Fabric
The Preppy & Polished Collection Sale From Love Notions & The Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~August 14, 2026
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Sewing World News~
Love Notions Preppy & Polished Collection Sale ~ 5 Patterns Just $5 Each!
The New Sale Collection is here!! Today, through Thursday, August 27 these 5 “Preppy & Polished” patterns will be on sale for just $5 each (Digital)! Buy all 5 or just the ones you’re missing!
This new Collection isn’t just about “Back To School”~ it’s about getting ready for a new season and the changing weather that comes with it. It’s about planning our sewing for these changes. For me “Back To School” was always a time for new clothes (buying and sewing)~ but now as a retired teacher(32 years) and an empty nester ~ I STILL get excited for this change. I love seeing the new Fall fabrics~ flannels and plaids, corduroy and sweater knits! I hope this new Collection will inspire you to whip up something new for yourself for the new season! Why these patterns? Think Classic Styles, Preppy and Polished looks. Plus these tops and bottoms pair so well together for that casual preppy look or for an elevated polished look.
The Patterns Are~
Here is a link to the whole Preppy & Polished Collection. Remember to use my code MARYMAC10 to get an additional 10% off if you spend more than $8!
Love Notions sewing courses are like having your own personal sewing teacher holding your hand every step of the way and there is a Aria Sewing Course available for just $15 during this sale. (that’s $10 off!)
You can purchase the Aria Sewing Course HERE.
Note:The printed Largo Cargo pattern will be on sale for just $18
Continue readingSewing With Stretch Crepe & The Pattern Emporium Spill The Tea Top
Raspberry Creek Fabrics just released their new designs on Stretch Crepe, Rayon Challis and Ponte. I have always been a HUGE fan of their rayon challis along with tons of other sewists. But, I have learned that not everyone is familiar with stretch crepe or how to sew it. SEW~ I’ve pulled together some info for my readers and visitors! I hope you find it helpful!
So let’s talk about Stretch Crepe. To begin, we’ll go over all the Pros and Con(s) of stretch crepe.
Pros
There are just soooo many!
- Doesn’t wrinkle easily, which makes it great for travel.
- Simply wash and dry! Hang up after removing from the dryer and no ironing necessary!
- Soft to touch
- Amazing drape!
- Easy to work with, making it great for beginners!
- No need for lining, even with light background colors
- Has a touch of stretch, making it comfortable to wear.
- Can be used for custom designs that are full coverage. (darker backgrounds especially)
Cons
All great things always have a few, but don’t let it sway you.
- Polyester fiber content
- Doesn’t hold a crisp press (but a product like Sally’s Best Press helps a ton!)
That’s the only con I can think of. I know that many sewists prefer to sew with natural fibers for a variety of reasons. I’ll be honest, I typically do as well. I love nothing more than rayon and linen, but this stretch crepe certainly has a place in my wardrobe.
So there you have the Pros and Cons of stretch crepe. But what is it exactly?
First off, don’t let the name fool you. It is a woven fabric, not a knit. RCF stretch crepe is 98% polyester and 2% spandex. That small amount of spandex content gives the fabric just a touch of stretch. It makes movement when wearing it just a tad easier. This small amount of spandex does NOT mean you can use it for patterns designed for just knits. FYI: Not all crepes have spandex in them.Crepe is a woven fabric. During weaving a yarn is twisted . That twisted yarn gives the fabric surface a slight texture. This crepe texture adds dimension and interest to the fabric. Some like to refer to it as “pebbled” or “bubble” crepe. You can see this texture in the photo below
RCF stretch crepe is great for flowy dresses and pants, skirts, tops and blouses. It is a nice weight and drapes beautifully. It is heavier than RCF rayon challis. It also has more body than a rayon challis, so it creates THE best flutter and bishop sleeves. I absolutely adore a stretch crepe flutter sleeve! Stretch crepe is comfortable to wear, and can easily work for both a casual or work settings.
Tips for Working with Stretch Crepe
- Because of the polyester fiber content, it is more difficult to press. Always use a press cloth to avoid melting your fabric. Because of this, I prefer to use this crepe for flowy and softer silhouettes. I personally would avoid more tailored styles that require crisp pressed details.
