sticky: resources

[yhlee]

Under construction. :) Please feel free to rec other resources and/or notes thereon. I'd especially love to add non-garment sewing resources (tote bags? quilting? ???). If I'm slow to add yours, I apologize - I'm dealing with health/schedule challenges so things may not make it into the post immediately. You can always check the comments for any new resources!

NOTE: Allied ~fibercrafts: Q1 2024.

Construction/How-to
General
- Baba Yaga Costume Design and Garment Construction - aimed at belly dancers, but it looks like a bunch of the techniques and tips generalize. :)
- Megan Grace DIY [YouTube], especially the Back to Basics playlist - From nuh_s: "Basic sewing (for garments) that doesn't skip small steps. Really detailed walkthrough of sewing from commercial patterns and doing basic sewing. This was very useful when I was a beginner."
- Patternmaking for Fashion Design (flat pattern textbook): from nuh_s: "There is a learning curve to using this book and wrapping your head around flat pattern, but absolutely key to me for learning patternmaking. It uses the slash-and-spread method (you draft a set of base patterns and then make copies that get cut up to make new patterns that always fit the original measurements -- No re-drafting!)."

Bags
- DIY totebag - beginner's sewing tutorial [YouTube, not yet tested].

Darts
- How to Sew Darts (beginner/advanced) [YouTube].
- Dart manipulation explained [YouTube].

Pockets
- Thread theory welt pocket tutorial.

Shirts
- How to sew a T-shirt [YouTube, not yet tested] - also introduces sewing with knit/stretch fabrics?

Skirts
- Skirt/petticoat tutorial [YouTube] - zero-waste with adjustable waist.

Dyeing
- Paula Burch's All About Hand-Dyeing
- Bleach dye tutorial [YouTube, not yet tested, sound is iffy in parts]

Fabric
UK
- AmoThreads - deadstock, very varied, some good bargains
- Backstitch
- Cloth House - expensive but nice fabrics, many Indian or Indian-inspired
- Empress Mills
- Fabrics Galore
- J. Hanna - Irish linen, limited colour range though
- Kayes Textiles
- The New Craft House - deadstock fabric with fast turnaround.
- Sew Me Sunshine
- Simply Fabrics


See nou's comment for other possible places to buy fabric (not yet tested).

USA
- Dharma Trading Co. - fabric (especially silk, garment blanks), thread, and dyes.
- Stone Mountain Fabric - designer deadstock, including an explanation of deadstock.

Pattern drafting/making
- How to make patterns from your clothes (clone your wardrobe) [YouTube, not yet tested]

Patterns
- Folkwear - I haven't yet tested one but they have a lot of intriguing traditional/"ethnic" wear patterns. My instructor says that their patterns tend to have well-written instructions. Most are available in print and downloadable PDF.
- freesewing.org - printable free/open source patterns to your inputted measurements.
- Kelly Anorak pattern [Closet Core Patterns] - an instructor recommended this pattern to me (since I want to learn to sew jackets). Rated "Advanced," but probably less advanced than the...pattern book I have in Japanese. Will report back!
- Waves and Wild - various in downloadable PDF.

Pattern printing
UK
- SavvySewist

Sewing lessons
USA
- Fair Fit Studio in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, run and taught by Andrea Eastin: everything from "sewing machine n00b, what do?" to pattern drafting; she's worked in Hollywood professionally as well as creating runway shows in New Orleans. She's terrific, great at explaining, and super nice! She also offers online courses, although I have not attempted that; I prefer in-person and she's local to me.

Comments

[nou]

Thank you for this! My other UK-relevant fabric shop links are below.

Have bought from and would recommend:
https://www.fabricsgalore.co.uk/
https://sewmesunshine.co.uk/
https://kayestextiles.co.uk/
https://www.empressmills.co.uk/
https://www.backstitch.co.uk/
https://www.clothhouse.com/ (expensive but nice fabrics, many Indian or Indian-inspired)
https://jhannaltd.com/ (Irish linen, limited colour range though)
https://amothreads.com/ (deadstock, very varied, some good bargains)

Have only had a sample from so far, but seems good on the basis of that:
https://www.slubbedprints.co.uk/

Haven’t yet bought from but they look interesting and their websites don’t suck:
https://www.midlandtextiles.co.uk/ (large range of paisleys, brocades, Indian wedding fabrics, etc)
https://www.thesilkroute.co.uk/ (silk fabrics in small pieces or by the metre, also sari silk yarn)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/inphyneetee/ (African fabrics)
https://www.fabricuk.com/ (large selection including silk dupion in many colours)
https://www.africanfabric.co.uk/ (artisanal African fabrics actually made in Africa)
https://www.raystitch.co.uk/ (good selection of small tools as well as fabrics)
https://lamazifabrics.com/
https://thenewcrafthouse.com/ (deadstock fabric with fast turnover)
https://www.rainbowfabrics.co.uk/

And a UK pattern-printing recommendation: https://savvysewist.co.uk/

[yhlee]

Updated, thank you!

[nou]

This can be moved to the recommended category, since I’ve bought from them twice now and am happy with their service:

https://thenewcrafthouse.com/ (deadstock fabric with fast turnover)

(No rush! Just letting you know.)

[yhlee]

Added, and thank you for your patience!