Friday Fun Fact: Nalbinding

Have you heard of nalbinding?

This ancient fiber craft is making a comeback in recent years. A method of yarn-working with a single needle, nalbinding predates knitting and crochet!

Evidence of mittens and socks made by nalbinding have dated back to 6500 BCE. The term nalbinding is Scandinavian, but this technique has been found in Peru, Israel, Egypt, and northern Europe.

The fabric is created by sewing a single strand of yarn through loops with a threaded needle. Various patterns are possible, including color patterns. 

You can find resources online to show you how nalbinding is done if you'd like to give it a try! Search nalbinding on youtube, or check local yarn shops. 

Check out all our Friday Fun Facts in the archive here!

Treadle Make Tuesday: Rachael's Fringe Dress

Every Tuesday we share projects from Treadle Yard Goods employees (a.k.a. The Treadlettes) and our customers and fans!

Check out Rachael's new Fringe dress!

This was a super-quick project that Rachael made in Continuing On class, using the Chalk and Notch Fringe pattern and a cool, comfy cotton.

You can still get this pattern at a 15% discount through the end of July! Click here for more!

Friday Fun Fact: We're taking machines apart!

Hey everyone, it's me Elizabeth, and this week Grace and I are away at sewing machine repair camp! I'm writing to you from the road!*

Last January we signed up for a 4-day intensive workshop on how to repair sewing machines. On Monday this week, we packed 11 sewing machines into Grace's car and drove to Ohio for our class. (Road trip!! Woo!)

It's been a lot so far! We have taken machines apart, learned about tension, timing, cleaning, oiling, replacing parts, and so much more. And then of course, struggled to put the machines back together again.

We are taking copious amounts of notes, asking LOTS of questions, and getting our hands very dirty!

Disassembling machines is very fun, and cleaning them out is super satisfying, but Grace and I are also interested in practical repair knowledge.

Does this mean we'll offer sewing machine repair at Treadle?!?!

Slow down there, friend. We still have a lot to learn and a lot of practice to do!

I do think this will help me as a sewing teacher and general advice-giver. When you're in class with me I am always happy to troubleshoot your machine, and now I'll be armed with a lot more knowledge and experience.

We might consider a basic class on just taking your machine apart, cleaning, and oiling in the future, for all you DIY minded folks. Let us know if that's a class you'd enjoy taking!

We miss Minnesota but we'll be home soon! Can't wait to see you all!

Check out all our Friday Fun Facts in the archive here!

*but not literally from the road, because I get carsick. And there's no wifi.

Treadle Make Tuesday: Barb's piped dress!

Every Tuesday we share projects from Treadle Yard Goods employees (a.k.a. The Treadlettes) and our customers and fans!

Treadle student Barb recently finished this amazing dress in Weekend Sewing Marathon!

 This project had some hurdles - decisions about piping, sleeve fitting tweaks, skirt modifications - but Barb worked through each one like a champion and finished a fantastic garment!

Barb used Burda pattern 6339 (with a few modifications) and a fun cotton print for this dress.

Friday Fun Fact: Pockets!

Today I'm talking about pockets!

I think we're ALL mad about the total lack of adequate pockets in the majority of clothes made for women. But this wasn't always the way!

 Historically, women's clothes have had huge pockets. I mean HA-UGE!

In the 18th century, the pocket was a separate bag tied around the waist and hidden under the full skirt. You accessed it through a hemmed slash in the side of the skirt. They were enormous, some reaching 18" in length! Pockets were often highly decorative, made of patchworked silk or embroidered linen.

Around the year 1800, dresses became slimmer and hugged the figure. You could no longer put an entire sewing kit and a few sandwiches in your pockets without creating a noticeable lump. So the reticule was born! A little bag to store all your important crap instead of a pocket.

Another 50 years later, dresses are big and floofy again, and pockets are back! In 19th century dresses from the Civil War era onwards, pockets were almost always present. This time they were sewn into the skirt like we're familiar with today.

The photos above and below are from historical sewing books, detailing actual garments from the 1860s-70s. See the big old pockets?

Pockets have really varied in modern times, too! I remember wearing huge wide-leg jeans in the 1990s with ample pocket room. But when jeans got tight and low-rise in the 2000s, pockets once again disappeared, or just became miniature and useless.

The good news for us is that we know how to sew - we can put pockets in anything!! You can even add pockets to an existing garment, or enlarge the tiny pockets on your jeans.

We'll have another session of our popular pocket class (titled, Thanks, it has Pockets!) in the fall class schedule. Or check out Rebecca's Thrift Flip class to update an existing garment!

Check out all our Friday Fun Facts in the archive here!

Treadle Make Tuesday: Bernie's Shirts

Every Tuesday we share projects from Treadle Yard Goods employees (a.k.a. The Treadlettes) and our customers and fans!

Today we've got a Treadle Make 2-in-1 with two shirts from Bernie! 

He's a prolific sewist and shirtmaker who's been a Treadle regular and fan for years. 

Check out the fantastic contrast elements on the brown shirt above. The bits of white make the shapes pop!

The print shirt below shows just how fun it is to make a simple camp shirt with a wacky fabric! Bernie is really rolling in dough with this one!

Want more project inspiration? Check out the #mytreadlemake tag on Instagram.

Friday Fun Fact: Elias Howe

Today we're commemorating the birth of Elias Howe, whose 204th birthday is this Sunday, July 9!

Commonly credited as the inventor of the sewing machine, Howe had a profound influence on modern sewing.

Really, no one single person invented the sewing machine as we know it; several individuals worked on prototypes in the early part of the 19th century. 

The first sewing machines did not have a bobbin, but created a chain stitch with a single thread.

Howe filed a patent in 1846 for a machine that used a lock-stitch similar to what we still use today. An upper spool of thread worked together with a bobbin thread to create a more secure stitch than the previous chain-stitch models.

Howe's machine looks pretty different than our modern machines, but the basic operation is essentially the same!

Learn more here!

Check out all our Friday Fun Facts in the archive here!

Treadle Make Tuesday: Rebecca's Floral Lawn Dress

Every Tuesday we share projects from Treadle Yard Goods employees (a.k.a. The Treadlettes) and our customers and fans!

Rebecca has been sewing cute summer dresses like crazy lately. Here's one of her latest makes in cool cotton lawn with a cute, wearable floral print.

Doesn't she just look like the picture of summertime relaxing on the porch? 

Rebecca used New Look pattern 6749, with her own custom mods. She's on the tall side, so she lengthened the midriff section. 

She also wanted a more statement sleeve, so she shortened it and added more fullness.

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