food safe oil and pine resin, the wraps become more flexible, less prone to cracking and actually a little stickier which means they are better at sticking to themselves - like cling film!
Beeswax wrap kits are pretty easy to find these days. Etsy has a ton of them that even include the pre-cut fabric, but half the fun of making them yourself is picking fun fabrics or using scraps from your stash! Of course you can buy large quantities of all the ingredients on Amazon or places like that, but I was pretty adamant that I wanted to source it locally – especially during this time where supporting small business and your local economy is more important than ever! I was super happy to have found a local company called The Sheep Shelf that sold kits which included the beeswax, the pine resin and the jojoba oil all in pre-measured amounts and even included a paintbrush for the application process! This little kit also included instructions, but of course I went a little off-script at times, so I will show you what I did!
To make approximately 10-12 10" square wraps you will need:
Following the included instructions I added the little bottle of jojoba/grapeseed oil and the packet of pine resin to my jar. I placed the jar in a pot half filled with water and brought it to a simmer. Slowly the resin began to melt – this took about 15 minutes. I found a package of disposable chop sticks at the back of my cutlery drawer so I used this to stir the mixture every once and a while to help melt the resin/oil mixture evenly.
While the resin was melting I cut my prewashed fabric into squares. I cut some small ones that were 8" x 8", some medium ones at 10" x 10" and I cut one at 13" x 13" just for fun. You can make them whatever size (or shape!) you want here. I do recommend using pinking sheers here if you have them so that your fabric doesn't fray, but I think once they are all waxed up, they will be less likely to fray. I suppose you could serge or zigzag the edges, but I haven't tried this...
Once the resin was fully melted I added the beeswax, stirring occasionally until it was fully melted – about 15 minutes. While the wax was melting I prepared my sheetpan by covering it with a piece of parchment paper and laying out the first sheet ready to be waxed! When the wax/oil/resin mixture was fully melted I simply dipped in my brush and painted it on the surface of the fabric, letting it soak in to the fabric.
The first few seemed to go on a bit too thick and solidified pretty quickly, so I improvised by placing the sheet with the fabric on it in a 300ºF oven for approximately 30 seconds. (Do not do this if you have a gas oven!) I found that this helped melt the solidified wax and helped it penetrate the fabric. I think I was adding a bit too much in the beginning, so after it came out of the oven, I placed another piece of cut fabric on top to absorb any of the access wax. I would then remove the original piece of fabric and set it aside to cool, and continue with the one I used to soak up the wax, and repeated the process.
It took a few tries to get the amount of wax right, and as they cooled you could see where there was a bit too much wax like in the photo above. When this happened I just put that piece back in the oven for a few more seconds and then dabbed with a paper towel. I repeated all of these steps with each piece of fabric, layering them between pieces of parchment paper to cool.
I'm not gonna lie, this process was a bit messy. The jar and paintbrush were definitely a write-off when I was done and I had wax all over my fingers, counter and camera! But it was pretty fun and easy and well worth it because I got 13 beeswax wraps in various sizes out of one kit, and thats enough to give some away as gifts! (ahem...Mother's Day is right around the corner)
To take care of your new wraps simply wash them in cold water with a mild dishwashing detergent and refresh them every 2-3 months by placing them back in the oven on a piece of parchment paper on a low temperature for just a few seconds. I've never made wax wraps before, but I have been gifted one that didn't have the added oil and resin and I have to say that the flexibility and tackiness that it lends to the finished product is definitely a bonus! I hope you give this a try. It was super fun and definitely satisfying, plus the pine resin and beeswax made my apartment smell like a spa – so win win win!
Thanks for stopping by! xo M
]]>Hello everyone! I know there are a lot of you out there frantically making home sewn PPE (personal protective equipment) and there are certainly a TON of face mask patterns available now, but when my step-mom, who is a nurse, asked me about sewing her a scrub cap, I found it very difficult to find a good pattern that fit all of our needs. My criteria for the pattern was that it be quick and easy to sew, durable, use a small amount of fabric and it needed to be FREE.
If you don't have access to a printer, there are some tutorials available on YouTube that walk you through drafting your own, like this one from Darrell Thomas which is great, but I wanted to create my own pattern with a few more features that I could make available to YOU!
