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sarah norwood

Where to buy lingerie making supplies and fabric. UPDATE!

Uncategorized March 28, 2023

Affiliate Disclosure: I am an Etsy and Aliexpress affiliate. Applicable purchases made through the links I provide may earn me a small commission at no cost to you. This helps keep my blog and youtube channel running! I appreciate your support.

It’s basically been 100 years since I’ve updated my Where to Buy Lingerie Making Supplies video and blog posts, and a lot has changed since then… mostly, the loss of Fabric.com. I’m still mad about that. Amazon totally ruined a great thing!

I’m sure I’m not the only one who spent a lot of time at the beginning of the pandemic doing lots of online shopping. During that time I discovered some new shops that have become go-to sources for me.

I’ve outlined it all in a video on YouTube, but I’ll provide a full list here with links. If I’ve missed your favourite online store (or in person shop!), let me know in the comments. I always love discovering new stores.

My Go-To Fabric Stores

USA

Stretch House – specializing in spandex fabrics.

Spandex World – another great source for spandex fabrics.

Mood Fabrics – Higher-end fabrics with a lot of designer deadstock.

Girl Charlee – well-priced knits!

Fashion Fabrics Club – a large assortment of fabrics, from woven to knits.

Spoonflower – the “original” USA based custom printer, with thousands of indie designer prints to choose from.

Carriage House Printery – a newer USA based custom printer. Print your own designs or choose from their large selection of designer prints. A great selection of bases, including bamboo!

Canada

The Fabric Snob – carries high quality knit fabrics (luxe jersey is my fav) and a selection of custom prints.

Blended Threads – Unique, pre-order fabric in an assortment of bases. See my Unboxing video here!

Halo Fabric Addicts – specializes in athletic/performance fabrics, and carries custom prints.

Fabric Fabric – Large Toronto-based fabric retailer. Carries everything from fashion fabric to home decor.

GK Fashion Fabric – Ontario based fabric store with some really great selection of knits and silks. I have not purchased from them yet, but they have been in my favourites for a while! I’m hoping to visit their location.

Threadcount – lots of cotton quilting prints, but also a large assortment of fashion fabrics and knits.

Mimi Fabrics – I forgot to mention them in my video as it was getting a little long, but they carry some nice fabrics and turn around was really quick!

Simplifi Fabric – my go-to for organic/eco-friendly fabrics.

International

ETSY! – I love shopping for fabric on Etsy. There are several shops I have purchased from repeatedly in Japan, South Korea and Easter Europe. The wonderful thing about Etsy is you can narrow down your search by location. I show you how in my YouTube Video.

My Go-To Shops for Elastic and Notions

In no particular geographic order

Bra-Makers Supply – they literally have everything. Based in Ontario, Canada.

Sew Sassy – one of my old favourites for elastics, but I haven’t purchased from them in a long time!

TailorMadeShoppe – USA based shop that sells supplies, fabric and kits!

EmeraldErin – Ontario, Canada based lingerie pattern maker who also sells supplies and kits for her patterns.

Porcelynne – a fantastic source for lingerie making supplies, books and ebooks. Pretty sure I have one of her books in my collection…

Aliexpress – a great resource if you need to purchase in larger quantities.

Wawak.ca / Wawak.com – Next day delivery in the US and quick in Canada too! My #1 source for thread, general workroom supplies, and they have a good selection of elastics and some bra making supplies as well.

I hope this has been helpful! Did you discover some new shops in this list? Did I somehow skip over your favourite? I’d love it if you’d leave me a comment!

Make Your Own Polymer Clay Pattern Weights

Uncategorized February 28, 2023

Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive a small commission from purchases made through links provided in this post. This is at no cost to you and helps me keep my blog and YouTube Channel running! Thank you so much for your support.

I am OBSESSED with polymer clay!

