Thread Lightly Sewing

I read the other day that the opposite of depression isn't joy... it's expression. I love making things out of all the scraps that pile up around here. This little wall hanging has already found its new home and I'm so pleased!

🙌

Aka hard to control 💅

*spinners not weavers, but same concept in terms of financial indepedence, even tho they were often labeled as poor

Custom-made fancy jacket for a mother-of-the-groom outfit! It went with a deep green gown. I had a great time deciding where to put all the paisley designs!

🧵🪡 Had the best time this weekend in Philadelphia taking a workshop with !!! Five students helped each other draft our "personal slopers" - basically a 2D map of the 3D body. I learned SO MUCH and send a million thanks to our teacher Ruby!!

Now the real fun starts: using the sloper as a base to make patterns & clothes for myself! I have a few designs in mind so stay tuned for that!! I also gained so many tips and tricks and understanding about fitting fabric to the body, that will help me do better adjustments for you at the shop. So hit me up with your weirdly-fitting clothing and we'll figure it out! 🧵🪡
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Do you have a pair of pants, skirt or dress that you'd like a little (or a lot) shorter, but you need more confidence before bringing out the scissors? Come to this class! Bring your garment and we'll go through the whole hemming process, from fitting and measuring to cutting and sewing. Experience with a sewing machine preferred but savvy beginners welcome.
Sewing Machines available!

I haven't posted in a while... yes, I'm still doing mending and alterations... but here's a sneak preview of things on the horizon! 🧵🪡
animals

Excited for to open next door in very soon!! As well as aprons and furnishings, I got to make this custom chef coat for Chef Kuukua 🤩. Yes, I do custom garments!

Make sure to follow and stop in when they open!

Re-found! I remember making this felt needle book when I was about 12 - a formative memory of blanket stitch - but didn't know where it was until I was at my brother's house the other night and asked for a sewing kit. There it was!

What textile memories do you have, found, re-found or unfound?

Sewing your own clothes is fun and empowering! Join me to make this easy/intermediate linen top at 🪡👕 Experience with a sewing machine is required. Register and check out other class offerings: https://www.sewgreenithaca.com/education.html

Working on samplers for my Slow Stitch workshop starting this Thursday! Learn any or all of these embroidery stitches and make your own textile art - No experience required! Materials and tools provided, but you are welcome to bring a special piece of fabric you'd like to work with.

May 23, June 6, and June 20, 6:00-7:30 pm
$25 a session or pre-register for all three for $65

Register at https://www.sewgreenithaca.com/education.html

I'm hosting a slow stitch workshop series starting next week ! Relax your mind while learning basic embroidery stitches and making a one-of-a-kind piece of textile art. No experience required! Materials and tools provided, but you are welcome to bring a special piece of fabric you'd like to work with.

May 23, June 6, and June 20, 6:00-7:30 pm
$25 a session or pre-register for all three for $65

Register at https://www.sewgreenithaca.com/education.html

Excited to be teaching this class at starting tonight! Message if you'd like to join us for one or more sessions!

Repair and Wear:

Handmending Series  

4:00-5:30pm Thursdays at SewGreen. Starts Mar. 21

Week 1: Classic Darning

Week 2: Swiss Darning

Week 3: Basic Patching

Week 4: Sashiko Patching

Week 5: Visible Mending

$75 a person for the series or $20 a class.

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Bring your own clothing to practice on and repair. Suggested items: sweaters or socks with holes, jeans with holes, etc. Tools and thread will be available to use during the class. 

Taught by Seamstress Margaret Ball of Thread Lightly Sewing. No experience necessary, beginners welcome.

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Hey - just a quick note to say THANK YOU ALL🙏🙏🙏 for the amazing word of mouth referrals you have given me around town. It's been the lifeblood of this business from Day 1 and I'm deeply grateful!!!!! My shelves and hangers are full and I can almost see Spring 🌱🌤 from the amount of sewing I have to do right now! THANK YOU!! 🙏🙏🙏

Did you know... there's a quilt hanging in Ithaca City Hall, right outside the council chambers?

I made my first public comment this Weds. and could not resist a snapshot. I wonder who made it, and why?

The text reads:

GIVE ME YOUR SCRAPS, YOUR CLOTH
YOUR CASTOFF FABRIC YEARNING TO WEAVE FREE
THE REMNANT REFUSE FROM SEWN CLOTHING MADE
SEND ME THE UNUSED YARDAGE TOSSED ASIDE
I STITCH MY CRAFT THROUGH ALL WITH GOLDEN THREAD

(Sorry about the glare)

Slow stitch wall art by yours truly, now for sale at SewGreen !! Let me know your interpretations - I'd love to hear! And if you want to know my interpretations, I'll share ☺️

There is nothing quite like replacing a zipper. And to quote my father-in-law, broken zippers affect everyone!

Having replaced dozens at this point, I can say I have a greater appreciation for the nuance and variety. Some zippers have just a single line of stitching on each side. Many have 2 lines per side, some up to 3 or 4! Some involve a lining stitched to the inside, the whole way -- some at just the top or bottom -- some not at all. Some have a backing strip attached behind one side. Some have a binding that encases the zipper tape and fabric edge at the back. And don't get me started on the types of zippers themselves, let alone color-matching! (I love color- matching, though the photo item had a contrast zipper for style).

What's going on with your zippers? Take a peek and appreciate whoever sewed them!!

Anyway! If you need a zipper replaced, give me a shout to get on the wait list. 607-228-0111 (text ok) or [email protected]. 🙂

Yes.... I'll darn moth holes! I like darning, it's very satisfying. Here I've done a woven darn in matching thread, but we can customize and do a contrast thread if you like, and even a "knitted darn" with yarn for a seamless finish.

Contact me at 607-228-0111 or [email protected] to get on the wait list 🙂

Sorting and dreaming this afternoon... what do you like to do with scraps? Let me know in the comments!

My DICE / MAKEUP BAGS are getting popular over at .bags ! These make a great gift and can store *any* small treasures in the many pockets. Here is an astronomy themed bag holding multicolor treasure stones from !!

Stop in at Envious Handbags .bags to see the full range of colors/ fabrics available. More are on the way! And I'll take custom orders of theme and colors too, get them in now for the holidays!

Getting married next year?
Do you know what you're wearing?

Bridal is not the focus of Thread Lightly Sewing, but I will be open to a LIMITED number of bridal alterations clients for the 2024 season. If you'd like to be among them, please send me an email SOON ([email protected]) . Include your date and a summary of your needs with regard to alterations, and we'll go from there.

"Splurged" on some new tools for Thread Lightly and they just arrived... feeling like a kid in a candy store 😂

Thank you all soooooo much for supporting my small business! 💖🥰 Coming up on 1 year!
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Fall theme embroidered scarf commission is brightening my cloudy day today 🍂🍁

What images would you put on a scarf?

🧵 Tucking the sides and sleeves of a men's dress shirt for a trimmer fit.

🪡 The pins here are left from the fitting process - NOT holding things in the right place to actually stitch - thus i took reference photos to get to next step.

This is not a tutorial or method suggestion: just a 😅. Someone wise a few months ago suggested I do fittings with the clothes inside out whenever possible to make this "translation" step easier and quicker. Did I do that this time? No. Next time? I'll try to remember, and maybe post a pic 😉.