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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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STITCH SAVVY25 SKILL-BUILDING PROJECTS TO TAKE YOUR SEWING TECHNIQUE TO THE NEXT LEVEL
DEBORAH MOEBES
BONUS CD INCLUDES
PRINTABLE PDF PATTERNS
FOR 13 PROJECTS amp MORE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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2
Contents
Introduction 4How to Use This Book 6
Sewing Basics Review Quick and Dirty 8Supplies Re view 8
Terminology and Techniques Review 10
Warm-Up Projects 12
Round Sachet With Herbs 12Small Drawstring Tote 12
Zippered Pencil Bag With Ruffles 13
SECTION 1 Home Deacutecor 14Ribboned Envelope Pillow 16
Footstool Slipcover With Piping 22
Tufted Duvet 30Photo-Transfer Wall Art 36
Sashiko Window Treatment 42
SECTION 2 Patchwork and Quilting 48Quilting Basics 50
Paving Stones Quilt 52
Sewing Machine Cover 64Tea Cozy and Friends 76
Whole Cloth Quilt 84
Improvisational Landscape Wall Quilt 90
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3
SEC T ION 3 Bags 98Ev er y day Shoulder Bag 100F abr ic P icnic ( or Any t ime) Bask et 106R ev er sible Quilt ed Sat chel 112C lassy Lady Elbow Bag 118Bead
ed Ev ening C lut ch 124
SEC T ION 4 Sew ing f or C hildr en 130R ev er sible Gir lrsquos Dr ess 132Lov ie Blank et 138T r av el Mat ching Game 144Lay - F lat Back pack 150
Boy rsquos Lined P ea C oat 158
SEC T ION 5 C lot hing 170K nit T op 172 A- Line Sk ir t w it h P eek aboo P leat 180Enchant ment Under t he Sea Dr ess 188Sassy P ant s 196
W her ev er Jack et 206
C onc lusion 216
How t o Use t he C D and P at t er ns 217R esour c es and Inspir at ion 218Index
220 About t he Aut hor 222
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Welcome StitchersIt has been a sincer e pr iv ilege these past f ew y ear s to see the sheer number s of f olks dr aw n to sew ing w ho had nev er sew n bef ore W atching so many lear n to sew or r e-lear n to sew and become completely smitten w ith the cr af t is exciting and motiv ating and inspir ing in a w ay that I couldnrsquot hav e pr edicted As mor e and mor e new stitcher s got some r eal pr o jects under their beltsit became pr etty clear that the r esour ces that w er e out ther e f or someone w anting to sew w er e mainly div ided into tw o camps intr oductor y books like S t i t c h b y S t i t c h th
at w er e designed to help new bies pick up needle and thread and f all in lov e and niche books that focused on much mor e inv olv ed techniques w hich w er e designed f or exper ienced stitcher s w ho knew exactly w hat they w er e looking f or Ther e w asnrsquot a w hole lot in betw eenY et her e y ou ar e Y oursquov e got some sew ing exper ience y ou know y ou lov e w or king w ith f abr ic and thr ead and y our machine and y ou hav e ideas Y ou r ock Y oursquor e still sear ching f or some guidance though f or someone to lend y ou a hand and help y ou find y our f ooting in the midst of the r eams of inf or mation out ther e How do y ou know w hen y oursquor e r eady to mov e on to mor e challenging sew ing How do y ou know w hat kind
of pr o ject to do next W hen do y ou use one f abr ic ov er another and how do y ou take a skill y ou used w ith one pr o ject and make it usef ulsomeplace else I w anted this book to fill in that gap in the sew ing know ledge and giv e y ou a r efer ence that w ould help y ou make the leap f r om Beginner to Rock Star As y ou w or k thr ough the pr o jects y oursquoll find her e keep in mind that each of them w as designed to r elate par ticular skills or techniques Naturally not ev er y technique in the w hole w ide w or ld is cov er ed her e and ther e ar e some that show up mor e than once because I tend to f av or themmdashthat doesnrsquot mean ther e is only one w ay of doing something Far f r om it W hat it means is that I hope y o
u w ill continue y our lov e af f air w ith sew ing that these pr o jects w ill ignite a passion in y ou to pr ess ahead and challenge y our self and that y oursquoll be mov ed to make something that may be y ou didnrsquot ev er think y oursquod make Sew ing has so many amazing discov er ies w ithin itmdashitrsquos my sincer e w ish that this book w ill giv e y ou the tools to step bey ond the basics r ise to a new skill lev el and mar ch f or w ar d until Y OU ar e the one designing the pro jects the r est of us w ant to sew
Letrsquos r ock the house y rsquoall
Itrsquos time to get sew ing
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Warm-Up ProjectsNow that wersquore all on the same page as far as supplies and techniques letrsquos warm up a bit on some mini-projects that will get you back
in gear and ready to party Irsquom going into this book assuming that you have some sewing experience but these projects ought to give
you a solid idea of whether yoursquore ready for the ones that come after Wersquore working on double-checking the straightness of seams theconsistency of seam allowances and your comfort level with the terms Irsquoll be using in the rest of the book I feel good about where you
are now but nobody ever regretted doing a lap before committing to a location so letrsquos tour your machine and flex your fingers
1 Use a glass or bowl to draw a circle Trace this onto newsprint printer paper or card stock Cut two
circles from cotton fabric
2 Place the circles right sides together then stitch around the curved edge using a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance and leaving a 2 (51cm) opening unstitched
3 Clip the curve around the entire seam allowance up to but not through the stitching to ease the
seam allowance and permit you to turn the circle right-side out without any puckering or pulling
4 Turn right-side out and press nice and smooth
5 Fill with herbs like lavender orange peel or rose petals Topstitch around the outer edge catching the
opening shut as you do Place in your dresser drawer with your undies or sweaters Yum
Small Drawstring ToteThis small and super-simple tote doesnrsquot ask you to do anything you havenrsquot done before but it gives you a chance to think about
construction and order of operations Use ribbon cord or a long strip of fabric folded in two for your drawstring
1 Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 10 times 6 (254cm times
152cm) Place right sides together and stitch a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance down one long side pivoting at the corner Continue
across the bottom edge pivot again and stitch up the second long
side Leave the top edge unstitched
2 Clip the corners at the bottom of the bag Pink the edges of theseam allowances
3 Press under the upper edge 1 frasl 4 (64cm) then again another3 frasl 4 (19cm) taking care to keep the seam allowances open Stitch
around the entire upper edge leaving an opening about
1 (25cm) wide unstitched
4 Turn right-side out Thread a drawstring through the opening
and draw up the bag Done
Round Sachet With HerbsThis project can be as simple or as complicated as you likemdashadd ribbon trim ruffles buttons and beads almost anything you like
if you want to jazz it up I like it best in simple beautiful fabrics (I often pull some from my scraps when Irsquom done working with
fabrics I really really love and want to see every day)
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 1HOME DEacuteCOROne of the most popular types of sewingespecially for those new to stitching but also for
those who have been sewing for years and years
is sewing for the home Itrsquos not just for the obvious
reason that all of us have homes and want them
