Friday Fun Fact: Making a Mockup

Hey it's Elizabeth, and today we're talking about making a muslin mockup.

Some sewists just call it a muslin, others a mockup, but either way, it's a basic test version of your garment used to check fit.

Mockups are basic, made of cheap fabric, and are never meant to be made into completed garments. Use old sheets, thrifted fabric, or any basic, stable woven. Machine sew them together, and don't bother with seam finishes, hems, facings, pockets, or tidy details.

You'll try the mockup on and see where changes to the fit could be made. Often this involves pinning, cutting, and drawing on the fabric. My favorite thing to do is take pictures - it's so much easier to analyze the pics than just look in the mirror!

When everything looks good, you'll transfer the changes to your paper pattern.

I am often asked about when a mockup is necessary, or whether I make one for every single garment I sew.

I personally make mockups for about 80% of my projects. I'll skip one if my project is made from a knit or if it's very loose-fitting, such as pajama pants.

I'll also do a mockup if I'm not sure about the style of the finished garment and want to check it out before I commit to sewing.

Want to know more? Michele and I will cover tons of common pattern adjustments in our Fitting Starts Here class! 

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

Treadle Make Tuesday: Rebecca's Wool Jacket

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

Rebecca used one of our NEW wools to make herself this cute jacket!

She used a PDF pattern from Burda Style that she tiled together herself - not the most fun option when you can have us print it for you!

Friday Fun Fact: Moths

We talked about caring for wool a couple weeks ago, and that always brings up the annoying nuisance of moths.

It's true, sometimes moths eat holes in your wool! It's awful, but there are things we can do.

As with so many things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Moths are particularly attracted to soiled spots, so clean all woolens before storing for the season. You CAN hand-wash all your wool items, including sweaters and cashmere. See our wool washing tips here!

Putting wool items away fresh and clean will make them much less vulnerable to moth damage.

Moths prefer dark, musty spaces, so let air and light into your closet frequently, and keep the closet floors and corners free of dust.

But what if it's too late and the moths have already gotten in?

First we're gonna get rid of them. Sealing up the affected garments in airtight bags with mothballs is an effective method, but mothballs are toxic so you'll need to be careful and follow the directions.

Dry cleaning, airing, and ironing can also rid your clothes of moths. Learn more at this article here.

Next, we want to mend those holes. There are lots of creative ways! You can mend invisibly with matching thread or get colorful with embroidery and patches that make it artsy and intentional.

Our Decorative Mending class shows you plenty of options for fixing holes, whether they're caused by moths or just normal wear and tear!

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

Treadle Make Tuesday: a holiday apron

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

Treadlette Elizabeth made this cute apron - and you can make one too in our Holiday Apron class!

She used the Market Apron pattern with linen upcycled from an old curtain plus a cotton print from her stash.

The Tessuti Apron is a similar pattern that's free to download!

Friday Fun Fact: Worn book review

Today we have a book review from Treadlette Laura! Worn  A People’s History of Clothing  Sofi Thanhauser (2022)  Worn is a history of fabric and clothing. As a sewist and a teacher of beginning sewing, my favorite part was the author’s lessons learned from attending Woolfest in Scotland, “Things can be mended, they must not be rushed, and their imperfections are an intrinsic part of their value.” (p. 259) This is the message I try to communicate to students and remember as I sew.

The book dives into the ecological and human costs of how linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, and wool are produced. The author describes the ongoing pollution caused by fabric and garment production as well as how the industry relies on exploited laborers.  I liked how this book shared many stories and details about the value of garment workers and how that has changed through history. I also enjoyed how the author highlighted how micro-communities, textile manufacturers, and clothing makers around the world are using ancestral and ethical methods for making what we wear.   This is a dense book, that tends to wander at times, but it is a good read for anyone interested or concerned about where our fabric and clothing originates.   Check out all our Friday Fun Facts in the archive here!

Treadle Make Tuesday: Fay's pajamas!

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

Treadle student Fay made this perfectly finished pajama set for her granddaughter! Fay used the Jalie Jeanne pattern paired with soft knits, and stitched it all impeccably on her serger.

Friday Fun Fact: Sewing with wool!

You may have noticed it's wool sewing season! Here are some tips on how to sew and care for one of our favorite fibers.

Wool is generally considered to be sheep's fleece, though many animals also produce hair suitable for textile use. Alpacas, llamas, goats, rabbits, and yaks are also raised for fiber, but we typically see these fibers referred to by the specific animal they came from. If something is simply labeled "wool," it's probably sheep's wool.

For the purposes of sewing and care, however, treat any of the above animal fibers with the wool tips below.

First up: pre-treating. Yes, you can wash wools!

Hand-wash wool to pre-treat: use cold water, mild soap, and let it soak a bit (avoiding agitating) then squeeze the extra water out.

If you can set your washing machine to spin only, then put your wet wool in for a spin to remove all the excess water. If not, roll it up in some big fluffy towels. Then air-dry your wool, supporting it well to prevent sagging.

Your other option is to have it steamed at a dry cleaner. You can do this if you plan to dry-clean the finished garment.

Next up, sewing! Wool is so incredibly forgiving to sew. The fibers are soft and bouncy and have a slight natural stretch. This makes it really easy to ease sleeve caps and steam darts into shape.

Stitches sink into wool's texture and can virtually disappear. A blind hem stitch can be quite invisible!

Edge finish seam allowances on wool with a serger or zig-zag stitch - or try a bias bound Hong Kong finish if you want to be fancy!

To line or not? Wool garments don't have to be lined! A lining can provide support, structure, and a smooth inside, but it's not crucial to success. Many wools have unbelievable next-to-skin softness. Others can be fully lined, partly lined, or worn with layers - a light slip or blouse is perfect under a wool dress, skirt, or vest!

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