Vintage Inspired Modern Style Design Challenge

Amy Barickman has created a design challenge,Vintage Inspired/Modern Style , that combines the history of Coats & Clark as we are celebrating our 200th year and Singer as they are celebrating 160 years and a tribute to Mary Brooks Picken who was the American authority on fashion and sewing in the early 1900's and wrote sewing books for Coats & Clark and Singer during her career.

Amy was inspired by Mary to write the book Amy Barickman's Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun. The book shares the timeless teachings of Mary and her Magic Patterns for basic garments which are at the heart of this challenge. The book includes 12 Magic Patterns and Amy is offering 4 free down loadable Magic Patterns for the Challenge.

See all of the rules for the contest at BurdaStyle/vintage modern. Prizes totaling $3000 include a 160th anniversary sewing machine from Singer, thread and 200th anniversary tin from Coats & Clark and patterns from Indygo Junction. In addition, the winner will have the opportunity to have her pattern published by Indygo Junction.

Learn more about the Challenge in this interview with Amy Barickman.

Sewing on Fleece

Fleece can be used in so many ways. It is a favorite for no-sew projects because it doesn't ravel, but it is also simple to use for sewing projects.

Our Snowflake Fleece pillow takes advantage of the no-ravel quality. The front and back is sandwiched wrong sides together and the cut edges form the flange border.


The only negative to sewing on fleece is that it is very hard to rip out stitches, but the good news is-- it is a very forgiving fabric. The stitches are buried in the pile, so if they are less than perfect, no one will be able to tell!

Here are some tips for sewing with fleece:

• Fleece is a pile fabric and should be cut using the "with nap" layout.




• Use long pins with glass or plastic heads so that they do not get buried in the fleece.




• Use Coats Dual Duty XP General Purpose Thread in a color to match your fabric or one shade darker.




• Set machine for a long (8-10 stitches per inch or 3 mm) straight stitch or a narrow zig zag.




• A size 12 (80) Universal point needle is the best choice for most fleece fabrics.




• Be sure of fit before you sew because stitches sink into the pile and are difficult to remove.




• Trim seam allowances to 1/4" to reduce bulk.





• No seam finish is needed because fleece does not ravel, but zig-zagging seams together reduces bulk




• When installing a zipper, remember the fleece will stretch, but the zipper tape will not. To prevent a wavy appearance, sew with the fleece underneath the zipper, so that the feed dogs will gently ease the fleece to the zipper tape.

Sewing Christmas Stockings

Families have different traditions when it comes to Christmas stockings. Some families have matching stockings, in some families each person has their own individual design. Some people have used the same stocking since they were a baby and others change stockings to match their decorating theme each year.

Here are five stocking patterns, just in case you need some ideas for a gift or need to refurbish your family's stockings!




Beaded Stocking
















Zipper Tree Stocking

Snowflake Glow in the Dark Stocking

Christmas Dangles Stocking

Fleece Stocking

We are Sewing - Along!

Are you "Sewing Along" with Gretchen and Peter on BurdaStyle.com? They are doing a fantastic job leading us step by step sewing the skirt and dress. In fact they are doing such a good job leading our Coats & Clark/Free Spirit Sewing Month Sew-Along, that I've decide to just "Sew Along" with all of you.


My very girly lunch box was my inspiration. I love the black and white accented by pink.


My first step was to select my fabric. I "shopped" in my fabric stash and found these positive/negative prints by Jennifer Paganelli for Free Spirit. I have to admit it is a real perk to work on same floor as our sister company Westminster Lifestyle fabrics. The temptation to hoard fabric is irresistable!


For the "pink" I pulled one of our Dual Duty XP fashion bright threads, Neon Pink 9213. I'm not sure how I'm going to use it yet....Any suggestons?


Next I selected the pattern. Another perk of working in the home sewing industry is going to great sewing shows. The pattern companies will present a fantastic fashion show featuring their newest patterns which they just happen to offer in their booth at a terrific show price. I can't resist this temptation either. This skirt is one I purchased at the American Sewing Expo (which is coming up Sept 23-25 in Novi, MI by the way).


