Rachel Russell
@stitchflourish.bsky.social
🧵Sewing teacher and enthusiast.
🪡Interested in how the history of sewing and making can offer us meaning today.
she/her
stitchflourish.com
🪡Interested in how the history of sewing and making can offer us meaning today.
she/her
stitchflourish.com
Just spotted a Vogue Patterns ad in the September 2000 issue of Vogue magazine while flipping through the archives. I'd forgotten that home sewing and high fashion were still sharing the same page in the 21st century! #sewsky #vintagesewing
June 3, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Just spotted a Vogue Patterns ad in the September 2000 issue of Vogue magazine while flipping through the archives. I'd forgotten that home sewing and high fashion were still sharing the same page in the 21st century! #sewsky #vintagesewing
This dress belonged to my friend Nora's grandma. It didn't quite fit and the zipper had come undone, but with a few tweaks it fits me perfectly. Whenever I wear it, I think of Nora.
That's what I love about sewing. It's not just about clothes. It's about honoring what matters. #sewsky #vintagesewing
That's what I love about sewing. It's not just about clothes. It's about honoring what matters. #sewsky #vintagesewing
April 19, 2025 at 12:01 AM
This dress belonged to my friend Nora's grandma. It didn't quite fit and the zipper had come undone, but with a few tweaks it fits me perfectly. Whenever I wear it, I think of Nora.
That's what I love about sewing. It's not just about clothes. It's about honoring what matters. #sewsky #vintagesewing
That's what I love about sewing. It's not just about clothes. It's about honoring what matters. #sewsky #vintagesewing
Reposted by Rachel Russell
The smallest (and most delicate) of discoveries from our ongoing dig at Winterborne Kingston #Dorset is this 40mm long Iron Age sewing needle
Carved from animal bone just over 2,000 years ago 😍
📷 June 2016
#FindsFriday
Carved from animal bone just over 2,000 years ago 😍
📷 June 2016
#FindsFriday
March 7, 2025 at 6:44 AM
The smallest (and most delicate) of discoveries from our ongoing dig at Winterborne Kingston #Dorset is this 40mm long Iron Age sewing needle
Carved from animal bone just over 2,000 years ago 😍
📷 June 2016
#FindsFriday
Carved from animal bone just over 2,000 years ago 😍
📷 June 2016
#FindsFriday
I wrote a little about value of making mistakes in sewing (and in life).
The Pocket That Wasn’t: On Sewing, Mistakes, and the Joy of Experimentation - stitch & flourish
I was on a mission: add pockets to every skirt and dress I own. What could go wrong? As it turns out—plenty! Anyone familiar with the absence of pockets in their garments knows the power of a well-pla...
stitchflourish.com
March 7, 2025 at 4:38 AM
I wrote a little about value of making mistakes in sewing (and in life).
"[T]heir performances are an expression of feminist empowerment, putting an often devalued form of labour into a different context... highlighting and recontextualising the skill of sewing is also intended as a thoughtful critique of the contemporary fashion landscape."
Needle drop! The world’s first sewing machine orchestra takes Munich
This weekend, a symphony of Singers (not that kind) will lead an experimental performance that stitches together feminism and fashion – and offers the audience free repairs
www.theguardian.com
February 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
"[T]heir performances are an expression of feminist empowerment, putting an often devalued form of labour into a different context... highlighting and recontextualising the skill of sewing is also intended as a thoughtful critique of the contemporary fashion landscape."
Movies you've watched more than six times, using gifs only
February 22, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Movies you've watched more than six times, using gifs only
Love this so much.
I'm brand new to Bluesky, still learning how it all works. I'm a fiber artist, usually working with upcycled fabric scraps. I've been stitching my feelings lately, and this is my latest embroidery project - Sunbonnet Sue, Days of Rage collection. It's inspired by the 1930's Sunbonnet Sue designs.
February 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Love this so much.
This is such a bummer for makers and sewists! I've long had a love/hate relationship with Joanns, but this is such a disappointment to lose 500 (!!) stores. For so many, Joanns is the only place to get sewing supplies locally. No more running out to get that forgotten zipper at the end of a project.
