New Blog!!

June has been a crazy month... I've had a lot of big things happen to me lately, and I am constantly amazed by this world and how things can change minute by minute. Change is constant with me lately, and although it can be uncomfortable sometimes, it's necessary and ultimately very exciting.


The big news is that I have been hard at work lately on a new blog, which I am calling Label-Free. Label-Free will give me some space to post about sewing, fabric, notions and whatever comes to mind. I want to provide a place for all things sewing, geared to those people who would rather make things than buy them, and who believe that "homesewn is not a dirty word."

There will be tutorials (eventually in video format), guides, downloadable patterns, fabric swaps, a virtual "library" and more....and it will all be free. Importantly, Label-Free is a collaborative venture; I am inviting some amazing bloggers I admire to participate. You no doubt know a few of them from their beautiful blogs and businesses, and I am just as excited as you are to see what they will come up with. Over the next few days I will introduce them individually and then let them speak for themselves!

I am very excited about Label-Free. I will, of course, still post here with things that have to do with Betsy Ross Patterns. My new awesome intern, Anita, is helping me develop some great ideas, which I will show you soon.

Please be sure to bookmark the new blog and check in to see what is new.

Here's to new beginnings!

Fabric Countdown: 54-41

(Click for larger image!)

Petey and I are takin' a break to reorganize and enjoy the back porch. See you soon.

The Sewing Machine Song

Fabric Countdown: 69-55

Fabric Count Down

What will be Fabric Type Number 1? We shall see.

I love the colors in these old images. I got this line-up from the Better Homes and Gardens Sewing Book (published in 1961).

Click on the image for a bigger picture.

acorn sundress

On Sunday, Mr. D and I went to a dinner party at the home of some friends in Northern Liberties. After dinner, we drank homemade margaritas (with 195 limes- or what felt like it- squeezed by yours truly) on their roof, looking at the hazy city and listening to the cars zoom by on I-95.

It was really, really hot that day, and since I couldn't go to the party naked, I figured an icy blue sundress with something fun on it would cheer me up. I was still pretty heat-cranky, but was at least I was wearing a new sundress.

This dress was made with the #013 It's-a-Cinch Sundress pattern, my newest Betsy Ross design! I made it in just a few hours, and since there's no zipper, it comes together really fast. The dress fabric is by Amy Butler ("Honeycomb" in aqua), and the acorn was appliqued out of scraps.

Easy Summer Top

Due to popular demand (thanks for the positive comments everyone!!) I made a very quick pattern of the Bird Top I featured last week. It's a very rough pattern, but will be a nice guide for you to get started.

You can download it as a pdf in the "Free Patterns and Downloads" section of the sidebar- the instructions are right on the pattern sheet. For printing, try tiling the pdf to print on your home printer, or take it to your local copy shop that prints large format copies.

lining and pocket tutorial

I have created a little tote bag lining tutorial for those of you who have bought tote bag patterns in the past and are interested in putting linings and/or pockets!

The instructions for this pattern will include instructions for lining from here on out.

Download the guide as a free pdf- it's located in the side bar of this blog.




(*photo from Spool)

springy bird top

Another project completed.... a simple sleeveless top made from $1 sale fabric from a shop on Fabric Row. Not sure about how I feel about yellow on me, but the top itself is pretty cute. I might be able to make this into a free pattern to download- anyone interested?

(photo taken on the computer while balancing on the rung of a chair at work)

fabric design

I recently received an invitation to try out Spoonflower, a new website where you can print your own custom fabric. Rather than it costing a million dollars with high yardage requirements, you can print little swatches, and it's really reasonably priced. Of course, I'm so excited about this prospect, but coming up with a good idea is harder than you'd think.

I've been going through some old drawings to see if there is anything I could use to get started. I found this bizarro drawing that I don't remember making, but that's definitely my handiwork.

I'm working on a few tutorials to add to the website and the blog soon, so keep checking in.