Owl & Drum's Sew Very Modern

  Topstitching - to make a row of stitches on the top of a sewn item, or the right side of the fabric. Usually used as a decorative stitch, or to stabilize the seam. Topstitching is widely used and can be tricky for lots of beginning sewists. It's the one stitch that is on the outside of your item, so it can be seen. Like most things, you can excel at topstitching by lots of practice but here are a few tips to make your first attempts your best. Use a similar colored thread that matches your fabric. For example, using...

Blend Fabrics, a high-end textile design company based in Atlanta, features great designers who always have a fresh and on-trend approach - and Josephine Kimberling is just one of them! As a veteran in surface design, Josephine's style is all about vibrant color, a dash of vintage and a twist of whimsy. Inspired by Asian designs and motifs, Josephine's new collection - titled Daydream - features origami animals, mountain landscapes and hot air balloons in blues, greens and grays. These new fabrics are sure to whisk you off in a dream-like state! These 100% cotton fabrics are perfect for baby...

When you start your sewing journey you start to see a lot of words that may seem like a foreign language to you. So, I would like to help you out and give you the meanings of some of the most basic sewing terms out there.  Baste - either by hand or machine, long stitches that are used, temporarily, to hold together two pieces of fabric so that they stay in place while you sew them together. Bias - diagonally across the fabric grain. In woven fabric, this is where there will be the most stretch. Bobbin - the spindle that...

Hello! It's Mary here today to share Owl & Drum's Student Spotlight! Each month or so you will get a chance to get to know some of our students as we shine the spotlight on one of the many wonderful folks who frequent our sewing, quilting and other fiber art classes and workshops. There are lots of classes that we offer at our little store, but none of them would happen without people to attend them! We love teaching our craft, and we have had the good fortune to meet all sorts of wonderful folks through our events. We appreciate each and every one...

As a sewist, Inevitably, you will use pins when sewing or quilting, whether you like to or not. They can be very helpful when working with slick fabrics such as rayon and can help you stay on track when sewing a curve. Have you ever wondered whether you are using your pins correctly? Believe it or not, but there is a right way to use them. First of all, when using a sewing machine, you will want to insert your pin horizontally and have the ball of the pin on the outside of your fabric, as pictured below. It is in...