to be beautiful maybe more importantly we all
want our homes to look the way we feel and tomake us want to be there more often The joy
and excitement of welcoming someone into a
room where you have designed and stitched
every drape pillow slipcover and throw is really
unparalleled Yoursquoll never look at a bare roomthe same way again Get ready to be drunk with
power people
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
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beauty shot 4-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
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5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
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2
Contents
Introduction 4How to Use This Book 6
Sewing Basics Review Quick and Dirty 8Supplies Re view 8
Terminology and Techniques Review 10
Warm-Up Projects 12
Round Sachet With Herbs 12Small Drawstring Tote 12
Zippered Pencil Bag With Ruffles 13
SECTION 1 Home Deacutecor 14Ribboned Envelope Pillow 16
Footstool Slipcover With Piping 22
Tufted Duvet 30Photo-Transfer Wall Art 36
Sashiko Window Treatment 42
SECTION 2 Patchwork and Quilting 48Quilting Basics 50
Paving Stones Quilt 52
Sewing Machine Cover 64Tea Cozy and Friends 76
Whole Cloth Quilt 84
Improvisational Landscape Wall Quilt 90
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3
SEC T ION 3 Bags 98Ev er y day Shoulder Bag 100F abr ic P icnic ( or Any t ime) Bask et 106R ev er sible Quilt ed Sat chel 112C lassy Lady Elbow Bag 118Bead
ed Ev ening C lut ch 124
SEC T ION 4 Sew ing f or C hildr en 130R ev er sible Gir lrsquos Dr ess 132Lov ie Blank et 138T r av el Mat ching Game 144Lay - F lat Back pack 150
Boy rsquos Lined P ea C oat 158
SEC T ION 5 C lot hing 170K nit T op 172 A- Line Sk ir t w it h P eek aboo P leat 180Enchant ment Under t he Sea Dr ess 188Sassy P ant s 196
W her ev er Jack et 206
C onc lusion 216
How t o Use t he C D and P at t er ns 217R esour c es and Inspir at ion 218Index
220 About t he Aut hor 222
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Welcome StitchersIt has been a sincer e pr iv ilege these past f ew y ear s to see the sheer number s of f olks dr aw n to sew ing w ho had nev er sew n bef ore W atching so many lear n to sew or r e-lear n to sew and become completely smitten w ith the cr af t is exciting and motiv ating and inspir ing in a w ay that I couldnrsquot hav e pr edicted As mor e and mor e new stitcher s got some r eal pr o jects under their beltsit became pr etty clear that the r esour ces that w er e out ther e f or someone w anting to sew w er e mainly div ided into tw o camps intr oductor y books like S t i t c h b y S t i t c h th
at w er e designed to help new bies pick up needle and thread and f all in lov e and niche books that focused on much mor e inv olv ed techniques w hich w er e designed f or exper ienced stitcher s w ho knew exactly w hat they w er e looking f or Ther e w asnrsquot a w hole lot in betw eenY et her e y ou ar e Y oursquov e got some sew ing exper ience y ou know y ou lov e w or king w ith f abr ic and thr ead and y our machine and y ou hav e ideas Y ou r ock Y oursquor e still sear ching f or some guidance though f or someone to lend y ou a hand and help y ou find y our f ooting in the midst of the r eams of inf or mation out ther e How do y ou know w hen y oursquor e r eady to mov e on to mor e challenging sew ing How do y ou know w hat kind
of pr o ject to do next W hen do y ou use one f abr ic ov er another and how do y ou take a skill y ou used w ith one pr o ject and make it usef ulsomeplace else I w anted this book to fill in that gap in the sew ing know ledge and giv e y ou a r efer ence that w ould help y ou make the leap f r om Beginner to Rock Star As y ou w or k thr ough the pr o jects y oursquoll find her e keep in mind that each of them w as designed to r elate par ticular skills or techniques Naturally not ev er y technique in the w hole w ide w or ld is cov er ed her e and ther e ar e some that show up mor e than once because I tend to f av or themmdashthat doesnrsquot mean ther e is only one w ay of doing something Far f r om it W hat it means is that I hope y o
u w ill continue y our lov e af f air w ith sew ing that these pr o jects w ill ignite a passion in y ou to pr ess ahead and challenge y our self and that y oursquoll be mov ed to make something that may be y ou didnrsquot ev er think y oursquod make Sew ing has so many amazing discov er ies w ithin itmdashitrsquos my sincer e w ish that this book w ill giv e y ou the tools to step bey ond the basics r ise to a new skill lev el and mar ch f or w ar d until Y OU ar e the one designing the pro jects the r est of us w ant to sew
Letrsquos r ock the house y rsquoall
Itrsquos time to get sew ing
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Warm-Up ProjectsNow that wersquore all on the same page as far as supplies and techniques letrsquos warm up a bit on some mini-projects that will get you back
in gear and ready to party Irsquom going into this book assuming that you have some sewing experience but these projects ought to give
you a solid idea of whether yoursquore ready for the ones that come after Wersquore working on double-checking the straightness of seams theconsistency of seam allowances and your comfort level with the terms Irsquoll be using in the rest of the book I feel good about where you
are now but nobody ever regretted doing a lap before committing to a location so letrsquos tour your machine and flex your fingers
1 Use a glass or bowl to draw a circle Trace this onto newsprint printer paper or card stock Cut two
circles from cotton fabric
2 Place the circles right sides together then stitch around the curved edge using a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance and leaving a 2 (51cm) opening unstitched
3 Clip the curve around the entire seam allowance up to but not through the stitching to ease the
seam allowance and permit you to turn the circle right-side out without any puckering or pulling
4 Turn right-side out and press nice and smooth
5 Fill with herbs like lavender orange peel or rose petals Topstitch around the outer edge catching the
opening shut as you do Place in your dresser drawer with your undies or sweaters Yum
Small Drawstring ToteThis small and super-simple tote doesnrsquot ask you to do anything you havenrsquot done before but it gives you a chance to think about
construction and order of operations Use ribbon cord or a long strip of fabric folded in two for your drawstring
1 Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 10 times 6 (254cm times
152cm) Place right sides together and stitch a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance down one long side pivoting at the corner Continue
across the bottom edge pivot again and stitch up the second long
side Leave the top edge unstitched
2 Clip the corners at the bottom of the bag Pink the edges of theseam allowances
3 Press under the upper edge 1 frasl 4 (64cm) then again another3 frasl 4 (19cm) taking care to keep the seam allowances open Stitch
around the entire upper edge leaving an opening about
1 (25cm) wide unstitched
4 Turn right-side out Thread a drawstring through the opening
and draw up the bag Done
Round Sachet With HerbsThis project can be as simple or as complicated as you likemdashadd ribbon trim ruffles buttons and beads almost anything you like
if you want to jazz it up I like it best in simple beautiful fabrics (I often pull some from my scraps when Irsquom done working with
fabrics I really really love and want to see every day)