When I was a kid, my cousin and his wife owned a miniatures store. They had all of these tiny little clay foods and treats and accessories… I was absolutely in love with all of it. One year for Christmas, they gave me a miniature pumpkin pie. It’s still one of my prized possessions, and lives safely tucked away with my eraser collection. So, I kind of grew up around clay. We used to play with FIMO as a kid and now that I have my own kids, we play with Sculpey and also air dry clay, as it’s a little easier for small hands to work with.

My Daisy earrings, available on Etsy.

A while back, I started seeing these clay earrings popping up on Pinterest. I decided I’d try my hand at those and quickly became re-obsessed with clay. I’ve even added a few earrings to my Etsy shop because I can’t stop making them. But then I had a great idea! I should make them into pattern weights!

So, I sent my husband to the hardware store in search of washers and he found just the right thing. I ended up using 2x 1 3/8″ washers glued together as my base, and then polymer clay on top. I recorded the process of making the floral motif weight, but ended up making 4 different styles, with the bee being my favourite.

One of the things I’ve been wanting to experiment with is painting on polymer clay. So for my crescent moon weight, I used some acrylic paint and a fine brush to paint on some simple stars before baking. I really love how that turned out and I’ll definitely be experimenting with painting on clay some more.

You can find the full instructions on how I put these together on my YouTube Channel. They are pretty simple to make and with a little practice I’m sure you can come up with some really amazing designs. I went with a nature-cottagecore theme… which is basically my life’s aesthetic.

Here’s what you need to make your own Pattern Weights:

Once you have gathered your supplies, go ahead and watch my video for all the details on how to make them!

Vintage Patterns for Valentine’s Day

Uncategorized February 14, 2023

Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive a small commission through purchases made through the links in this post. This helps support my website so I can continue providing content! Thank you!

Years before I started sewing lingerie, I walked into a local thrift shop and spotted a 1980s lingerie pattern from one of the Big 4 Pattern companies. It had already been cut and was missing a couple of pieces, but I was able to cobble together one of the teddies and a pair of underwear. It kind of sparked that lingerie-sewing love within me.

Since then, whenever I see an older lingerie sewing pattern, I pick it up. I had great luck a few months ago and found 3 at my local ValueVillage! I decided that for Valentine’s Day, I wanted to sew myself something special. I was wanting a new silk camisole (I love silk under knitted sweaters) and some matching bottoms to go with it. I wanted something comfortable, but still pretty and romantic feeling, even though at this season of my life, romance to me and my husband is watching an episode of the Last of Us and passing out on the couch… at least I can do that in something pretty!

I decided to document my process on my YouTube Channel in three parts. Part one goes through the patterns, tracing them off, and cutting my silk.

Parts two and three walk through the steps of sewing the top and bottoms. However, part of the way through this process I realized I was missing the instructions for one of the pieces, so there was a lot of trial and error involved.

I always find that the Big 4 (Vogue, Simplicity, Butterick, McCalls) always have a ridiculous amount of ease. So, unsurprisingly, both my pieces ended up much to big, even though I sized down. This is always such an annoyance to me. Nothing needs as much ease as what these patterns include! Anyway, I suppose that is part of the process! I’m spoiled by being able to just sew my own patterns!

In the end, I was 95% happy with the results. The cami was great and I’ve already worn it once. The bottoms aren’t my favourite fit, so I ended up making a pair of Jane Panties (shown on the mannequin below), which I LOVE and has inspired me to make more silk underwear.

If you are interested in trying out some vintage lingerie patterns, there are many available on Etsy as instant downloads (my friend Anna from Mrs Depew has lots of pre-1950’s patterns, or you can check out SewGirlPatterns for 1960s-1980s patterns), or you can get your hands on the original things. Many of these patterns are meant for woven fabrics, as knits weren’t as widely available even just 20-30 years ago (trust me, I remember this!). Here is a nice source for silks that I have purchased from before! Be warned though, once you wear silk lingerie, it’s hard to go back!

