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Over this past year, I started sending out a monthly newsletter. It includes highlight of my blog posts, favorite links and short messages. I thought compiling all my “favorite links” of the year might be fun, so here they are! Most of them are sewing-related, and some are small business tips and blogging tips. Enjoy!

January

♥　Beginning of the year calls for a new calendar! This super cool washi tape that turns any notebook into a calendar.
♥　I love reading Brooks Anne’s journey of making a custom made dress.
♥　Great article on While She Naps about slow growth and the internet gold rush. I believe most good things in life are built slowly overtime.
♥　Love every thing this girl does. This wrap dress (actually separates that looks like a dress) would be a perfect addition for the Spring wardrobe!
♥　Great tips by Maddie on how to travel with your sewing machine.

February

♥ This is great for lingerie sewers – 4 Sets of 12 mm Rose Gold Rings & Sliders for £3.50. Want!
♥ Simple guide to creating an online course.
♥ Just added this Nimbus extension for my Google Chrome to take a screenshot of a whole webpage, not just the visible part. Very useful!
♥ With Canva, it is easy to design facebook page cover photo or event invitation. I like the fact that you can pay as you go ($1 per design)
♥ I watched BuzzFeed women attempted to make their own dresses. It reminded me of the first time I made myself a top (Almost 10 years ago).
♥ How to be More Consistent at Blogging. Always my goal.
♥ Sewing tip: Use graph paper to copy a commercial pattern. The grid is helpful in keeping the grain line straight.

March

♥ Free bra fit checklist PDF download at Merckwaerdigh!
♥ Five minute photo-filled history of Callot Soeurs (one of the most important couture houses of the Belle Epoque).
♥ Amazing behind the scene videos of Chanel and Georges Hobeika.
♥ I learned in this article that ruffles are historically unisex, as opposed to our notion of ruffles as a girly statement.
♥ DIY duct tape dress form!
♥ Round up of fall 2017 trend. My favorite is little house on a prairie inspired dresses.
♥ Free swimwear sloper for download at Burda Style. It’s a good starting pattern for making a bodysuit.
♥ Helpful article in how to define your personal style.
♥ I see embroidery everywhere this Spring. This free template from Burdastyle helps you jazz up a neckline of a Spring top!

April

♥ My friend from Philly sent me a brochure from the exhibition of 1960s Paris Fashion at FIT. I searched online, and found a recap of the exhibit. It’s great!
♥ EASIEST way to sew a ruffle. This is amazing. Just watch it!
♥ Bridal gown new trend – “barely there” dress!
♥ I was curious as to how actors fake accents as I watched Damian Lewis acts an American billionaire in Billions. Here is the answer.

May

♥ 7 Questions to ask for a minimalist business owner via Amy Lynn Andrews.
♥ Love this free pattern – Unicorn Key Tag. Great as a gift.
♥ How to on making a mitered cornered welt pocket flap via Thread.

June

♥ Love this DIY linen jumpsuit!
♥ Have you had trouble turning a spaghetti strap inside out? Try this trick on how to sew spaghetti straps using cord.
♥ Lessons from 7 Years of Blogging by A Pair and a Spare. Looking back, I started blogging around the same time and followed her blog since 7 years ago. Her site is somewhere I still visit on regular bases. I think she has stayed true to her style and did not sell out to sponsors or was less obnoxious about the sponsored posts. Read her tips!
♥ Fun youtube video by with Wendy on How to Buy Fabric.
♥ What to do when you are feeling blah about everything.

September

♥ This girl’s patch pocket coat is so cute! Thinking of making this for Kiko this winter.
♥ Four rulers that I covet.
♥ Sashiko embroidery tutorial with free patterns!
♥ Honest opinion essay by the owner of Design*Sponge about the state of blog. Interesting.
♥ Pinterest hashtag tips.
♥ Quick tips for round hem. Would look great for a wool skirt.

October

♥ I love this top. I would love to make it in neutral colors like black, gray and white. This would be something I would actually wear every day.
♥ This gave me a chuckle…How I Grew My Instagram Following from 430 to 433 in One Month!
♥ How to Sew Velvet like a Pro – via Threads
♥ How a Cashmerette sewing pattern is developed from start to finish. Inspiring!

November

♥ My six-year-old daughter is really into crafting now. This “make your own button” project seems like a fun project to do with kids.
♥ I don’t quilt but this is an interesting article on how to buy quilting fabric wholesale.
♥ How to plan your blog content via a Pair and a Spare. Better blog content planning is in my to-do list for 2018!
♥ This button hole attachment for industrial sewing machine is on my wish list! I use Juki D9000. I love the machine but one disadvantage is that it only sews straight lines, so I have to pull out my old home sewing machine to do my button holes. The attachment will solve the problem!
♥ Wedding dress designer, Brooks Ann uses use fusible interfacing to make the sheer flower print pop, making it more opeque.

December

♥ Free snuggly slipper boots patterns via Tilly and the Buttons. Great as a handmade Christmas gift!
♥ Another Christmas gift idea you can make in a big batch for coffee lovers.
♥ 20 reflection questions you can ask yourself to say goodbye to the year 2017.
♥ Fun video showing how Christian Dior is training its next generation of craftsman.
♥ This article includes good tips on sewing french seams for chiffon…sew with the tissue paper!

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Hi everyone! I recently bought a few silk kimonos using an app called “Mercari”. It is an app where you can buy and sell pretty much anything, new, or second hand! I picked up three kimono jackets (shorter length than regular kimono) from one seller for an amazing price, so wanted to show what I got in mail. She even included a fourth one as a thank you gift. Since they are jackets, I have less fabric to work with when upcycling it, but I was able to get one camisole style wrap dress from one kimono jacket.

Since the app is in Japanese, and lots of sellers don’t post listings in English, it might be difficult to shop from overseas. But if you are in Japan and can get some Japanese language help, it is a good place to score kimonos for a reasonable price. I usually search by “着物（kimono）” and “正絹(silk)”, and sort by price. Some price includes shipping fee and some don’t, but usually sellers are willing to negotiate those terms, which is another fun part of shopping on Mercari.

Hope you enjoy the video!

Watch video here

0:00 Intro
0:34 Red kimono dress
0:58 Where I bought these kimonos
2:28 Crane print kimono jacket
3:53 Red bean color kimono jacket
5:45 Cotton fuschia pink kimono jacket (free gift from the seller!)