10 Quick handmade gifts and decorations to brighten your holidays
I’m a firm believer in handmade gifts versus store-bought for lots of reasons (but especially for the avoidance of crazy mall crowds, cheesy holiday tunes, and crappy mass-produced merchandise), so I combed the net for some quick handmade gift ideas.… Read More

Brioche stitch refers not to the french pastry, delicious as it may be, but to a family of stitch patterns that include slipped stitches knit together with yarn-overs to make a squishy, stretchy and extra-thick fabric. What I will show you today is called the two-colour brioche rib, also known… Read More

Make this cute little coin purse to use up your fabric scraps

I was working on my computer today, like I do most days, and felt the familiar stirrings of fabric withdrawal start to well up. Usually I can keep that at bay by procrastinating on Pinterest for… Read More

Since releasing my Legend of Baby Link pattern a couple of years ago, a bunch of you have written to me asking for help with adding the button placket to the back of the tunic. Message boards about the pattern on Ravelry include more than a few comments… Read More

10 Warm and fuzzy things to chase away the end-of-summer blues
It’s officially fall (and already feeling very much like it) which is a little sad for someone like me who loves summer and all of the lazy outdoor lounging it brings. But whenever I start to dread the inevitable… Read More

Because she is awesome (and possibly to promote her books), Debbie Stoller has posted some free knitting videos online. The first one is for absolute beginner knitters: it demonstrates the long-tail cast-on and the knit stitch using the English style of knitting (with the yarn in the… Read More

I won’t beat around the bush: colour work in knitting terrifies me. I have nightmares about tangled bobbins of yarn, and of spending hours on a fair isle sock, only to find out it’s too tight when I try it on because I didn’t make the floats loose enough. Double-knitting,… Read More

Imagine the following scenario:
It’s a beautiful day in late spring, and you decide to take advantage of the lovely weather to do some knitting on the patio of a trendy cafe. You’re in such a hurry to get out of your stifling apartment, that you quickly grab the nearest… Read More

Add a Peekaboo Heart to your Hipster Undies
Since it’s almost Valentine’s Day I thought it would be fun to switch up my Hipster Undies pattern with a cute peekaboo lace heart. With a bit of stretch lace and knit fabric, this is a quick and easy way to… Read More

Add couture quality to any jacket with these tailored buttonholes
Bound buttonholes look great and are very durable, and are the sort of detail you rarely see in store-bought clothing. Like gourmet cooking, it takes a bit longer but the results are well worth it—think of bound buttonholes as gourmet… Read More

I used this technique for the hem of the lining of a skirt I made this weekend. It’s really easy to do, it looks really pretty, and it adds no bulk to the hem. It adds a charming vintage look, and I think it would be great on just about… Read More

Make Your Very Own Feathery Hair Pin

I’ve always loved fascinators—they’re just so dramatic and whimsical. You’re sure to get attention even in the most crowded room when you wear one. I love them so much that I’m going to be offering fascinator kits for sale on Happy Seamstress… Read More