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SECTION 1HOME DEacuteCOROne of the most popular types of sewingespecially for those new to stitching but also for
those who have been sewing for years and years
is sewing for the home Itrsquos not just for the obvious
reason that all of us have homes and want them
to be beautiful maybe more importantly we all
want our homes to look the way we feel and tomake us want to be there more often The joy
and excitement of welcoming someone into a
room where you have designed and stitched
every drape pillow slipcover and throw is really
unparalleled Yoursquoll never look at a bare roomthe same way again Get ready to be drunk with
power people
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SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
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beauty shot 4-0
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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3
SEC T ION 3 Bags 98Ev er y day Shoulder Bag 100F abr ic P icnic ( or Any t ime) Bask et 106R ev er sible Quilt ed Sat chel 112C lassy Lady Elbow Bag 118Bead
ed Ev ening C lut ch 124
SEC T ION 4 Sew ing f or C hildr en 130R ev er sible Gir lrsquos Dr ess 132Lov ie Blank et 138T r av el Mat ching Game 144Lay - F lat Back pack 150
Boy rsquos Lined P ea C oat 158
SEC T ION 5 C lot hing 170K nit T op 172 A- Line Sk ir t w it h P eek aboo P leat 180Enchant ment Under t he Sea Dr ess 188Sassy P ant s 196
W her ev er Jack et 206
C onc lusion 216
How t o Use t he C D and P at t er ns 217R esour c es and Inspir at ion 218Index
220 About t he Aut hor 222
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Welcome StitchersIt has been a sincer e pr iv ilege these past f ew y ear s to see the sheer number s of f olks dr aw n to sew ing w ho had nev er sew n bef ore W atching so many lear n to sew or r e-lear n to sew and become completely smitten w ith the cr af t is exciting and motiv ating and inspir ing in a w ay that I couldnrsquot hav e pr edicted As mor e and mor e new stitcher s got some r eal pr o jects under their beltsit became pr etty clear that the r esour ces that w er e out ther e f or someone w anting to sew w er e mainly div ided into tw o camps intr oductor y books like S t i t c h b y S t i t c h th
at w er e designed to help new bies pick up needle and thread and f all in lov e and niche books that focused on much mor e inv olv ed techniques w hich w er e designed f or exper ienced stitcher s w ho knew exactly w hat they w er e looking f or Ther e w asnrsquot a w hole lot in betw eenY et her e y ou ar e Y oursquov e got some sew ing exper ience y ou know y ou lov e w or king w ith f abr ic and thr ead and y our machine and y ou hav e ideas Y ou r ock Y oursquor e still sear ching f or some guidance though f or someone to lend y ou a hand and help y ou find y our f ooting in the midst of the r eams of inf or mation out ther e How do y ou know w hen y oursquor e r eady to mov e on to mor e challenging sew ing How do y ou know w hat kind
of pr o ject to do next W hen do y ou use one f abr ic ov er another and how do y ou take a skill y ou used w ith one pr o ject and make it usef ulsomeplace else I w anted this book to fill in that gap in the sew ing know ledge and giv e y ou a r efer ence that w ould help y ou make the leap f r om Beginner to Rock Star As y ou w or k thr ough the pr o jects y oursquoll find her e keep in mind that each of them w as designed to r elate par ticular skills or techniques Naturally not ev er y technique in the w hole w ide w or ld is cov er ed her e and ther e ar e some that show up mor e than once because I tend to f av or themmdashthat doesnrsquot mean ther e is only one w ay of doing something Far f r om it W hat it means is that I hope y o
u w ill continue y our lov e af f air w ith sew ing that these pr o jects w ill ignite a passion in y ou to pr ess ahead and challenge y our self and that y oursquoll be mov ed to make something that may be y ou didnrsquot ev er think y oursquod make Sew ing has so many amazing discov er ies w ithin itmdashitrsquos my sincer e w ish that this book w ill giv e y ou the tools to step bey ond the basics r ise to a new skill lev el and mar ch f or w ar d until Y OU ar e the one designing the pro jects the r est of us w ant to sew
Letrsquos r ock the house y rsquoall
Itrsquos time to get sew ing
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Warm-Up ProjectsNow that wersquore all on the same page as far as supplies and techniques letrsquos warm up a bit on some mini-projects that will get you back
in gear and ready to party Irsquom going into this book assuming that you have some sewing experience but these projects ought to give
you a solid idea of whether yoursquore ready for the ones that come after Wersquore working on double-checking the straightness of seams theconsistency of seam allowances and your comfort level with the terms Irsquoll be using in the rest of the book I feel good about where you
are now but nobody ever regretted doing a lap before committing to a location so letrsquos tour your machine and flex your fingers
1 Use a glass or bowl to draw a circle Trace this onto newsprint printer paper or card stock Cut two
circles from cotton fabric
2 Place the circles right sides together then stitch around the curved edge using a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance and leaving a 2 (51cm) opening unstitched
3 Clip the curve around the entire seam allowance up to but not through the stitching to ease the
seam allowance and permit you to turn the circle right-side out without any puckering or pulling
4 Turn right-side out and press nice and smooth
5 Fill with herbs like lavender orange peel or rose petals Topstitch around the outer edge catching the
opening shut as you do Place in your dresser drawer with your undies or sweaters Yum
Small Drawstring ToteThis small and super-simple tote doesnrsquot ask you to do anything you havenrsquot done before but it gives you a chance to think about
construction and order of operations Use ribbon cord or a long strip of fabric folded in two for your drawstring
1 Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 10 times 6 (254cm times
152cm) Place right sides together and stitch a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance down one long side pivoting at the corner Continue
across the bottom edge pivot again and stitch up the second long
side Leave the top edge unstitched
2 Clip the corners at the bottom of the bag Pink the edges of theseam allowances
3 Press under the upper edge 1 frasl 4 (64cm) then again another3 frasl 4 (19cm) taking care to keep the seam allowances open Stitch
around the entire upper edge leaving an opening about
1 (25cm) wide unstitched
4 Turn right-side out Thread a drawstring through the opening
and draw up the bag Done
Round Sachet With HerbsThis project can be as simple or as complicated as you likemdashadd ribbon trim ruffles buttons and beads almost anything you like
if you want to jazz it up I like it best in simple beautiful fabrics (I often pull some from my scraps when Irsquom done working with
fabrics I really really love and want to see every day)
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SECTION 1HOME DEacuteCOROne of the most popular types of sewingespecially for those new to stitching but also for
those who have been sewing for years and years
is sewing for the home Itrsquos not just for the obvious
reason that all of us have homes and want them
to be beautiful maybe more importantly we all