For all my fellow crafters 🧶: this site has a list of planned store closings 😢 www.joannrestructuring.com
Looks like 1 Joann in my area will remain for now, but they are closing 500 of their 800 stores 😱
#crochet #knitting #crafts
Looks like 1 Joann in my area will remain for now, but they are closing 500 of their 800 stores 😱
#crochet #knitting #crafts
JOANN Restructuring
Serving Customers as We Seek To Maximize the Value of our Business
www.joannrestructuring.com
February 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
This is such a bummer for makers and sewists! I've long had a love/hate relationship with Joanns, but this is such a disappointment to lose 500 (!!) stores. For so many, Joanns is the only place to get sewing supplies locally. No more running out to get that forgotten zipper at the end of a project.
I've been having fun experimenting with sewing beeswax food storage bags! This round I added a little jojoba oil (¾ tsp to 2 tbsp of wax for an 18" X 22" bag). The jojoba made the bag softer and more flexible than the wax alone. #sewsky
February 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I've been having fun experimenting with sewing beeswax food storage bags! This round I added a little jojoba oil (¾ tsp to 2 tbsp of wax for an 18" X 22" bag). The jojoba made the bag softer and more flexible than the wax alone. #sewsky
Made my first beeswax bread bag with scraps— now to try some fun colors!
February 7, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Made my first beeswax bread bag with scraps— now to try some fun colors!
I’m usually terrible at quick project decisions, but here I am on February 6 ready to start sewing the #bernadetteskirt from @fridaypatternco.bsky.social with some denim in my stash for the #SewSkyChallenge2025!
February 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I’m usually terrible at quick project decisions, but here I am on February 6 ready to start sewing the #bernadetteskirt from @fridaypatternco.bsky.social with some denim in my stash for the #SewSkyChallenge2025!
Ready to start sewing the Closet Core #mitchelltrousers now that the fitting, muslining, cutting, notching, and marking is complete. It’s wild how much there is to sewing that doesn’t even involve the sewing machine. I feel like I’m halfway done and I haven’t even wound the bobbin yet! #sewsky
January 3, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Ready to start sewing the Closet Core #mitchelltrousers now that the fitting, muslining, cutting, notching, and marking is complete. It’s wild how much there is to sewing that doesn’t even involve the sewing machine. I feel like I’m halfway done and I haven’t even wound the bobbin yet! #sewsky
This guy is not interested in me making progress on any of my sewing projects.
December 30, 2024 at 11:08 PM
This guy is not interested in me making progress on any of my sewing projects.
Sewing library shelfie! What’s your must have sewing book?
December 15, 2024 at 9:25 PM
Sewing library shelfie! What’s your must have sewing book?
The Illinois Moulding Company shadowbox really offers up some real estate for kitschy Christmas decor!
December 14, 2024 at 3:49 PM
The Illinois Moulding Company shadowbox really offers up some real estate for kitschy Christmas decor!
Sewing as a form of self-expression is timeless, as evidenced by these lovely words from Mary Brooks Picken, circa 1925. She founded the Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences, which offered correspondence courses that allowed students to create garments that reflected their individuality.
December 13, 2024 at 6:53 PM
Sewing as a form of self-expression is timeless, as evidenced by these lovely words from Mary Brooks Picken, circa 1925. She founded the Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences, which offered correspondence courses that allowed students to create garments that reflected their individuality.
It's so relatable that the sewing stash is no new invention! ✂️
"Every woman who sews finds herself keeping odds and ends of materials and trimmings from which many attractive things can be easily made," Drucella Lowrie, The Standard Book of Sewing, 1947.
#vintagesewing #sewsky
"Every woman who sews finds herself keeping odds and ends of materials and trimmings from which many attractive things can be easily made," Drucella Lowrie, The Standard Book of Sewing, 1947.
#vintagesewing #sewsky
December 12, 2024 at 10:32 PM
It's so relatable that the sewing stash is no new invention! ✂️
"Every woman who sews finds herself keeping odds and ends of materials and trimmings from which many attractive things can be easily made," Drucella Lowrie, The Standard Book of Sewing, 1947.
#vintagesewing #sewsky
"Every woman who sews finds herself keeping odds and ends of materials and trimmings from which many attractive things can be easily made," Drucella Lowrie, The Standard Book of Sewing, 1947.
