Here is another back to school project! Petchy at RandomnessByPetchy made up this tutorial for making elastic waist children’s pants. She calls them 10-Minute Trousers, and they truly are easy-peasy. They would be super stupendously scholastic made up in this Japanese alphabet cotton. This fabric is 43” wide, $14.99 a yard, and found on Britex Fabric’s 2nd floor.

Get ready for school with an art smock! Here is a tutorial from Shelly Figueroa at Sew,Mama,Sew! for a charming cover-up. We think it would look particularly fabulous in this vibrant Japanese print emblazoned with bicycles, circles and stripes. This fabric is available on Britex Fabric’s 2nd floor, and is 45″wide/$29.99 a yard. Now you can protect all of the new clothes you’ve been sewing with a cute smock, so the wee ones can make a creative mess. Get out the tempera paints, and make like Georgia O’Keefe or Ellsworth Kelly.

Here are two tutorials for how to make a hoodie from a tee-shirt and some fabric, this one from Mezzi at Craftster, and the other one from Katia from Hollywood Renegade via Threadbanger! This is ideal for jazzing up your autumn or back-to-school wardrobe. All you need is a tee-shirt, some knit fabric for the hood and pockets, and a zipper. Britex has a plethora of thermal, jersey, tee-shirt, terry, and velour knits on the 2nd floor that would be fashionably snuggly for this project, and loads of unique zippers and zipper pulls on the 3rd floor to further personalize your new hoodie. This would be terrific for any age person….from nervous kindergartners, to surly youth, to adventurous grannies.

Here is another pattern courtesy of Morag at VintagePurls. Sometimes we need a doily (or several) to accentuate our sitting room décor, and the Cobweb Doily fills the bill. This enchanting circular crocheted doily is pictured in bubblegum pink, but I’d make it up in sophisticated black. Doilies are perfect strewn over the armrest of your favorite overstuffed velvet reading chair.

Although this knitted tea cosy is shown in a kitcheny citrus color scheme, I want to make it in a colorway that will go with my Arzberg Silver Flight tea service, so think a black and white scheme with silver edging will gave it a très moderne look. Pour some English Breakfast tea, nibble into a warm ginger scone, and gather around for some witty banter. This vintage knitting pattern is brought to us by Morag at VintagePurls in New Zealand. (Cosy Knitted in Daffodil Stitch: from Cushions & Cosies by Madame Weigel, c. 1945)

This boyishly chic vintage double-breasted vest was originally published by Spinnerin Bulky Classics in 1962, and has been revived by Jenna from glamarama.net. We adore the vest’s deep u-shaped neckline, and how it is worn over a flowered button-down shirt. Wouldn’t this outfit look adorable with the addition of a little string tie? A word of warning: Please review this size chart – check your measurements for the proper size! A vintage size 12 is not a modern size 12.

Britex Fabrics brocade and ecclesiastical ribbons are ideal to ornament Renaissance garments. You could duplicate Cecilia Gallerani’s gown and cloak as shown in this portrait. Her cloak is called a sbernia and is made of trimmed silk. Her hair is gathered together inside a sheer silky bonnet with a border appearing under a ribbon that is level with her eyebrows. Her gown has a quadrangular neckline with golden trim. Britex can assist with all but the silky, sweet stout that Cecilia cradles in her arms.

From Floresita, here is a vintage embroidery transfer of a clever cook ornamenting a three-layer cake. Notice the chef’s très chic French cuffs, jaunty bow tie, and the skeptical look being thrown at the cherry! A linen tea towel with this ed on the end would a perfect gift for your favorite baker.

Here are ten tips on working with interfacing from Kathleen Fasanella at Fashion Incubator. It is often the behind-the-scenes construction that makes all the difference in how a garment fits, and even the reader comments following this post on interfacing contain valuable information.

I understand that it is sweaty and hot in the rest of the country, but I’m happy to say that here in San Francisco it is chilly enough for striped thigh-high socks. Kelly, from Knitty.com designed these circus-y winners. You can use up bits and pieces from your yarn stash and make them in a crazy mélange of colors, knit them up in your favorite color combination, or even make them in one solid swooningly luscious color. I lust for a pair in warm rust and cool French blue.