Features:
I know we all have a lot on our plates right now so I'm going to get straight to the sewing part. I know that's the real reason you are here. Here's what you will need:
All seam allowances are included and measure 1/2" unless otherwise noted.
Step 1. Print and cut out your pattern pieces.
Step 2. Cut out your fabric. Note that the side panel is cut on the fold! Make sure to snip in the the side panel along the fold (about 1/8" in) to mark the centre front at the op and bottom and snip the top piece at the CF mark. Don't forget to also cut a band piece which is not included in the pattern pieces. The band measures 3" x 35" but if your piece of fabric is smaller cut the band in 2 pieces measuring 3" x 18" each.
Step 3. With right sides together, pin your side panel piece to your top piece starting by pinning the centre front and ends, and then easing in the rest of the curved edge. Stitch. Finish your edges in your preferred method; serging, zigzagging or using pinking shears.
Step 4. Press your seam allowance towards the side panel. Create a faux flat-felled seam by topstitching approximately 3/8" away from the seamline on the side panel making sure to catch your seam allowance in this line of stitching. This step is optional but I highly recommend it because we want this cap to be very durable and stand up to lots of washing!
Step 5. Turn 1/4" to the wrong side of the assembled cap along the back straight side and press. Turn under another 1/2" and press. Edgestitch along the first fold to create a casing for the elastic.
Step 6. **If you do not have access to any elastic a scrap piece of stretchy material such as jersey, spandex or lycra can be used in its place. Cut a piece of stretchy material 6" x 3/4". I recommend using something with a high stretch percentage and with good recovery. Fold this rectangle in half lengthwise and press. Substitute for elastic and continue with the steps as follows**
Using a safety pin, bodkin, or in my case a bobby pin, thread your elastic in to the casing until the loose end of the elastic is just flush with the edge you started at. Stitch across the elastic 1/2" from the edge to secure. Backstitch a few times.
Step 7. Continue to thread the elastic through the casing until it emerges out the other end. Your fabric will begin to gather up. Pull the elastic out by about 1/2" and stitch across the elastic and casing 1/2" from the edge to secure. I like to keep my (bobby) pin attached while I do this step just in case I accidentally let go. This way if the elastic springs back in to the casing, I am still able to grab it and thread it through. Trim the elastic flush with the casing.
Step 8. If you cut your band in two pieces, sew them right sides together along one short end. Press this seam open.
Step 9. *This step is optional but if you wear a mask with elastic that wraps around the ears, large buttons attached to the band can be used to loop the elastic around, keeping the pressure off your ears. This interfacing will reinforce the area of the band where the buttons will go, making them sturdier and more secure.
Cut 2 pieces of interfacing 3" x 4" and fuse them to the wrong side of the band piece approximately 5" from centre front on both sides.
Step 10. Press the band piece in half lengthwise with right sides together. Open the band piece back up and press one long edge to the wrong side by 1/2".
Step 10. With right sides together, pin the unfolded edge of the band to the side panel, matching centres. Stitch.
Step 11. Press seam allowance towards band and press seam allowance of the edge of the band that isn't stitched to the wrong side by 1/2".
Step 12. With the right side facing you, unfold your pressed band and fold your cap up and out of the way. Fold your band right sides together so that the long edges match and pin.
Step 13. Starting right at the edge of the cap, begin sewing the rest of your band pivoting at the corner and sewing to the folded edge. Backstitch.
Step 14. Clip your corners and using a point turner, chopstick or knitting needle turn your band right side out and press.
*If your cap is bunched up inside your band and doesn't lie flat, simply rip out a few stitches along the band until it sits flat.
Step 15. Fold your band along the crease you made earlier and line up the folded seam allowance just over the stitch line. Pin in place.
Step 16. From the right side, starting on the end of one of the ties, edgestitch all the way around the band pivoting at the corners and finishing back where you started making sure to catch all layers as you go.
Step 17. Sew a bartack where the cap meets the band sewing through all layers including the elastic. This will reinforce this area of strain.
Voila! You are all done! Simple and effective. This is a great pattern for batch sewing and it is helpful to have a few so that you can always have one available when the others are in the wash!
