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MY HANDMADE CLOSET
An inside look at my personal collection of modern essentials, stitched with love by yours truly.
TUTORIALS + FREE PATTERNS
Download free sewing patterns and resources, and learn techniques to take your sewing to the next level.
January 21, 2020
Our focus this year is on quality, so I guess it’s appropriate that I share some of my own projects
December 12, 2019
In the studio we’ve been laughing about the neverending Sienna Maker Jacket content… it feels like we’ve discussed and explored
December 10, 2019
Hello sewists, Alexis here, ready to show you all the details of my very own Sienna Maker Jacket, guts included!
September 17, 2019
Sometimes a pattern is just so darn good you gotta make it twice! Such was the case with the Zadie
August 28, 2019
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I am trying not to buy new fabric this year unless we need
August 13, 2019
Looking back over most of my sewing projects from the past year or so, it’s pretty clear I’m still on
August 2, 2019
Sometimes a sewing pattern really connects; you’ll start seeing it all over your instagram feed, and even if you weren’t
July 19, 2019
Hey y’all! Heather here to share my own personal capsule wardobe from our Rome Collection. When we’re developing patterns, I
July 5, 2019
Amy here! 2019 is most definitely the year of the belt bag! We have seen them all over, from the
June 19, 2019
Hola! Heather here, sharing one of my recent makes, one in a long line of jumpsuits. I’ve long been an
June 11, 2019
It’s been The Year of the Sleeve for the past few years, and I admit it took me a little
April 26, 2019
All this talk about our Jasika Blazer this year and I realized I haven’t shared a personal make yet! I
February 19, 2019
This here is my second entry in the “flannel will save your life” category of winter sewing and it couldn’t
February 14, 2019
You may have noticed I have a thing for chunky knits these days. I find them extremely satisfying to knit
February 12, 2019
Guys. I know I am basically a broken record around this time every year, but this winter feels particularly brutal.
February 6, 2019
Our Sew Frosting challenge may be long over but I still have one very special dress to share with you.
January 9, 2019
Dreams do come true. After sixteen freezing winters in Montreal, I’ve finally discovered the secret to a beautiful and seriously
November 27, 2018
The deadline for our Sew Frosting Challenge is around the corner (Friday to be exact) and I am coming in
November 21, 2018
I was scrolling through Instagram a while back when a Madewell dress popped out at me; it was a simple
November 6, 2018
Sometimes it’s the simple things. I made these full-length overalls last spring (using our Jenny Overalls pattern and hip button tutorial),
October 31, 2018
If you’ve been reading this blog for long, you know Halloween is basically my favourite thing about being alive. Nothing
October 25, 2018
We’re always brainstorming ways to hack and modify our patterns, and a lot of the time inspiration comes from ready-to-wear.
September 25, 2018
I think lightweight linen time is officially over for me… I woke up yesterday to a 4 degree morning (that’s 39F
September 13, 2018
At this point my stash is totally out of control. I am pretty helpless in the face of an interesting
August 30, 2018
Summer is nearing the end (I mean, I know technically it goes till mid-September but the minute Labour Day approaches
August 21, 2018
Most of my sewing this year has been from our own patterns, but one release did catch my eye in
August 14, 2018
I was editing some photos last week and realized I had imported the pics of this make and then totally forgot
August 7, 2018
I think I’ve officially become a linen monster. I sleep in linen sheets, I spend hours obsessing over linen colours
July 31, 2018
Boy oh boy do I have some projects backed up! Sometimes I feel like I can never find time to
June 15, 2018
My sewing practice has been all over the place lately. I have a tendency to make really ambitious plans that
May 29, 2018
Whenever I design a new pattern it’s always an effort on my end to whittle down the ideas. My brain
May 22, 2018
Hola! Last week I got back from a teaching trip to London (and a side trip to Stockholm which was
April 4, 2018
I’m not sure exactly when I realized my weekend travel bag situation was completely untenable, but it slowly started to
March 29, 2018
So, here we are well into spring and I am finally bringing you one of my favorite makes from 2017
January 30, 2018
Can I sell you on the power of party pants? Party pants are the rock star of your closet; they
January 24, 2018
I’m super embarrassed about how long it has taken me to document some of my favourite sewing projects from last year.
