I enjoyed this video! Thanks for the nudge to think about the upcoming year , both planning and finding a word. The grey color you made with the chestnut dye is *wow*!! I rarely wear grey but that color has a richness to it that is very appealing. I'm fine with you making some things with black dyed linen. I look forward to seeing what they look like. I'm finding myself wanting a nice pair of heavy weight black linen pants. Haven't found the pattern yet but am recalling an old pattern from the '70s with a high waist, pleats and an eighth inch "permanent" crease. (stitching 1/8 inch along the fold on the entire length of the crease). I don't have it anymore (so many of my old patterns would be fun to have now!). I LOVE your idea to make 8-12 new patterns this year! And the biodegrading tapestry...what a cool idea. Thanks for thinking in unique and different ways about linen, stitching, community, sustainability and more.
I like the idea of the black linen Leah, especially combined with the beautiful colours you create from Nature. Also love the 'earth ombre' tapestry idea, in fact all the ideas! :) I wish you every success with them all. I hope very much to make myself something lovely out of linen this year.... a beautiful dream :) Looking forward to seeing more from you soon!
Thank you! I'm glad youre into the black linen idea too, I think I'm going to do it at some point! Hope you get your hands on some linen sometime soon :)
Love the color you achieve with chestnut. Wow. Would love some fabric in chestnut but it's over $77CAD for me per yard. I need a good source for good heavy and mid weight linen fabric that I can dye myself. Looking forward to trying something new.
Hi Leah! Thanks for your down to earth and unique take on things sewing and beyond! I am thoroughly enjoying following you on UA-cam. I have a question for you: do you have a favorite thread? Thanks for sharing your process to the world!
Thank you for the kind words! I love to hear from you! And I do have a favorite thread-- I've been using Gutterman 100% cotton thread for a couple years now and I usually buy it from Joanns when they have a thread sale. The pro's are that it feels really strong (almost never breaks on me) and it takes natural dyes really well. What I personally like about it (but might be a con to other people) is that it shrinks a teeny tiny bit (more than my pre-washed linen fabric) in the wash on the finished garment, so it adds a tiny amt of wrinkling/texture to the seams. Again, I like that about it, but others might not!
Hello Leah. I've been following you for a few months now. I am mostly interested in your pattern designs. I think the commercial dyed fabric is a good idea to expand your offered products. Happy sewing!
I love your ambitious spirit and I am looking forward to your pocket pattern! I have sewn with linen (clothing, bread bags, napkins, kitchen towels, and quilts) but I always seem to be fighting with it to keep it from moving while cutting pattern pieces out. You make it look effortless 😅 Is there a secret?! I know some people use starch but I don’t really want to use that. I love your down to earth videos and am looking forward to seeing more of them this year! 🤩
Thank you for the kind words! Haha and shifty fabric is the worst!! I dont find mine shifting almost at all, and I think maybe for a couple reasons... I am cutting it essentially on a fabric ironing table, so instead of a glossy/slick table, there is a little bit of friction between my fabric and what's below it! I also use slate coasters as pattern weights, which helps keep everything in place, too. And I trace around my pattern pieces with a sharpened pencil or chalk while everything is really flat so that even if my fabric gets shifty when I bring in my electric rotary cutter or scissors, the lines are still in the right spots. Hopefully something in there can be the trick for you! Let me know if you get any success :) -Leah
Hi Leah. I admire the direction of sustainable plant based fabric in clothes and your business ethos. Not sure if you are aware of Alabama Chanin clothes line and School of Making. I took a class about five years ago with her and loved it! I am not affiliated with her business at all, but, she put out a newsletter recently explaining a sustainable symposium of makers that is being held soon at her studio. Good luck!
Oooh thanks for the tip! Every once in a while I go back and check out what's going on with Alabama Chanin stuff, and it's ALWAYS cool. I think I'm going to have to do some digging and possibly get back on their email newsletter :) Thanks again!
Hi Leah, I just found your channel! Wonderful goals. I love this. I'm excited about your PDF patterns. I will be purchasing your pocket pattern. In 3rd grade, my teacher taught us to spin and dye wool using natural products. I loved it. Currently, I have been experminting with using permanent Ink and watercolors to print my own fabric for framing and sewing. My sewing goals for 2024 is to use more of the inventory and patterns I already own. I started a challenge on my channel called #whatdoIhaveinmyhand . As a mom of 12 I learned to be resourceful and created this saying for my home economy. When I needed something for a child, my home, to play, or for a school project. I would look to see what I already had to create what I needed. I find that this attitude creates more gratitude. I look forward to getting to know you. Your channel is beautiful. Happy creating! Lesley ❤
Hi Lesley!! Thanks so much for the kind words, and I'm excited to get the pocket pattern to you (hopefully this week it will be up!). I love love love your sewing goals and challenge you started for the year! After just moving into a new place (and seeing the guts of alllll the stuff I already own 😂), I'm going to try and incorporate that mindset even more this year, too!