want our homes to look the way we feel and tomake us want to be there more often The joy
and excitement of welcoming someone into a
room where you have designed and stitched
every drape pillow slipcover and throw is really
unparalleled Yoursquoll never look at a bare roomthe same way again Get ready to be drunk with
power people
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SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
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beauty shot 4-0
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
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5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Welcome StitchersIt has been a sincer e pr iv ilege these past f ew y ear s to see the sheer number s of f olks dr aw n to sew ing w ho had nev er sew n bef ore W atching so many lear n to sew or r e-lear n to sew and become completely smitten w ith the cr af t is exciting and motiv ating and inspir ing in a w ay that I couldnrsquot hav e pr edicted As mor e and mor e new stitcher s got some r eal pr o jects under their beltsit became pr etty clear that the r esour ces that w er e out ther e f or someone w anting to sew w er e mainly div ided into tw o camps intr oductor y books like S t i t c h b y S t i t c h th
at w er e designed to help new bies pick up needle and thread and f all in lov e and niche books that focused on much mor e inv olv ed techniques w hich w er e designed f or exper ienced stitcher s w ho knew exactly w hat they w er e looking f or Ther e w asnrsquot a w hole lot in betw eenY et her e y ou ar e Y oursquov e got some sew ing exper ience y ou know y ou lov e w or king w ith f abr ic and thr ead and y our machine and y ou hav e ideas Y ou r ock Y oursquor e still sear ching f or some guidance though f or someone to lend y ou a hand and help y ou find y our f ooting in the midst of the r eams of inf or mation out ther e How do y ou know w hen y oursquor e r eady to mov e on to mor e challenging sew ing How do y ou know w hat kind
of pr o ject to do next W hen do y ou use one f abr ic ov er another and how do y ou take a skill y ou used w ith one pr o ject and make it usef ulsomeplace else I w anted this book to fill in that gap in the sew ing know ledge and giv e y ou a r efer ence that w ould help y ou make the leap f r om Beginner to Rock Star As y ou w or k thr ough the pr o jects y oursquoll find her e keep in mind that each of them w as designed to r elate par ticular skills or techniques Naturally not ev er y technique in the w hole w ide w or ld is cov er ed her e and ther e ar e some that show up mor e than once because I tend to f av or themmdashthat doesnrsquot mean ther e is only one w ay of doing something Far f r om it W hat it means is that I hope y o
u w ill continue y our lov e af f air w ith sew ing that these pr o jects w ill ignite a passion in y ou to pr ess ahead and challenge y our self and that y oursquoll be mov ed to make something that may be y ou didnrsquot ev er think y oursquod make Sew ing has so many amazing discov er ies w ithin itmdashitrsquos my sincer e w ish that this book w ill giv e y ou the tools to step bey ond the basics r ise to a new skill lev el and mar ch f or w ar d until Y OU ar e the one designing the pro jects the r est of us w ant to sew
Letrsquos r ock the house y rsquoall
Itrsquos time to get sew ing
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Warm-Up ProjectsNow that wersquore all on the same page as far as supplies and techniques letrsquos warm up a bit on some mini-projects that will get you back
in gear and ready to party Irsquom going into this book assuming that you have some sewing experience but these projects ought to give
you a solid idea of whether yoursquore ready for the ones that come after Wersquore working on double-checking the straightness of seams theconsistency of seam allowances and your comfort level with the terms Irsquoll be using in the rest of the book I feel good about where you
are now but nobody ever regretted doing a lap before committing to a location so letrsquos tour your machine and flex your fingers
1 Use a glass or bowl to draw a circle Trace this onto newsprint printer paper or card stock Cut two
circles from cotton fabric
2 Place the circles right sides together then stitch around the curved edge using a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance and leaving a 2 (51cm) opening unstitched
3 Clip the curve around the entire seam allowance up to but not through the stitching to ease the
seam allowance and permit you to turn the circle right-side out without any puckering or pulling
4 Turn right-side out and press nice and smooth
5 Fill with herbs like lavender orange peel or rose petals Topstitch around the outer edge catching the
opening shut as you do Place in your dresser drawer with your undies or sweaters Yum
Small Drawstring ToteThis small and super-simple tote doesnrsquot ask you to do anything you havenrsquot done before but it gives you a chance to think about
construction and order of operations Use ribbon cord or a long strip of fabric folded in two for your drawstring
1 Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 10 times 6 (254cm times
152cm) Place right sides together and stitch a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance down one long side pivoting at the corner Continue
across the bottom edge pivot again and stitch up the second long
side Leave the top edge unstitched
2 Clip the corners at the bottom of the bag Pink the edges of theseam allowances
3 Press under the upper edge 1 frasl 4 (64cm) then again another3 frasl 4 (19cm) taking care to keep the seam allowances open Stitch
around the entire upper edge leaving an opening about
1 (25cm) wide unstitched
4 Turn right-side out Thread a drawstring through the opening
and draw up the bag Done
Round Sachet With HerbsThis project can be as simple or as complicated as you likemdashadd ribbon trim ruffles buttons and beads almost anything you like
if you want to jazz it up I like it best in simple beautiful fabrics (I often pull some from my scraps when Irsquom done working with
fabrics I really really love and want to see every day)
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SECTION 1HOME DEacuteCOROne of the most popular types of sewingespecially for those new to stitching but also for
those who have been sewing for years and years
is sewing for the home Itrsquos not just for the obvious
reason that all of us have homes and want them
to be beautiful maybe more importantly we all
want our homes to look the way we feel and tomake us want to be there more often The joy
and excitement of welcoming someone into a
room where you have designed and stitched
every drape pillow slipcover and throw is really
unparalleled Yoursquoll never look at a bare roomthe same way again Get ready to be drunk with
power people
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SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
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beauty shot 4-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Welcome StitchersIt has been a sincer e pr iv ilege these past f ew y ear s to see the sheer number s of f olks dr aw n to sew ing w ho had nev er sew n bef ore W atching so many lear n to sew or r e-lear n to sew and become completely smitten w ith the cr af t is exciting and motiv ating and inspir ing in a w ay that I couldnrsquot hav e pr edicted As mor e and mor e new stitcher s got some r eal pr o jects under their beltsit became pr etty clear that the r esour ces that w er e out ther e f or someone w anting to sew w er e mainly div ided into tw o camps intr oductor y books like S t i t c h b y S t i t c h th