- Always use a brand new needle when sewing stretch crepe.
- My first choice would be a Sharp(Microtex) needle. This needle has a very fine point which helps to prevent snags in your fabric. If you don’t have a Sharp needle, you can try a Universal needle. Make sure your needle is either 70/10 or 80/12. Always test your needle on your fabric first!
- Do not use a Ballpoint/Stretch needle~ remember this is a woven fabric. These needles have rounded tips to prevent them from making holes in knit fabrics. These needles WILL snag and damage stretch crepe. See an example of this in the photo below.
Raspberry Creek Fabrics has added 4 new designs on Stretch Crepe to the shop. (See above photo) Stretch crepe is also available for custom printing as well. Colors print vibrantly on stretch crepe, making it perfect for bright and dark colors.
You can find all of there retail prints available on Stretch Crepe HERE.
Continue readingThe Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~ August 7, 2026
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Sewing World News~
Love Notions~
The next “Collection” will arrive on Friday, August 14 and run through August 27. Again, it will include a group of patterns based on a theme. All patterns will be just $5 each. I think there are a few you may “need” so be sure to read next Friday’s Weekly Stitch!!
Sale Over~ Pattern Emporium Friday 50% Off Pattern Is~ True Romance Bishop Sleeve Top
The True Romance Top sewing pattern puts the spotlight on the beautiful bishop sleeve. This pattern walks you through, step by step, to create a banded, flared, or semi-fitted tee with a stunning bishop sleeve that you can style your way.
And the options don’t end there! Whether you prefer a subtle or bold sleeve, you’ll learn how to finish the gathered details with your choice of cuff, extended cuff, shirring, ruffle, or simple elastic for a truly personalized look.
- 2 Bishop sleeve styles:
Subtle – one with a subtle flare,
Dramatic – the other very full. - Multiple sleeve finishes:
Cuff.
Extended cuff.
Shirred.
Shirred with ruffle.
Elastic. - 3 Silhouettes:
Semi-fitted t-shirt.
Flared.
Banded. - Boat neckline.
- Easily mash with the Besties Tee for more necklines.
You can grab the pattern HERE. Pattern is on sale for $5.50 USD
Remember PE in an Australian company so this sale will end Friday night at 10 PM EST.
New Fall Fabric Release From Raspberry Creek Fabrics
Earlier this week the new Fall Collections released. During release week, all new “Club” fabrics are $1 off per yard. Club fabrics are seasonal designs that are printed on 2 different groups of bases. Club Collections are released each new holiday season as well. The two different groups are as follows:
- Group 1~ The “Natural Bases” French Terry, Cotton Lycra Jersey and the new Supreme Shirting Cotton 50’s
- Group 2~ Double Brushed Poly, Rib Knit, Sweatshirt Fleece and Ponte Knit
Many of the designs are available in both of the fabric groups~ the difference will be the amount of print coverage. Full coverage designs don’t print well on the “natural fiber” bases. This is why all designs aren’t available on all the club bases. The “natural bases” designs have more white background as opposed to the others. Another thing to note is that anything printed on the Sweatshirt Fleece will have a slight “heathered” look to it.
When looking on the website, if you click on the design you are interested in it will show you the available bases. Be sure to click the one you want when ordering!! All of my promo makes this time around came from the Fall Florals Collection by Brittney Laidlaw. Brittney always does such a beautiful job with her designs! (PS is also coordinates the entire RCF Promo Team!)
Above is the Love Notions Constellation Pullover I made in the Fall Abstract Floral French Terry. (Sneak peek of the ribbing that will be coming to the shop in September!). Every release I “need” to sew up a new Constellation. I wear these year round. For more info on my Constellation collection, visit this blog post. You can find this fabric here.
I also sewed up a Cotton Lycra Jersey Bee and Hive Damask Floral print into my favorite nightgown pattern~ a hacked Love Notions Juliet Top. I always pick my favorite design to sew into a nightgown~ that way I can wear it more often! Note~ this cotton jersey gets softer and softer with every wash! You can find this fabric here.