Love your designs and your natural fabrics. I personally stay awake from black linen clothing because it fades so quickly and then looks really old. I like your dark gray better.
Thank you! And this is great feedback-- I did sort of forget about how black fades...... I might make something for myself with it this month, and then see how it looks after many washes. Sometimes I like the fade, sometimes not! Thanks again.
I think your design would look fabulous on a light pink or peachy color if you can get those colors naturally or commercially dye I just would love to see your designs in more playful colors 💕
Thank you! I currently use a dye called "cutch" to get light pink colors, but I agree with you, I want to use it in greater quantities to get a more bold/playful color!
Lots of fun stuff! I love that darker gray color but in everyday life I find myself reaching for my black clothing pieces more often. I admire your plant dye ethos but personally have no problem with you adding commercially dyed pieces too. My personal goal is to do what I can to keep cloth out of the trash. I'm looking forward to your sewing patterns and can't wait to see what happens with the tapestry.
yes! there are many days where I go for the black clothes, too... I think it's time I take the plunge! Agreed, it really is about what you will wear for the long term. Thanks for the kind words, and I'll keep you posted on all the new stuff :) -Leah
I haven't tried that, but sounds really interesting! Going to do some googling :) And yesss I do the papermaking with the scraps too, and it turns out SO beautiful, but I keep breaking blenders in the process 😂... they literally start smoking from burning out the motor. Have you figured out another way to shred up the fabric? If you do, let me know!!
Hi@@charliedarwintextiles ! I still am accumulating scraps for the paper making. I do various crafts that will use different sizes of textile, so they're pretty wee by the time they end up in the paper pile. I have thought about just going ham with a rotary cutter on them before the blender stage. I luckily got a free blender to try this out with, but I'd prefer not to fry it if possible. I've also heard simmering the scraps with baking soda before blending can help the fibers break apart easier. I am sorting these tiny scraps by general color, and I'm apprehensive that this step could leech their color.Some people will beat and grate and scrape fabric before paper making from it, but I don't think I'm that unvested.
I enjoyed this video! Thanks for the nudge to think about the upcoming year , both planning and finding a word.
The grey color you made with the chestnut dye is *wow*!! I rarely wear grey but that color has a richness to it that is very appealing.
I'm fine with you making some things with black dyed linen. I look forward to seeing what they look like. I'm finding myself wanting a nice pair of heavy weight black linen pants. Haven't found the pattern yet but am recalling an old pattern from the '70s with a high waist, pleats and an eighth inch "permanent" crease. (stitching 1/8 inch along the fold on the entire length of the crease). I don't have it anymore (so many of my old patterns would be fun to have now!).
I LOVE your idea to make 8-12 new patterns this year!
And the biodegrading tapestry...what a cool idea.
Thanks for thinking in unique and different ways about linen, stitching, community, sustainability and more.
I like the idea of the black linen Leah, especially combined with the beautiful colours you create from Nature. Also love the 'earth ombre' tapestry idea, in fact all the ideas! :) I wish you every success with them all. I hope very much to make myself something lovely out of linen this year.... a beautiful dream :) Looking forward to seeing more from you soon!
Thank you! I'm glad youre into the black linen idea too, I think I'm going to do it at some point! Hope you get your hands on some linen sometime soon :)
Love the color you achieve with chestnut. Wow. Would love some fabric in chestnut but it's over $77CAD for me per yard. I need a good source for good heavy and mid weight linen fabric that I can dye myself. Looking forward to trying something new.
Yes to the black linen!!
Thank you for letting me know you're into it! I think I'm going to do it :)
Hi Leah! Thanks for your down to earth and unique take on things sewing and beyond! I am thoroughly enjoying following you on UA-cam. I have a question for you: do you have a favorite thread? Thanks for sharing your process to the world!
Thank you for the kind words! I love to hear from you! And I do have a favorite thread-- I've been using Gutterman 100% cotton thread for a couple years now and I usually buy it from Joanns when they have a thread sale. The pro's are that it feels really strong (almost never breaks on me) and it takes natural dyes really well. What I personally like about it (but might be a con to other people) is that it shrinks a teeny tiny bit (more than my pre-washed linen fabric) in the wash on the finished garment, so it adds a tiny amt of wrinkling/texture to the seams. Again, I like that about it, but others might not!
Hello Leah. I've been following you for a few months now. I am mostly interested in your pattern designs. I think the commercial dyed fabric is a good idea to expand your offered products. Happy sewing!
Thank you for letting me know!! I am pretty sure I'm going to do it :) Stay tuned....
