New pattern: 54 Hebrew alephbet letters for sewing and crafts
This week I’m excited to release a new Hebrew alephbet letter pattern collection for sewing and crafting. The pattern collection is in PDF format, and it’s available now for download.
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Sneak Peek at the Sew Jewish Book Cover
Update: Sew Jewish is now available in two versions: Paperback on Amazon.com and the SewJewish Etsy Shop. PDF format for instant download on Etsy. The book includes the 18 projects you need for Jewish holidays, weddings, bar/bat mitzvah celebrations and your home. Just in time for holiday gift giving! Get all the details on Etsy. Continue reading
![How to Make Your Own Wedding Chuppah Pole Stands [Video]](https://sewjewish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/chuppah-pole-stands-video-thumbnail.png?w=290&h=290&crop=1 "How to Make Your Own Wedding Chuppah Pole Stands [Video]")
How to Make Your Own Wedding Chuppah Pole Stands [Video]
Are you sewing a wedding chuppah? In this video we show you how to make stands for the chuppah poles using flower pots, PVC piping, and about $10 worth of concrete. The stands are very much like the stands we’ve used for huppah rentals at our sister site, Huppahs.com. They’re very steady. This is my … Continue reading
The Sew Jewish Book Is Happening!
Update: The Sew Jewish book is now available in the Sew Jewish shop on Etsy. Yeah! We’ve got so much going on at Sew Jewish, and this is the season we pull it all together. At the center of it all: the Sew Jewish Book is coming out in October in digital form on Amazon.com … Continue reading
The Fabric of Jewish History: Ottoman Jews
Last week, two obscure words made news in Iraq and Syria: dhimmi and jizya. Both words relate to non-Muslims living in some strict Muslim societies. And because this blog is not just about sewing patterns and tutorials but also about the role of sewing in Jewish culture and Jewish history, I thought I’d offer a … Continue reading
About Sew Jewish
We finally posted an About page. Here’s an excerpt: …My design philosophy is to use simple techniques and quality materials and to craft items that will last a long time. In large measure, I want things to last because I see sewing as an important part of building a sustainable future for my family and … Continue reading
Hear, O Israel, It’s Time to Meditate
My daughters recently took up yoga, which means I’m now on the hook to sew a bag for my oldest daughter to carry her yoga mat –but more about that later. Thinking about yoga’s meditative aspects sent me back to my bookshelf yesterday to take another look at Jewish Meditation, the guide written by Aryeh … Continue reading
![A Bucket Hat Pattern for Sun and Synagogue [Free and Ready to Print!]](https://sewjewish.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/summer-hat-fit-for-synagogue.png?w=290&h=290&crop=1 "A Bucket Hat Pattern for Sun and Synagogue [Free and Ready to Print!]")
A Bucket Hat Pattern for Sun and Synagogue [Free and Ready to Print!]
Does the sunny weather put you in the mood for a new summer hat like it does us? Then we have a free printable pattern for you. This hat looks super cute in the summer sun, and it’s also synagogue worthy when you sew it up in a classically formal print like a chintzy floral … Continue reading
Groom’s Mom Makes Wedding Chuppah from Heirloom Tablecloth
When Erika and Adam married earlier this month in romantic San Juan Capistrano, they wed under a chuppah that the groom’s mom, Marla, created from an heirloom lace tablecloth once belonging to Adam’s grandmother. Marla shared photos and details on our sister site, Backyard Huppah. It’s so lovely, we thought you’d like to see it, … Continue reading
Need a Wedding Gift? Make a Challah Cover that Matches the Couple’s Dinnerware
Find yourself looking at any wedding registries lately? How about using that registry as inspiration for a unique, handmade wedding gift: a challah cover that coordinates with the couple’s china pattern? The cover can become a highlight of the couple’s Shabbat and holiday table decor, covering the two loaves of challah bread, for years. Start … Continue reading
Charles James, Fashion Designer: Creation is simply a problem and design is the way out
File this post under inspirations: The Charles James exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. James, fashion designer from the 1920s through the 1960s, is widely referred to as America’s first couturier. His creations, more than just cut and seamed or wrapped, were sculpted and engineered. He was renowned for his tailoring – the way … Continue reading
Not Since Fiddler on the Roof: A Musical with a Jewish Wedding
We’re sharing this post from our sister site, Backyard Huppah. Direct link to showtunes. Fans of the award-winning PBS documentary The Gefilte Fish Chronicles will be glad to hear it’s being turned into a musical, currently in development and playing in theaters around New York and New Jersey. The play tells the story of the … Continue reading
Get Inspired by This Reader’s Homemade Tallitot
One of our reader’s, Erez, made our day today by sharing these photos of two beautiful tallitot he made with his son and daughter just in time for his son’s bar mitzvah. They used the instructions we posted for sewing your own tallit and added embroidery to the neckpieces. They were so inspired that they … Continue reading
A New Way to Satisfy Your Curiosity about Sewing
Sewing enthusiasts who want to try their hand at making Judaica have a new online resource: Sew Jewish’s Maria Bywater just became a teacher at the online learning site Curious.com. The site was launched just last year, and it was named one of Time’s top 50 websites. We’re kind of excited they invited us to … Continue reading
How to Sew a Dress from Scarves – And More Video Gems from British Pathe
When we heard that British Pathé, which maintains seventy years worth of historic news reels, uploaded 85,000 videos to YouTube this week, we had to search the archives for sewing-themed video gems. Here are some of our favorites. Steel yourself for some unfortunate gender stereotyping, but if you can get through that, you can learn … Continue reading
Sew Up Some Drink Coasters for Yourself Or a Friend
Squares of fabric whip up into drink coasters pretty quickly. Make a set for yourself or a hostess gift. We kicked ours up a notch for a Passover craft swap with pomegranate appliques based on the pomegranate atarah pattern — I’m kind of in a pomegranate place right now — but the general instructions apply … Continue reading
How to Make Beautiful Machine Appliques from Silk Fabric | Video Tutorial
This excerpt from the pomegranate atarah video tutorial focuses on the technique of making machine appliques from silk dupioni fabric. Spoiler alert: Use sheer fusible tricot interfacing to back the appliques, and baste the appliques on to the background fabric before finishing the edges. The video walks you through the steps. Use dupioni silk when … Continue reading
What Makes a Sewing Craft Jewish?
Sometimes the answer is simply that it fits into a Jewish life. Which means the answer can be different from person to person. Last week I went to the birthday party of a little girl who just turned three. The party took place at a Jewish center, with lots of folks from the Jewish community, … Continue reading
How to Sew the Pomegranate Atarah for a Tallit | Video Tutorial
Add a beautiful silk atarah (neckpiece) to your handmade tallit. We show you how in this video tutorial to accompany the new pomegranate-themed atarah pattern. The tutorial includes lots of details and tips for doing machine applique with silk, so even if you’re a beginning sewing enthusiast you can create a lovely atarah that makes … Continue reading
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