We have gorgeous quilting fabrics on our site, but gorgeous fabrics are not quite as gorgeous in a quilt without good basic fabrics for blending! In the last few weeks, we've added a lot more of these to our web site, so you can shop at home for more ...

Sometimes when you're a Crafty Mom you don't buy some of the things you would really, really love, because there are other things that come first. You know - music lessons for Ashley, Little League fees for Jason, groceries, power bills, car payments, the orthodontist - that kind of thing ...

There's nothing more precious to a mother's heart than something made by her child! So, if you're making Mom a gift this year, I've found a few other things to tuck in with your handmade gifts for the Mom who sews. Take a look!

E-Reader Covers ...

Earth Day 2012 has just passed, but I know we all want to take care of our "home" all year long. At Pacific Fabrics, we come from a long-standing tradition of recycling and thinking about ways to give back. Our roots date back to 1917 and a horse-drawn wagon that ...

Doesn't she look regal?

A few weeks ago, Cathy, our SODO Seattle  Assistant Manager, asked me for some advice about a gorgeous, sheer knit, beaded fabric she was using for a special occasion dress. She appropriately chose a simple two-piece dress pattern that she had made before. Just what ...

I have a couple of fun "child" fabrics for you this week. Although, the second one is so lovely that you'll want it for yourself. Click on the pictures to see a larger image! You'll find these at most of our stores and on our web site soon ...

What do you give Mom when she turns 80? How can you possibly express your gratitude for everything she has given you?

I think Lisa, one of my office co-workers, came up with the perfect gift for her Mom's 80th this weekend. This sweet little clutch will be just ...

It's not too late! We still have lovely fabrics in our stores and you can still make something wonderful for Easter Sunday. Table runners, toppers, pillows, basket liners - all quick projects that will have all your favorite bunnies smiling. We've got just a taste of what you'll ...

When I was young, sewing was a fairly utilitarian thing and still taught in schools. I didn't have to wait, though, as my mother had me start sewing buttons on doll clothes when I was a toddler. From there I progressed to sewing my first dress when I was ...

I was a real "doll" girl when I was young - probably still am, if the truth be told. My dolls were my best friends and I played with them, dressed them, slept with them and spent long hours in conversation with them. My very favorite gifts were the clothes and ...

Crafty Chris has turned into Chef Chris for the weekend and she's serving up terrific tools and tips at our Sewing & Stitchery Expo "Diner" booth in Puyallup this weekend. Click on the pictures to see a larger image and take a look at her fresh cooked demonstration menu!

This ...

I DO not know how it happens, but this weekend's Sewing & Stitchery Expo at the Puyallup Fairgrounds REALLY is better than ever. For instance, you can UPS your purchases back home right from the show - isn't that brilliant!!

There's more, too, but of course, I'm here ...

It's me again! Now known as Sneaky Nette, I've got more pictures for you!!! This time I found some gorgeous things that will be on the Fashion end of our Sewing & Stitchery Expo booth next week. Oh, my goodness, it's coming so quickly - next week - wow!!!

I ...

Okay, sewing buddies - so, the samples that will be in our Sewing & Stitchery Expo booth next month have started to arrive and . . . (shhhh!) I sneaked into Debbie's office and took a few pictures for you. You MUST see these - they are so cool! If you like this, leave me ...

Roses in bloom, sweet violet posies, warm breezes and skies of blue. Rumpled pillows poised for comfort, soft peaceful hues and creatively vintage style. These things and smart thrify finds make up the comfortably imperfect world of Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic.

This week as the cold weather makes us ...

We're in the midst of a severe Winter storm here in Western Washington and I can't get out to a store - or anywhere else for that matter! But . . . I have internet access, so I can still shop and plan and dream. Nothing holds down a creative spirit, you ...

I thought you would enjoy this 'vintage' post from our previous blog today. It was written by Anna-Beth during a snow storm in December of 2008. ~ Annette

There's just nothing like the warmth that handmade touches give to a home, is there? Sweetwater's Simple Home book offers 35 lovely projects that are beginner as well as experienced stitcher friendly and simply quick to make. Designed by Sweetwater's creative mom and daughters trio, you'll ...

It's December 22nd and we're down to counting the hours until Christmas morning. But, yes, Virginia, you CAN still make some fabulous gifts! We'll be posting ideas on our Facebook page and Twitter while we're counting down, so keep watching. Here's a little immediate help ...

Originally published on our previous blog, here's Annette's post on how to top your table with peace and safety!

Do you fear gouges in your heirloom wooden dining table? Are you tired of trying to figure out how to get cranberry and who knows what out of your ...

I like to think of this as the perfect apron for answering the door to trick or treaters - festive, but not scary, and very comfortable. I made it in a night - it's a snap! Click here to see the Amelie Apron pattern I used. You'll find it at ...

If you're like me, sometimes when you sit down to sew a new project, you're just not sure which needle would be best. There's a vast array of choices out there these days, so I thought a little needle-cation might be in order. I turned to our ...

If you haven't been into one of our stores lately, plan a trip for the weekend! We have gorgeous new things for you to see, but you know how it is - the more gorgeous they are, the faster they sell - so hurry in to get yours soon. Here's ...

