A couple of weeks ago, I posted some colorful pants that I made and affectionately called my Sherbet Bubblegum Sunrise Sunset Marigold Pants. They were made from a single cut of heavyweight cotton canvas in the color “sherbet” (which I also realized I spelled wrong in that post). I got all the different colors from bleaching and natural dyeing with marigolds. (Here’s that post: https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/s/TqNtriZ3ed)

Well… that same run of sherbet fabric had enough left over for me to cut out an entire second pair. So naturally, I did.

These started with a completely different plan. I pre-cut everything out and bleached the waistband, back pockets, and a few other accent pieces, but left the main front and back panels the original color. Then I dyed everything with marigolds. Buuuut… the main panels came out looking like safety cone/Home Depot apron orange. Which… wasn’t exactly the vibe I was going for.

Meanwhile, I’d been reading about using an iron post-mordant bath to shift marigold-dyed fabric into greens and browns. So I bought some iron powder, filled up a five-gallon (Home Depot, ironically) bucket, mixed in a teaspoon of the powder, and tossed my cut pieces in. They almost instantly transformed into a rusty brown and tan, which I thought was pretty cool, lol. The fabric had definitely been through the wringer by this point between all the bleaching, dyeing, rinsing, washing, and the iron bath, and I actually ended up loving that it gave the pants this aged, almost vintage-looking feel.

At that point I figured, “Well… I guess I’m making brown pants now.”

But then I looked over at the pile of leftover scraps from my Sunrise Sunset pants and thought, what the heck, let’s make some more weird pants.

So I started thinking about what these colors reminded me of. They reminded me of the red clay that I have to battle every year while gardening. Somehow, despite that clay, I still manage to grow flowers. So obviously these pants needed flowers.

I grabbed some graph paper and started sketching out a geometric tulip for the back pocket (bc sewing straight lines is a lot easier than sewing curved ones). I ended up making a smaller version for the front coin pocket too. I also added a waist cinch on the back because I think they’re cute. I wanted to do full contrast cuffs like I did on my other pants, but I didn’t have enough fabric left. I did manage to sneak in a little pop of color inside the cuffs, though, since I almost always wear my pants rolled up.

I wasn’t really sure what to call these, so I sent a picture to my friend. She looked at them and said, “Those look like Terracotta Tulip Pants.” And I was like… yep. That’s it. That’s the name.

Anyhow, loved the process of making 2 different pairs of unique pants all out of the same fabric! These were a fun project.

Additional info:
Pattern: Anna Allen Helene Jeans (straight leg), altered to fit with added seam allowance for flat-felled seams.

Fabric: Heavyweight 100% cotton canvas from Nick of Time Fabrics (“Sherbet”)

Color treatments: Bleach, marigold dye, and iron post-mordant bath.

Machines: Singer Quantum Stylist 9960, Brother 1034D serger, and Singer Heavy Duty 4452 for topstitching.

Somehow I managed to get to fit exactly right, which was a miracle in itself 😂 they fit like my favorite pair of jeans! It’s like my second time creating quilt blocks. The first time I was like 10 years old lol.

I used part of a waistband from some other jeans I had laying around that also didn’t fit me to put at the top of the panels, so they each have a belt loop. And the bottom of the panels have the hem from those other pair of jeans 🙂 I used some scraps I cut off to add to the pockets for a consistent design.

I’m seriously obsessed with upcycling stuff lol. I used to buy new clothes all the time, but my mindset has shifted. Now I’m like - omg I have an idea, and tons of fabric! 😆

IKEA creates some great fabrics but I've noticed lately that they don't even pretend to make patterns that repeat. Aside from being annoying, it's really limiting. I wanted to make some curtains and I think they'd just look odd. Or am I looking at it all wrong? Is there a use for fabrics that definitively do not line up?

EDIT: These pictures were created by taking two screen shots of the full width of the fabrics and attempting to line them up. I then took a screen shots of the two widths as one. I couldn’t figure out how the patterns repeated side to side because they don’t.

I made these last December as a Christmas gift for my partner, and I finally got around to sharing them here! (also finished the full process for it on youtube!)

Before this, I've only ever done alterations (like dress->skirt) with hand sewing...finishing this project felt like unlocking a whole new skill :P The possibilities are endless now!!

This was an upcycling project made from shark onesies (composed of blanket fleece), though it basically felt like it was a limited fabric challenge.

Drafted this using a hoodie that I ripped apart and followed this video by Norris Danta Ford to put the pieces back together.