January 10, 2018
Since we stayed home for Christmas this year, the fella and I are off on vacation next week to LA
January 4, 2018
Some of you may remember when I started my most ambitious knitting project ever because in my overly ambitious way I
November 2, 2017
It occurred to me recently that my studio manager Alexis has been with me for almost two years and has
October 19, 2017
I just realized this week I totally failed to post about this Kalle shirtdress I made in the spring. I’ve
October 12, 2017
I’m still trying to get all the garments I made this year photographed before the cold sets in here in
September 25, 2017
Sometimes you say yes to things you really should have said no to, and sometimes you say yes to things
September 22, 2017
I was going through my photo library this week and realized I totally forgot to blog about some of the
September 20, 2017
They said it couldn’t be done, and frankly, I’m just astonished as everyone who doubted me: it is an absolute
September 13, 2017
Next up in my series, “A million things I have sewn and not yet blogged”: the Hadley Top by Grainline
August 24, 2017
Bonjour mes amis! If you happened to catch any of my (sorry) countless instagram stories over the past few weeks, you
August 4, 2017
Before I leave on vacation for a few weeks (much, much needed although Alexis is on duty if you need
July 25, 2017
Have you ever experienced sewing fate? You know when you have a very specific vision in mind for something you’d
May 4, 2017
Holy grail, attained. Stick a fork in me Jerry, I AM DONE. I found my perfect everyday underwire bra pattern
April 27, 2017
I’ve been doing a relatively large amount of personal sewing over the last few months given how much sample making
April 13, 2017
Pretty much everyone I know is having babies right now. While I am one giant question mark on the to
April 4, 2017
One of the most common questions we get about our patterns is whether or not it is possible to use
March 31, 2017
Making stuff has started to feel like a real addiction. I’m not exactly slapping at veins looking for a good
March 22, 2017
Heavens alive I love a shift dress, especially when they boast cool details or an interesting architectural silhouette. The latest
March 2, 2017
Oh the unblogged personal projects I have to share! During a month or so of relative downtime (ie. not making
February 1, 2017
This here is my personal favourite Ebony Tee. I have about 5 or 6 I’ve been wearing in constant rotation
January 20, 2017
I have piles and piles of new handmade things to show you, but the light and weather have confounded me
January 10, 2017
Few things bum me out as much as the current state of my bra drawer; it’s more depressing (and only
December 13, 2016
Full disclosure: I am about to talk about one of the most favourite things I’ve ever made, but have to
December 1, 2016
I‘ve been spending a lot of time thinking about my wardrobe the last few months. Since the fire in my
November 15, 2016
Since I brought home Harry, I find myself outside a lot more often. I mean, that was kind of the
October 3, 2016
You know how you have those patterns on your must make list, but then you keep adding things to said
September 21, 2016
I managed to make quite a few things this summer despite my workload and travelling schedule. Most of them have
August 22, 2016
I was so happy when Portia asked me to participate in The Refashioners challenge this year; my contribution is on
August 10, 2016
The nice thing about having a bunch of blocks and half drafted patterns sitting around (you have no idea how
July 27, 2016
You know how magazines always write those “20 Things you Absolutely Must Have in Your Closet to Qualify as a Human Woman
July 21, 2016
Do you ever get so ridiculously jazzed by a new pattern that you basically push everything else off your sewing table in
July 6, 2016
I wasn’t sure if I should share this recent make. I mean, at this point I’ve sewn, photographed and blogged
July 1, 2016
I was doing laundry the other day and realized that because of the sewing bender I’ve been on, I have
June 2, 2016
It’s so funny how we as a community can collectively get obsessed with a pattern. It’s basically how a virus spreads;
May 26, 2016
Warning: a smokin’ Frenchman is coming your way. Literally, he lit up a dart when I pulled out my camera
May 17, 2016
I am so, so guilty of the cardinal sin committed most frequently against makers, which was asking another maker to
April 22, 2016
You’re not often confronted with your “apron situation”. I recently was, and the end result was a little embarrassing. For
April 13, 2016
I worry sometimes that I bemoan Montreal weather a little too much on this blog, but guys, this city is
March 24, 2016
Did I intend to write an installment for the Snoqualmie Knitalong this week? I did. Did I run into problem
March 16, 2016
My bra game is depressing and tired right now. While I basically only wear me-made lingerie (with the exception of a
February 9, 2016
I speak to you from the Land of Puppy. In LOP, you constantly have stinky treats in your pockets and
February 2, 2016
Or, how I handknit the hugest sweater of all time by making it 30% too big. Warning: the following post contains
January 19, 2016
For my next trick, may I share the cozy blankety goodness I’ve been swaddled in since it left my sewing machine
January 14, 2016
So it’s time to admit it… I think the Inari dress has officially entered the pantheon of TNT patterns for
January 7, 2016
Happy 2016! I hope it’s started off well for you. I’ve loved seeing all of your ambitious sewing plans for the
December 21, 2015
Last post for 2015! And it might be one of my favourite makes this year…. I think I actually clapped
November 6, 2015
Winter is coming. What that means for this sewist living in one of the world’s coldest cities is so many
October 20, 2015
No, we’re not having a heat wave in Montreal, and no, I am not the kind of rugged/crazy Canadian stock
September 24, 2015
I‘m writing this post from the sofa of a near and dear friend (I’ve been sleeping on it), halfway through
August 11, 2015
I‘m not the tattoo type (too commitment phobic and paranoid about being accidentally frozen in an iceberg and later studied by
July 30, 2015
Do you ever stumble on fabric that feels like it’s yours even before you get to the checkout? Like you
July 21, 2015
I know that summer is generally a slow time for most sewists (what with the sun, the bbqs, the beach,
July 10, 2015
I haven’t really had a thought out, wardrobe architectured plan for my summer sewing; it’s been pretty improvisational around here
June 16, 2015
I‘m rather ashamed to admit this, but I used to have a linen hang-up. I associated it with sweaty oversized
June 4, 2015
It’s been pretty dramatic in the studio this week. On Friday my hard drive basically combusted (I swear I saw
May 19, 2015
I love a good pattern hack; there are few things more satisfying in my sewing practice than taking a pattern
May 12, 2015
I have a new strategy for keeping cool this summer and it involves wearing a surprising amount of fabric. I
April 29, 2015
Sometimes, you just need to drop whatever you’re doing, like, immediately, and make a big, sweet, tropical bowl of icing
April 15, 2015
It’s time I wrap up “my grey period”. Spring has FINALLY arrived in Montreal so I promise, no more stricken/traumatized
March 25, 2015
I‘m in serious love with my apartment; it was the luckiest of Craigslist scores. On the top floor of a
March 17, 2015
Hello friends. Let me introduce you to my new cold-weather life partner: the Cascade Duffle Coat from Grainline Studio. We’ve already
March 10, 2015
Hi everyone! I finally managed to snag some pictures of my new pair of Ginger jeans with ankle zips. They
January 20, 2015
Hold on to your hats folks. I have an explosive surprise for you: I made another knit pattern. If it
January 13, 2015
Let me share a piece of hard-earned wisdom with you: never, ever hem a dress while wearing leggings. Yes, you