Back around 2014, I decided I was going to improve at chess. I watched a few videos online about some openings, played a few dozen blitz games online, and then promptly lost interest within a week. Four years later, I decided to pick it up again and in less than a year, I had gone from 1100 to 1900 Elo rating online. Obviously, I changed how I went about my improvement! So here are the steps that I took the second time around that got me to where I am now, and some ways you can improve your ches

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

Blogs and online resources can be a huge help when you're taking sewing lessons, but which blogs are the best? Here, Glendale, CA sewing teacher Marie B. shares her picks for the best sewing blogs and online resources... In the ocean of information that is the Internet, it can be daunting to find the right information when you need it. One can easily get lost in the myriad of blogs and websites. I have put together a list of some of the best sites for sewing tips, sewing tutorials, sew

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

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

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

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

We all know the virtual happy hour.   An increasingly universal remote work life has exposed all of us at some point to an online gathering or two – even families succumb to virtual quality time together. So many faces in one screen – isn’t it sweet?  But are there ugly Christmas sweaters involved? Mixology lessons? A singalong? TakeLessons is here to bring your virtual holiday gatherings up a notch or two.  Maybe there’ll be costumes?   If you’re planning a work pa

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

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