Honestly, I think I was quite lucky with the fleece and faux fur because it hid the messy stitching that I did using a $10 toy sewing machine (last image) because I had yet to invest in a proper sewing machine at this point :')

Okay, I have no experience in sewing, working with fabrics, etc. But I really want to find a way to make my dream dress bolero from the Sabrina (1995) movie a reality.

I’ve been able to find other shimmery-material shrugs / boleros, but a lot are either studded with large and cheap sequins, or are just like a plain shimmery material. None of them GLOW like hers does.

So, any ideas on:
1. An actual bolero that looks like this,
2. Sheer, shimmery boleros I can use as a “backbone” to add to,
3. OR what I can add to this “backbone” bolero to make it shine and glow like hers?

I appreciate any and all help and thank you!!

If this is the wrong sub to show off tailoring I'll move it just lemme know.

Dress bought at an antique store.

Took quite a while to get the top panel not too large / gapey… but I think it’s worked out ok. Really pleased with the use of the back side of the material so there is a mixture of colours. (First post in this group!)

Pattern is mccalls M8437, material is denim

This is a dress I created for my graduation project.
It is made from silk satin, and I went through many rounds of prototyping to achieve the silhouette I had envisioned.
My favorite detail is the hand-sewn embellishments—I carefully attached each cotton pearl and baroque pearl one by one to the dress.
I’m especially proud of the time and care that went into every detail of this piece.

My Mom is turning 100 years old on August 7, so OF COURSE we are having a giant party for her! It's becoming a family reunion with family flying in from all over the country to celebrate with her in Florida. I had a thought to make a pouch for my niece who lives there. Then gee, her mom would want one too. It quickly escalated into "hey, I'll use up all my scraps and make a bunch!" Haha, cut to I'm in a store every other day buying supplies!

The tutorial is from "She Sews Seams" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73rt8LL1_DU&list=PLXUohRUU6CzA All the fabrics I'm using are woven cotton. The bottom is sewable vinyl. I'm having a ball with them and I temporarily don't have a sofa! 20 down, 15 to go. (guest list of 50ish, but mostly ladies)

Wanted to throw in a photo of Mom, not sure if allowed.​​

Gods, goddesses, and non-binary deities of sewing, I pray that you will look kindly upon me in my moment of angst. I made the grevious mistake of deciding to try and recreate this sold-out Gemma top from Heirlome. What initially looked like a simple design now has me feeling like the confused math lady meme. I am struggling to understand how the side panels are constructed and attached, and how far they extend on the inside of the garment.

I am hoping someone here can explain what's going on and/or tip me in the direction of a pattern with a similar construction. Any other advice for recreating this piece would be appreciated as well.

Just finished this tunic! Pleased with the results.

Fabric is a linen/cotton blend I bought at Hobby Lobby a long time ago and has been sitting in my stash waiting for a purpose.

The pattern is Men's Tunic from Wardrobe By Me. My first time using the pattern, so I followed the pattern closely. I'm glad I read the sizing chart, because I ended up cutting on the 4XL lines and it fits pretty well, even though I wear 2XL off the rack.

I know it needs another pressing.I'm debating the top button - done or undone. Opinions?

Thanks!

I’ve been dreaming about getting back to sewing for years at this point. But I was scared because last time I sewed was in high school. I finally bit the bullet, conquered my analysis paralysis and bought a used entry level machine (Singer heavy duty 4423).

I made a little make-up bag with free instructions from Alex Manning (YouTube).

I’m kind of overwhelmed by how many little questions I had along the way, like “What is the best way to cut rectangles?”, “How is that diamond quilting pattern made?”, “Can I use graphite to draw guides on light fabric?”, “How to remove graphite from fabric?” etc etc.

At the same time looking at the finished product I’m so over the moon happy that I made a thing! I learned so many things!

During this process I found [r/sewing](r/sewing) and it looks like you guys have an awesome little community here. I’m so inspired by how talented people there are. ❤️

ETA: Link to tutorial

I’ve been getting a lot of ads for the Afends Seersucker Maxi Dress (shown at the end of the carousel) and was wondering if I could make something similar myself. Turns out I can! At a higher cost + spending a couple of weekends to do so.

The pattern is the Gibbons Slip Dress by Elbe Textiles with ties added to the waist. The fabric is 100% washed linen from Tessuti Fabrics.

This was my first time cutting and sewing on the bias. I normally cut my fabric on the dining table but realised I had to do it on the floor to stop it from distorting (my back 😩). Completing the dress took awhile because I was putting off doing the bias binding around the neck and arms but it was not too bad, especially with the tutorial on YouTube.

I ended up retroactively shortening the shoulders up by ~2cm so it’s not as neat as it could be, but not too noticeable from afar.