Winging It – Using scalloped lace for the Birch Panties Pattern

Tutorial, Videos January 27, 2023

I’m envious of those sewists who plan things out thoroughly and sew with intention and precision. That’s not to say my sewing isn’t excellent. I am very confident in the quality of my construction methods and demand a high level of quality from myself especially when making something for others. However, my methods can be quite chaotic… and I think there is actually some benefit to this chaos. I often come up with new ideas and techniques along the way. My mom always jokes with me that I don’t follow any of the rules and yet still end up with something beautiful.

I decided to turn this chaos into a series on my YouTube channel. I’ll just show you my designing/construction process, complete with the mistakes I make a long the way. I always liked that Bob Ross quote, “Happy accident.” So often a little mistake in my design will turn turn into a feature with a little creativity. For me, a design isn’t something I always initially see in completion. I get the idea or the feeling, and let it take a life of its own.

For this first episode, I wanted to use my Birch pattern (my current favourite for day-to-day wear), but I wanted to sew it entirely out of a relatively narrow stretch scalloped lace. I also prioritize comfort these days, so I wanted to sew them in a way that they would be pretty, but still comfortable for chasing after a toddler, working, and walks about town.

I’m really trying to grow my YouTube Channel. As I think more about what makes me happy, it’s just creating. Videos like this allow me to make practical use of that creative spark. I really appreciate the likes, comments and subs! It really does help the channel grow.

New Pattern! The Meadow Bra and Cami.

Uncategorized January 26, 2023

A while back, I stumbled upon some really pretty printed lace. First, there was the sunshine yellow daisy print lace… then I found some classic black and pink… and finally the most perfect lace with sprays of wildflowers… And I wanted a pattern that let the lace be the focal point.

The Daisy Bra is available made to order while fabric supplies last!

The yellow daisy bra has been available for a while now in my lingerie shop, and it’s been one of my most popular sets. I decided to build upon that style and turn it into a cami. I went a little outside my comfort zone and used darts instead of princess seams for shaping, but still used the enclosed seam method you’re likely used to using when sewing lingerie. I’m really happy with the results!

Because lace comes in so many different widths, the width of the lace you choose will effect the overall length of the camisole, if you choose to try out that variation. I’ll be posting a video in the coming weeks that discusses more in depth how to cut scalloped lace.

You can find the pattern in my Etsy Shop or Here. As always, I have videos on my YouTube Channel to help you sew the trickier parts.

My favourite gifts to make for the holidays

Uncategorized December 12, 2022

Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive a small commission through purchases made through the links in this post. This helps support my website so I can continue providing content! Thank you!

I love the holidays because it gives me a great opportunity to get crafty. I personally love giving and receiving handmade items, but sometimes when you are in a crunch it can be hard to get those creative gears turning. So, I’ve complied a list of items I personally love to make and give, and people actually really like receiving!

Underwear!

Duh! In my opinion, nice underwear is one of the best gifts you can receive. One of my favourite things about making undies is that they are pretty quick to sew and you can get a lot out of a meter of fabric! When my daughter started potty training, I made her a big batch Belle Undies (my kids pattern), and I often have been known to gift a pair of Celeste’s or two (my FREE pattern!) My current favourite pattern is my newest, the Birch Panties sewing pattern. It’s got a great, every day fit and would be fun sewn up in holiday prints.

Sleep masks

Sleep masks are a great gift to thrown in with a sleep mask, bubble bath, or candle. I like to make mine a little extra special by adding silk lining. I have a free Kitty sleep mask pattern available here.

Lingerie Wash Bags

Not sure what to get the lingerie-addict in your life? How about a handmade wash bag? I like the pattern I’ve developed because it lets you add a pop of print around the zipper. Download the FREE pattern here.

Handmade Choker Necklace

I was a teenager in the 90’s and early 00’s, so choker necklaces hold a special place in my heart. If you have left over strap elastic from any past lingerie projects, you can easily make one of my bra strap chokers. I like to add a pendant, like the resin one I made here. You can find the tutorial HERE.

