Starting today...

It's our wonderful Fall Pre Season SALE!

Saturday, August 27th - Saturday, September 3rd

The air is growing cooler, the kids are back in school, soon we'll be surrounded by all the goodness of fall. It's a truly beautiful season. A time for sipping cider and sewing soft, cozy clothing and quilts. We want to help jump start your fall fashion and home sewing with this great Pre Season SALE!

SALE includes: All new fall fabrics 20% off
Select wools, corduroy and flannels 30 and 40% off
Select Japanese 20-40% off
Many printed cottons 20-30% off
Laminates 20% off
Select specialty fabrics 20% off
Oliver and S patterns 20% off
Many Birch and Cloud Nine organics 20% off

Plus for our ONLINE shoppers we're offering 15% off your entire online order NOW through Saturday, September 3rd. Just enter "CIDER&SEWING" in the coupon code box at checkout.

Quick and Simple Hooded Tube Scarf

Burrr. It's getting pretty chilly. About time I got my act together and shared this fun hooded tube scarf that I've been meaning to post for over a month now!
Inspired by a ready made scarf from American Apparel, I set out to make my own and have found I like mine even better than any of the mass-market scarves I've recently seen.

It goes together incredibly fast and due to the material used it requires very little finishing. I plan to whip up at least three more as gifts. They are great for a last minute handmade treat and a few of my friends have already shown interest in receiving one.

Here's what's needed:
   1/2 yard of 54" or wider Sweatshirt material, interlock, bamboo knit or other stretch knit.
   coordinating thread
   fabric marker/chalk pencil
   rotary cutter, straight edge or acrylic ruler and mat
   any hoodie or coat hood to trace
   optional - scrap felt for flower embellishment

Here's how:

Lay out your fabric still folded at center seam, take care to smooth out any bumps or folds. Fold hood in half and lay ontop of fabric at selvage, with hood opening looking toward center fold. Use chalk or fabric marker to trace outer edge of hood. Remove coat hood or hoodie.

Next draw a straight line from bottom of hood line across to folded edge. Then freehand draw a curved line starting from the top of the hood continuing straight out to the folded edge. This line should become nearly perpendicular to the bottom line. The shape should be as pictured above.

Now using your rotary cutter and straight edge cut along bottom line. Then free hand cut along hood edge and top curve, slow and steady with out lifting your blade. Set this large piece aside. Next using your straight edge or acrylic ruler cut a 4"x 22" strip from the remaining fabric (see upper left portion in above photo).

Unfold large scarf piece, pin strip right-sides together along one rounded hood edge. Strip will be longer then hood edge, trim off extra. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim seam to 1/8". I find I can get the cleanest cuts with knit fabric by laying it flat on mat  and trimming seam allowance with my rotary cutter rather then with scissors.

Now with right side facing pin center strip to opposite hood edge. Again, sew with a 1/4" seam allowance and trim to 1/8". Turn right sides out and Voila.

To wear first put on hood, twist once and wrap slack around to back. Wear with hood up or down.

For felt flower (same as the flower in our current header) simply cut out a five petaled flower and 2 green leaves from scrap felt. Get pdf of flower template here. Attach the three pieces by sewing a few cross stitches in the center of the flower with a contrasting color of floss. Attach a safety pin or a brooch back and pin onto scarf.

Though knit fabrics yield the quickest results, this scarf could be made from anything you like, as long as it's wide enough. It'd be supper cute in the new extra wide Anna Maria Dobby Dots or a wide wool, lined with a sweet voile print. To do this I would make two of the above scarfs, one from an exterior fabric and one from a lining. Then I would sew the two together with right sides facing using a 1/2" seam allowance, first along top curved edge. Then along the bottom edge leaving about 5 inches open. Turn right sides out through opening and close using a blind stitch or topstich around top and bottom edges.  And done!

A Last Minute Announcement

SORRY... this event has ENDED! 

Fall/Winter Preview SALE

Well the first day of autumn has come and gone. 

It is officially Fall.

We're not sure about you but we love Fall! And so to celebrate our love for Fall 

and  for all of the marvelous fabrics for Fall and Winter...

We are having a Fall/Winter Preview SALE.

The SALE begins this 

Saturday, September 26th

(yes, that is tomorrow)

and continues through till close on 

Saturday, October 3rd.

Our SALE will include:

20% off fabrics for fall and winter, such as wool, corduroy 

and velveteen

20-30% off many of our favorite printed cottons including Amy Butler, Alexander Henry, Free Spirit and Michael Miller

30% off all solid and printed knits

30-50% off bargain basement items

SORRY... this event has ENDED! 

Divided Envelope Clutch

*the divided envelope clutch pattern has been fixed, sorry to anyone who was unable to download it previously*

***the new PDF pattern***

Hello blog friends...

Happy first day of Fall.

I thought I'd send a little project your way in case your looking for something quick, simple and satisfying to sew.

This is my Divided Envelope Clutch.

I designed this simple clutch some time ago and the first one I made was used for housing a few diapers and a small case of wipes for short outings/errand running with little one in tow. It's my strong belief that stylish accessories make all chores more fun. The size is just right to be carried alone or slipped into a larger purse while running out the door.