Here's a tip for those of you who need to make a quick costume but don't have access to a sewing machine. This Cave Woman costume is not sewn together! The seams are all fused with paper-backed fusible tape.

The pattern is Simplicity #2518, an easy to sew ...

I found a class that's just too good to miss and I must tell you about it!

Our Everett store is offering you a great chance to have the best Halloween costume ever this year. On Sunday, October 2nd, Ashley Sevald, a costumer who also works at the Everett ...

For my project I used:

• 3 yards of 6 colors of tulle (for a child ...

We have a great book at the Bellevue store where I work. It's called Design-It-Yourself Clothes - Patternmaking Simplified. I wanted to learn how to draft patterns, so I took my measurements and then followed the book's directions for the first project, an A-line Skirt.

My family is gone ...

I love crafting! Creating things by hand gives me a feeling of accomplishment and pride. I have only recently embraced technology in crafting and I have found it helps me to get more time for the hobby I love.

This month at Creative U, I am having so much fun ...

I love being able to walk into my sewing studio, look through my fabrics and start designing without having to leave the house. This is only possible, of course, if I continually feed my fabric stash!

Here are my 5 hints for keeping a "well-fed" stash:

1. When you see ...

This is the pattern for an apron I made for Aaron & his day-care giver. It's called the Child's Honeycomb Apron.

The honey-comb stitch looks smocked but it's much easier and quite fast.

Close up of the honey-comb stitch, yo-yo (flower-like w/ red button) and the itty-bitty scotty ...

Earlier this month, I had a chance to try Frixion Gel Pens from Pilot. I used them to mark the quilting lines in a project that I was machine quilting. They wrote so smoothly and clearly!

After I was done quilting instead of washing or rubbing with a damp cloth ...

Some days, I just can't stand the thought of cooking. Know what I mean? But, then I think about new aprons, new hot pads and other perky things I can make for my kitchen and that really lights my cookin' stitchin' fire again. Just a little project goes a ...

Crafty Chris has morphed into Chris Claus for Christmas in July this month and she's very busy corraling elves, so I thought I'd do a tip for you today. It's pretty simple - go to one of our Christmas in July events, plan your gifts and start making ...

Pie. What's not to love? Juicy fruit encased in flaky, lovely pastry arranged in aesthetically pleasing lattices and twists. 

So when we got a pattern from Seams Like Fun for Grandma Dot's Fruit Pie Hot Pads, I was the first to take it home and make myself a ...

Many of my inspirations come from fabric. I LOVE fabric - good thing I work in a fabric store! I am always looking for reasons to buy some new print that I've fallen in love with and lately my eye has been drawn to the repeating stripes often featured in ...

Many years ago I worked for a fabric store that sold sewing machines and our most common complaint was: "My thread keeps breaking!" I learned to ask a few basic questions and found that the machine was rarely the actual problem. Since I know how frustrating this can be, I ...

We've had warm weather in our area this week and it makes me think of BBQ and outdoor cooking on the grill! So, using the Man'z Domain pattern, I decided to make my hubby a new BBQ Apron and a couple of matching Mitts for Father's Day ...

I remember fondly how pleased my husband was the year I made him a Hawaiian style shirt for Dad's Day. I'm not sure he liked the print or style, but he wore it proudly for quite awhile. It wasn't the shirt that meant so much, it was ...

I'm a little late because of the holiday, but I've got a great thrifty tip for you this week! While working on table runners this month as I was preparing for our June Creative U, "Table Top Treats", I tried to use up bits of quilt batting I ...

If you're looking for a little texture for your sewing or quilting project, I highly recommend Texture Magic! I've been working with Texture Magic for quite awhile now and I really love it!

Simply sew the Texture Magic fabric to the back of your fabric, steam it and ...

Making baskets and bags from fabric strips is fun and so easy using patterns from Aunties Two (like the Biscuit Basket shown above) and CRAF-TEX Stabilizer.

CRAF-TEX is a stiff, heavy-weight stabilizer that is great for sewing and crafts. I've used it in the bottom of tote bags and ...

Some fabric came into my house not long ago and was washed, dried and carefully folded and stacked.

Then I got busy cutting and matched up pieces in combinations that I liked for something I've never made before.

Next, it was time for a bit of late night and ...

Is Spray Starch one of those quilting "tools" that you have a love/hate relationship with?

Dodi Poulsen

At the Sewing & Stitchery Expo a few weeks ago, I picked up a great tip while attending one of the seminars presented by Dodi Poulsen of Two Sisters at Squirrel Hollow. You ...

I'm headed for the last day of the Sewing & Stitchery Expo at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. The show is open from 9 to 4 today - come on down! My pictures weren't loading well, but here are more of my favorites with my best descriptions:

Fabric is 20 % off in ...

Hey Sewing Buddies,

Are you coming to the Sewing & Stitchery Expo this week? Did you know that the party isn't over when the Sewing & Stitchery Expo closes each night? If you've been to our Puyallup Store's Famous After Hours Party then you know what I mean. If ...