Satin Hair Ties

Hair ties are great to add onto larger gifts, especially if you have any elastic in fun prints. I’ve got a tutorial for how to make these really cute and practical SEWN (not tied) Fold over elastic hair ties. Package them up on a little pieces of card stock and they make a great little gift or stocking stuffer. Get the tutorial Here.

Donut Pin Cushion

For your sewing obsessed friends, make them an adorable donut pin cushion. All you need is some felt, batting and embroidery thread. Throw in a few sewing supplies, like a nice pair of scissors or an assortment of colours of thread, and you’ve got a great gift for anyone crafty. Find the tutorial Here.

Hand Knit Socks

Like underwear, socks can be pretty underrated. I just started knitting again over this past year and have made myself 2 pairs of socks, and am working on a pair or two for christmas gifts. There’s just something about handmade socks. They’re like little hugs for your feet. I’ve been using the Crazy Sock Lady’s vanilla socks pattern. I like that she also has a walk through available on Youtube, which is great if you’re new to knitting, or just need a refresher.

Image courtesy Crazy Sock Lady on Etsy

Slippers

I make my mom slippers every single year. My go-to for the past several years was the Radella Slippers from IThinkSew. You can add little bits of embroidery and play around with fun linings. I usually add a non-slip fabric patches to the soles.

Last year I switched things up and crocheted her a pair of slippers from Make & Do Crew. I think I’ll do the same this year. She wears them pretty much every day so a new pair is needed!

Cardigans

Cardigans are nice because the fit is fairly flexible. I’ve made the Calgary Cardigan from Pattern Niche for my mom and myself, using lightweight rib knits, french terry, and my favouite, double sided stretch minky (otherwise known as cuddle). The minky one is my favourite. It’s so cozy, it feels like I’m wearing a snuggly robe all day.

Do you have any go-to holiday gifts that you love making? I’d love to hear about them!

Pin it!

Birch Tester Round Up!

Sewing Patterns, Uncategorized December 10, 2022

Birch came out a month ago but I’m just now getting around to posting some photos from the wonderful people who tested out the pattern for me before it was released.

If you are curious about becoming a tester, I usually put out a call in my Sewing Group on Facebook. The testing process is fairly simple. I give a list of questions that I’d like answered about the pattern… basic stuff like, “Can you put the pattern together? Were you able to follow the instructions? Did I inadvertently write a swear word anywhere?” I understand that sewing underwear is a little “intimate,” so sharing your photos with the world is totally up to you! But I know I like to show off my makes.

The Birch variation with the elastic around the waist and legs has become my go-to basic underwear pattern. I’ve literally got a few cut out, ready to be stitched up right here beside me. I’ve been living in high waist mom jeans and leggings + long skirt combos, and they feel really comfortable underneath. They just skim all the right places!

I won’t take up too much of your time. Let’s see what my friends sewed! I honestly am always so blown away by people’s creativity and skill. Thank you so much to everyone who donates their time and efforts to help me out with my patterns.

Eloise made two pairs! For this pretty lace back pair, she added elastic around the front.
Kelly made and modeled this pair for me! I love them paired with the oversized sweater.
For this floral pair, Eloise followed the basic “No Show” instructions.
Kelly used Cloud 9 fabric from Halo Fabric Addicts (I love this supplier)
Tori @lachesisandco made these neutral pair with Nylon/Spandex Fabric from Blue Moon Fabrics
Camille, who was pregnant at the time, tested out a pair for me! She found she got a bit of rolling due to changes in her body, but they still worked out for her!

If you are looking for sewing inspiration in my IG feeds, feel free to follow these amazing sewists!

A simple fix for too-narrow lace

Tutorial, Videos November 29, 2022

Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a small commission from applicable purchases made through the links in this post. This helps keep my website running! Thank you so much.

