Transforming a garage into a sewing/flex room not only maximizes unused space but also breathes new life into your home, tailoring it to fit your creative and practical needs. This conversion process offers a unique opportunity to design a versatile area that serves as a dedicated sewing zone while also accommodating various other activities, from crafting to yoga. In this article, courtesy of The Sewing Room, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to convert your garage into a functional and inspiring sewing/flex room you’ll be excited to use.
Read more5 Ways to Help Your Senior Friends and Neighbors
Maybe you’ve gotten to know a senior neighbor who doesn’t seem to have any family living nearby, or perhaps your senior acquaintances from church have mentioned feeling lonely and isolated because they live far away from their loved ones. Today, The Sewing Room shares a few ways to lend a hand to seniors who are isolated, from assisting them with decluttering and stress management to helping with financial decisions.
Read moreThe Evolution of Eyewear: From Vintage Shades to High-Tech Specs
These days, your sunglasses can do more than shield your eyes from the sun. They can be a personal statement that expresses your unique fashion sense. They can signal your ethical beliefs towards sustainability, especially if you follow the advice from our article ‘5 Simple Ways to Make Your Wardrobe More Sustainable’ and choose sunglasses made of organic material and manufactured by eco-friendly brands.
Read moreCivil War Chic: How Virginia Women Adapted Their Clothing During the War
Wartime has always been difficult on Fashion and the American Civil War was no exception. Basic survival during a time of both economic and personal insecurity, created an atmosphere where women were forced to change their views on dress and fashion in general. The silhouettes changed drastically during this time.
Read moreSewing a 1950's Day Dress from Printed Cotton Lawn
This dress started with the fabric. I bought the fabric for the shop and when it came in, fell deeply and completely in love with it. It was so nostalgic for me, in part because of the vintage novelty print, but also because the print is actually of landmarks around Great Britain such as Buckingham Palace and Edinburgh Castle to name a few. I’ve been a huge Anglophile for eons now and love everything British, from High Tea to Bag Pipers in full dress. The varied and historic cultures within the British Isles holds a deep romance in my heart. It could be because of my respect & awe of the recently late Queen Elizabeth , my honeymoon in England & Scotland or because my first serious boyfriend was in a bag pipe band, but that story is for another time.
Read moreSimple Sewing - Sewing a 1940's Dress Using Vintage Silk and a Vintage Pattern
For me, the seasons are measured by the school year. It’s been that way since I started teaching children how to sew about 15 years ago and when my daughter started preschool. So this season, while technically (and temperature wise) Summer, is really the beginning of Autumn. It’s back-to-school for all the kiddos and back to normalcy for my schedule.
That being said, you might imagine that my time for sewing has been a little bit too little lately, so my next couple of blog posts will be a little brief. I’ve been enjoying sewing for the sake of sewing and for getting to wear something new.
Read moreHow to Gatsby - Tips for Sewing your own Art Deco Era Garden Party Dress
For myself, one of the most fun parts of getting ready for The ADSC Gatsby Summer Afternoon is making my outfit. It truly brings me so much joy to plan what I’m wearing from my hat and hair down to my stockings and shoes. Sometimes I have more time than other times to figure it out, so depending on my schedule I can make the experience as simple or as complex as I can handle at the time.
Read moreTransforming a 1980's Pink Lace Gown into a late 1920's style Garden Party Dress
This 1980’s pink lace dress has been hanging in my closet for a couple of years. It was donated by the lovely Art Deco Society Member Cheryl Stanton, who thought I might be interested in turning it into something more Art Deco. I’ve been quite busy, but had a vision of how it might turn out, just this weekend. Sometimes a dress just needs time to simmer for a while.
Read moreSewing Overall's for a Victory Garden Picnic
Hello readers! Thanks for hanging in there with me. It’s our busiest time of year at The Sewing Room and I have very little time to write and post blogs. I DO want to share with you, this wonderful picnic I had with friends over Memorial Day weekend. Our theme was Victory Garden with a Farm-to-Table menu. We all tried to bring something that came from either our own garden or freshly made using natural ingredients that were locally sourced. We are wonderfully blessed to live in an area with local organic produce and many of us have back yard gardens.
Read moreSewing 18th Century Italian Gowns with my 13 Year old Student Dalia
When My corset obsessed 13 year old student, Dalia, wanted to move onto a new bigger project, she chose the Italian Gown featured in the American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking. What a pretty gown it is! In order to give proper instruction and guidance in the process, I decided to make one myself.
