The Embroiderers’ Guild has clear online illustrations and descriptions for the embroidery stitches used to complete their free online craft projects. Stitches include the herringbone stitch, Bokhara couching, ladder stitch, broad chain stitch, long and short stitch, bullion knots, Romanian couching, chain stitch, running stitch, seeding, cross stitch, and French knots. I have a soft spot for their luscious French knot covered pebble.

Gypsy Writer posted these easy-peasy directions on sewing an eyeglasses case on Instructables. We think that this case would be practically snappy made up with leather scraps from our 4th floor leather bin, or a bit of Glenn Plaid raincoat fabric.

Father’s day is June 20th! Just in time to make some handsome gifts for the very special daddy in your life, here are instructions from Peggy at Skip the Chips for making bespoke hand-rolled handkerchiefs. We think these would be particularly toothsome in either a handful of time-honored Liberty of London prints, or our imported men’s shirting cotton fabrics.

It is a hemming marathon! Georgene, Mary, and Els are the Sewing Divas; they have made this fabulous tutorial on how to make a simple hand slip stitch. There is even mention of how to hem lined garments, where the lining is attached to the garment fabric. An invisible, finely stitched hem is the cat’s meow when it comes to couture detailing, therefore is a skill that we would all profit from learning.

Everyone needs to know how to hem a garment. This tutorial from SewNeau gives you easy to understand instructions on how to make machine stitched hems! This invaluable skill can be used on every type of garment from skirts, to slacks, to sleeves.

The lovely Floresita, a self-proclaimed dawdler says, “Isn’t this tiny cat adorable?! Best of all, this pattern magically captures that tense moment all of us cat lovers experience when kitty, intent on licking its own chest actually seems to get stuck like that.” (Je ne crois que cela peut le célèbre chaton, Francy! – M. De Jour)

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Britex Fabrics annual remnant sale and BurdaStyle go together like bread and butter, moonlight and kisses, or salt and pepper. Britex’s 50% off remnant sale takes place Monday, May 3rd and Tuesday, May 4th. Our remnants include yardage from ¼ yard pieces, all the way up to substantial 3 yard pieces! BurdaStyle has scads of open source patterns. We are crazy for the ecologically friendly Charlie Reusable Grocery Bag, the casually chic Franzi women’s waistcoat, and the dandy-esque David bow tie! http://www.burdastyle.com/

Britex Fabrics loves romance and weddings. We have piles and piles of gossamer tulle, already attached to hair combs, for your bridal veiling desires. Our veils are available in over thirteen styles, in lengths ranging from 20” to 120” long, in single or double tiers, and with cut, beaded, pencil, corded, satin ribbon or sheer ribbon edges. Many brides customize their veils with one of our stunningly delicate French laces. Remember to carefully preserve your veil after your wedding, so that it can be passed down as a romantic heirloom.

• Check for any slight tears, or missing pearls or sequins, and repair if needed.
• Get your veil professionally dry-cleaned.
• Store it in an acid-free box, and wrapped in acid-free tissue paper, cotton fabric, or neutral pH, unbuffered acid free tissue paper.
• Store your boxes in a dry dark area. Do not store them in your basements or attic. Insects and mildew will destroy your heirloom items. Protect the boxes from dust with fabric, not plastic, as plastic encourages dampness.

(See the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute for additional conservation resources)

One of this season’s delightful fabrics is seersucker. Seersucker makes me think of crochet, bocce ball, drinking tall frosted glasses of icy beverages, and scintillating tête-à-têtes. Springtime is also a perfect time to make aprons for all your seasonal organizing and cleaning, and here are some lovely vintage apron directions from a Canadian sister, Tipnut. All you need is one yard of seersucker fabric and nine yards of coordinating rickrack, and you’ll be set to grab your feather duster and label maker to clean and organize all afternoon….and then you can relax with aforementioned tall frosted beverage.

(All seersucker fabrics pictured are cotton/polyester blends & 45″ wide. Violet/white seersucker is $8.99/yard, orange-red/white seersucker is $6.99/yard, and grey/white seersucker is $10.99/yard)

Oh Mister Nutkin times two. Andrea Zuill at Badbirds Designs brings you the Nutkin twins…..which is the evil twin and which is the angelic twin? I have the feeling we will never know unless they stop looking at one another out of the corners of their eyes, turn around and duke it out with their furry little mitts! Or maybe they just want to get together and bake a springtime yellow cake. At any rate, these squirrels would be adorable embroidered on just about anything…..pajamas, a child’s top, an apron, or tea towels. All you need is the ability to form a simple chain stitch, and a smidgen of patience.

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