Inspiration

Handbag and tote project have so many components. It's not just a pattern and fabric coordinates. We are making this task simple for you! Download a copy of THE MATCH and keep it handy. We took the guess work out of matching our batik cotton with the ByAnnie accessories. Also, read about our easy way to purchase a complete project kit of any ByAnnie Pattern!

Decorating for the holidays is always a joy for me. I love incorporating our fabric into a style that fits the holiday season I'm celebrating. I also love to use every inch of fabric for more than one project. Our Christmas Tree Skirt Project is the perfect example of decorating and managing fabric "leftovers".

It's is delightful to sew for young boys and girls. The Tate double-breasted jacket is just too cute to pass up. The pattern is designed for heavy weight fabric and a nice simple lining. However, we chose our Batik Cotton Jersey Knit and Batik Rayon for this sweet Tate Jacket.

The Tamarack Jacket by Grainline Studio is a perfect fall jacket that is simple to construct. The jacket style is loose and the construction is simple. Except for bags, accessories, and purses - this is my first experience sewing a quilted jacket - with quilted fabric. I'll share my experience making this jacket with our quilted batik cotton.

Summer is almost over - and September starts tomorrow. We decided to coin August 31st as "It's a Wrap". Well...  it's time to put our "fall" foot forward and think about simple coverups and wraps that are easy to sew and easy to gift to our special friends! Enjoy It's a Wrap!

What do you have ready in your wardrobe to cover your shoulders when the morning and evening chill strikes? Your coverup can be as simple as a one-hour kimono or a styled and elegant jacket. Read on...

It's pattern review time!  We selected our latest tee shirt top - the Square Neck Top by Friday Pattern Co. I have never sewn a square neck before and I love the look!  I didn't know how this would look on me. After sewing 4 tops, I've decided that I love this tee!  It's a wonderfully simple and versatile pattern. Whether you enjoy wovens or knits, this is the pattern for you!

Designing projects that feature a specific batik collection is a lot of fun - and sometimes a challenge at the same time. Our 115" wide Batik Cotton - Double Border Collection is the perfect fabric for our new Duvet Cover and matching Pillow Sham project!  Diane shares tips and techniques to simplify sewing with so so so much fabric!  Enjoy!

Do you have a collection of Jersey Knit waiting for a project? Or - do you have left over shorter cuts from projects past? This is a fast and fun colorblock tee shirt using McCall's 7600 tee shirt pattern and our Jersey Knit! I also made a dress starting with the McCall's 7600 pattern. Enjoy!!!

For those of you that know of Kennis Wong, designer and owner of Itch to Stitch and her garment designs you are lucky. For those of you who do not know Kennis, read on.

Finding a new garment designer and sewing a few garments of hers have been a joy this week. All of her patterns are sold as PDF download patterns. I have shied away from non-paper patterns, but I'm a changed person!  I decided to take a few minutes to write about Itch to Stitch and share my experience with one of her designs, the Orono Top.

Enjoy!

Learning to sew as a young girl was great!  One of the first projects I made was a nine-patch pillow. The second project was a pillowcase for my bed. The pillowcase was made from one fabric. I learned how to finished the open end with a simple two fold hem and top stitching. I sewed the fabric closed on the side and bottom and I was done!  Success!  My very own pillowcase.

Since that time, pillowcases have become fancier and our maker friends have become more creative with how to add decorative edging to a pillowcase. I'm using their techniques to create pillowcases from or Jersey Knit.

Read on and then download the pattern and share it with your friends!

Gifts for friends?  Coasters. Simple, stylish, and a gift that is used almost every day!

Enjoy this fun tutorial, with video, and make a few coasters for your next gift!