If you've ever wondered how to calculate a fabric's stretch percentage, this one's for you! Before you dive into cutting out your next knit project, join us in learning how to calculate the stretch percentage of your fave fabric. Ready to dive in? Grab your ruler and follow along! What Is Stretch Percentage?         In essence, stretch percentage is a way of measuring how much give a fabric has when stretched from a fixed point (aka how far it's able to stretch). You'll find that most (but not all) woven fabrics will have little to no s ..read more

The holiday season is quickly approaching and if you plan on making your holiday gifts, the time to start sewing is... now! But don't stress, the Birdies are here to help. We have rounded up our favourite sewing patterns from bags & accessories to apparel to home goods & decor, so you'll have everything you need to check everyone off your list this year. Now let's get this DIY party started (cue the festive music and hot cocoa)! Bags & Accessories From simple totes to timeless hats, here you can find our favorite bags and accessories for everyone on your list. Pictured ..read more

        Dua Lipa's got nothing on these party-ready looks. Our Holiday 2023 Look Book is your one-stop-shop for pattern pairings and outfit ideas to bring our dazzling new deadstock fabrics to life! From voluminous skirts to form-fitting silhouettes, come along as we walk you through our dream me-mades for our 2023 Holiday Collection — including satin, tulle, jersey, plissé, mesh, taffeta, and more.   WARNING: these festive 'fits will have you living your best dancing queen life!   1. Fresh Out The Limo Left: Jessilous Patterns x Evan Ihde Calvin ..read more

        It's time to turn your coffee run into a coffee runway with our Designer Deadstock Suitings! Chock-full of chic plaids, sophisticated solids, and posh pinstripes, this sustainably-sourced collection features fabrics leftover from the fashion lines of world-renowned German, British, and Italian luxury labels — meaning the high-fashion is baked right in!         This season is all about over-the-top layers and putting in the effort, and to help kickstart your FW23 sewjo we've put together an assortment of looks that are sure to fit the bi ..read more

        Our 2023 BF Exclusive Summer Soft Washed Linens are ready to take you from your morning stroll to the farmers market, to a park picnic, to patio drinks, to sunset at the beach without breaking a style sweat! Come along as we walk you through our dream colour groupings and pattern pairings for sewing them up into trendsetting linen looks. Featured Colourways: Potter's Wheel, London Fog, and Sea Shell Shop All Featured Fabrics Left: Modern Sewing Co. Jesse Jumpsuit (up to a 61" chest/hip) Right: Birgitta Helmersson Zero Waste Soft Blouse (up to a 53" c ..read more

          Spring sunshine is boosting our serotonin levels to record-breaking heights, which means it's time to dig out our most joyful makes and playful prints! Like our fashion icon, Rihanna, once said: "You will never be stylish if you don't take risks." So, what are we waiting for? It's time for a Print Palooza!          With our latest range of spectacular designs – from ditsy blooms and cutie-fruities, to large-scale botanicals and psychedelic swirls — hot on our shelves, come along as we walk you through the patterns we can't wait t ..read more

        We asked our community over on Instagram to tell us what swimsuit styles they're hoping to dive into this year. To create our 2023 Swimwear Pattern Roundup, we collected some responses and curated a range that checks all the boxes! Plus, they pair perfectly with our recently released 2023 Recycled Nylon Swim Collection!           Featuring unique cut-outs, full-coverage bottoms, rash guards, maternity-friendly options, and more, come along as we take you through these Birdie-approved, beach-ready patterns! Our top pick: Seamwork ..read more

        Here at Blackbird, we’re passionate about connecting sewists to beautiful textiles that help fuel their creative projects and inspire the creation of garments that bring them joy. Beyond this, we’re also conscious of how our actions as a business impact the people and the environment around us. Textile production and distribution, in particular, have some pretty big environmental impacts that are important for us to acknowledge, including generating textile waste.         The issue of textile waste has grown dramatically since the 1960s when the ..read more

        Put on your dancing shoes and raise the champagne flutes — wedding season is upon us! In celebration of love in all of its magnificent forms, we've rounded up our favourite formal sewing patterns for creating your very own unforgettable glam. Whether it's for the most special day of your life or Saturday night cocktails, these 11 show-stopping gowns, blazers, trousers, and jumpsuits are sure to wow the crowd!   Come along as we walk you through them, plus our top fabric pairings selected from our Wedding Wear Edit!  Pair it with: Buttery Poly Sa ..read more

        Since the double release of our Handwoven Cottons and Block Printed Organic Cotton Batistes, summer dresses have been on our minds! Lightweight, breathable, and soft to the touch, our Handcrafted Fabrics are a no-brainer when it comes to achieving the perfect ruffle details, balloon sleeves, and head-to-toe voluminous silhouettes.            To help inspire your 2023 summer wardrobe, we asked five Birdies to tell us what dress pattern they can't stop dreaming about these days.   Follow along as we go through their to ..read more