Dionne Warr, Seamstress

I spent a few days this week creating this blazer. I’ll be wearing it to The Nutcracker on Saturday.

It’s a new record for the "biggest” prom dress I’ve ever hemmed. This is the 52 meters (give or take) that I cut off the bottom of one dress. The picture really doesn’t do it justice, as the pile is not only 24"x36" but also about 6" high.

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Update: It’s finished! There are still some discoloured spots, especially on the back. But the mustiness washed out. I’m so happy to have helped my grandmother finish her quilt. 💝

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My grandmother Gertrude (1907-2007) was a quilter. She hand pieced and hand quilted this quilt but didn’t finish it. It still needs to be bound.

The quilt is old, it’s discoloured, and it has a musty smell. I’m not sure I can save it but I’m going to try! The fabric I’m using to bind it also comes from her fabric stash.

Unlike my grandmother, though, I’m going to machine sew the binding onto the front of the quilt. She would have hand stitched it, I think. Then I’ll hand stitch it on the back.

Wish me luck!

My grandmother Gertrude (1907-2007) was a quilter. She hand pieced and hand quilted this quilt but didn’t finish it. It still needs to be bound.

The quilt is old, it’s discoloured, and it has a musty smell. I’m not sure I can save it but I’m going to try! The fabric I’m using to bind it also comes from her fabric stash.

Unlike my grandmother, though, I’m going to machine sew the binding onto the front of the quilt. She would have hand stitched it, I think. Then I’ll hand stitch it on the back.

Wish me luck!

Whew! It was a double game of thread chicken.

Have you ever wondered what happens to the fabric scraps when I’m finished making/altering your items? I try my hardest to keep the scraps out of the landfill. Today this bin of scraps was turned into pet bedding to be donated to the SPCA. Even the boat fabric was off cuts from a client job and they’re stuffed with more scraps.

I started sewing in grade 7 Home Ec. class. The first garment I made (after the teacher-assigned introductory pattern) was a skirt that gathered into a fitted yoke. It was too big for me, but it was the pattern that made me realize that I could sew the clothes that I wanted to wear.

I’m currently teaching a young lady to sew and she chose a pattern nearly identical to the skirt that I made. I hope it ignites a love of sewing in her like it did for me.

Yesterday this was a mens XL sweater.

I am frequently contacted by people who are interested in buying a sewing machine but don’t know what to buy, so here are my suggestions:

1. You probably don’t need a machine with a lot of fancy stitches. You can make an entire wardrobe with just a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch. If you can afford a little more, a buttonholer is the next most important option.

2. Do you need a new machine? Or can you buy a second hand machine? I suggest a new machine for the simple reason that they’re easier to use. Things like automatic tension control make new machines a lot easier to sew on than your grandmother’s old machine.

3. Where should you buy your machine? I can’t answer this one but I can give you the information you need to make that decision. Big box stores, Amazon, and the shopping channel sell machines at lower prices than sewing machine stores, but they don’t service the machines. And sewing machine dealers aren’t like car dealers; just because you bought a Janome machine doesn’t mean that the Janome dealer near you will be willing to fix your machine if it breaks. But if you had bought the machine directly from the dealer, they would. Plus a dealer will give you a crash course before you take your new machine home.

4. What is the best brand? I don’t think there is a best brand, necessarily. Off the top of my head I’d say Janome, Brother, and Bernina are all excellent choices. I’m sure there are others as well.

Did I miss anything? Leave a comment if I’ve skipped the question you wanted me to answer.

They paved today! And our city councillor says everything will be finished next week. I know some of you have been waiting to hear from me. As soon as they open our street, I’ll start contacting you to set up appointments.

I know nothing about road construction but to me it looks like construction may be nearing an end. I’ll let everyone know when the roads around here are open and I can take on all of those projects that you’ve been hanging on to. Thank you so much for waiting for me.

This was so much fun to do! Zoe wanted to be a WWII All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player for Halloween. This is what we came up with. It’s longer than the original uniform so she can wear pants underneath (for warmth while trick or treating). She cut out the “16” and made the “Z”on her hat herself.

Yes! Teach people sew and bring the jobs back.

Supply chain woes present opportunity for domestic sewing production in largely outsourced industry From jeans to parachutes and baseballs, many things involve some amount of sewing. It’s an industry that's primarily gone overseas in recent decades, but pandemic supply chain problems have companies reconsidering.

In support of the Cole Harbour Comets U13 Blue travel team, I’ve made softball scrunchies. Profits from the sale of the scrunchies will help cover team costs. You can purchase your scrunchies directly from me. Scrunchies are $5 each.
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It’s been a long two years. Today I am happy to announce that I am reopening the sewing room. I look forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new ones as I help you with your sewing and alterations.

Dionne Warr, Seamstress updated their business hours.