I love your ambitious spirit and I am looking forward to your pocket pattern! I have sewn with linen (clothing, bread bags, napkins, kitchen towels, and quilts) but I always seem to be fighting with it to keep it from moving while cutting pattern pieces out. You make it look effortless 😅 Is there a secret?! I know some people use starch but I don’t really want to use that. I love your down to earth videos and am looking forward to seeing more of them this year! 🤩
Thank you for the kind words! Haha and shifty fabric is the worst!! I dont find mine shifting almost at all, and I think maybe for a couple reasons... I am cutting it essentially on a fabric ironing table, so instead of a glossy/slick table, there is a little bit of friction between my fabric and what's below it! I also use slate coasters as pattern weights, which helps keep everything in place, too. And I trace around my pattern pieces with a sharpened pencil or chalk while everything is really flat so that even if my fabric gets shifty when I bring in my electric rotary cutter or scissors, the lines are still in the right spots. Hopefully something in there can be the trick for you! Let me know if you get any success :)
-Leah
Hi Leah. I admire the direction of sustainable plant based fabric in clothes and your business ethos. Not sure if you are aware of Alabama Chanin clothes line and School of Making. I took a class about five years ago with her and loved it! I am not affiliated with her business at all, but, she put out a newsletter recently explaining a sustainable symposium of makers that is being held soon at her studio. Good luck!
Oooh thanks for the tip! Every once in a while I go back and check out what's going on with Alabama Chanin stuff, and it's ALWAYS cool. I think I'm going to have to do some digging and possibly get back on their email newsletter :) Thanks again!
Hi Leah, I just found your channel! Wonderful goals. I love this.
I'm excited about your PDF patterns. I will be purchasing your pocket pattern.
In 3rd grade, my teacher taught us to spin and dye wool using natural products. I loved it. Currently, I have been experminting with using permanent Ink and watercolors to print my own fabric for framing and sewing.
My sewing goals for 2024 is to use more of the inventory and patterns I already own. I started a challenge on my channel called #whatdoIhaveinmyhand .
As a mom of 12 I learned to be resourceful and created this saying for my home economy. When I needed something for a child, my home, to play, or for a school project. I would look to see what I already had to create what I needed. I find that this attitude creates more gratitude.
I look forward to getting to know you. Your channel is beautiful.
Happy creating! Lesley ❤
Hi Lesley!! Thanks so much for the kind words, and I'm excited to get the pocket pattern to you (hopefully this week it will be up!). I love love love your sewing goals and challenge you started for the year! After just moving into a new place (and seeing the guts of alllll the stuff I already own 😂), I'm going to try and incorporate that mindset even more this year, too!
Love your designs and your natural fabrics. I personally stay awake from black linen clothing because it fades so quickly and then looks really old. I like your dark gray better.
Thank you! And this is great feedback-- I did sort of forget about how black fades...... I might make something for myself with it this month, and then see how it looks after many washes. Sometimes I like the fade, sometimes not! Thanks again.
I think your design would look fabulous on a light pink or peachy color if you can get those colors naturally or commercially dye I just would love to see your designs in more playful colors 💕
Thank you! I currently use a dye called "cutch" to get light pink colors, but I agree with you, I want to use it in greater quantities to get a more bold/playful color!
Lots of fun stuff! I love that darker gray color but in everyday life I find myself reaching for my black clothing pieces more often. I admire your plant dye ethos but personally have no problem with you adding commercially dyed pieces too. My personal goal is to do what I can to keep cloth out of the trash. I'm looking forward to your sewing patterns and can't wait to see what happens with the tapestry.
yes! there are many days where I go for the black clothes, too... I think it's time I take the plunge! Agreed, it really is about what you will wear for the long term. Thanks for the kind words, and I'll keep you posted on all the new stuff :)
-Leah
For black have you tried Hopi sunflower with iron? My goal is to make my sewing zero waste by paper making with my scraps.
I haven't tried that, but sounds really interesting! Going to do some googling :) And yesss I do the papermaking with the scraps too, and it turns out SO beautiful, but I keep breaking blenders in the process 😂... they literally start smoking from burning out the motor. Have you figured out another way to shred up the fabric? If you do, let me know!!
Hi@@charliedarwintextiles ! I still am accumulating scraps for the paper making. I do various crafts that will use different sizes of textile, so they're pretty wee by the time they end up in the paper pile. I have thought about just going ham with a rotary cutter on them before the blender stage. I luckily got a free blender to try this out with, but I'd prefer not to fry it if possible. I've also heard simmering the scraps with baking soda before blending can help the fibers break apart easier. I am sorting these tiny scraps by general color, and I'm apprehensive that this step could leech their color.Some people will beat and grate and scrape fabric before paper making from it, but I don't think I'm that unvested.