at w er e designed to help new bies pick up needle and thread and f all in lov e and niche books that focused on much mor e inv olv ed techniques w hich w er e designed f or exper ienced stitcher s w ho knew exactly w hat they w er e looking f or Ther e w asnrsquot a w hole lot in betw eenY et her e y ou ar e Y oursquov e got some sew ing exper ience y ou know y ou lov e w or king w ith f abr ic and thr ead and y our machine and y ou hav e ideas Y ou r ock Y oursquor e still sear ching f or some guidance though f or someone to lend y ou a hand and help y ou find y our f ooting in the midst of the r eams of inf or mation out ther e How do y ou know w hen y oursquor e r eady to mov e on to mor e challenging sew ing How do y ou know w hat kind
of pr o ject to do next W hen do y ou use one f abr ic ov er another and how do y ou take a skill y ou used w ith one pr o ject and make it usef ulsomeplace else I w anted this book to fill in that gap in the sew ing know ledge and giv e y ou a r efer ence that w ould help y ou make the leap f r om Beginner to Rock Star As y ou w or k thr ough the pr o jects y oursquoll find her e keep in mind that each of them w as designed to r elate par ticular skills or techniques Naturally not ev er y technique in the w hole w ide w or ld is cov er ed her e and ther e ar e some that show up mor e than once because I tend to f av or themmdashthat doesnrsquot mean ther e is only one w ay of doing something Far f r om it W hat it means is that I hope y o
u w ill continue y our lov e af f air w ith sew ing that these pr o jects w ill ignite a passion in y ou to pr ess ahead and challenge y our self and that y oursquoll be mov ed to make something that may be y ou didnrsquot ev er think y oursquod make Sew ing has so many amazing discov er ies w ithin itmdashitrsquos my sincer e w ish that this book w ill giv e y ou the tools to step bey ond the basics r ise to a new skill lev el and mar ch f or w ar d until Y OU ar e the one designing the pro jects the r est of us w ant to sew
Letrsquos r ock the house y rsquoall
Itrsquos time to get sew ing
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Warm-Up ProjectsNow that wersquore all on the same page as far as supplies and techniques letrsquos warm up a bit on some mini-projects that will get you back
in gear and ready to party Irsquom going into this book assuming that you have some sewing experience but these projects ought to give
you a solid idea of whether yoursquore ready for the ones that come after Wersquore working on double-checking the straightness of seams theconsistency of seam allowances and your comfort level with the terms Irsquoll be using in the rest of the book I feel good about where you
are now but nobody ever regretted doing a lap before committing to a location so letrsquos tour your machine and flex your fingers
1 Use a glass or bowl to draw a circle Trace this onto newsprint printer paper or card stock Cut two
circles from cotton fabric
2 Place the circles right sides together then stitch around the curved edge using a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance and leaving a 2 (51cm) opening unstitched
3 Clip the curve around the entire seam allowance up to but not through the stitching to ease the
seam allowance and permit you to turn the circle right-side out without any puckering or pulling
4 Turn right-side out and press nice and smooth
5 Fill with herbs like lavender orange peel or rose petals Topstitch around the outer edge catching the
opening shut as you do Place in your dresser drawer with your undies or sweaters Yum
Small Drawstring ToteThis small and super-simple tote doesnrsquot ask you to do anything you havenrsquot done before but it gives you a chance to think about
construction and order of operations Use ribbon cord or a long strip of fabric folded in two for your drawstring
1 Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 10 times 6 (254cm times
152cm) Place right sides together and stitch a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance down one long side pivoting at the corner Continue
across the bottom edge pivot again and stitch up the second long
side Leave the top edge unstitched
2 Clip the corners at the bottom of the bag Pink the edges of theseam allowances
3 Press under the upper edge 1 frasl 4 (64cm) then again another3 frasl 4 (19cm) taking care to keep the seam allowances open Stitch
around the entire upper edge leaving an opening about
1 (25cm) wide unstitched
4 Turn right-side out Thread a drawstring through the opening
and draw up the bag Done
Round Sachet With HerbsThis project can be as simple or as complicated as you likemdashadd ribbon trim ruffles buttons and beads almost anything you like
if you want to jazz it up I like it best in simple beautiful fabrics (I often pull some from my scraps when Irsquom done working with
fabrics I really really love and want to see every day)
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SECTION 1HOME DEacuteCOROne of the most popular types of sewingespecially for those new to stitching but also for
those who have been sewing for years and years
is sewing for the home Itrsquos not just for the obvious
reason that all of us have homes and want them
to be beautiful maybe more importantly we all
want our homes to look the way we feel and tomake us want to be there more often The joy
and excitement of welcoming someone into a
room where you have designed and stitched
every drape pillow slipcover and throw is really
unparalleled Yoursquoll never look at a bare roomthe same way again Get ready to be drunk with
power people
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SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
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beauty shot 4-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
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5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
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Warm-Up ProjectsNow that wersquore all on the same page as far as supplies and techniques letrsquos warm up a bit on some mini-projects that will get you back
in gear and ready to party Irsquom going into this book assuming that you have some sewing experience but these projects ought to give
you a solid idea of whether yoursquore ready for the ones that come after Wersquore working on double-checking the straightness of seams theconsistency of seam allowances and your comfort level with the terms Irsquoll be using in the rest of the book I feel good about where you
are now but nobody ever regretted doing a lap before committing to a location so letrsquos tour your machine and flex your fingers
1 Use a glass or bowl to draw a circle Trace this onto newsprint printer paper or card stock Cut two
circles from cotton fabric
2 Place the circles right sides together then stitch around the curved edge using a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance and leaving a 2 (51cm) opening unstitched
3 Clip the curve around the entire seam allowance up to but not through the stitching to ease the
seam allowance and permit you to turn the circle right-side out without any puckering or pulling
4 Turn right-side out and press nice and smooth
5 Fill with herbs like lavender orange peel or rose petals Topstitch around the outer edge catching the
opening shut as you do Place in your dresser drawer with your undies or sweaters Yum
