My first small business was started back in 2003/2004 selling dyed hemp and organic cotton fabric by the yard, and handmade clothing made from those fabrics. I did solid dyed and what I termed "marinaded". Those days seem so long ago, but I recently tried my hand at it again again, and found my love for doing it hadn't died! While I don't plan to start selling hand dyed fabrics again, I do plan to use a bit in our current collection at Sew BeYouTful. Soon you'll be able to purchase adult and child cocoon cardigans as well as layered/gathered circle skirts. We will start by offering a one color- marinade (in avocado, rust, and eggplant) and a multi colored...
Have you ever wondered what a "drop" is or what "tat" means? Slow Fashion or Small Shops might have a few abbreviations or terms you're unfamiliar with - until you know, and then it explains a lot! When I was first asked, "what's your TAT?" I started to describe what my tattoos, happy to share - but wondering what that had to do with sewing. I soon found out that TAT stands for Turn Around Time (the time it takes to for items to ship after they are ordered). This is important in Slow Fashion when items might not be made until you order. Sometimes this is because as a small shop, it's hard to invest the resources in a...
One of my personal goals has been to slow down. As a mom to a young (and very energetic) son, a wife, part-time barista, and full-time owner/designer at Sew Beyoutful – slowing down is a challenge. I know I’m not alone, no matter what your “job title” or responsibilities are. We live in a world that is fast! Everyone wants everything at every moment of our day it seems. Every day. As a small handmade business, we talk about Slow Fashion and the intentionality behind it. Quality, sustainability, fair wage/trade, and less waste are all things that go into Slow Fashion. So, trying to apply some of those same practices to my life and business, I’ve been thinking of ways...
A good pattern hack always starts with a good pattern and the Apple Tree Pattern hooded dress is perfect in so many ways! The oversized hood is our absolute favorite and the grow with me features make it so versatile. You can buy the pattern here (affiliate link): Hooded Grow With Me Dress This hack is so simple and I can’t promise exact measurements or pattern pieces, but I’ve had many people ask for a tutorial, so here you go! I first took the front bodice piece and traced the pattern as a whole bodice front instead of being cut on the fold. I then took the front curve at the bottom left corner and curved it up to the right...