#vintagesewing #sewsky
Love how dressmaking can involve all sorts of delicate fabrics and also a trip to the hardware store for heavy duty tools. I did not explain to the very nice Ace Hardware employee who helped me find this plumbers tape that I would be wrapping it around spiral steel boning for a dress! #sewing
December 6, 2024 at 2:26 AM
Love how dressmaking can involve all sorts of delicate fabrics and also a trip to the hardware store for heavy duty tools. I did not explain to the very nice Ace Hardware employee who helped me find this plumbers tape that I would be wrapping it around spiral steel boning for a dress! #sewing
Incredible visualization of the shapes needed to create this dress.
November 27, 2024 at 3:36 PM
Incredible visualization of the shapes needed to create this dress.
This is great advice! I would add to choose something you’re excited to make so that you have that motivating you even if the steps get a little tricky.
What’s your tip for beginner sewists?
Ours would be:
Start small and work up! Your sewing grows with you~
Start with a simple project, learn - understand and before you know it, you’ll be taking on that dream project! 💪
#sewing #sewingcommunity #blueskysewing #fabric #modes4u
Ours would be:
Start small and work up! Your sewing grows with you~
Start with a simple project, learn - understand and before you know it, you’ll be taking on that dream project! 💪
#sewing #sewingcommunity #blueskysewing #fabric #modes4u
November 26, 2024 at 9:00 PM
This is great advice! I would add to choose something you’re excited to make so that you have that motivating you even if the steps get a little tricky.
Incredible story about a sewist using her skills to help grieving families.
A Utah seamstress makes burial 'angel gowns' to help honor the life of infants
Infant deaths are unimaginably difficult for families. A Utah seamstress eases the burden by sewing burial clothes — often difficult to find — sourced from donated wedding dresses.
www.npr.org
November 26, 2024 at 5:12 AM
Incredible story about a sewist using her skills to help grieving families.
I can't get over this floaty and crisp white cotton dress with spectacular sleeves and a popped collar worn by Katharine Hepburn in SUMMERTIME, from 1955. You absolutely cannot walk into Joann's and find anything like this fabric in stock!
#fashionhistory #vintagesewing #katharinehepburn
#fashionhistory #vintagesewing #katharinehepburn
November 26, 2024 at 1:52 AM
I can't get over this floaty and crisp white cotton dress with spectacular sleeves and a popped collar worn by Katharine Hepburn in SUMMERTIME, from 1955. You absolutely cannot walk into Joann's and find anything like this fabric in stock!
#fashionhistory #vintagesewing #katharinehepburn
#fashionhistory #vintagesewing #katharinehepburn
My grandmother’s sewing machine from 1948. Whenever I teach a sewing class, this machine is my trusty partner as I demo the the project steps. It’s feels special to nurture new sewing enthusiasts on a machine with this much history!
November 25, 2024 at 4:54 PM
My grandmother’s sewing machine from 1948. Whenever I teach a sewing class, this machine is my trusty partner as I demo the the project steps. It’s feels special to nurture new sewing enthusiasts on a machine with this much history!
One of my very first sewing projects was this denim skirt—I woke up one day and decided I needed a denim ball gown skirt! It was thrilling dreaming up this project, finding the perfect pattern and fabric, and bringing it to life. I was hooked on sewing.
But looking back, I wish I knew a few things:
But looking back, I wish I knew a few things:
November 22, 2024 at 3:29 AM
One of my very first sewing projects was this denim skirt—I woke up one day and decided I needed a denim ball gown skirt! It was thrilling dreaming up this project, finding the perfect pattern and fabric, and bringing it to life. I was hooked on sewing.
But looking back, I wish I knew a few things:
But looking back, I wish I knew a few things:
I was debating if I should open and wear this 1960s vintage paper dress from @hallmark.bsky.social or keep it pristine in its package, so I decided to put off the decision by reading a little about the history of this disposable garment.... #vintagefashion
1/3
1/3
November 20, 2024 at 10:21 PM
I was debating if I should open and wear this 1960s vintage paper dress from @hallmark.bsky.social or keep it pristine in its package, so I decided to put off the decision by reading a little about the history of this disposable garment.... #vintagefashion
1/3
1/3