As a game, chess is traditionally divided into three phases: the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. While all three are important, today I’m going to help you start out strong in the opening. When I first learned how to play chess, I played openings that really did not help me improve and left me with an awkward start to the game more often than not. Eventually, I adopted some of the openings that I will show you in this post and my rating skyrocketed. Opening Principles The first

Patternmaking for most beginners seems mysterious and intimidating. It is a subject a lot of sewists try to avoid. As a professional working in the fashion industry for more than a decade, I had the same fear as many of you. It took lots of trial and perseverance to overcome challenges, and carve out a successful career. The First Step is to Make Mistakes! Many of my students are worried about making mistakes. They want to be sure every step they take is correct. Multiple attempts and fai

When it comes to sewing, if you’ve only familiarized yourself with the basic running stitch, then it’s time to broaden your horizons. There are many different types of sewing stitches that allow you to achieve certain goals. For example, if you want to sew an eyelet, you’ll want to master the blanket stitch, but if you’re looking to add a clean finish to a raw edge, go for a zigzag stitch using a sewing machine.  In our hand sewing and sewing machine stitch guide, we’ll review

Chess: Undoubtedly the ultimate head-to-head mental contest, an ancient game of strategy in which  your one and only goal is to outsmart and defeat your opponent’s army (represented of course by the pieces on the board). Chess moves that surprise your opponent are part and parcel of the game, and it would thus behoove you, the player and aspiring chess move master, to learn moves that will catch your opponent off guard and bring you victory. And so, without further ado, here are 5 moves to do

The energy that my first time sewing students bring to the very first class is wonderful. They are so excited about the creative possibilities that learning to sew will bring them. Often this excitement is tempered by the fear of using a sewing machine. I start by encouraging them to do some easy sewing projects for children, so they can get comfortable with using a sewing machine. It is also a great way to learn some very basic sewing skills. The following projects are quite simple, quick and u

Have you found a great pair of jeans, but the length isn’t what you need? If so, you’re in the right place! We’re going to teach you how to shorten jeans by hemming them at home so you can get your perfect fit. Because who likes to pay alteration fees? Whether you’re looking to hem your jeans with a sewing machine or by hand, we’re going to give you easy-to-follow steps for both. We'll also share how to do original hems and hem skinny jeans with you. And, if you need extra help

These past couple of years have manifested such a resiliency within all of us. Somewhere among the unexpected turns, delays, and adaptations, it seems we’ve proven to ourselves that our limits and potential can far exceed any expectation we used to set upon ourselves. Of course, we are far more competent than we think. With this newfound vigor inside of us – and amid an omnipresent desire to invest more deeply in ourselves these days – it makes sense this holiday season to invest

The end of the game has come. You have successfully out-maneuvered and outfought your opponent, conquering large swaths of the chessboard, and approaching that triumphal moment when you will topple the opponent’s king and declare that he has fallen---in other words, a checkmate (recall that “checkmate” is an anglicization of “shah mat”, Persian for “the king is dead”)… Only to realize that you don’t quite know how to finish the game, which inevitably results in a slapsti

You may have rolled your eyes as soon as you saw this title of this post because it is 2021 and sewing a patchwork quilt is not even on your radar. You may also have immediately relegated this project to your retirement years, when you imagine that you will have endless amounts of time to learn to make a quilt. I bet if there was a fun video on a certain app about a patchwork quilt making challenge, you would have watched it and maybe even attempted it. I will do my best to make this project as

Not sure what to buy that special someone on your holiday list this year? Skip the stores and make a thoughtful, homemade gift they're sure to love! Here, Woburn, MA teacher Belynda C. shares three scarf knitting patterns to try out...    There’s nothing more thoughtful or appreciated than a hand-made gift at the holidays. If you feel like time is running out, don’t fret! Here are three quick and easy scarf knitting patterns that will ensure you have a beautiful gift in plenty