#sewing magic

✨ Unlock Your Sewing Magic: Milkmaid Top Pattern Hacks! ✨

Hey there! Today, I'm absolutely thrilled to share an incredible sewing adventure with you all. We're diving headfirst into the captivating world of milkmaid tops and exploring the art of pattern hacking. Get ready to unleash your creativity and bring forth an array of breathtaking styles, perfect for those who adore the whimsical cottagecore aesthetic.

In my latest video, I'll be your guide on this enchanting journey. Together, we'll learn how to transform my free PDF printable pattern into a multitude of charming tops, blouses, and even dreamy dresses, all with a touch of cottagecore elegance.

But that's not all—I have a delightful surprise for you! As an added bonus, I've included a free printable pattern for puff sleeves. These ethereal sleeves will add a touch of romance and whimsy to your creations, making them truly one-of-a-kind.

No need to worry if you're new to pattern hacking—I've got you covered. This tutorial is designed to be beginner-friendly, providing detailed step-by-step instructions that will help you bring your sewing vision to life with ease and confidence.

So, head over to my YouTube channel and watch the full video tutorial. Immerse yourself in the magic of pattern hacking as I guide you through each step, revealing the secrets to creating unique and captivating garments. Don't forget to show your support by hitting the like button, subscribing to my channel, and sharing the video with your sewing friends.

Grab your favorite fabric, download the milkmaid top pattern, and let the magic begin!

Happy sewing!

You know your boy Witchen Craften doesn't usually make serious posts but I figure with my 5 seconds of internet fame coming to a close, I would like to recommend an especially good book that I just found in my local library!✨

Raechel Henderson's Sew Witchy is genuinely my favorite book on both the craft and sewing and I cannot put it down. I don't know why! It's been like eons since I've completed an actual project, let alone anything imbued or enchanted but this book is so incredibly inspiring for everything your witchy heart desires and then some things you didn't know you need but now really, really want (specifically the constellation sleep mask and scented coasters, I'm over the moon thinking about them).

Not to mention, Henderson's associations of the elements with certain sewing tools, like Earth with pins, as they hold the piece together in stable solidarity with itself or scissors being associated with air as what frees and changes the fabric of the piece. I highly recommend even just the early chapters that don't include the design ideas because of just her amazingly interesting insight. That was the first time I like ever consciously read the prologue to a sewing book before and I most definitely don't regret it.

So please check out the book! Whether from your local library or online if said library offers it, or if you can even buy the book! Hell, I plan on getting it because once you open it you straight up don't want to put it down, unless of course, you're starting one of the projects within it. And if you like it, please support Henderson's career and buy a copy! If she's still able to keep writing for a living, then that means another project most likely even better than this, so please check out Sew Witchy!

if that title didn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will.  I’ve seen very little about a major part of my craft: sewing! So here’s what I do, what I relate some basic stitches to, and how to make the blanket titled “fuck it.”  

Running stitch/straight stitch

To work quickly, but hold strong (my most common! It’s the most pliable, so you can do the most with it.)

Chain stitch

To weigh down, to bind. Also, it looks GORGEOUS.

Backstitch 

To work backwards in time, or to undo something that has been done (think like undoing a curse for someone else that you didn’t cast.) Protection.

Blanket stitch

To protect.

Some notable ways to use this information: 

Subtle cursing/passive-aggressive cursing. Embroider them a pretty thing, but it’s laced with poison.

Protective blankets. (I’m an adult and I still have a favorite blanket.)

Wards

Sigils

Pillows for good sleep

Literally endless possibilities here folks

But Ronin, you cry, why are you rambling about this?

BECAUSE, BUCKLE UP, MY DUDES: T-SHIRT BLANKETS.

That’s right, my dudes. All those band shirts you’ve had since you were in that emo phase that are probably sitting in a bag for donation somewhere or you’re too sentimental to let go of? Repurpose them. They’re your favorite shirts, or they were-- so they’re just teeming with your energy. You can make them and sell them for your profit, and imbue them with protective energies, or keep it to yourself to feel comfy. Here’s what you’ll need: 

AT LEAST 20 SHIRTS. I cannot stress this enough. (Unless you want to be extra fancy and do color blocks as well as patterned blocks!)

You can sew together the scrap fabric from the backs and sleeves to make up the back, or you can buy some soft fleece or something. Up to you.

If you want some insulation, might wanna pick up some quilting material too. It’s this fancy insert that you sew to your actual pattern. I don’t know how to describe it, but if you go to your local fabric store, they probably can help you more than I can.

Thread and needle (size doesn’t matter if you’re hand-stitching. If you aren’t.... good luck.) Don’t forget you can use color magic with this too!! Personally, I used black thread as I find it the most pliable, but that’s my correspondence.

Here we go. Gather your shit. 

Basically, you’re quilting. If you know how to do that, disregard this and you do you and have fun with it. If you don’t, I’m not much of a quilter, but I’ll tell you what I did.

Pick your pattern. I recommend doing a Google search of different things to get some inspiration. Mine that is in progress is a collage, so it’s just a shit ton of designs sewn together.

Cut out the pieces you want to use. A common way of doing this is folding the shirts and laying out what you’re going to do before you cut it, or you can wing it like I did and just cut out the designs and use those and sew ‘em together. (Tbh, my ‘fuck it blanket’ -- yes, that’s what my project is called -- is turning out pretty cool.)

Start sewing! Charge as you sew with your intentions. Picture protection or whatever you want to use woven into the stitching as you sew the pieces together. (Hell, you can even curse it if you want for nightmares or poor sleep. You do you, my dude.)

Realize, OH SHIT, I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TEES!

Relax. You can do one of three things: wait until you get bored of more shirts, go to Hot Topic and buy that My Chemical Romance shirt you’ve wanted since you were like 13, or go to your local thrift store (which is what my broke ass did.)

Return with more shirts.

Keep sewing. Ta-da! You’re done with the front!

If you’re using that quilt liner thingy, sew that on.

Sew on the back.

Yes, this is a lot of sewing. But it’s all pretty basic and easy to do, so there’s that.

If you’re worried about the security of the liner or the back, feel free to run the blanket under the sewing machine. What I mean by that is do more stitching, through the liner, front and back to make it more secure. (Honestly, that’s a very quilting thing.) I did that without the liner, but you don’t have to do it. (Maybe you do? Idk, see how it holds up. If not, you can always go back later and fix it.)

Ta-da! You now have a badass t-shirt blanket that’s entirely custom and how YOU want it!

Anyway, I hope y’all have fun with this. I certainly did.

May the stars watch over you!