Designing, making & sharing a creative life by the sea.

How saving my test swatches helped me stop guessing, remember what worked, and feel more confident at my sewing machine. As a beginner, I spend a lot of time experimenting with my sewing machine. I try different stitches, adjust the length and width, change the tension, and test everything on scrap fabric. Sometimes I finally find settings that work beautifully—only to forget them by the time I begin another project. That’s why I started saving my stitch samples. I Thought I

I wanted a liner for my IKEA SNIDAD basket, so I figured out the measurements, made my own pattern, and used the fabric I already had — even when I didn’t quite have enough. Measuring the Basket I started by measuring the basket itself rather than trying to follow a formal pattern. I measured the diameter across the top, then the diameter across the bottom, since the basket gets narrower toward the base. I also measured the height so I could get a rough idea of how tall the

I made my very first handmade outfit for my toddler — a bright leopard-print top, matching pants, and a scrunchie from the leftover fabric. I’m sharing how the project came together, what I learned as a beginner sewist, and the little details I’d do differently next time.