Small Drawstring ToteThis small and super-simple tote doesnrsquot ask you to do anything you havenrsquot done before but it gives you a chance to think about
construction and order of operations Use ribbon cord or a long strip of fabric folded in two for your drawstring
1 Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 10 times 6 (254cm times
152cm) Place right sides together and stitch a 1 frasl 2 (13cm) seam
allowance down one long side pivoting at the corner Continue
across the bottom edge pivot again and stitch up the second long
side Leave the top edge unstitched
2 Clip the corners at the bottom of the bag Pink the edges of theseam allowances
3 Press under the upper edge 1 frasl 4 (64cm) then again another3 frasl 4 (19cm) taking care to keep the seam allowances open Stitch
around the entire upper edge leaving an opening about
1 (25cm) wide unstitched
4 Turn right-side out Thread a drawstring through the opening
and draw up the bag Done
Round Sachet With HerbsThis project can be as simple or as complicated as you likemdashadd ribbon trim ruffles buttons and beads almost anything you like
if you want to jazz it up I like it best in simple beautiful fabrics (I often pull some from my scraps when Irsquom done working with
fabrics I really really love and want to see every day)
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 1HOME DEacuteCOROne of the most popular types of sewingespecially for those new to stitching but also for
those who have been sewing for years and years
is sewing for the home Itrsquos not just for the obvious
reason that all of us have homes and want them
to be beautiful maybe more importantly we all
want our homes to look the way we feel and tomake us want to be there more often The joy
and excitement of welcoming someone into a
room where you have designed and stitched
every drape pillow slipcover and throw is really
unparalleled Yoursquoll never look at a bare roomthe same way again Get ready to be drunk with
power people
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SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
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beauty shot 4-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 726
SECTION 1HOME DEacuteCOROne of the most popular types of sewingespecially for those new to stitching but also for
those who have been sewing for years and years
is sewing for the home Itrsquos not just for the obvious
reason that all of us have homes and want them
to be beautiful maybe more importantly we all
want our homes to look the way we feel and tomake us want to be there more often The joy
and excitement of welcoming someone into a
room where you have designed and stitched
every drape pillow slipcover and throw is really
unparalleled Yoursquoll never look at a bare roomthe same way again Get ready to be drunk with
power people
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 82616
SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 926
beauty shot 4-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1026
SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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beauty shot 2-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 82616
SUPPLIESfrac12 yd (457 cm) fabric
for body of the pillow
(any weight)
5minus6 yds (46-55 m) of
2 (51cm) ribbon for
decorative trim
Matching thread
16 times 16 (406cm times
406cm) pillow form
There are fe w things mos t folks like more than a nice pillo w Irsquo ve wri t ten be fore abou
t ho w deepl y I dislike
and dis trus t super-duper e xpen
si ve pillo ws especiall y since e ven a t the as tro
nomical prices I see in the
s tores the yrsquore ne ver qui te wha t I wan t This quick and clean pillo w projec t is a grea t al tern
a ti ve to a zippered
pillo w and can be adap ted to nearl y an y size o
r shape pillo w inser t Ins truc tions belo w are for a s tandard
16 times 16 (406cm times 406cm ) pillo w form Should you selec t a di
f feren t pillo w form inser t size adjus t your
measuremen ts accordingl y mdashbu t isnrsquo t i t nice to kno w tha t the skill is nearl y
uni versal
Level 1 | Ribboned Envelope Pillow
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 926
beauty shot 4-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1026
SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
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5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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beauty shot 4-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1126
beauty shot 2-0
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1326100
Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1426
104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
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5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 2
PATCHWORK
AND QUILTINGThere has been a remarkable growth in the
quilting world the past five years and most of it
is fueled by younger quilters with a more modern
streamlined design sense joining the craft The
art of using small cuts of fabric to create large-
scale textile designs has evolved to include
brighter colors more inventive shapes modern
design sense and adventurous combinations
The projects that follow in this section introduce
you to the modern quilting movement throughall the basic skills and give you the chance to
consider piecing fabrics together to create a sum
greater than its parts
49
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beauty shot 2-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
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104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
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7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
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150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1126
beauty shot 2-0
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1226
SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1326100
Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1426
104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1526
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1626
SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1726
132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1226
SECTION 3
BAGSIrsquom always surprised at how many peoplereally really want to sew handbags And then I
remember how many bags and totes and satchels
and purses I myself possess and suddenly I
understand There is an art to bag-making but
since there are really only so many ways to put a
bag together yoursquoll find that the same principles
and techniques come up over and over again
These shapes are core basics and will serve
you well from formal situations to the everyday
You might find as I did that suddenly all you
need are a few basic bag styles and plenty of
embellishments and yoursquore set for a long while
Two words matching handbag
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1326100
Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1426
104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1526
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1626
SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1726
132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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Level 1 | Everyday
Shoulder BagI lo ve a small under-the-shoulder bag thatrsquos
just the right size to fit m y wallet and phone
plus a fe w little bitsmdashbut not quite big
enough for all the luggage that four children
can expect me to tote for them all o ver