Recently, I shared this project with a clever friend who adapted it to fit her own needs by simply changing the scale of my pattern. "Ahhhha" I thought.  The possibilities of this silly little diaper clutch suddenly became endless.  Its design would be great for all kinds of uses. Shrink it way down for a cute little wallet, or enlarge it for a laptop sleeve.  I made the one in this post to carry coupons and a grocery list. And I have another in pieces on my sewing table,  sized it specifically to hold scissors and combs. It's to be a gift for my hairdressing sister in-law.

The size is easily rescaled to suit whatever your use may be.

Here's what you'll need:

1/3 yard* of fabric for exterior - I used Alexander Henry's Apples & Pears in Brown

1/3 yard* of fabric for interior - I used Kaffe Fassett's Spots in Red

1/3 yard* decor bond

spool of coordinating thread

fabric marker on chalk pencil

*you will need more if you decide to enlarge your clutch.

Here's how it's made:

First open, download and print the pattern (and if you wish to rescale simply print or copy at whatever percent you like i.e. 50%, 75%, 150%...)

Next Cut all pieces.

First cut your 3 full pieces on the fold; one from exterior fabric, one from interior fabric and one from decor bond. Using a fabric chalk or marker, transfer dots onto large exterior piece.

Then fold pattern at dash-line and place on fold and cut one from exterior fabric, 3 from interior fabric and two from decor bond.

Iron decor bond onto wrong-side of both exterior pieces and one small interior piece.

Next with right-sides facing attach the small exterior piece to one of the small lining pieces (without decor-bond) by sewing across the top with a 1/4 seam-allowance. Press seam open, fold right-sides out and press flat.

Do the same with the small lining piece w/decor bond and remaining small lining pieces. This will be your interior divider.

Now with right-sides facing attach the two larger pieces. Sew across rounded top from one dot to the other with a 1/4" seam-allowance. Clip along this top seam-allowance every few inches, being sure not to cut into your stitches.

Turn right-sides out and press well. 

Lay out pieces (as shown bellow). Start with largest piece first, lay exterior side up, next lay smaller exterior piece, exterior fabric facing down, finally place interior dividing piece on top.

Pin together and sew around all three sides with a 1/4" seam-allowance. Carefully trim seam-allowance to 1/8th inch.

Turn exterior sides facing out. Press neatly.

Have fun choosing a button.  I couldn't choose so I combined two :)

 Finally, stitch your buttonhole and sew on your button.

Now go out and enjoy. 

Till next time - ;) April 

Oliver & S Trunk Show

Starting today, Tuesday, November 4th through Saturday, November 15th. . . the Oliver and S Trunk Show
is on display in the front window of Sew to Speak.

These wonderful pattern makers have sent us several samples of their adorable fall clothing line. The pieces are darling. Exquisitely well made! We've left some of the garments folded on the table inside so that you might pick then up to look over the stitches in awe, as we have. The quality is outrageously good and their use of fabrics and trims is very inspiring. I must say that my absolute favorite piece in the show is the little pleated skirt hanging in the front window. If only it were about four times bigger...I guess I'll just have to make it, or maybe have it made, for my Aelyn. I always dress her in the things I wish I could wear! :)
We also have a few samples made by our friend Shelly of Figgy's children's wear and my mother, Anita will have the "Sunday Brunch Jacket" finished for Aelyn any time now. It is looking super cute in rusty orange velveteen with blue gingham bias as a surprise on the inside and four vintage buttons on the breast.

Also. . . Anita is giving 10% off these patterns during the trunk show, so be sure to take advantage of that and stop in to pick yours up.
Keep in mind, even if you don't have little ones of your own, handmade baby and children's clothing make wonderful gifts. Mommy's go gaga over this stuff... I speak from experience. I am blessed to have a mother with many crafty friends and was gifted with tons of great hand made goods before my baby girl arrived. We still get great new things made for her all the time (grandmothers are the greatest!). I can't get enough of it! These are the things I'll cherish forever, and I'll share them with my daughter as she grows and one day becomes a woman with baby's of her own.
hmmm.... this blog is making me feel a bit sentimental.
I'm reminded of when my mother and I used to get into her old cedar chest and pull out the blankets and things to find the box of my baby clothes she had tucked away. There was the outfit they put me in when I was first born, my hospital bracelet and hers, a soft, silky pink baby blanket, some photographs and several diffrent hand made outfits, rompers and such. She would talk to me about each piece. . . I remember feeling very special when we would sit and do that. . .


I love you so much Mom!
your baby, April

Mad for Modern Wool

As Anita (mom) and I peruse the catalogs of our favorite ready made stores (ie Nordstrom's, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie
and others) we've been seeing so many wonderful uses for plaid, gingham, hounds tooth and checks. So we were thrilled when she received samples from her newest supplier of salvaged designer fibers. We ordered our picks pronto, and they came just as quick.
Now in the Shoppe we have this great selection of both classic textured wools and super sweet plaids and checks. The gingham pictured here has been in for a little while but now looks fresh, perfectly paired with these new cloths. Whether used together or on their own they are deliciously stylish with that vintage appeal that both mom and I go crazy for.
Bold plaids are being used for everything from skirts and caplets, to handbags, hats and scarves. Solid wool patches could be added to the elbows of a sewn or ready made jacket! Wearing just one or two louder pieces with other more subtle, textured solids, or neutrals/denim is very fashion forward. Throw on some boots and you'll be set for fall.
P.S. Our new wools are 60 inches wide :)