http://www.Tomkatstitchery.com/

Tomkat Stitchery, Carmel, IN (2025)

11/13/2025

🎁 It’s TIME! 🛍️

Have you started your holiday shopping and making yet? I’ll admit, I haven’t quite but I know I should! So I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things with you in case you wanted to add them to your wish list.

Luxury items you may want to level-up your sewing game:
🧵SewTites Sew Magnetic Cutting Systems
🧵Kai Scissors and Rotary Cutters
🧵Oliso Irons
🧵Honeywell Artist Daylight Floor Lamp
🧵TomKat Stitchery Digital Sewing Courses -

Inexpensive items that make all the difference:
🧵“Magic Pins”
🧵Thermaweb HeatnBond Adhesives
🧵Personalized Labels from Dutch Label Shop
🧵Gutermann Sew All Thread
🧵Schmetz Microtex/Stretch Needles

This isn’t an all encompassing list of course. What are your favorite sewing notions? Would you add anything to this list?

Check out my blog for links and discount codes. Happy shopping!

11/10/2025

Navigating Online Fabric Shopping

Shopping for fabric online can be intimidating, but I don’t want that to stop you from enjoying your craft. While there is nothing quite like fabric shopping in person I find that there are some really fabulous online retailers out there you won’t want to miss. Here are five things I do to help increase my confidence and reduce overwhelm.

🧵Learn your trusted vendors - even just 3-4 shops that have the same expectations for quality that you do. This does take time, also be sure to read other customer reviews.
🧵Decode fabric descriptions - a detailed description helps move a vendor to my preferred list! You will also want to know weaves, stretch percentage for knits, fabric weight, and your favorite fibers. Be sure to Google terms you don’t know!
🧵Navigating color differences - having a specific color palette is helpful in building a wardrobe, so I look at the fabric descriptor to help me understand the shade. Also, calibrate your monitor so you’re seeing the truest color possible. Don’t know how to do this? Just Google it!
🧵Collect fabric swatches - over the course of time you can create your own reference guide, from your purchases or in-person shopping trips. Remember, different dye lots can create slightly different shades.
🧵Know store policies - what is the return and exchange policy of this store? And do they cut in continuous yardage?

Choosing the right fabric is one of the most important components to creating a great me made outfit. This can make or break a project, even if you’ve made the pattern before and nailed the fit. Sign up for my newsletter and stay tuned to my YouTube channel for an opportunity to take a deeper dive on this soon!

Mistakes do happen when buying fabric online, even to me. I try to make the best of it, using not-so-perfect fabric for a different project, someone else, or to muslin with. And again, know the return policies of your favorite vendors. Shopping for fabric online really expands the pool of possibilities and I know you’ll find some great things out there. Happy shopping!

11/05/2025

♻️ Upcycle Challenge 🌎

One of the ways I’m working on getting my sew-jo back this fall is by looking through my rack of unfinished projects. I’ve found three old garments that I would like to upcycle to give new life. Do you want to join me?!

Two of these beautiful jackets that I’m really excited about were my grandmother’s. She had such great style that I’m excited to make these pieces fit me so I can have a bit of her with me this winter. The third jacket is a thrifted chocolate leather jacket with some wear. I’m thinking this will become a new leather jacket for my daughter and may be the piece I start with.

I plan to film the process of upcycling each of these jackets so you can see everything and repeat it in garments of your own. Here’s to a thrifty Christmas!

11/02/2025

Updated sewing room tour

If you’ve been following along you know that I’ve had a very rough fall and lost my sew-jo along the way. So I decided that if we did a deep clean of the sewing space, along with a bit of reorganization, I may be inspired to start making again.

It took Jenni and I about 5 hours to clean and reorganize the sewing room, but it was well worth it! Now the space is fresh and functional for me.

Since my last sewing room tour I have a new Arrow sewing cabinet and chair which fit so well in my space. I love being able to swivel from one work station to another. And I can’t say enough good things about the daylight features of my Honeywell lamp for sewing in the basement. Actually, Jenni and I both want this lamp so we’ll probably need to get another one for the dark winter months ahead of us. And new to my cutting space are my SewTites magnetic cutting mats, which I’m loving!

As a reminder I have discount codes for many of the tools and equipment I use in my sewing room. Just head to the “Resources” page of my website for all the links and codes.

Now I can’t wait to mess up my space again!

10/28/2025

TNT Sewing Patterns

TNT, or tried and true, sewing patterns are ones you find yourself reaching for time and again. These patterns are often a little more basic and you have been able to achieve a really, really good fit. (Remember, perfection does not exist!) TNT patterns are ones you are very comfortable making and can often be made in a lot of different variations. You know you love your TNT patterns.

Why do I want TNT patterns?
🧵Wardrobe building - backbone of my wardrobe, often basics, well fitting, mix and match with many other garments in my closet
🧵Palate Cleansing - an automatic win for a needed sewing break, can pull me out of a sewing rut
🧵Customizable - make a great base for a ready-to-wear dupe, easy to hack, can use precious fabric with ease

When it comes to wardrobe building I also like to have a set color palette. If I’m spending time and money making garments I want to know they will go with other things in my closet. Having base colors and a handful of TNT patterns is my wardrobe glue!

Do you have any TNT patterns? What are they?