I'm old school-- so I've prewashed my fabrics and straightened the grain--which was easy since these are quilting cottons and were torn on the crosswise grain. It really is best to pre-wash fabrics to remove shrinkage. Even if fit isn't an issue, if your fabrics shrinks and the thread doesn't you will have puckered seams.

Next step: Fitting pattern (Horrors--must take measurements!), layout, cutting and marking.

Sewing Month Sew Along

We are celebrating National Sewing Month with a month-long sew along.
Learn new sewing techniques and have some creative fun during the FreeSpirit Fabric and Coats & Clark® Sew Along celebrating September’s National Sewing Month.

The sew-along will be hosted by BurdaStyle. Designer Tula Pink will share a multitude of ways to rev up the two sew-along projects with Coats & Clark® thread and zippers.

To participate, log on to BurdaStyle.com between September 1 and September 30 and follow along as BurdaStyle's Gretchen Hirsch and Peter Lappin share their interpretations of the projects and tips. See how Tula added borders, zipper piping and more to a skirt and halter dress pattern. Any pattern in these basic styles is acceptable including BurdaStyles's Skirt with Front Pleats and the Halter Dress.

Our models are featurning fabric from Tula's line for FreeSpirit Fabrics, Prince Charming.



Sign up here for email updates: Sew Along Updates


Then log onto BurdaStyle September 1 to be a part of the Sew Along.

Sewing in a Straight Line

Have you ever thought about how much of sewing consists of stitching in a straight line? It's true and Brett Bara has put together a book of 26 projects that can be created by simply sewing straight line.

Sewing in a Straight Line is a collection of 26 projects for home decor, gifts, quilts, clothing and accessories that can all be made by simply sewing straight lines. Brett says, "My inspiration for this book came after many years of people telling me they’d love to learn to sew but they just didn’t know where to start. One day it hit me that so much of what I sew is super easy to make — in fact, much of it is sewn with straight lines only. And anyone can sew a straight line! So I set out to make a book that would show readers that they can make cute projects even with very simple skills."

We liked her ideas so much, Coats & Clark sponsored three videos that give you a preview of projects from the book.





Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara – How to Sew a Round Bowl with Straight Lines Only from Rarebit Productions on Vimeo.

Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara – How to Sew a Skirt in One Hour from Rarebit Productions on Vimeo.

Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara – How to Sew the Easiest Zippered Throw Pillow from Rarebit Productions on Vimeo.

Brett will be doing a blog tour with a give-away at each stop of her book and a great assortment of our Dual Duty XP Thread. Find out more on her website, Manhattan Craft Room. You can also find where to purchase the book and a sneak-peek at other projects.

Pro-Am Sewing Exhibition

Coats & Clark sponsored a Pro-Am Sewing Exhibition at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup Washington. We wanted to plan an event that would promote sewing, showcase the talents of the fantastic instructors and people from the sewing industry who are at the expo each year and that would be entertaining. After much brainstorming with Expo planners, we came up with an event modeled loosely after the "Pro-Am" sporting events. A "Pro" was paired with a local teen (a.k.a. the "Am") who sewed --most were involved in 4-H in the area. Each Pro was to plan a project with their "Am". Most of the the mentoring with my "Am" was done through email--since I am in North Carolina and she was in Washington, but this was the case for many of the Pro-Am pairs. Each teen also had a local mentor to help them through the process.

I was so excited when I finally met my "Am", Tyra, and saw her project. She used our new Fashion Metal Zippers in this cute faux suede leopard print skirt. She used McCalls M6289 and added side pockets closed with an exposed zipper and a longer exposed zipper in the back. She did such a great job. Tyra is 14 but she has been sewing for 7 years!

Then it was time for the show! Each "Pro" commentated their "Ams" outfit. The garments ranged from skirts, to tailored jackets and sportswear. One very young sewer created a matching skirt for her doll!

The show went off without a hitch and everyone was impressed with the talents of the young people. The future of sewing looks bright if this group is any indication.