A free guide, a new workshop, and six quilters from Quebec
Published 17 days ago • 3 min read
My latest class project - the Merchant & Mills Florence (my 4th one)
Hello Reader,
Something has been coming up again and again with my current students, especially the ones who are newer to garment sewing and ready to work with patterns for the first time.
They have a lot of questions about the beginning.
Not the construction. Not the sewing. The part that comes before all of that. Reading a size chart properly. Understanding what finished garment measurements actually tell you. Preparing a pattern so it's truly ready to work with. Laying out and cutting fabric accurately & efficiently. Marking notches and darts so that when assembly begins, everything makes sense.
These are the steps most classes treat as something to get through quickly before the real work starts. But my students kept showing me that this foundation deserves its own proper attention. That when you truly understand these steps, the sewing itself gets easier, more enjoyable, and a lot less frustrating.
So I've built a new workshop to fill that gap. I'm calling it Handmade Wardrobe Essentials. We gave early access to our online community members & our recent workshops students just last night and the class is half full already!
More on that below, along with a free guide I made this week, and news of our very first Handmade Getaway of 2026.
Excited for a crafty weekend! Karyn
P.S. If you've been wanting a clear, thorough reference for everything your sewing machine does, my Sewing Machine Essentials ebook is still available and at $29 it's the most affordable way to dive deep. OR If you sign up for the March Workshop, you'll get a copy of the ebook instantly. Get the ebook only →
A FREE GUIDE FOR YOU! I made something this week that I've been meaning to make for years. It's called The Tension Fix, a free one-page guide to diagnosing and fixing sewing machine tension problems, step by step.
If tension has ever felt like a mystery, this is for you. I've been teaching this material in person for a long time and this part of the lesson always makes a big impact.
It's one page and printable. I think you'll have at least one "wait, WHAT?" moment.
Sewing Machine Essentials Starting March 31st The Tension Fix is really just the beginning of what I cover in Sewing Machine Essentials, my new 6-week online workshop starting Tuesday March 31 at 7pm EST.
The section on tension is where even experienced sewists say things like :
I was finally able to watch this video - so helpful! You have demystified tension for me. Life changing - Laurie W
This class is for you if you've been sewing for years but still feel unsure at your machine. If you freeze when something goes wrong. If you rely on the same settings because the rest feel mysterious.
Over six weeks we'll cover threading, tension, stitches, presser feet, precision techniques, and simple maintenance with short focused video lessons and weekly live Zoom sessions. Lifetime access to everything.
We had a few requests about our Early Bird offer last week and extended the $25 discount though the end of February if you want to grab a spot for some life changing tips.
HANDMADE GARMENT ESSENTIALS Two sessions · March 17 & 24 · 6–8pm EST Online via Zoom Session 1 - Monday March 17 · Before You Cut Reading a size chart and finished garment measurements · understanding ease · tools that actually help · pattern prep (tracing vs. cutting vs. PDF) · understanding your cutting layout · open conversation and questions
Session 2 - Monday March 24 · From Cut to Ready to Sew Laying out your fabric carefully · pins vs. pattern weights · scissors vs. rotary cutter · efficient cutting · marking notches and darts · pre-finishing and serging · open conversation and questions
I'll be using the Merchant & Mills Nevis Skirt as my demo pattern throughout. If you'd like to follow along, it's available from us in PDF, wide format print, and paper versions.
BEFORE the Sewing Begins : Just arrived in Sprucedale!
OUR FIRST HANDMADE GETAWAY for 2026 Suzanne came to Sprucedale in 2024 on her own for a retreat weekend. This weekend she came back with five friends from Quebec. Six quilters, a historic general store sewing studio, and three days of meals made from scratch at Santosha Organic Farm down the road.
This is exactly what we hoped for when we moved to Sprucedale.
If you have a group of maker friends and you've been thinking about a weekend like this, the Handmade Getaway is bookable for 2026. You choose the dates, we handle everything else.
Merchant & Mills : PREORDER LANDED! Our Merchant & Mills Community Preorder has cleared customs and is on its way - arriving early next week.
A handful of Weekender Bag Hardware Kits and Project Kits are still available and these will go fast once they arrive. If you've been waiting, now is the time to reserve yours, especially if you want to join our Community Sew Along for this travel bag.
And if the paper pattern sells out before you get there, the PDF version is available instantly, with the option to have us print and ship your A0 copy directly to you.
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