Have you heard about the Sew Grateful Week event Debi is hosting? Such a brilliant idea! Lots of giveaways, reflections, tutorials and projects are pouring in from sewing blogs. I think it’s a fantastic way to celebrate the amazing sewing blog community, so of course I wanted to participate. Unfortunately, because this week has been insane for me and my mind has been elsewhere, I didn’t get my ducks in a row as I would have liked. But I thought I’d combine a reflection post with my weekly vintage inspiration anyway!
It’s rather funny how Debi’s event falls right after I passed the eight-year mark of blogging; in a way it’s made me realize how much the online sewing community has changed in less than a decade. We’ve gone from a tiny handful of blogs scattered across the internet, to an enormous community spanning a variety of sewing interests, countries, ages and skill levels.
I can honestly say that without the internet community, I wouldn’t be at the point where I am with my sewing. While I’ve always been the bookish sort and loved to raid the public library for sewing books, the amazing variety of knowledge shared on other sewing blogs means that there is something new crossing my radar all the time! I have learned how to padstitch and the fundamentals of tailoring thanks to Gertie, beading from my (real life!) friend Jenny Rose, pattern drafting techniques from countless individuals, clever fitting and construction from Sunni, embellishment touches from the team at Colette Patterns, and clever techniques from Tasia.
But it doesn’t end there! The inspiration from sewing blogs is another vital componant to our little community. People like Lauren M., Jane, Tilly, Lauren T., , the entire group of Sew Weekly contributors, and Patty. Even when I’m feeling a bit burnt out or indifferent to sewing (usually when life gets too busy to have time to sew!), these blogs excite me with ideas, fun details and fabrics, and new patterns.
The amazing thing is this is just a small sampling of all the informative and inspiring sewing blogs out there. We’ve gone from just a handful (literally!) of bloggers writing about their handcraft of choice, to thousands. So I’d just like to take this moment to thank all the fanastic blogs out there who have influenced, taught and inspired me over the years. I can’t wait to see what the sewing community will be like in another eight years…
What are a few of your favorite sewing blogs that you’re “Sew Grateful” for?
(And just so this post isn’t completely pictureless, I decided to continue posting a few more of my favorite patterns from my grandmother’s collection! Enjoy the sewing eye candy!)
Be sure to check out the back of the envelope for full details!
This post is part of an ongoing series cataloging a collection of my grandmother’s patterns. To view previous posts, please click here.
As a new blogger, I had no idea how supportive and inspirational the sewing blog community is! Now in my 6th month of blogging I find myself setting time aside each day to read several sewing blogs!
Your post today is quite inspirational and your Grandmother’s pattern collection is s u p e r b !!
Well as it was almost entirely down to your and Gertie’s blogs that inspired me to take up sewing, I am definitely “sew grateful” to the online sewing community!
xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha’penny Vintage
Thank you for sharing these other sewing blogs. You’ve been a big inspiration for me! Thank you for sharing yours!
So much sewing eye candy- thank you so much!
I am taking part in Sew Grateful week as well. I am planning on making something from one of the numerous books I received as gifts over Christmas and my birthday.
The first blogs I discovered were yours, Gertie’s and Tasia’s. I never would have finished my first project without the tutorials you ladies provided! Thanks so much!
I think I have learned the most from your blog and Tasia’s – though I have a deep appreciation for each blog that I follow. I am loving these patterns from your grandmother. The second one from the top is my favorite in this post, though I would also love to see teh first and last ones made up.
German Pattern Experiment: Day 6 and a Finished Project
Great post, I love so many blogs out there. It’s hard to choose one. I know I always land right here and use your search box a lot when needing information. You are like a library to me, because you are good at searching for information, understanding it and bring it to your blog to inform us. I always feel you put things into language that most people can understand. I come away feeling confident that I can try a new technique, knowing I can look back at the pictures and they make sense to me. Thanks for all you do Casey.
“I can honestly say that without the internet community, I wouldn’t be at the point where I am with my sewing.”
This. It’s not just the phenomenal wealth of knowledge…it’s also the diversity of voices presenting it. When I go through a sewing book or something, there’s just me and my sensibility parsing through the world of sewing knowledge deciding what to pay attention to; with all the lovely ladies of the blogworld tossing things my way, I learn things it would never have occurred to me to try.
I LOVE the online sewing community and what it’s become – love that it’s a wealth of knowing and sharing information, and not some weird competitive thing (something I noticed in my Craftster years… sometimes I felt like we were all pitting against each other, ugh). And I love how it’s expanding to include other crafts – especially knitting
Haha! I can confidently say that I would be nowhere near the seamstress I am today without the influence of all my internet sewing buddies. Even just the inspiration alone is staggering!
And speaking of inspiration – GIRL. THAT DIOR PATTERN. I think I just fell in love!
I love Adventures in Adventuring ( http://crissybaker.blogspot.com/ ). It’s not stricktly sewing, but she makes some of the prettiest “vintage” pieces. Whipstitch Sewing ( http://whipstitchsewing.wordpress.com/ ) is another good one, not strictly “vintage” really, but her pieces look so well constructed.
I’ve tried to do sewing videos for my blog before, but the area around my machine becomes such a pig sty so fast that I stop half way through editing and say “forget it!” I’m so thankful for those of you out there who take perfect photos and always look beautiful on video!
I’m so thankful for YOU!! You inspired me to start blogging publicly, and I’m constantly inspired by your projects and posts, and so thankful that you’re so humble about all your talents and endeavors. A true kindred spirit!
I’m in awe of all the like-minded folks out there now that are blogging. So amazing! I used to think I was the only wierd one out there who liked this old stuff and costumes and sewing. I’m so thankful for the internet, because it brings us all together no matter where we live
Those patterns are killer! Your grandma was a stylish gal! Can’t wait to see you wearing some of these- you’ll look so Audrey-esque in that Dior gown!
Thanks Casey! You and Lauren M where the two people that inspired me to both start sewing and blogging about it! Thank you!!!!
I have no local sewist encouragement, the amazing people I have met blogging are some of the most helpful, encouraging and sweet people! I feel blessed and encouraged to see their work every day!
I swear, I am , right now, wearing an original version of the dress shown in the second pattern!Q
Every one of the patterns today is beautiful. I wouldn’t be able to write a post because I would be planning each dress. Thanks for sharing all of your grandmother’s patterns with us. I have enjoyed each post. I am grateful for wonderful people like you on the internet that got me excited about sewing again.
I have started blogging only few months back. I am every grateful to my sweet ladies at sewing blog community! Thank you for posting these rare pictures, Loved the sketch on the second one.. I guess these would look so pretty even today!
I just want to say how grateful I am to you Casey for the TONS of inspiration and advice I’ve got from your blog. As well as sharing your awesome sewing skills and experience, you’ve also taught me a lot about being comfortable with my own look and what does and doesn’t suit me and my body shape. Congratulations on an impressive eight years of blogging and keep up the truly excellent work. xx
Reading this post made me beam from ear to ear! Your blog really inspires me to stop being afraid of the sewing machine and go out and try to create something. This post is really beautiful, and you have a lovely way with words! xoxo