Each release I also try to sew up something in either the DBP or Rib Knit. I typically choose the rib knit( as I find it cooler to wear), but this time I went for the DBP for the Love Notions Vivace top. I was drawn to this line drawn floral and apparently blue is my new color! I would like to note that the description for this fabric states “Navy”, but I don’t consider it a true navy. This is the “Navy Negative Line Drawn Floral~You can find this fabric here.
Here are a few more samples of the new designs you can find in the new Fall Club Collection! To see all the new Fall Designs visit the RCF HERE.
New Stretch Crepe, Rayon Challis and Ponte Designs Have Released Too!
This was a really big release from RCF this week. It even included new designs on Stretch Crepe, Rayon Challis and Ponte Knit. You may already know that I LOVE RCF Rayon Challis~ so this time around I decided to sew up a blouse in the Stretch Crepe. This isn’t a fabric that I would wear in the summer, but it’s perfect for the rest of the year. Later this week, I plan on sending out another Sew Mary Mac Blog with all the details on Stretch Crepe and tips for sewing it. I’ll also include my review of the Pattern Emporium Spill The Tea Blouse. Look for it at the beginning of next week. as I have a busy weekend. For the time being, here is the Spill The Tea Blouse that I made using one of the newly released stretch crepe designs.
Be on the lookout for these new releases coming soon ~
- New Oxford Cloth stripes, solids and plaids next week!
- New Denims at the end of August (various shades and weights, stretch and non-stretch)
- New Club Halloween Release in French Terry, Cotton Jersey, DPB and Rib (also Supreme 50s Broadcloth, Ponte and Sweatshirt fleece)
- New Ribbing in September
- New French Twill in September
The Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~ July 31, 2026
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Sewing World News~
Love Notions~
The “Woven Wonders” Collection sale is over~ I hope you grabbed any of those patterns that you needed/wanted! Be on the look out in August for the next sale collection!
I know that many of you are missing “Feature Friday” $5 pattern sales each Friday but each month going forward there will be a new collection of patterns (with a theme) that will be on sale for an entire 2 weeks. Typically each collection will feature at least 5 patterns, one course and one printed pattern. Tentative dates for the next Collection Sale are August 7-20. No worries, the Weekly Stitch will keep you updated!!
Pattern Emporium Friday 50% Off Pattern Is~ Heartlight Skirt
The Heartlight Skirt sewing pattern features a timeless fit & flare silhouette with a soft, comfortable waistband and beautifully flowing shape. Available in multiple lengths, it’s just as suited to everyday wear as it is to dressing up, making it a versatile wardrobe staple you’ll reach for again and again
You can grab the pattern HERE. Pattern is on sale for $5.50 USD
Remember PE in an Australian company so this sale will end Friday night at 10 PM EST.
*Some readers have wondered why I have started including the weekly(almost) pattern sales from Pattern Emporium. Although this pattern company has been around for awhile, I have just sewn only one of their patterns. I have however purchased several of them! I have been using the Friday 50% sales to build up my PE pattern collection. As time goes on, I will be able to show you more of my PE makes and include some blog posts dedicated to PE patterns.
I was VERY impressed with the pattern instructions and the construction techniques! My very first job (at Simplicity Pattern Co.) was as a technical writer and one of my jobs was to determine if there were any corrections or adjustments to be done to the “Primer” or instruction sheet. I also wrote educational materials and answered the questions sent into the Simplicity Magazine each month.
Fabric Release From Raspberry Creek Fabrics~ Coming Tuesday, August 4
The Fall Club Collection will release next Tuesday 8/4. This includes all the new Fall Club prints that are available on French Terry, Cotton Jersey, Double Brushed Poly and Rib knit. New this release any print that is available on French Terry or Cotton Jersey will also be offered on the Supreme Shirting Broadcloth. Any print that is available on DBP or Rib knit will also be available on Sweatshirt fleece and Ponte! For those of you that may be newer to RCF~ Club Collections are released a few times a year and the retire when the next season is released. For example~ Summer Club will retire when the Fall Collection releases. Holiday Collections typically retire the day after that holiday. It is always less expensive to purchase a current collection that to custom print. During the first week of a release they are also $1 off per yard.
