As a follow up to the virtual I Love my Fabric Party a couple of weeks ago, I thought I’d share how I go about sorting and organizing my fabric scraps. While I’m working on a project, I tend to just throw all my scraps into a basket and ignore them for a few months. Then, when the basket becomes particularly unsightly, or I have some motivation to tidy up, like the virtual party, I will set up tackling the scraps. In this video, I share some ideas on what you can do with your scraps, how to sort through them efficiently and share tips for how to store them later.
How to fold fabric for stacked storage
Today is the first day of the second annual I Love my fabric virtual party! So, in celebration and in the hopes of helping you organize your fabric, today’s video is devoted to fabric folding. I know kind of boring but, trust me, it is key to a well organized stash. This method of folding can be used when storing fabric in either drawers or shelves. The main benefit is that you can see all of your fabric stash at a glance. Nothing will get hidden underneath something else. The bonus benefit is that the fabric will have fewer wrinkles.
VIDEO March 2020 vlog
Hello sew-friends! It’s vlog time again. I’m a little later than the last Thursday of the month but March seemed short on Thursdays. In this vlog, I do a quick recap of everything that happened with Sew DIY in March, I share what I’ve been sewing and a few other things that have been keeping me busy during “sewcial” distancing. Watch the video below or head over to YouTube to subscribe and watch.
March blog posts
Video - Sewing knits w/o serger
The Ali Sweatshirt was re-released
Video - How to sew kangaroo pocket
A short sleeve Ali Sweatshirt hack with free pattern extension download
Video - Seven ways to style the Ali Sweatshirt
Things I sewed in March
Free-wheeling Single Girl Quilt by Denyse Schmidt. I’ve been a big fan of her designs for years. I especially love this book and have spent hours pouring over it soaking in the beautiful designs.
A short sleeve Ali Sweatshirt hack (as mentioned above)
Euler Bralette by Sophie Hines – I love the design of this bralette but I think the style doesn’t really work for my shape. Bras are tricky that way and I have a pretty consistent 50% fail rate with them. Btw, check out this post from Seamwork for help with the elastic application.
Seamwork Dexter pants Full blog post to come!
My next project is the Morningside Shirt by French Navy. I’m super excited to give it a try. I love the boxy style and the hidden placket will be a fun challenge.
What I’ve been cooking
While in social isolation, I’ve been making a lot of soup. One recipe that was surprisingly easy and delicious was a Potato Onion Soup. The recipe I used is the Potage Parmentier from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child (similar recipe here). I really couldn’t believe how flavorful it was for so few ingredients.
I another soup I really enjoyed making was this Finnish Salmon Soup. Most of the ingredients are pantry staples, especially if you have salmon in the freezer.
What I’ve been watching
I’ve really been getting into Acorn TV. I used the code FREE30 to get a free month (usually it’s just one week). They have lots of British mystery shows that I really enjoy. I highly recommend the Miss Fisher series for fashion.
I also recommend checking out what’s available through your local library. Mine has loads of digital books and videos and you don’t need to leave the house to get a library card or access the content. I recently found out that my library partners with the Kanopy app and it has a bunch of fashion documentaries that look really interesting.
Bluprint is currently offering their online classes for free until April 9. I’m personally interested in learning more about free motion quilting. They have a wide range of classes including all kinds of crafts and even gardening and cooking.
Announcements!
The I love my fabric virtual party is returning! (Learn more about it last year’s party here.) The premise is the same as last year. The intent of the virtual event is to spend some time with your fabric, celebrate it and enjoy it. Maybe that includes a big folding and organizing endeavor. Maybe you implement a digital catalog system. Or maybe you just hang out with your fabric and lovingly caress it. However you want to celebrate your fabric, you do just that. But above all, let’s have fun!
The dates for the virtual party are April 9-12. Use and follow #ilovemyfabricparty on Instagram to share your photos and see others photos. I plan on doing some live videos on YouTube or IG and sharing photos of my own organizing party. Plus, sharing some tips for fabric organizing.
Ways to support Sew DIY
If you’d like to support the free content on the Sew DIY YouTube and blog, you can “buy me a coffee” by donating here or visit the shop to buy pattern or printable. Every little bit really helps me be able to continue making this content and I truly appreciate every donation and purchase. Happy sewing!