-
Sewing Patterns
-
Fabric
- Sewing Supplies
- About
- Blog
- Gallery
-
Looking for some small gifts for your sewing friends (or yourself)? We have some suggestions for fun and unique things in our store that make perfect stocking stuffers and sewing-friend presents. And, did I mention these are all less than $20 . . . ?
Pattern Tracing Fabric (Swedish Tracing Paper) and Removable Tape. These two are wonderful for any sewist (or sewer?), making pattern tracing and drafting so much easier! I use these for nearly all of my sewing projects.
Asian Knot Templates: button, tear-drop, flower. With these three templates, anyone can make buttons, embellishments, zipper pulls, tassels, and other fun finishes for sewing projects.
Bias Tape Makers: Make your own 1/4", 1/2", or 3/4" bias tape from your own fabric with these nifty little bias tape makers. I love my bias tape maker and use it all the time to make beautiful edge finishes or ribbons with my favorite fabrics.
Organic Eri Silk Embroidery Thread: A beautiful embroidery thread that is perfect for
handwork on any garments (especially Folkwear!). And feel good about using organic silk that has been naturally dyed! Comes in madder red and indigo blue - from Botanica Tinctoria.
Fun patterns to give as gifts:
109 Little Folks - for anyone expecting a baby (or grandbaby or niece or nephew) in the next year. Give this with a yard of special fabric and sweet trim = perfect (and really fun) gift!
129A Japanese Tabi - a fun and unusual pattern. Great for men or women! Again, include some interesting fabric (less that 1 yard is needed) for a fun present.
269 Metropolitan Hat - hat patterns are always a good bet, especially for a friend who loves them. Include a fun hat embellishment (one that you made, perhaps) to complete this gift.
Winter is full of holidays and holiday events that call for slightly more formal or festive attire than what we normally don. Below, we have some suggestions that may help with the age-old question of, "What should I wear?". These suggestions range from more formal ensembles to separates that can add a pick me up to the classic staple pieces in your wardrobe. And, we are including fabric suggestions and sources for each pattern. We hope you feel fabulous at the many events from the office party to parade, or from a ceremony to celebration. Whatever tradition you follow, we wish you warmth and joy!
We all have our favorite go-to basics. Here are some ideas to refresh your style!
The Nepali Blouse is traditionally made of velvet. Need I say more? This wrap and tie blouse drapes nicely and is a great pick me up for any closet. This could be dressed up or down to suit your needs.
Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabrics has some beautiful silk/rayon velvets that would be perfect!
126 Vests form Greece and Poland
The mid-calf Greek vest stands out to me the most. It would be great in various fabrics ranging from lighter weight to a sturdy wool or blend. I've been noticing a lot of longer jackets and dusters this fall, so this is very on-trend!
Vogue Fabrics has beautiful wool boucle coating, designer wool fabric, and wool flannel.
This pattern has so much potential for expressing your creativity and style. Try this pattern to create a one of a kind wearable art piece with function and style that is perfect for the holidays!
Let you imagination run wild with this one! Hand-woven pieces are great in this; holiday themed are fun; or make from some classic, dark wool solids.
The Chinese Jacket pattern is a versatile design. The pattern features three lengths. It that could be constructed in a vibrant, rich colored silk to wear as a top or even a lightweight wool as outerwear.
This beautiful pattern can be crafted to a more formal garment if desired. The tunic has the flow of a dress and the pants drape nicely underneath. Gorgeous in a silk brocade, and certainly a showstopper at your holiday gathering.
Marcy Tilton has some gorgeous brocades that would be fabulous for this pattern (or for the 114 Chinese Jacket above). Fabric for this pattern should be more flowing, or have more drape, than fabric for 114 Chinese Jacket.
I can't stop envisioning this dress in a silk velvet. The option of hemming to "street-length" would modernize the look as well.
Michael Levine has a huge selection of silk velvets (at a reasonable price).
This pattern would be lovely in a lightweight wool or corduroy. The pattern can be made as a dress or shirt. It also has great potential for handwork and decorative stitching - perfect to add winter or holiday themed embroidery. If you have any mother-child pairs,the 110 Little Kittel pattern is just a child-sized version of this.