In addition, the new Club prints on Stretch Crepe, Rayon Challis and Ponte will also be releasing the same day!!! So much to choose from. Again, they will be on sale $1 off per yard during the release week. This is a great opportunity to order from both new lines at release week pricing AND save on some shipping!!
If you’ve been a reader of the Sew Mary Mac blog for a bit, then you know that I LOVE RCF rayon challis!
I can’t show any sneak peeks this time around~ but I’ll come back to this post on Tuesday to add some of the prints and my makes!!
Be on the look out for even more new fabrics from Raspberry Creek Fabrics such as:
- New Oxford Cloth stripes, solids and plaids in August
- New Denims at the end of August (various shades and weights, stretch and non-stretch)
- New Club Halloween Release in French Terry, Cotton Jersey, DPB and Rib
- New Ribbing in September
- New French Twill in September
What I Wore Last Week~
As you may be able to tell, I’m still pulling items from the back of my closet! I’ve been wearing a mix of new makes and really old makes.
- LN Melody Dolman ~ in a cotton gingham ( my wearable muslin for this pattern back in 2022?)
- LN Rhapsody Blouse~ in a rayon crepe from Style Maker Fabrics with Trumpet sleeve
- PE About Town Popover ~ in a seersucker stripe from Mood Fabrics, NYC Garment District
- Helen’s Closet Yoke Pinafore~ in a Japanese Cotton
- I don’t love this worn with a tank~however our air conditioning wasn’t working and I was trying to stay cool. Luckily it is all fixed now!!
- LN Willow Wrap Dress~ in an ITY knit from Zelouf Fabrics, NYC
- I included an up close pic of the ITY fabric, as it never photographs very well when worn. It is much more navy blue in person~ the modeled photo looks like it is more white with navy.
- LN Caprice Skirt~ in linen blend from my deep stash (one of the many I made when this pattern released)
- I took 2 photos to show how I wore it that day. At home, I wore it with just a RTW tank, when I went out to lunch I threw on a little J Crew cardigan that I bought last fall.
The Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~ July 24, 2026
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Sewing World News~
Love Notions “Woven Wonders” Collection Sale ~ 5 Patterns just $5 Each!
If you haven’t grabbed any of the “Woven Wonders” patterns for just $5~ you still have until Thursday 7/30 to do so. If you spend at least $8 you can use my code MARYMAC10 for an extra 10% off.
- Timbre Peasant Top & Dress~ easy peasy and oh so versatile!
- Allegro Bottoms~ Comfy and Casual easy peasy bottoms that pair great with the Timbre
- Rhapsody Blouse & Dress~ A little more complex yet still doable for beginners with loads of options!
- Tempo Sundress~ On trend summer dress with a few steps to boost your sewing skills (Girls on sale too)
- Duet Trousers~ A Classic pants pattern for wovens or knits. A great learning pattern you will want to sew again and again. Includes a complete Pants Fitting Workbook.
You can see the whole Woven Wonders Collection HERE.
Visit last week’s Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac for more details on each of these “Woven Wonders” along with links to detailed blog posts on one ones shown below. There you can see more photos of these patterns sewn up by me. You can find that blog post HERE.
These Sew Mary Mac blog posts contain even more info on these patterns!
- Learn how to create simple strap hacks for your Tempo Sundress
- Perfect Time For A Timbre~ detailed post including sewing tips
- How to line a Timbre Top and how to create a simple ruffle sleeve cuff
- Sewing The Timbre In Double Gauze
- Rhapsody In Blue……. a detailed post with sizing and sewing tips
- Perfect For Spring~ A Rhapsody Sleeve Ruffle
The Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~ July 10, 2026
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Sewing World News~
Love Notions~ No Sale This Friday!
Be on the look out next Friday, July 17 for the release of a new sale collection!!! There will be 5-6 patterns each only $5 each! If you purchase at least 2, you’ll be able to get an additional 10% off with my code MARYMAC10.