If you are a healthcare worker during this time, we want to say a very big THANK YOU. If you are not in healthcare, but are sewing caps for the frontline workers we also want to say THANK YOU! Please tag us with #simplifiscrubcap so we can see your makes and say thank you personally!
Please take care of yourselves and others!
Thanks for stopping by. xo M
Here is a photo of my step-mom (left) wearing her Simplifi Scrub Cap. She says she's been getting lots of compliments and it washes very well!
]]>Saying is has been a crazy couple of weeks might be the understatement of the century. The entire planet is going through something we never could have prepared ourselves for, but luckily we are all navigating through it together! We are so lucky to already have a strong sewing community online, which is keeping us motivated, encouraged and inspired. I can't help but wonder how we would have dealt with all of this just 20 years ago! When faced with a situation like this, it hard to ignore how much we rely on human contact and socialization, but it also makes us so aware of how connected we are online! It's pretty neat, to be honest, how much is available online. You can take a class, have a meeting, talk to someone in another country or around the corner, buy just about anything and of course download PDF sewing patterns!
This is a time of uncertainty to say the least. Many have been laid-off, lost their jobs completely or just don’t know what the future holds. If you your income has been affected by this pandemic, but your creative spirit has not, I have compiled a list of free sewing patterns to help you through these tough times! I want to stress however, that if you're able to continue to support small businesses and independent pattern designers, I urge you to do so. Buy a paper pattern online from your favourite local sewing shop if possible. But if not, this list should help with your time in isewlation.
As you can see there are LOTS of free patterns available out there. This list is a small selection of some of our favourites and favourites of sewists in the online community. There are far too many to list them all, but the following websites are a terrific resource for free patterns if you need even more inspiration!
Peppermint Magazine Sewing School - tons of free on-trend patterns from various pattern designers. Tried and tested!
Sew4Home - Many free patterns babies, bags and more for the home!
Fabric-Store.com - many free trendy and elegant sewing patterns to print at home.
Fat Quarter Shop - lots of free quilting patterns from various designers!
Purl Soho Free Pattern Database - not just knitting patterns, Purl Soho has lots for sewists too, including quilt patterns, patterns for home and garments too!
I genuinely hope you are all doing well! We have such wonderful clients and we can't thank you enough for your continued support through these tough times! Keep your heads up, and most importantly, keep sewing.
Thanks for stopping by.
xoM
]]>My mom always says I have a "Barometer Head" which means I get headaches whenever the atmospheric pressure changes, but I can assure you, this little headache is self-induced and caused by a visit to a local cocktail bar last night.
Either way! I have always felt relief from a cool compress on my eyes, but a wet washcloth is always a bit messy, doesn't stay cold long enough and I inevitably fall asleep and wake up several hours later on a wet spot....ok, so that sounds bad, but you know what I mean!
I was hoping to create my own scaled-down version of the Magic Bag, which is a popular brand of thermotherapeutic compress that can either be cooled in the freezer or heated in the microwave.
With a quick search on Google, I found that you can stuff this type of pillow with an assortment of fillings including dried peas, wheat, barley, rice, flaxseed, cherry pits, crushed walnuts and more! I already had a bunch of short-grain rice in my cupboard so I decided to use that. It's important to know that you can't wash the bag if it is filled with rice, so I designed a little envelope style cover to go over it that you can take off and wash when necessary!
I made a few at once and since this is a scrap-busting project so I chose to use a scrap of this organic cotton muslin for the inner rice bag and for the outer fabric I used a cute little scrap of dog fabric as well as scraps of stonewashed linen from my unlined Wiksten Haori below that I sewed in January.
Ok, so let's make one!
Here's what you will need:
First, we will make the inner bag, and this couldn't be more simple.
That is it for the inner rice pillow! Make sure you don't over-fill your pouch because you want it to stay flexible so that the contents can conform to your eyes!
Now we will make the outer cover which is just as simple. This would be a good place to use up any scrap pieces of silk or sateen for a really luxurious feel!
This pack can also be heated in the microwave in 10-second intervals until it reaches your desired temperature and used for muscle pain, menstrual cramps or just as a cozy heat pad. Try making an extra long one that can be wrapped around your sore neck and shoulders for tension headaches! The possibilities are endless when you make your own stuff! Isn't sewing the best?
Thanks for stopping by! xo M
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