Read moreRe-Covering a Uniquely You Dress form with a linen Curtain
Apparently I’m a magnet for dress forms. The universe must want me to keep doing what I’m doing because I seem to attract them out of thin air. My first dress form was the adjustable kind. I got it as a gift when I was in high school. That one got rickety pretty fast and then I believe I somehow acquired a display form that I could use for photo shoots maybe 15 years later. My next dress form acquisition was an investment purchase of a model from. I’m not sure that company even exists anymore, but I had started a bridal gown business and needed one for pattern making. Then I found a vintage french couture form at a Paris Flea Market. It was not cheap, but one of my tour companions offered to pack it as luggage on the airplane. I still have her. She is beautiful! Then a few years ago, PGM sent me a dress form because I operated a school and they had a special program for fashion schools at the time. And then last year, a friend texted me that there was a dress form on the corner, so I nabbed that one fast. And most recently…
Read moreBook Review: Make, Sew and Mend - Traditional Techniques to Sustainably Maintain and Refashion Your Clothes
I wasn’t sure what to expect but have been eagerly awaiting my own copy of Make, Sew and Mend and it arrived in my hands a couple of weeks ago. Having been a fan of Ms. Banner’s now for a few years, I knew that she had a book in the works. I also knew it would be a sewing guide of some kind.
Read moreSewing a 1940's Tropical Dress using a Vintage Butterick Pattern
A little over a month ago the Alameda Vintage Fashion Faire started posting information about their upcoming event running from March 20-22 at Michaan’s Auctions. The theme this time is “Tropicanaversary, Celebrating 10 years”. What a fun theme and so many era’s to choose from, when deciding one’s outfit for such an event, and to enter the contest on Friday. The Sewing Room is giving a way a $50 certificate to one of the lucky winners.
Read moreBeads & Velvet Reimagined from a Funky Vintage Upcycle
Hello There! It’s been a while. My mother had been very ill and then passed away in March. That is the reason for my absence here. It’s been a time for both grieving as well as endless amounts of sorting and figuring out of #allthethings in relation to my mom’s transition. Thank you for your patience!
These are the last photos my mom took of me, and of my projects. It was in early January. I had intended for this to be a Christmas Tea outfit, and then a New Years outfit. But alas, neither ended up working out. So goes life! Some times are less sparkly than others….
Read moreFor Tips for Becoming a Flawless Flapper - Getting ready for the Art Deco Preservation Ball
The Art Deco Society of California reached out to me to write a piece that might inspire you to attend the Art Deco Preservation Ball, which is coming up in a few weeks on March 19th at the City Club in San Francisco. The Ball is always a fabulous event and lots of fun. I’ve attended year’s past and have such lovely memories of dancing, people watching and dressing up, which is my favorite part because it helps me feel like I’m living in another era, if only for just a little while.
Read moreThe 2021 Make it With Wool Contest - and my 1930's Tweedy Ensemble
Last November I entered the 2021 California Make it With Wool Contest. The Contest promotes the use of wool as a textile and is supported by the National Wool Industry. For me the California contest is local, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, so it’s fairly easy to attend and participate. I used a fabric I was gifted last year, at the 2020 Contest. It was a beautiful piece of wool in a black and tan tweedy check. Lucky me! We were able to choose our favorites and I chose this one because I knew it would coordinate with pieces I already owned. It felt especially nice to use it in the same contest the following year.
Read morePeg Board - Organizing with Pegboarder & MADD TOOLS
The “STUFF” in the shop overfloweth. Out of every little corner there is some tool or trim that needs to find a place to live and we have so much right now. I was in the middle of pondering ways to organize all that I have when Pegboarder reached out to me in collaboration. The request came just in time and I accepted the challenge.
Read moreSewing a 1930's Dress for a Cemetery Picnic
I stumped when told about our Picnic Inspiration for October - Gothic Cemetery - and our picnic was to be located in a cemetery. The Mountain View Cemetery in Piedmont, to be specific. My daughter Emma had lots of suggestions, but when she told me I should dress like I was going to a funeral, it just clicked.
Read morePerfect for a Picnic - Sewing 1950's Style for Everyday
A couple of weeks ago, I had a weekend picnic event that I had been invited to attend. The theme was “Posh/Glam 1950’s New York City”. Discussions with friends Led to talk of Mrs. Maisel and big full skirts. Not really my era, but I remembered that pedal pushers were quite popular and so were dolman sleeved blouses. I also realized that I could make these things for my every day wardrobe instead of making something over the top for just one event.
Read moreMaking a One Hour Dress - Evening Style
At Gatsby, I heard that the Art Deco Society would be holding the Preservation Ball this year in November. A thrilling discovery as it had been cancelled twice last year due to COVID19. With a look toward this Fall Event, I thought to make my own “One Hour Dress”. My friend Jone wore a version of this dress to Gatsby and it was created with so much ease that I thought it would be perfect done up in fancy fabric.
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