Pattern Emporium 50% Friday Pattern is ~
Ocean Daze- Very Oversized Shirt and Dress
The Ocean Daze Very Oversized Fit Shirt sewing pattern is a fabulously roomy & easy to wear style. Everything about this shirt is so perfectly exaggerated.
Need a layering piece? This pattern also works fabulously as an overshirt. An overshirt is basically a shirt, jacket or shacket, that can be worn as a layering piece. I think the name of this pattern says it all~ Beach Coverup sewn up in a lightweight linen.
You can grab the pattern HERE. Pattern is on sale for just $7.00(USD)
Remember PE in an Australian company so this sale will end Friday night at 10 PM EST.
New Retail Fabric Coming to Raspberry Creek Fabrics!!
Continue readingThe Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~ July 3, 2026
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Sewing World News~
Custom Printed Beach/Yoga Towels From Raspberry Creek Fabrics
Did you know that you can now order custom printed towels from Raspberry Creek Fabrics? You can select any design from the current Spring or Summer line, any design in the Designer Library or even upload your own! There are 2 different type towels to choose from~ Waffle Swim & Bath or Sand Free Beach & Yoga!
I love how small the Sand Free and Yoga towel can be rolled up/folded. Last week I took mine out kayaking on the Mystic River and I was able to fit it into my dry bag. Now my husband wants one for his as well!
You can order the towels HERE.
Microfiber Waffle Swim & Bath Towels
- 30 X 60 inches
- 85% Polyester, 15% Polyamide
- Satin Trim and Rounded Corners
- Waffle Weave
- Hanging Loop
- Fast Drying
- Highly Absorbant
- Lint and Odor Resistant
- Machine Washable
Sand Free Beach & Yoga Towels
- 27 X 60 inches
- 100% Ultra Soft Polyester
- Sand Free
- Fast Drying
- Highly Absorbent
- Lightweight, Great for Travel
- Machine Washable
Even More Me Made May Sales & The Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~ May 22,2026
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Hooray For May and Even More $5 Patterns Each Day!!!!!!
In honor of Me Made May, Love Notions has been doing something really special this May! Each day of May LN has been featuring a different pattern for just $5! The schedule won’t be announced ahead of time~ so check back to this email each day(until the next Friday’s Weekly Stitch) for the $5 pattern of the day and my link to the pattern and related blog post! Remember each pattern is on sale for just 24 hours.
**I would truly appreciate if you could use my affiliate link below to give me credit for your purchase. Thank you so so much for visiting and helping to support my blog! The small amount I get with this affiliate link helps to keep my blog ad free! 🙂 If you don’t want to return to my blog each day~ you can simply go to the Love Notions Website to see the $5 pattern. You can bookmark/save this link which will also give me credit for your purchases~ Love Notions Patterns
Today’s $5 Pattern~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tidal Top & Dress
The Tidal pattern includes three lengths: shirt, knee length dress and maxi dress. Four sleeve styles are also included: tank, sleeveless, short and long. The back is full coverage while the front is a nice scoop- not too high, not too low. The princess seams are so complimentary on all shapes and give you a good opportunity to play with different fabrics if desired.
The Weekly Stitch With Sew Mary Mac~ March 13, 2026
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Feature Friday Pattern From Love Notions~ The Geneva Pullover & Jacket
The Geneva is the $6 Feature Friday pattern today~ its first feature ever since its release last year! Extra surprise~ if you order the Geneva Sewing Course for $25 you will get the digital Geneva pattern for FREE! If you use my code 10MACSEWS you can get 10% off the price of the course. That means the course and pattern would be just $22.50 instead of the regular price for both of $31! So today is really a great time to grab this pattern (and sewing course)!
The Geneva is an excellent pick for the transitional weather of early spring/spring. It’s a great lightweight layer with a beautiful fit. I’ve added this to my never ending of “things I want to sew” list!
The Details~
- 3 Body styles to choose from
- Classic pullover
- Sleek full-zip jacket
- Edgy asymmetrical zip jacket
- All views feature raglan sleeves and princess seams
- Choice of welt or zippered pockets
- Designed for knits
- FBA included
- Skill Level: Confident Beginner
