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

Want to improve your sewing skills? In this guest post, Yesterday's Thimble blogger Lisha Vidler shares 15 sewing tips to help you take your seamstress skills to the next level... Are you looking to improve your sewing skills? If so, you're in luck! Today, we'll be learning about some sewing tips from a sewing expert. These tips can help beginners and experienced sewers alike.  So, whether you're just starting out or you've been sewing for years, read on for some helpful advice. What

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

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

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

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

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

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

I will admit to you, the reader, that most of the articles I have written thus far assume that the reader is already a fairly avid chess player, who is aware of the basic chess game rules and thus is interested in learning more advanced strategies, traps, and tricks with the goal of decisively defeating the opponent. But, of course, not everybody is born knowing all the rules of chess---there are, in fact, many out there who are unfamiliar with the game, and need an introduction to learn