Hello, my friends! I’m feeling the familiar stirrings as warmer weather approaches — I’ve mentioned before that I hibernate and don’t sew much in the winter for some reason, but I’ve begun sketching outfits that I want to sew starting this week. Spring is not quite yet here, but my sewing mojo is blossoming! In other news, I created this cat basket tutorial for Making Magazine (RIP) many years ago. Part of the licensing agreement was that I could sell the PDF in my own shop using their ... Read more
Moderate Making
Hello, hello! Here we are, a few weeks into 2026. How’s it going for you? I’m nursing a slight cold, the weather is predictably grey and rainy in Seattle, the global news is afire. When the state of the world threatens to crater my inner realm, I turn to moderate making. The moderate part is important. Just-enough-creating of not too much, not too little. Steady, meditative progress and quiet enjoyment along the way. It’s so grounding. And I can’t be of any use if I’m not grounded first. ... Read more
Zip-up Hoodies + Summer Tiered Dress
Hello! Summer is in full swing around here, and I'm getting back into sewing mode. I know that this hooded jacket (windbreaker? hoodie?) doesn't look too summery but it's perfect for the cool mornings. I had just enough olive/khaki twill for this, and I love it. I started off with this PatternCouture zip-up hoodie pattern from etsy, and cut out the large. Then I futzed with it and made quite a few modifications. First, I sewed a wearable muslin out of knit scraps I had on hand: That ... Read more
Antidotes to Chronic Content Fatigue Syndrome
For a while now, I've mostly been promoting things here. Books. Classes. Products. I'm a lackluster marketer, I know, but needs must when creating has become a job. Or at least that's what I told myself. I don't know about you, but I've been feeling the effects of what I'm calling Chronic Content Fatigue Syndrome (CCFS). The weariness isn't just from my own consumption of too much internet-ness, but also from constantly producing for others to consume. Or not even producing content but thinking ... Read more
Autumnal Check-In and Classes!
Aaaaah, it’s autumn! My favorite. I’ve enjoyed my summer break from blogging and social media-ing, but I’ve missed aspects of them too. How are you? This weekend, my little family will fly out to Chicago to drop off K — now 18-years-old — and we are all full of big, big feelings. I am excited for her. I think back to my own first days at UCLA, how I started my journaling habit almost 35 years ago in a little coffee shop tucked into the corner of a weathered campus building. 18-year-old Sanae ... Read more