Today I accidentally went down the rabbit hole of sewing apps that have the sole purpose of organizing your stashes–both fabric and patterns. Friends. I never would have thought to have my sewing stuff organized on my phone but after looking at the apps, it makes so much sense. I have fabric stored in my sewing space, random bins and then my garage and honestly, I don’t know everything I have! But an app that would keep my fabric swatches together without me having to cut anything?
Yes. Please.
Sewing Apps That Keep Your Stashes Organized
Sewing Patterns Lite
This app allows you to keep track of all your patterns. You can keep the pictures of the patterns, rate them based on difficulty, categorize them based on outerwear, bottoms, etc. Not just that, but you can also store how much yardage you need for each pattern too.
All About Fabrics
This app is really cool because it can automatically calculate the right amount of material you need for any piece, shares information about different fabric types AND finds the nearest fabric store!
Sew Buddy
This app can keep track of all your fabrics, threads, notions, and patterns. You can take pictures with your camera and upload or use saved images.
Fabric Dictionary
This app doesn’t organize your fabric BUT it does offer some loose definitions of the fabrics which is sew good.
Ok, so this isn’t a sewing specific app but it offers PEAK organization for your patterns. Have you ever accidentally purchased the same pattern more than once? This app can track all your patterns for you!
This is probably my favorite one on the list. It’s actively maintained and new releases are still coming out. In this app you can do so much including keeping your patterns, projects and fabrics organized WITH due dates when necessary!
Are you using sewing apps? Drop your faves for me!
I feel like I’ve been living in loungewear for the past 6 weeks. Whether I’m actually working out or actively maintaining my sanity, it seems like workout and lounge attire is my pandemic go-to look. But being plus-size, I can sometimes look sloppy and that’s not the look I’m going for. So here’s a roundup of my favorite plus-size loungewear looks that I’ve been sporting as of late.
Plus-Size Loungewear Patterns
Made for Mermaids Stella Sweatshirt
I’m not going to say how many of these I made in testing–it’s an absurd amount. But this year I’ve added even more to my collection. I love how there are so many options for this sweatshirt–my personal fave is the off-the-shoulder look. I love showing off my tattoo and it adds a little jazz to an otherwise possibly bland look. This isn’t a baggy sweatshirt–it’s more fitted and highlights my curves so that’s a plus for me.
Casually paired with leggings.
Dressed up with cargo pants.
High-Waist Bike Shorts
Last year my friend Katie said that bike shorts were everything for working out and living. I didn’t want to believe her or agree. And then I caved and made some because I didn’t have enough of the fabric to make full out leggings. Friends. I’ve been missing out on a big part of life! High-waist bike shorts + a sports bra or crop top is this plus-size girls dream! I used the Patterns for Pirates Pegs + Classic Sports Bra to create these looks. Another excellent pattern for this is Petite Stitchery Megara Leggings.
Patterns for Pirates Loggers
I remember when these went into testing and I was like, “yay… another jogger pattern!” I was wrong. I finally bought them and am so in love. Like I even taught myself how to put in grommets so I could have a cute little drawstring. Loggers are basically the love child of the shape of joggers and the fit of leggings. They are peak comfortable.
So Sew English Seattle T-Shirt
This is the one pictured above. I LOVE a good v-neck tee. But when your bust is 4 sizes smaller than your hip range, making your own t-shirts is definitely a thing. I love the curved hem and fit on this t-shirt pattern. If crew neck is more your style, they have that option too.
Petite Stitchery LAB Lounger
Lounging. In. Style. And yes, I made two versions that were both out of cheetah print–judge someone else. This pull-on jumpsuit is comfy enough to wear around the house and cute enough to style for an outing. For the off the shoulder look, I didn’t band or hem anything and I love the look.
Staying Put With The Patterns for Pirates Naughty or Nice PJs
Ok. So there’s a lot of days that I just don’t feel like leaving the bed or need to look like I’ve left. The Naughty or Nice PJs from P4P is my fave jammie set to make. I normally make mine in the cheekie style with long sleeves because I hate for my legs to be hot.
Ok friends. What are your plus-size loungewear go-to looks?
Unless you’ve been under a rock, you know that the CDC has recently recommended that people leave the house with facial coverings. While there are a bunch of people that are still doubting the effectiveness of a cloth mask, it’s one of the recommendations that the CDC is making. Many people I know have sewing machines that they don’t use so go ahead dust that baby off so you can follow this super easy cloth mask tutorial.
5 Minute Cloth Mask Tutorial
This tutorial is for the easiest mask to make which is the accordion style. This style fits both adults and children and after watching numerous videos, I also covers the N95 masks with ease. This mask also features:
Two layers of cloth
A pocket opening for filters
Straps that tie
Materials:
100% cotton
Twill/Bias tape/Long piece of t-shirt material
Thread
Sewing Machine
Pins
Clips (optional)
Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
Directions:
Cut your fabric to measure 15 x 10.
Fold over in half with right sides together and mark 3 inches from either end (at the 3in & 7in spots).
Sew the bottom piece leaving the 4in open. This will create our pocket.
