Welcome to the last week of the Irina Sew Along! I can’t believe we are here already. If you’re in New Zealand or Australia don’t forget that you still have time to finish your dress and post photos on Facebook or Instagram to be in to win the prize pack! Check out the intro post for the full details. You’ve got until 12th August 2024.  Week 8 of the Irina SAL is all about finishing touches. If you’ve been sewing along with us weekly, you will have a finished dress by now but I always like to go the extra mile and add some fun  finishing touches to my garments. There are so many f ..read more

Most of us carry a cell phone with us at all times. I love wearing comfy sweatshirts with pouch-style front pockets when running errands, but the problem is that items like my phone can fall out as I am rushing here and there. A secure, hidden cell phone pocket can be added to any pattern to solve this problem. I created a free pattern to sew a secure pocket for my cell phone, neatly hidden beneath the outer kangaroo-style pocket on my sweatshirt. Shhh…there is a secret in this pocket! I will be using my BERNINA 590 sewing machine to complete this project. You can also use a serger for the s ..read more

Surprise! During the Between the Lines QAL, I will share a few bonus projects with you. Today the first one, a pillow based on row 9, Into the Mountains. Between the Lines QAL This pattern is part of the quilt along that we started on June 6, Between the Lines. In this blog post, you can read all about the QAL. We make a row of the quilt every four weeks, so you can definitely join and participate in the quilt along. Would you like to order a kit with all the materials for this quilt? Then order a Rainbow kit or a Green-Teal kit in the Sugaridoo webshop. Bonus project – Into the Mountains pi ..read more

Welcome to week 7 of the Irina Sew Along. This week we are going to have fun with hems! Hems are usually plain and functional but they can be decorative in a subtle way or in a bright and bold way! In this post I’ll share some hem-spiration and few tips and tricks for the different techniques. Some of the techniques depends on your fabric and what machine you have but hopefully you will be inspired to try something a bit different for the hem on your Irina dress.    Fun Hem Techniques Single fold hem – Overlocker/zig zag raw edge, fold up once and stitch in place. Probably the most ..read more

Today, I continue to explore the many decorative stitches on the BERNINA 790 PRO sewing machine. Additionally, I wanted to share with our readers how to sew easy decorative stitched notion totes. We will be making 3 at a time. Trust me, they are so easy to make in an afternoon or evening. You may wish to duplicate this process and make more. These totes are useful to organize & decorate your sewing space and/or make awesome gifts for sewing friends and relatives. Three decorative stitched notion totes Supplies you will need: scraps of fabric , strips 1  1/2” x 18” , I used 16 diffe ..read more

For the month of July 2024 you can download the “Daisy” Skirt Pattern from the Inspiration Magazine for free!  Even though it is Winter, I love that I can still were this skirt paired with warm tights and boots. This outfit would look great with a chunky jersey too! I really love pockets so I’m super chuffed that the Daisy Skirt pattern includes pockets. I also love that I can create a lengthened slit by undoing some of the buttons. What will be needed:  “Daisy” Skirt Pattern   Sewing machine (Bernina 735)  Optional: Overlocker (Bernina L460) Button Sew-On Foot #18&nb ..read more

This A-line skirt is a versatile piece which can be styled for any season. Open the front button facing for more air flow on hot summer days or style it with tights and boots for cold days… It is a must have! Download the free pattern for the skirt “Daisy” until July 31, 2024 in the paragraph Download the free sewing pattern for the skirt “Daisy” (July 2024 only) and get creative. As always, you’ll have to be quick because each pattern is only available for free download in the month stated.   Sewing the skirt “Daisy” We chose a thin rayon crepe fabric with a lovely daisy print and white ..read more

 Hi, this is Heather at Manitoulin Threads and I am excited to be sewing and writing for BERNINA International. I hope you join me as I get to know my new BERNINA 590 sewing machine.  I am primarily a garment sewist, but I also sew a variety of bags and home decor items. My sewing specialty is activewear and stretchy fabrics.  My first project on my new machine is a stitch chart to sew as a quick reference for the common stitches in garment sewing. I was so happy to pick up my new BERNINA at my local sewing shop, Dominion Sewing Studio, located in Sudbury, Ontario, CANADA. The o ..read more

Welcome to Week 6 of the Irina Sew Along. This week we are doing set-in sleeves. For the Linen colour blocked dress or the original Irina dress we are going to sew our set-in sleeves. If you’re doing the Merino Sleeveless tunic you have possibly already finished the armhole facings that we talked about in week 3. If not, have a read over that post – Week 3 – Neckline and Bodice.   Set-in Sleeves – Linen Colour Blocked dress The thing with sewing set-in sleeves is that the sleeve cap always seems to big for the armhole. In reality the sewing line of the sleeve and armhole are the same len ..read more

In a world dominated by fast fashion, many of you are seeking better alternatives for your wardrobe, especially when it comes to your children. Like you, I want the best for my child and prioritize a healthy and sustainable style of clothing. That’s why I decided to take children’s fashion into my own hands by sewing sustainable clothing myself. There are numerous compelling reasons why DIY children’s fashion is not only environmentally friendly but also offers many additional benefits. DIY Children’s Fashion: 7 Benefits and Reasons 1. Avoid Fast Fashion! By sewing your own clothes, you become ..read more