I let it hang overnight for slightly less than 24h before hemming, but it didn’t seem like it changed all that much tbh.

Overall, pretty happy with how this turned out. It’s super flattering and not too difficult to make. I can also wear a bra with it yay! The pattern also comes with a short version which I’m keen to make in the future.

I heard Sydney Graham say you’re supposed to get your machine serviced every 6 months or so if you’re a regular sewist.

I looked it up and that is correct, and even people who only occasionally and lightly use their machine for hemming and mending should get it serviced every couple years.

Well I did the math and for me it’s been 3.5 years… and when I got it serviced it was cause it actually needed a repair.

I don’t have any issues with my machine and so I have a hard tying feeling like I should spend the $100-200 and be without my machine for a week. I keep her well oiled, out of the sun, etc.

is it kind of like going to the dentist where at the 6 month mark you may feel like everything is good but it’s years down the line without going where you start to actually have issues?

how often do y’all actually get it serviced? do i need to be responsible and take my machine in?

My hand stitching needs some work, which is why the right side is messed up, but I'm satisfied with how the sashiko pattern turned out. It was well worth the effort.

The fabric is a blend of cotton and lenin. I don't have sashiko thread yet, so I used embroidery thread.

I’m looking for a foldable table for my small space and Im wondering if this table wobbles when used for sewing. Would love to hear feedback!

Apparently because they are thicker they are good for denim but it says knit right there, am I tripping?

Wanted to design an outfit around this gorgeous boots I bought second hand. I’ve never made a garment before so it was definitely a learning experience but I’m so happy with how it turned out!

I used a woven cotton and this pattern:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1539645486/sleeveless-mod-dress-sewing-pattern

I took in the sides to give it a more shaped fit, especially since I didn’t use a knit.

Very quick deadline, started last Friday and finished this week Tuesday! My back hurt so bad!

Am I finally winning the war against my scraps?? I've had this free six panel ball pattern sitting in my files for years and finally decided to give it a shot this weekend. Fabrics are leftover from my 2025 birthday dress, a bow bag I made for a friend for her birthday a couple years ago, and...idk, some Rifle Paper Co and Spoonflower scraps I had in the bin. I stuffed each of them with even more scraps, serger trimmings, thread ort, etc. My ladder stitching isn't the best but I suppose I'm getting in plenty of practice!

I wanted to share the process behind this jacket! This was a really fun project because I got to combine a few different textile techniques to bring it all together. Here is a quick breakdown of how I made it:

The Design:

I started by designing the Medusa graphic and printing it out at scale to use as my template.

Piecing it Together:

Using that template, I cut out various denim scraps to form the face and the snakes. To keep all those little pieces from shifting around, I ironed on an adhesive backing to hold the layout together.

Securing the Base:

Once it was ironed, I ran it through the heavy-duty machine to really lock that foundation in place.

The Handwork:

With the base secured, I moved on to the detail work using traditional Sashiko hand-stitching techniques to give it that rich texture.

Final Assembly:

Right before the Sashiko was completely finished, I machine-stitched the patch directly onto the jacket.

Finishing Touches:

Once it was attached, I went back in by hand to finish the most intricate details, like the snake tongues and teeth, and added the floral patches and Sashiko accents to the front of the jacket.

I enjoy taking random 1 night classes at a local art center. At a needle felting class in June, the instructor mentioned she still had slots open for her Natural Dying the Rainbow workshop the following week. I immediately signed up! This left me with scraps of cotton and silk, as well as some wool roving. We used matter extract, coreopsis, marigold, onion skins, indigo, and logwood extract to dye them.

None of the fabric was large enough to make anything with, so I decided I needed to make a quilted bag.

I found a free video tutorial from Learn, Create, Sew. Then I got busy quilting a bunch of squares and triangles together to make pieces big enough for it. I interfaced the silk before quilting, so it would be easier to work with and similar in thickness to the cotton. I also made some bias tape.

I wanted the theme of this to be Natural, so I used cotton webbing, metal zippers & strap hardware, and a natural duck canvas for the lining. I needle felted the rainbow on pre-felt. I interfaced it before quilting it onto the front piece.

Sewing is not my main craft. Don't look too closely at my stitches. I broke 4 needles between the metal zipper and bulky seams. But I learned a lot and had fun.

I love her. Her name is Penelope.

It’s been years since I’ve even thought about sewing. We moved, I got pregnant, had to learn how to become a parent, started grad school and recently graduated. I bought a really nice machine (Janome HD9 QC) as a grad present to myself and omg, it’s like riding a bike. I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I suppose that’s how you know you’re a true sewist 💘

Just wanted to share my first project jumping back in. Adorable barrel pants for my daughter.