I’m a small-bust lady, so this tutorial is near and dear to me. One of my daughters is also in the small-bust group, while the other has a fuller bust, so our household has experienced the challenges—and blessings—of both! We’ve often talked about shopping for clothes and customizing sewing for each body type. The friend...| the thread
Leading Amsterdam design studio Buro Bélen have been steadily building their reputation as innovators in interior and textile design since 2012, and their work can now be found in major museum collections around the world. Their approach is simple yet admirable: to create useful products based on ethical production with a richly tactile, sensorial, and...| the thread
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into sewing? When I was about seven years old I learned to sew from my day-care provider who was a phenomenal sewist. As a little girl I loved to sit in her sewing room and watch her make clothes, accessories, dog toys, quilts,...| the thread
Contemporary, German-born textile artist Joana Schneider’s art takes many forms, from haunting, mask-like faces and rhythmic abstractions to excerpts of text. But running through her multifarious subject matter is a common theme; the techniques and materials associated with the fishermen and netmakers of the harbour areas in The Hague, an area she has come to...| the thread
I started sewing when I was pretty young, long before I had any kind of idea of what body image meant to me, before I even knew things were being ingrained into my subconscious about what I thought about myself and my body. Even when I was pregnant with my first child and making crib...| the thread
The French intimist painter Edouard Vuillard made a career out of observing the quietest and most intimate moments of his life, which he painted with soft, warm hues like Mocha Mousse, a subtle beige tinged with hints of dusty rose. Sometimes he highlighted these hues with vivid accents of bright colour, creating a dazzling visual...| the thread
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Contemporary British artist Lucy Sparrow makes vast, immersive installations featuring hand-made felt objects that range from grocery store goods to full-scale replica works of art. Known colloquially as ‘the felt lady’, Sparrow has earned a widespread, global following in the past 10 years, because her exquisitely-crafted soft sculptures are as much a celebration of artisanal...| the thread
While her name is synonymous with daring, abstract flower paintings, the great American 20th century painter Georgia O’Keeffe spent the later years of her life painting the dry, barren and wide-open landscape of New Mexico, a place she came to call home after escaping from the bustling metropolis of New York. The pale, parched pink...| the thread
In the last six years since we first collaborated there has been an explosion of newcomers to the indie pattern industry. How has this affected Paper Theory? It’s amazing how much the sewing scene has changed in such a short time! I could never have guessed it. Competition in the market has grown hugely, which...| the thread
As always, the FS premium Printed Pattern arrived at my house neatly in a tube with a separate box of fresh folded linen full of potential. No matter if you’re a beginner or a pro, this delivery is a super exciting moment for any sewist. The Charlie Pattern comes with 6 items 2...| the thread
If you want to conceal a zipper, or you’re looking for an alternative to an invisible zipper in pants, shorts, dresses, or skirts, consider using a lapped zipper technique. A lapped zipper can give an even more tailored look to your project. Installing a zipper this way might sound intimidating, but I want to share...| the thread
Put simply, drape refers to how a fabric falls and behaves when worn. It can range from stiff and structured to soft and flowing. Drape plays a really important role in shaping the look and feel of a garment. You could sew the same pattern twice using two different fabrics, and depending on the level...| the thread
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During the artist’s so-called Berkeley years, from 1953-1966, American painter Richard Diebenkorn captured the fresh, invigorating air of California with his own inimitable brand of intuitive brushstrokes and playfully vibrant colour schemes. Throughout these years the oceanic blue of the Californian sea was a recurring feature in his art, whether depicting ocean views seen from...| the thread
I’ve been wanting to experiment with hand-painted fabric for a while now, and once I decided to try it out, the next step was finding the perfect base pattern. Enter: the Bruna Shirt. I tried out this pattern collection a couple years ago and was immediately impressed. It’s simple, yet thoughtful details make the finished...| the thread
Ease is the difference between your body measurements and the finished garment measurements. It’s calculated using a simple formula: Finished garment measurement — Body measurement = Ease Ease plays a crucial role in how clothes fit, feel, and function. It determines whether a garment feels comfortable and moves naturally with the body, or feels too...| the thread
RED OCHRE linen has the enveloping warmth of terracotta, a rustic colour that seems drawn from the ground like Italian tiles or dry earth parched by the sun. Yet for painter Frank Auerbach this shade of red, along with sandy yellow and burnt orange, reflects the mood and surroundings of his home in London, with...| the thread
Bold, vibrant colours are a defining feature in the art of British abstract painter Sir Howard Hodgkin (1932-2017), a powerful means of conveying his innermost memories and emotions. “Don’t paint the thing itself,” he wrote, “paint the effect it produces.” He often brought dazzling shades of red like Firecracker Red into his paintings, laid liberally...| the thread
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Queen of frivolity and excess, Marie-Antoinette led Rococo fashion with huge, poufy hairstyles, enormous pannier skirts and all manner of decorative frills, feathers and bows. The Austrian-born royal was thrust into the heart of Versailles from a young age, and quickly learned how to dress to impress as the country’s new Queen. Often portrayed throughout...| the thread
I had recently been part of a pattern tester team for a beautiful barn jacket that a designer friend of mine put out. I live in Florida, and we only see truly cold temps every few years, so my opportunity for wearing more than a light jacket paired with a sweater doesn’t happen often. At...| the thread
Let’s be honest—finding a sewing pattern that perfectly matches your measurements is pretty rare. And that makes sense! Every body is unique, fit preferences vary, and each pattern brand uses its own sizing system. If you find yourself falling between sizes, you’re not alone. But the beauty of sewing is that in these situations, you...| the thread