Beautiful wale corduroys at Harts Fabric, here.
This elegant dress is a stunning option. It can be made as knee length, mid-calf, or ankle length. This would be a lovely vintage look to ring in the New Year with style.
Perfect in a rayon crepe, like these from Harts Fabric.
Who's ready for some fun? This pattern already has the instructions for an alpine applique! Or make your own holiday applique for this skirt (ornaments, tree, snowflakes, etc.). Perfect for any event where festive clothes are needed! The sweater will keep you warm on cool days (also come with a winter scene!).
Fun holiday themed fabrics here from Fabric Depot would work for making the skirt, or shirt, or for making a cute applique.
Here in Western North Carolina we are feeling the season change. The days are are shortening, the evenings are cool, and the leaves have turned and are dropping. So, naturally we start looking ahead to the cozy months, months of sewing and creativity . . . and of course the Holidays! Below, we have a list of wonderful gift ideas that you can make from Folkwear patterns so you can get a jump start on your handmade holiday gifts.
Quick for Children:
109 Little Folks PDF Pattern
An international collection, featuring eight(!) patterns and a variety of optional handwork techniques. This pattern is no longer available as a paper pattern, but we have an easy to use PDF available! Dress your sweeties up in a Japanese Kintaro, Mexican Dress or Baby Shirt, Korean Booties, Nepali Chupa, Moroccan Djellaba, or Turkish Tunic and Bloomers. These are easy and quick patterns, and you can make them more personalized with embroidery, homemade tassels, or other handwork which are included in the instructions (or adorable monograms).
225 Childhood Dreams (image above)
Although, this pattern cam be made for day dresses of even special occasions, it also has all the makings for a really nice nightgown. The choice of fabric and trim can change the look and use of this garment. It was always a Christmas Eve tradition in my family to open a gift of new sleepwear. This has carried on from my parents to my children. This would be a perfect pattern for that tradition.
What traditions do you have for family's Holiday?
Wearable and Quick with Little-to-No Sizing or Fitting Required
I'm a sucker for a great hat! It's always fun to find one that is both interesting and practical. This patterns shows options for decorative fabric rosettes that can be fashioned out of the hat fabric, contrasting materials such as lace, tulle, or glittering silk, or entirely replaced by a vintage brooch or dramatic button. This pattern can be made in 3 sizes, and there are just three pattern pieces: Brim, Band, and Crown. Constructing this in a wool or felt will certainly help keep your loved one warm!
For the person who has everything! This unique gift provides warmth and protection for the toes with flip flops or by themselves as comfortable at-home slippers to protect your floors. Traditional to Japan . . . . A quick, easy, and inexpensive gift!
You can make three garments from this pattern - all of them easy to fit (with lots of ease built into the patterns). The Hapi is a shorter, unlined cardigan-type jacket that is easy to sew. The Haori is slightly longer, lined, and similar to a kimono. This pattern also comes with the Japanese Tabi sock pattern. These are great garments to make for women or men (sized for both), and are perfect lounge-wear, though I made a Hapi for myself that I use as a light jacket to wear out and about.
This classic pattern is for an unlined kimono (yukata) and is a great gift for anyone (sized for women and men). Our pattern includes instructions for shibori dyeing, sashiko embroidery (image above), and for making an obi or sash. So, you can make this a unique gift.
A unique gift, this cape is dramatic when worn un-traditionally over modern clothing. On trend right now too! Our pattern details different ways of wearing and draping the finished garment. No fitting required - just a vision and some great fabric.
For the Home:
This pattern has 7 parts to choose from. The piece that really stands out for me (sweet and simple) is the Potpourri Sachet! This would be a fun thing to make and have for quick gifts for friends and family - and you can use up your awesome fabric scraps. There is a recipe for the potpourri blend or you can get creative with your own blend.
This pattern has 5 parts to choose from. The Teddy Bear would be so sweet with many fabric choices. The Pillow Sham has great potential for customization with fabric choice, added embroidery, or applique. Kids love gifts with their name or favorite things featured on them. The size of the Quilt would make a nice throw for anywhere in the home (not limited to cribs)!
