Hi, my name is Leila. I love sewing, spinning, weaving, and gardening. My long term goal is to grow, spin, knit and weave fibers to make clothes for my family. I’m taking it a step at a time. First I’m learning to make clothes that really fit, because if I’m putting hundreds of hours into a garment, I don’t want it to be uncomfortable and look like a blocky art project.
I plan on growing sheep, flax, and possibly nettles. There is plenty of information available on working with wool and other animal fibers, but few people are growing plant fibers at home these days. I’m excited about rediscovering those skills.
Feel free to comment on any of my posts, no matter how old they are. I’d love to hear what you have to say.
GrowYourOwnClothes Etsy Shop
Grow Your Own Clothes 
Do you have a DIY on making a serger thread rack?
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The only post I currently have about serger thread is making serger thread spools.
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I’ve made a few for work (textiles teacher) I used wide dowel (for overlocker cones) and marked up the board with distance between each spool so they wouldn’t touch and then I drilled holes with a hole saw and glued them in and then it was screwed to the cabinet. I didn’t do any fancy angles they stayed on fine, providing the dowel was longer than the spool so the dowel pokes out of the spool hole at the top.
I have also made thread spool holders too, one with thin dowel and another using large nails so I could put the bobbin on first then the spool of thread. same process, but this was flat on the shelf not screwed to the wall.
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I have just put a picture on my blog of the school sewing cupboard Jan 2015 I fit out.
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Hi I’m TINO what I’m going to use for my armhole to fit with my sleeves
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Hi Leila, I just have to say you are simply awesome. Your blog will be my go-to for a lot of sewing questions. Thanks for being generous
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Love, love, LOVE that you rescue, restore, and reuse VSM. I, too, suffer from VSMAD. The struggle is real!
Keep treadling, my sister! 😘
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Rescuing vintage sewing machines is a good way to look at it. I was feeling guilty about having too many machines, but if I’m rescuing them, I’m doing a good thing, and it doesn’t matter how many I have, right?
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You can never have too many machines, patterns or fabric!
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I love your blog page. thank you Leila.
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Love your Tiffany!
Maybe that thread got caught when she was fairly new. I note that the decorations are not worn looking. My favorite machine wasn’t made until 1929, and her decorations are quite worn in the front, where the sewer’s right hand/wrist rested in the front, between the needle and the arm. (Just plain gold – not the beautiful colored ones Tiffany boasts.)
Thank you for letting us in on your collecting. ! I feel absolved from gluttony. Indeed, nearly ascetic with my two machines – well, depending on how you count. My Domestic treadle is missing the leather belt from treadle to the flywheel, the other is just a “toy” — a tiny old clamp-on Singer chain-stitch. A crafty friend tells me that counts as four – but really!?
Good luck designing clothes that FIT! Nothing makes more difference than fit. If you’re struggling with patterns, try Donald McCunn’s “How to Make Sewing Patterns.”
Penny
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Hi. I have an old Singer 478. My mother used to sew on a treadle Pfaff machine, which I regret having sold. I am sorry because the control of speed is better (?), and there is some workout… I was thinking of buying a Janome 721T, and I am glad that I saw your review. On which electric machine would you recommend for learning to use?
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Except for my serger and cover stitch machines, I only sew on treadle sewing machines, so I really don’t know what to recommend for an electric machine. Everyone’s needs and preferences are different anyway. Once you have a machine you are considering, I would suggest checking out the sewing machine reviews on patternreview.com. There are reviews for both modern and vintage machines there.
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just found your blog. Love it!
here’s a blog post about diy cardboard calipers i thought you might enjoy –
http://www.ikatbag.com/2011/06/cardboard-not-really-vernier-callipers.html
i made a set and they work great. i used to use Kenneth D. King’s method before i found these.
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Thanks for the tip. I added a link to the cardboard calipers to my post on measuring body width.
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What an interesting goal to have! As a quilter I like to do as much of the process myseld (design and sewing etc) but making my own fabrics hasn’t even crossed my mind yet. I will enjoy following your endeavours 🙂
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The concept of “growing clothing” caught my eye. I am interested in what you have to say. How exciting and useful!
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