no pattern required

Since the holiday season is just around the corner, maybe you need some simple gift ideas that will be suitable for everyone on your list. The following 2 pillow case suggestions are ideal for beginner sewers to advanced, nor do you need a pattern. Quick and easy! Gotta love it!!

Jelly roll pillowcase (standard sized pillow)

Pick 2 coordinating fabrics. One piece will be the body of the pillowcase, the other the cuff. The body piece should measure 70cm x width of the fabric (at least 105cm). The cuff fabric should measure 25cm x width of fabric (at least 105cm)

Place the cuff fabric right side up. Lay the pillow fabric on top of the cuff fabric right side down. Line up the long raw edges together. Pin together and stitch your normal seam allowance.

Roll up the pillow fabric - just like a jelly roll.

Fold over the cuff fabric so your jelly roll in enclosed. Line up the long raw edges, pin and stitch. Be careful not to catch your jelly roll in the stitching! Pull your jelly roll out from the cuff fabric. Press the seam flat on both sides.
With wrong sides together fold in half. Pin and stitch the remaining raw edges together to make a side and end seam of the pillow case. Trim any stray threads. Turn inside out and press. Stitch again with a slightly bigger seam allowance so you enclose all raw edges. )This is french seaming.) Turn right side out and press. Voila!

This second pillow case is more of an envelope style. It uses just 1m of fabric.

Cut 2 rectangles, one measuring 50cm x 75cm. The other measures 50cm x 90cm. Finish one short edge of each rectangle.

With right sides together, line up the unfinished short edges of both rectangles. Pin and stitch together. Fold over the overhanging edge. Pin and stitch along the 2 long edges. Done!

Allow extra to match even stripes or plaids

My last comment about plaid fabrics.

If you are wanting to sew something in plaid, often times there is a dilemma on how much fabric to purchase. If you refer to the back of the pattern envelope for yardage instructions, their comment is to "Allow extra to match even stripes or plaids". But how much extra is extra??

First of all you should check your pattern layout. If your pattern pieces can be cut out side by side, then no extra yardage is required. (Ideally if you are using plaid, pattern pieces should be cut on a single layer of fabric. This ensures you are cutting along the plaid lines.)

If you have pattern pieces that are stacked (see below illustration) then count the number of stacked pieces you have. In the below example, there are 3 pattern pieces, 2 of which are 'stacked'.

Measure the size of the repeat on the fabric. With the mini-Blackwatch plaid (left), the repeat measures 1 1/4". The Dress Steward's (right) repeat is 4 1/4".

To calculate your extra yardage, you will need to multiply the repeat pattern measurement by the number of stacked pattern pieces you have.

Using the mini-Blackwatch for example, the

1 1/4" repeat is multiplied by 2 (to take into account the bodice back piece and the bodice front piece.) You will need to add an additional 2 1/2" to the suggested fabric yardage.

For the Dress Stewart plaid, you would need to add 8 1/2" to the suggested fabric yardage. Obviously, the bigger the repeat, the more fabric you need to add on.

You may feel you are buying alot of excess fabric, but your other alternative is to sew your garment without matching your plaids. Which to most sewers screams "home made"! Mind you, plaid matching is unheard of in ready-to-wear. So, your call.

Hopefully that helps the next time you are looking at buying plaid fabric.

PUL fabric

New arrival for new moms. Just received PUL fabric in white. Great as a waterproof covering over cloth diapers. I have also been told that the best diaper pattern to make is Kwik Sew #3690. Eco-friendly and affordable. Not so with disposable diapers! Check out this link talking about the benefits of cloth diapers (or nappies if you're from Australia!).
www.suite101.com/content/the-benefits-of-cloth-diapers/a93715

Alice in Wonderland

These two outfits are part of the Alice in Wonderland Cast costumes that were created by Everett Wong's as his graduation project for Uvic's Visual Arts Course. Thank you to Everett whom had allowed us to display to display what he created with our fabric.

popular tartans

Here are some popular tartans. Do you recognize any?


The Black Watch tartan is probably one of the most recognized tartans. It was produced in the early 18th century for the Black Watch regiment. This regiment had to 'watch' for criminal activity in the Highlands, in particular the "black trade" or cattle theft.

(World Tartans, Iain Zaczek, 2001)

The Royal Stewart tartan commemorates the fact that the House of Stewart ruled over Scotland for over 300 years. This tartan dates from c. 1800 but came to real prominence in 1822 when George IV wore it during his state visit to Edinburgh. It is the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II. (World Tartans, Iain Zaczek, 2001)

Dress tartans are based on the earasaid tartans worn by Highland women in the 17th and 18th century. Dress tartans tend to be made by replacing the prominent colour with the colour white. Since this is the dress Stewart, the prominent red was replaced with white. (wikipedia/tartan)

Did you know that Canada has an (unofficial) tartan? Based on the changing colours of the maple leaf, this design was created by David Weiser in 1964.

All the provinces and territories of Canada, as well as
most of the states in the USA, also have an official tartan. This is the BC tartan designed by Earl K. Ward of Victoria. It was officially approved by the British Columbia Centennial Committee for the 1966-67 centenaries. The blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the red the maple leaf, the green represents the forests, the white of the dogwood floral emblem and the gold of the crown and sun of the provincial arms.

If you are curious about the tartans of the other provinces, you can find them and their information at

www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/06-eng.cfm

plaid as a fall fashion favorite

Like the animal print, plaid is a fall fashion favorite that never goes out of style.

Plaid is made with alternating stripes and bands of colour woven into or dyed onthe the fabric. This creates blocks of colour that repeat vertially and horizontally in a pattern of squares and lines.


Most often associated with Scottish kilts, plaid became popular for fashion in the Victorian and Edwardian era when tartan based garments were shown in fashion catalogs. This is also when this print shifted from being solely in mens wear to becoming an important part of women's fashion.


Because of it's association with aristocracy and the military, tartan developed an air of exclusivity. It wasn't until the 1970s punk revolution, that plaid gained an anit-establishment notoriety. Worn in an unconventional manner, it was seen as an expression of discontent with modern society.

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Today however, it is neither linked with aristocracy nor anti-establishement. Whatever its colour combination or design layout, plaid has become an undeniable fall fashion essential.