*patterns seen above
Love Notions Bridget Trousers
Cashmerette Concord Tee
Cashmerette Grafton
Love Notions Legato Jeans
Cashmerette Roseclair Wrap Dress
Cashmerette Stanton Hoodie
Love Notions Tidal Dress
Cashmerette Upton Dress
Cashmerette Vernon Button Up Shirt
Pattern Emporium Wanderlust Dress

10/25/2025

I’m getting a somewhat late start on my autumn sewing but I’m slowly getting my sew-jo back and looking forward to pulling together my fall capsule wardrobe. I’ve made this capsule from 3 modules; including 3 tops, 2 bottoms, 1 topper and 1 dress each. And since each module coordinates with the others I have almost endless mix and match options!

To complete my modules I plan to sew:
🧵Love Notions Frankie Polo in stripes
🧵Cashmerette Vernon in Liberty
🧵Cashmerette Vernon in cream
🧵Love Notions Bridget Trousers in navy
🧵Megan Nielsen Dawn Jeans in leopard
🧵Closet Core Edith Dress in plaid
🧵Seamwork Myrna Dress

Some of these makes will complete my fall ready-to-wear dupe, some are wardrobe staples I’m making to replace worn out pieces. And since I sew in a set color palette each of these modules also coordinates well with the other garments in my wardrobe, which I also pull from occasionally.

What colors are you focusing on this season? And are you sewing in modules? Let me know what is inspiring you! Happy sewing!

10/22/2025

🎉 Happy Birthday !

My favorite Style Arc make is definitely these red and white striped Bennet Woven Pants. The best feature of this pattern is the flat front, but elastic in the back waistband. They fit me so well and go with everything in my wardrobe!

I have a few sew along for Style Arc patterns on my YouTube channel including the Ziggi Jacket, Monty Dress, and Teddy Top. Have you made any of these? What is your favorite Style Arc pattern?

10/20/2025

7 of my proudest makes - game changers in my sewing journey

I was recently changing over my seasonal wardrobe since it’s finally cooling off in Indiana. I like to take this time each season to w**d things out of my wardrobe that are no longer my style, size, or seem outdated. This process also reminds me of makes I had completely forgotten about but want to get more wear out of.

This year I realized that, when looking back on my makes, there were some I was really proud of. That may be because they have stood the test of time, were the perfect pattern and fabric combination, or they helped advance my skills. No matter where you are in your sewing journey I’ve found this is a great way to reflect on what you’ve made and think about skills you’d like to strengthen.

My most proud makes are:
1) Button Up Shirts - that fit!
2) Blazers - that taught me tailoring
3) Thea Shirt - a ready-to-wear dupe in silk
4) Jeans - you can make these too!
5) Jackets - my Kelly Anorak has stood the test of time
6) Leather Jacket - an upcycle project I still reach for
7) Prom Dress - because it made my daughter feel beautiful and confident

If you’re looking to take a leap, advance your skills or try something new I’d highly recommend giving one of these a try. What garments have you made that you’re most proud of? Do you have sewing/crafting reach goals for the end of the year?

10/15/2025

The weather is finally cooling off here in Central Indiana and it’s starting to feel like autumn. And what’s more inspiring to sewing a few new pieces than cool, rainy weather?! I love being in my sewing room at this time of year. Plus the fall fashion trends are really calling my name.

Here are my top 10 fall ready-to-wear inspiration outfits and the patterns and fabric I would use to recreate them. And I will be recreating a *quite a few of them! Autumn features some of my best colors and my favorite stores are brimming with fabrics I want. But what should I start with first?

Check out my recent YouTube video and blog post for all the details. Original pins on my Pinterest board. Happy sewing!

10/13/2025

Today is the final day to get my new Bridget Trousers pattern on release sale! The Bridget pattern comes in sizes 0-32 and includes fully belly and seat adjustment options. Functional front slash pockets and optional welt or faux welt back pockets offer lots of functionality.

These pants are going to be part of my fall ready-to-wear dupes and I’ve already been getting a lot of wear out of them. Pictured above with the Love Notions Summer Basic Tank and Metra Blazer in plaid and the Love Notions Rhapsody in tomato red. The styling options are endless, so get your pattern now!

10/11/2025

Decoding Ponte: fabric explanation

I love sewing garments with ponte. It offers all the ease of wearing a knit and is stable enough to make sewing a dream. You can even substitute a ponte for some woven patterns. If you’re new to sewing with knits I would absolutely recommend ponte as a good place to start.

Ponte is a double knit so it won’t curl when you cut your pattern piece. It can be hard to decide which side of the fabric is the “right” side, just pick one and stick with it. My favorite pontes are some version of a rayon/viscose, nylon, spandex blend.

How much of each fiber is in your blend can change the weight of the fabric, measured in grams per square meter (gsm) or ounces per square yard. More rayon, for example, can make a fabric drapier and heavier but wouldn’t be my preference for trousers. For my new Bridget Trousers pattern I’m recommending pontes with 325-400 gsm.

Even though it’s stable, this is still a knit fabric so I would recommend stabilizing seams including the crotch seam. Rayon can also grow throughout the day and shrink in the drier. I like to use a walking foot when sewing with a ponte so I don’t get wonky seams. And depending on the pattern you may even be able to use a straight stitch, like you can with the Bridgets.

How do you buy ponte online? Find fabric shops you trust and remember you can often purchase a swatch to help you decide if this is the correct fabric for your intended project. In addition to weight you’ll also want to check fabric content, stretch percentage, and recommended garment type.

The Bridget Trousers are on release sale through the end of the weekend so be sure to get your copy now. There are video tutorials for any steps that may be tricky and I have a free knit sewing guide on my website. I can’t wait to see your makes. Happy sewing!

Tomkat Stitchery

11/13/2025

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