This popular pattern has 8 parts to choose from. The pattern includes tips for handwork and dyeing techniques. The Decorative Curtains (Noren) would be a great way to show off some of your handwork skills! There are 3 different shapes of pillows to choose from as well. An adaptation for these could be to make them heat friendly (filling with buckwheat or rice and dried herbs), and use them to warm up on a chilly day! Or, do your own indigo dying and make the pillow covers or quilt. Oh, did I mention Quilted Sleeping Kimono adaptation instructions using 113 Japanese Kimono?
------------
We hope this helps you with some great ideas for gifts to make your friends and family this holiday season. To make it easier for you, all of these patterns will be on sale through November! And, keep a look out for our Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales at the end of the month.
And, we would love to see what you make! Tag us on social media (#folkwearpatterns) or send an email!
Happy sewing!!
I was inspired by Etro's 2017 fall ready-to-wear collection, especially this dress that looked so much like our Afghan Nomad Dress.
So, I thought I would try to make my own! When I was in NYC in August I found some beautiful Liberty fabric at a great price at Mood. I also found a few yards of beautiful, wide embroidered silk trim at Virgin Fabrics in the Garment District. Then, Rachel at Botanica Tinctoria sent me indigo-dyed organic cotton crocheted lace. A vision was starting to come together.
I use our 107 Afghan Nomad Dress pattern and made a few alterations. First, I shortened the skirt to my knees and took out a lot of the skirt bulk. I used maybe half to 2/3 the amount of a traditional Afghan nomad dress. I just did not need or want that much bulk for a shorter skirt (also the fabric was expensive enough that I thought I could do with using less!). And, I think I probably could have used even less width in the skirt, especially since it is a little bit of a heavier fabric than the lightweight, translucent lawn I used for sleeve and bodice, and doesn't drape as close to the body. I also flipped the back to be the front (and front to be the back) because I like the neckline of the slit in the front.
I started by sewing the embroidered trim onto the bodice (by machine). Then, I hand-stitched the crocheted lace between the trims and at the bottom. The bodice already had the center slash cut into it, so I was just stitching on top as if it was not there.
I then I cut the slash at the top of the bodice for the neckline through the trim, and tacked the back, or lining, of the bodice to the front bodice piece. From there, I just followed the pattern instructions. I did a blind hem stitch on the bottom edge.
I love how it turned out - love the colors - and it is very comfortable.
Anyone else inspired to make their own Afghan Nomad Dress?
I am so excited about a new product we are carrying in the Folkwear store: naturally dyed, organic Eri silk embroidery thread!
This thread comes from Botanica Tinctoria, a company that sources sustainably made trims, voile, and threads. Eri silk is durable and strong (and the worm is not killed in the processing). The thread is GOTS-certified organic, and is dyed with natural materials and safe mordants in a closed loop process in India. You can feel good about using this thread.
We carry Madder Red and Mid-Indigo Blue - two colors that are traditionally used in clothing embroidery in many cultures. This 8-stranded thread will be perfect to use, separated (and often together), for any embroidery stitching on 107 Afghan Nomad Dress, any of the garments in 109 Little Folks, 142 Old Mexico Dress, 209 Walking Skirt, and many others. There are so many uses for embroidery thread in our patterns when doing traditional handwork - from couching (Afghan Nomad Dress) to applique (Hungarian Szur, Big Sky Riding Skirt) to quilting (Turkish Coat, Quilted Prairie Skirt).
Environmentally and socially sustainable, and used to create hand-sewn, beautiful garments - this thread is the opposite of fast fashion. We are proud to carry such a product and can't wait to see what you make with it!
#240 Rosie the Riveter and #243 Rodeo Cowgirl Skirt are on sale this month. Check out these photos from a recent shoot for a little inspiration.
#240 Rosie the Riveter, overalls and pants
This skirt is simple, fun, and versatile. This A-line skirt can be made simply, or embellished profusely. Options for applique, bottom flounce, adding fringe, or embroidery make this pattern interesting and allow you to create your own unique garment. Great for a dance hall or just a fun everyday skirt!
