SEWING PROJECTS by Marion Barry

When Rimma saw the stunning Roberto Cavalli slinky knit fabric in person at Elliott Berman Textiles, her heart skipped a beat! It was so unique and different from everything else in her wardrobe. She was instantly captivated by the vibrant primary colors and the intricate, complex print.     Rimma knew right away which pattern she wanted to make with it—her tried-and-true choice for slinky knits, the Named Patterns Kielo wrap dress. Having already made this pattern five times (two dresses, two tops, and one tunic), she had been wanting to make another maxi dress for years. What better fabric...

On a recent trip to The Netherlands, Kathy King had the opportunity to explore Amsterdam and the surrounding areas in search of textiles. She attended a fantastic workshop at the Dutch Couture Academy in Doesburg, organized by Threads Magazine. With the weather wavering between summer and fall, a lightweight wrap proved to be the perfect choice. These photos were taken inside the cozy Stadsbierhuys De Waag (established in 1478), where it’s perfectly acceptable to have a Dutch pancake with caramel syrup for lunch!     This fabric is from Italy (@EBTfabrics) and is 100% cotton with black and white letters on a...

    Rimma is excited to share her latest creation—a stunning summer dress made from a beautiful Italian Victorian Rose print Swiss dot cotton. Initially planned for a blouse, this fabric captivated her so much that she decided to turn it into a dress, using every last centimeter to create an almost zero-waste project.      Rimma’s initial plan was to sew a Pauline Alice Coeli blouse with the fabric, to replace a similar one that had been accidentally torn. However, upon realizing that she had received 2.9 meters instead of the 2.4 meters required for the blouse, she couldn’t...

Fall was in the air while Kathy visited family and friends this week in Richmond, VA. The weather was perfect for getting outdoors to enjoy the beautiful tree-lined streets and historic architecture. She loved making and wearing two t-shirts crafted from a fantastic activewear knit from Elliott Berman Textiles (@EBTFabrics). The white, black, and silver-gray striped knit is incredibly soft and features 5% Lycra for the perfect stretch and maximum comfort. The jacquard pattern pairs effortlessly with everything, from workout shorts for the gym to jeans or trousers for a casual look.       PATTERN: Kathy used her TNT...

Rimma made another summer dress and absolutely fell in love with it! The gorgeous Italian tropical print cotton poplin truly caught her eye – the print boasts so many beautiful colors, and the flowers filled with black or red animal print are just so unique. All this beauty on a white background – what could be more perfect for summer? The cotton is of wonderful quality, with a sharp print in bright colors and a tight weave. She washed it in cold water in the machine and dried it on a low setting, and it came out perfect.     She...