My Top Ten Sewing Blogs

The other night I was reading through my bloglovin' list...which had gotten quite full...and I found these two posts by Madalynne, Best Sewing Blogs 2014 - Part One and Part Two.  It's an interesting list but what caught my attention was that she typed into Google the simplest key words for finding a sewing blog, "best sewing blogs."  From that exercise, Madalynne went on to email every blogger on her blog roll (over a hundred) to gather their lists of "the best of" categories she created.  If you click on the links above you can see the final list.

I went to bed that night but that list kept coming back to me because it's a wonderful list full of talented, young sewists.  It's the perfect list for the new sewist, the young and hip sewist, or the returning to sewing sewist but what if you are a more advanced sewist?  What if you've moved past learning to sew and are looking for more?  What if you've been at this a minute and you've seen the various cycles come and go in the sewing community? Seen pattern makers and patterns come and go?  Styles change? Even the way you sew change? Where do you go to advance to the next level?  Do you wait for the community you're presently following to take you there or do you step out on your own and look for more?

Sometimes when I'm traveling through the vast sewing blogland, it can seem segmented...like the newer/just learning/rediscovering sewing sewists are in one group and the sewist who has been sewing for years in another one. Lately I've felt there needs to be a bridge between those two segments bringing us all together because we're all really in love with the same thing - the art of taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into a three dimensional garment.  Whether we refashion it, we make a vintage garment, we sew for children or our homes, we sew the latest fashions or we sew amazing art to wear garments, we are all passionate about the same thing - creating using needle, thread and fabric.

So to totally riff off Madalynne, I've listed ten sewing blogs that make me a better sewist.  Please realize that this is my list and I'm going to give you the opportunity to tell me yours at the end of this post.

MY Top Ten Sewing Blogs~
Here are my ten.  Ten women who inspire me.  Ten women who make me think about my sewing journey and how to improve and continue to grow.  Ten amazing sewing women:

1. SunnyGal Studio Sewing
First choice hands down.  I've learned so much from Beth lately that it has me rethinking how I sew. I highly encourage you to visit her blog to take your sewing to the next level!

2. Ann of Gorgeous Things
The Pressinatrix...need I say more! Okay I will ~ seriously pressing is so important to a great finished garment and Ann has you totally covered there.

3. Rolling in Cloth
Claudine sews out of the box, amazingly, awesome garments. She sews what I'd like to wear but can't because of my workplace. Her journeys are always fun and interesting.

4. Frabjous Couture
Marina IS a couture sewist. She drafts and sews "the couture" way. I learn so much from her and now she's talking about hand embroidery...be still my heart!

5. A Challenging Sew
I've just found Leisa's blog in the last six months and I'm fascinated with her Little French Jackets, the sew-along and now her Marfy adventures, it all makes me want to sew better!

6. SewPassionista by Diana
Diana has amazing tutorials and she sews for her retired/casual lifestyle which is the opposite of mine. However, she makes wonderful pieces that are thoughtful well sewn garments.

7. Sigrid - sewing projects
Sigrid sews the most awesome lingerie.  I have no desire to sew lingerie but I always have my nose pressed up against the glass - figuratively - when she posts a new lingerie make.  Also, she is a thoughtful sewist and I love to read about her journeys.

8. Couture et Tricot
I want to be Tany when I grow up.  Her sewing and tailoring skills are extraordinary.  She took a short break to have her son but she is back and turning out jaw-dropping garments.  Definitely check her out!

9. The Mahogany Stylist
Cennetta always says I inspire her but I learn so much from her. Her pattern alterations are awesome and easy to follow.  Now she's blogging for the Mood Sewing Network so expect some seriously fantastical garments come your way!

10. Sew Melodic
Melody is my new blog crush but the girl brings it. The detail and work she puts into her garments, the pattern alterations she makes and the fact that she's a little bit vintage and a little bit current...awesome!


The Art to Wear Stitchers ~
I have one other sewing blogger list to share.  It's a smaller list but their sewing is different and original.  It's out of the box and they sew from the patterns that aren't widely shared on the popular blogs...but people these women bring it!  I call these the Art to Wear Stitchers and they are:

1.  Communing with Fabric
Shams sews, dyes, uses unusual closures and loves Style Arc patterns.  Her garments make me look at the sewing process differently.  I love her style even though its so different from mine.

2.  A Fool for Fabric
Margy sews these amazing garments that have an artistic slant. Her latest garment a studded jacket was just a feast for the eyes and a wonderful learning experience.  I always look at patterns differently after she uses them.

3.  Myrna Giesbrecht
Myrna's blog is really about the journey and the process.  How do you get there?  What choices do you make? How do to this better? It's always an interesting read.

4.  Marcy Tilton
The Queen of Art to Wear sewists.  Her blog is an orgy of garments that use unusual fabrics, different sewing techniques and those Vogue patterns that she designs.


Fashion Bloggers ~
I follow three and only three true fashion bloggers.  I like them because they are concise, to the point and give me 3 or 4 good pictures of their outfits. I'm not hammered over the head with their looks.  These are the three I follow...

Atlantic Pacific

9 to 5 Chic

The Classy Cubicle

Your choices ~
Now if you've made it this far, here is your opportunity to tell me what blogs you like. What are your go to blogs - the ones you can't do without!?!  

Here's the criteria ~ 

• Please do not list a blog that's already been included in this post.  
• Also there's no need to list mine, I mean you're here reading so obviously you like mine.  
• List your top five with the designation if they are a sewing blog, a fashion blog, vintage, art to wear or other by using the letter designation below.  

                              S - sewing blog

                              F - fashion blog

                              V - vintage

                              A - Art to Wear

                              O - other

You have until Friday, February 21st to submit your choices.  I will close the comments that evening, compile the list and The Top Ten Viewer Choice blogs will be posted here on Sunday, February 23rd. All of the lists will be added to a page at the top of my blog for everyone to peruse again and again. 

I hope you'll participate.  It will really be interesting to see what a cross section of bloggers think are their go to sewing blogs.  Remember we are building bridges...joining our sewing community together...celebrating the uniqueness of each and every one of us! Okay with the rah rah said, get those typing fingers ready and comment! *LOL*


...as always more later!