I’m working on a new sewing pattern that is specifically for stretch lace. I know sometimes it can be a real struggle to find stretch lace in the right width. Sometimes you find that just-right shade but it’s an inch or two too narrow. I’ve posted a photo tutorial on how to remedy this problem, but with my new lace pattern coming out, I thought I’d re-visit it in video form.

Can you spot where I fixed my too-narrow lace?

This tutorial is really simple. There’s no measuring. No adapting patterns… just some simple applique. I demonstrate my technique using the Claudia Pattern, but this works for pretty much any sewing pattern that requires a scalloped stretch lace. If you’re looking for stretch lace, Mint Frog on Etsy has a great selection!

I’ve really been enjoying uploading to YouTube and my blog more often. As easy as Instagram and Tiktok are for quick posts, it’s nice to spend a little time and hash things out in a longer format.

I was feeling really good last month. I was productive and things seemed to be getting back to “normal,” with my kids in school and daycare regularly…. no threats of further shut downs. But then having Oliver pass… then Lila in the hospital… then Isabel & I with the flu… and daycare went on vacation… and now Dan is sick… I feel like I’m starting over again. It always seems like once I lose that momentum, it’s so hard to pick it back up again.

On the bright side, business is busy again. I’m hoping I can pace myself in such a way that I still have time for posting more on YouTube, just because I really enjoy it!

Fabric Unboxing!

Reviews November 17, 2022

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through affiliate links may earn me a small commission. This helps me to continue to provide sewing related content! Fabrics shown in this post were purchased with my own money and opinions are my own.

I’ve often heard it said in many of my sewing/knitting/crochet groups that the act of buying fabric/yard/patterns and the act of sewing/knitting/crocheting are two different hobbies. And I couldn’t agree more… I just love the possibilities that a new yard or two of fabric holds!

I also am always looking for new Canadian sources of fabric. Over the past couple of years I’ve found a couple shops that have become a go-to when looking for new prints and basics. During one of my many searches, I came across Bibs & Boots Fabric, which is based out of Saskatchewan.

The thing that first drew me to this shop was their selection of bamboo jersey & rib knits. They have lots Euro knits and some customs too!

So, about a week or two ago, I was looking for some fabrics to sew up a couple samples of a new pattern I’m working on (and some things for my own personal use), so I thought I’d give them a try!

I purchased 4 different rib knits. They all have a great feel and the dainty florals are perfect for what I have in mind.

This is my second “Unboxing” video I’ve uploaded to my Youtube Channel. I usually get so excited on fabric delivery day that I tear into the box before even thinking to press record, but I’m going to try to share more of these with you! One of my favourite things about buying from smaller companies like this one is the personal touches they add, like a had written note or a little surprise gift. I try to do that with my own business. A hand written note just gives you that bit of connection with the person on the other end of the purchase!

Let me know if there are any other shops you’d be interested in seeing!

Cutting No-Shows and beginner tips

Sewing Patterns, Tutorial, Uncategorized November 11, 2022

This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission on qualifying items purchased through affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

The Birch No Show Panties was a fun project for me because the techniques were something new! While the cut may be pretty classic, the sewing techniques were really different.

Because the No Show variation of these undies has no elastic you want to make sure it your cut edge is nice and clean. Normally, my go to for cutting is a good pair of scissors, but a rotary cutter is also an excellent way to get a clean cut.

I like this 18mm rotary cutter. It’s small and compact and is great for cutting around small pieces you often find with lingerie sewing patterns.

Don’t forget you’ll also need a cutting mat if you are new to rotary cutters!

The pattern as it prints is to be placed on the fold. I was able to cut through two layers with my rotary cutter. However, you may want to mirror your front and back pattern pieces if you find cutting through two layers of fabric is a little too tricky. I recently uploaded a video walking you through how to neatly cut your own pair of Birch No Show’s, but these tips and techniques will work for any no show garment.