Flip the right sides out and have the pocket facing up.
Create 3 pleats on each side and pin in place. Your mask should measure 2.5 inches now.
Sew these pleats in place by stitching from top to bottom. Clip these ends with shears.
Fold the short edge over creating a casing for the ties. Sew in place and repeat with the other side.
Press the mask.
Insert the ties by threading the tie from the top down and the down up.
All done! Your mask is ready to wear!
Where To Source Materials
Right now, materials are suuuuper hard to come by. People are buying cotton, elastic, bias tape like hot fire. I got the twill used in this tutorial from So Sew English and last I checked they had hundreds of yards left in stock. You can also use elastic hair ties or shoe laces too. I’ve been cutting my ties at 45in minimum for adults and a yard for children.
How to Use and Care For
It’s important to note that these masks are will not protect against viruses at all. They provide a barrier making it harder for it to reach you but these masks should not be used in place of the recommended social distancing when you are sick. These masks work great for cutting grass, allergies, and normal dust by themselves. To add an extra layer of protection and filtration, HEPA filters are a great option to cut up and put inside of them.
Please make sure to wash your masks often as these will store germs. They should be washed between wears and handled with clean hands.
The GA Pinners Conference is right around the corner and guess who’s presenting?!!? That’s right!!! I am!!! I’m super excited to have been selected to have a session. In fact, I’m super nervous to be surrounded by a bunch of talented crafters but I’m kicking my impostor syndrome to the side so that I can deliver some quality info. So what am I speaking on?
GA Pinners Conference: How To DIY Your Own Capsule Wardrobe
Yessss!!!! So I’m at the point where I have made just about everything in my closet from dresses to jeans to panties and the bra that I’m wearing right now. When I started out sewing, I just wanted to make things. I didn’t really care if it fit in with my style or I thought I was going to wear it. Learning how to sew things that I could legit wear was my top priority.
And then my closet got super full of clothes and I still had nothing to wear. My husband thought I was crazy when I would go into the closet and still have nothing to wear. Or I had nothing that could be worn together.
In 2019, I decided I needed to approach my fabric purchases with more intention so that way I would be creating less textile waste as I tossed things from my closet. Instead of tossing, I wanted to be able to mix and match my clothes better. So I created a capsule wardrobe that I consistently add and subtract QUALITY pieces that people outside of myself legit want to wear.
Instead of keeping all this information to myself, I decided I wanted to share it with the masses–or just those that attend the Pinners Conference in GA!
What To Expect:
We’ll be going over sewing patterns, fabric types, color schemes and how to mix pieces to create different looks.
Who Should Come:
Preferably, everyone. But this is geared towards sewists, seamstresses and those that are interested in creating a wardrobe that works for them.
What Do You Get:
Should you decide to purchase the kit you’ll receive 2 yards of fabric and some goodies to get you started!
Happy New Year friends! 2019 was filled with SO much sewing–I tried to put together one of those nifty grids that showed all my sews and, well, it took a really long time to get through. I got up to some 150 sews and I was barely halfway through. Amidst all of my sewing, I was also doing some pretty cool things–including being invited to be a 2020 Sew My Style (SMS) Leader!
2020 Sew My Style (SMS)
This year Sew My Style (SMS) is being more intentional about including the face of all sewists–including more inclusive sizing, different cuts, and styles that support different fits. Just like how the world is changing, so is that of sewing and it’s something that should be reflected in SMS. This year’s head leader, Paulette, has been intentional about choosing leaders, patterns and more that make ALL of us feel welcomed.
What Is SMS?
Sew My Style is an online sewing challenge. Each month we all sew up one of two patterns and then show off our garments together on the last day, as one community.
It’s also one of the longest-running sewing challenges, having started in 2017 and run continuously since then thanks to a number of volunteer vloggers and bloggers.
Originally it was called Project Sew My Style and started by Alex Bartholomew to raise awareness about the slow fashion industry movement and encourage young women to take up sewing.
Since then, the online sewing community has grown tremendously and standards of inclusivity and diversity have evolved.
The challenge is no longer focused on a small segment of the sewing population. Instead, we actively encourage participation from all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities, and genders. The make-up of the 2020 leadership team of sewing bloggers and vloggers reflects this evolution.
So yeah, it’s a super dope YEAR LONG sewing challenge.
Why I Decided To Join SMS
Full disclosure: Before Paulette told our House of Curves group that she was going to be taking over the responsibility of the challenge, I didn’t know what it was. I volunteered because I really respect her and was looking forward to something that would get me out of my sewing comfort zone. And then I got excited about the patterns. Then I got excited about the things I could do with the patterns.
And then I got excited because I get to represent some amazing people. Being a plus-sized black woman in an area that doesn’t always welcome us can be hard. It doesn’t feel good to not see myself in patterns, fabrics and represented in an area I love. But this is rapidly changing and I’m happy.
My name is Aaronica and I'm the sewist behind The Needle and the Belle. I started sewing when I was 13 and then fell back in love with sewing through PDF patterns. I now document my pieces I make here!