creation Add a little funk y fabric for lining
and this bag transforms to something trul y
special I strongl y suggest making more
than one especiall y with the extra pop it
would get from adding piping
SUPPLIES
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-weight
fabric for the body of the bag
frac12 yd (046 m) of lighter
weight fabric for the lining
1 yd (091 m) of
piping cording
Bias tape to cover
the cording
frac12 yd (046 m) of mid-
to-heavy-weight fusibleinterfacing
frac12 yd (046 m) of light-
to-sheerweight fusible
interfacing
Matching thread
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1426
104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1526
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1626
SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
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132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1426
104
5 TRAP STRAPS BETWEEN BAG AND LINING
Slide the lining wrong-side out over the outer bag so the two are
right sides together The tabs are sandwiched in the middle with the
D-ring caught on the tab Pin the edge
6 STITCH EDGE
Stitch a frac12 (13cm) seam around the entire upper edge of the bag
leaving a small opening to turn right-side out and catching the tab
ends securely in the seammdashyou can even consider backstitching
over the tab ends as you sew past them especially if you plan to
carry super heavy items in your bag like spare batteries or vintage jewelry Up to you
7 TURN RIGHT-SIDE OUT AND PRESS
Reach through the opening in the lining and turn the whole thing
right-side out teasing out the fabric until the whole bag spills out
and yoursquore able to stuff the lining back inside Press
8 TOPSTITCH
Topstitch around the upper edge to close the opening you used to
turn and to create a finished feel to the bag Take care as you stitch
past your snap
5
6
7
8
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1526
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1626
SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1726
132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1526
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1626
SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1726
132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1626
SECTION 4
SEWING FOR
CHILDRENWhen I was little my mom sewed for me and my
sister Sometimes wersquod get matching outfitsmdashall
three of us It was the 70s you know how it goes
And as ridiculous as it sounded to middle-school-
me now I look back and those matching-outfit
days hold some of my dearest memories Now
that I have children of my own I love making them
things at my machine that build memories and
bring all of us joy And when they come to me to
request something special sewn on my machine
Well it just doesnrsquot get much better than that
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1726
132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1726
132
Level 1 | ReversibleGirlrsquos DressI came up with this dress when my daughters
were itty bitties I was so bummed everytime they out-grew something Irsquod made with
hoarded fabricmdashonce they were too big to
wear it I was forced to pack it away and lost
the chance to look at the prints I love so
much Step one Make it reversible so I can
use two fabrics at the same time (and so
we always have a spare outfit near at hand
for random food incidents) Step two Make
it adjustable with tie straps that really tie
so the dress can be raised and lowered at
the underarm as she grows giving her the
chance to wear it as a dress to start as a
tunic later and as a swing top before it gets
retired Irsquom all about making the good stuff
last just a little bit longer
SUPPLIES1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he dr ess 1-13 frasl 4 y d ( 091-16 m) c ot t on f abr ic f or t he lining r ev er se
Mat c hing t hr ead
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1826
150
Level 4 | Lay-FlatBackpackMy kids have lots and lots (and LOTS) of bags and
buckets and carryalls for toting their treasures around
along with anything else they can find and fit inside
But as each of them has moved through preschool
and on to Big Kid Schoolmdashthe kind with homework
and notes from the teacher giant round pencils with
SUPPLIES
1frac12 y ds ( 137 m) of home dec c ot t on or c ot t on linen midw eight f abr ic
1 y d ( 091 m) of lining f abr ic
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of P elt ex 1 set of bac k pac k har dw ar e
w it h slider sMat c hing t hr ead
frac12 y d ( 046 m) of lining f abr ic made int o 2 ( 5 c m) single-f old bias t ape
nubby erasers stickers and
juice timemdashI have found that
they need a bit more of a
backpack to hold it all This
one gives them little pockets
for the little things but also
unzips all the way flat to
allow total accessmdashand
to discourage small hands
from filling it up super fullWorking with a two-way zip
will change the way you think
about the possibilities of
closures
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 1926
152
1 STITCH POCKET PIECE
Place the main pocket (in the main fabric) right sides together with
the lining Stitch all four sides leaving an opening Turn right-side out
press edge crisply then topstitch along that upper edge for a crisp
finish
Repeat with the pencil holder
2 CREATE LOOPS IN PENCIL HOLDER
Place the pencil holder on top of pocket (right-side up) Line up the
left edge and stitch through all layers to secure
Create a loop by placing a pencil or your finger under the panel
to space then pin it to secure Continue across the pencil panel
to make as many pencil spots (or mini-pockets ) as yoursquod like Six
pencil spots is probably goodmdashwho needs more than six pens and
pencils Think about making a fat spot for a chubby highlighter too
Adjust the loops until the end of the pencil holder is even with the
edge of the larger pocket
3 STITCH BETWEEN LOOPS
With the pencil loops pinned in place take the pockets to your
machine Stitch the loops down securely by sewing between each
loop from top to bottom (or bottom to top) and backstitching ateach end
Stitch the Pockets and Pencil HolderCreate a main pocket and then create a pencil holder by making another similar pocket that yoursquoll then use to
create pencil loops
1
2
3
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2026
168
1 STITCH BUTTONHOLES
Using the markings on the pattern pieces set the buttonholes and
stitch them in place Clip open the holes (Check out the Crash
Course on buttonholes on the next page as needed)
2 STITCH ON BUTTONS
Add buttons with a shank
Buttons and ButtonholesThe classic pea coat look includes four or six buttons double-breasted You can use fewer but the lapels flap down
most attractively if you stick with four or six in a two-by-two configuration
1
2
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2126
SECTION 5
CLOTHINGWhen I first learned to sew I only ever thought of
sewing clothing It was what my mother made and
her mother before her It seemed practical and
familiar and I wanted to make clothes more than
anything in the world I still love sewing apparel
and feel a very specific type of satisfaction when
I try on a garment I have made myself and findthat it fits right and feels good and know with
total certainty that no one else has something
just like it There are usually more steps to sewing
a garment but in the end itrsquos really all sewing a
seammdashnot that different from any of the other
projects in this book If yoursquove been sewing
straight lines for a while but are putting off making
clothes these patterns will take you into a whole
new territory that is as addictive as it is
exhilarating Irsquom a big believer in simple
wardrobe staples the kind with classiclines that let the fabric be the star Feel
free to indulge yourself a little here and
buy some really special fabric for your
garmentsmdashyoursquoll never feel as pretty
as you do walking down the street in a
fabulous piece of clothing you made
yourself Viva la sewing
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2226
180
Level 2 | A-Line SkirtWith Peekaboo Pleat
Fine I admit it I love me a sexy librarian look
Itrsquos true As a card-carrying nerdophile there
is something about a classic buttoned-down
look that makes me feel both pretty and
prim at the same time This clean skirt with
its a-line shape and peekaboo pleat has it
all wrapped up Making the pleat is simple
adding the pocket gives a touch of color andthe delicious D-ring belted closure means
neither zippers NOR buttons for you Itrsquos like
a skirt paradise Make this one up in heavier
fabrics like twill corduroy wools or denim
The inset for the pleat can be any fabric you
choosemdashmay I suggest something truly
special that yoursquove been saving for just such
an occasion
SUPPLIES
11
frasl 2 yds (137 m) ofbottomweight cotton
linen denim or wool for
the skirt body
frac12 yd (046 m) of
contrast fabric for
the pleat and pocket
Matching thread
1 frasl 4 yd (023 m) of mid-
weight interfacing
1 D-ring or buckle
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2326
189
CUT PIECES
Begin by cutting all the pattern pieces bodice front (1 on fold)
bodice back (2) skirt front (1 on fold) skirt back (2) pocket (4)bodice front lining (1 on fold) bodice back lining (2)
For the straps cut a length of fabric 11 frasl 2 (38cm) wide by 30
(762cm) long This can be a cross-cut strip of fabric cut from
selvage to selvage
Cut Fabric Pieces
Make Bodice
1 STITCH DARTS
Stitch darts at the waist on the bodice front and bodice back
These allow for graceful shaping and are designed for a B or C cup
Remember always begin sewing a dart at the larger end heading
toward the point And never backtack tie a hand knot (See page
182 for a Crash Course on darts)
Press toward the center Repeat with the lining (As with bags or
other projects anything you do to the outer shell of the dress yoursquoll
need to do the same to the lining so the two will fit together)
2 STITCH BODICE TOGETHER
Place the bodice front right sides together with bodice back Stitch
the side seams using a 5 frasl 8 (16cm) seam allowance Press seam
allowances open Repeat with the lining
1
2
SIZES 2-8
SIZES 10-22
BACK
BACK
FRONT FRONT
STRAP (OPTIONAL)BACK
FRONT
CUT ONE SIDE THEN FLIP PATTERN TO CUT OTHER SIDE
FRONTBACK
BACK
STRAP (OPTIONAL)
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
FOLDFOLD
SELVAGE
SELVAGE
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2426
215
Try this Too
This jacket works so well in any fabric but I highly recommend the experience ofsewing with the best fabrics you can--yoursquoll love both the process and the product so
much more See if you canrsquot score a really great wool tweed (check the resources
section in the back for ideas of where to begin) and fall in love with this classic fabric
that sews up so beautifully
The binding you use on the interior seams of this
jacket is bias tapemdashwhich I recommend for the
binding of your Sewing Machine Cover (see page
64) Such different applications but the same
skill for each
Working on this jacket is a reminder of how a
shaped or curved seam can really affect the
overall performance of a garmentmdashor any sewn
object Try the same approach by making the TeaCozy next (see page 76) where curved seams
create an entirely unexpected shape for the
project
When you complete a challenging project
sometimes the best next step is to go back to the
basics and take a rest Move to the Ribboned
Envelope Pillow next (see page 16) and remind
yourself how soothing straight seams can be
n e x t
s t e p s
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2526
216
Conclusion Learning to se w isnrsquot something you do once and never
do again Itrsquos a skill yes but itrsquos also an art and more
When you first touch a se wing machine it seems like a
completely foreign world but I think most of us quickly
learn that itrsquos wa y more than that
There is something transformative about sewing
something that allo ws us to take ourselves out of our
daily li ves forget our worries and escape to something
bigger While the project yoursquore working on might seem
small when you put needle to fabric you are part of
something that began long before you learned to sew and
will continue long after a trajector y of imagination and
creation that ties you to women you ha ve ne ver met but who share something with you Sewing can allo w you to
both dream and realize to imagine and create to leap and
to land It is truly something unique and special and like
opera can ignite a fire in your soul that you didnrsquot kno w
you lacked but that burns bright and illuminates you and
e verything in your path
I realize Irsquom going all hyperbole here but theexcitement and fulfillment I feel when I se w is
unparalleled and something I treasure and hold dear
Once you learn to use your machine and work with various
fabrics there is nothing you canrsquot learn and make You
ha ve the po wer
Rock on Little Stitcher and set forth in this brave new
world to make and become
SEWING
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C
7302019 Stitch Savvy by Deborah Moebes 25 Skill-Building Projects to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullstitch-savvy-by-deborah-moebes-25-skill-building-projects-to-take-your-sewing 2626
5 tracks x 5 projects x Loads of Versatile Techniques
= 25 Awesome Projects to Master Sewing
In STITCH SAVVY there are 5 tracks (home deacutecor handbags ki dsrsquo items
quilting and clothing) and each track has 5 projects that start simple and
build up your skills But wait therersquos more Cross-referenced techniques allow
you to skip around an d explore certain skills (Yo u loved the box pleats in the
Sashiko curtains Check o ut the A-line skirt with the peek-a-boo pleat)
SO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEWING EDUCATION
bull Work your way through all the Home Deacutecor projectsmdashfrom simple to more advanced
bull Want to ease into sewing Start with the Level 1 projects in each track
bull Love piping Jump from track to track to explore all the ways you can use piping
This book is desig ned s peci1047297call y to allow y ou to g row y our skills pursue pro jects y ou crav e and test the w aters outside y our comf ort zonemdashand make
some seriously cute pro jects as y ou do
System Requirements for CD
Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documentsCD-ROM drive
Free hard-disk space to save files
Bonus CD includes 13 PDFpatterns for apparel accessories and
home decor quilting guides and more
E A N
W7260
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 4
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y M E E M T A u N A I 4 M A E x B k V B
0 4 T i 0 x M w 0 5 N z g x N D Q w M j I 5 N D c z A A = =
781440 2294739
52799
ISBN 10 1-4402-2947-3
ISBN 13 978-1-4402-2947-3
US $2799(CAN $2950)
UK pound1999
F n L 1 0 4 0 1 2 0
0 1 J U Y r V y B Q d W J s a W N h d G l v b n M s I E l u Y y A o
0 2 S W 9 s Y S B k a X Z p c 2 l v b i k P R 3 J l Z 2 9 y e S B L
0 3 c n V l Z 2 V y A F A 8 y Q I C M T M D M T A w A T E F V V B D
0 4 L U E M M D c 0 O T Y y M D E 0 M z A 2 9 A = =
74962 014300 6 U P C