A note from Linda Lee, author, instructor, The Sewing Workshop Pattern Company, Project Sewing Workshop:

As a garment sewer, I am a huge proponent of making sure that I machine stitch something only once (well, I do own several rippers, but I'd rather not use them). So I hand baste a lot. I like to use silk basting thread, and I especially like the Japanese brand that is included in the Project Sewing Workshop program of notions. It is extremely fine and smooth, and therefore comes out easily when I sew over it. And if I press over it, no impression of the thread line is left, which happens when I baste with cotton or polyester thread.

I am also using the Extra Fine Fusing Tape (also a Japanese product) more and more for basting. This product is the same concept as Steam-a-Seam, but it is a much sheerer line of "glue" and better for most fashion fabrics. Either way, hems, collars, cuffs and other details are held in place while I sew, and my rippers stay in my drawer.

Hi, I'm Tori. My Nana is a BERNINA Artisan and is teaching me to sew. I love it! Nana says I'm a Diva, but I told her I'm a "Fashionista" because that is what her BERNINA sewing machine is called.

A couple of things have happened since I wrote my last blog. First I had a birthday, so now I'm 7 years old, and second, I lost my two front teeth.

I want to start sewing on my ASG challenge project, but there are some things I need to do before I get to start on the fun stuff. My Nana showed me how to change my pattern to match the drawing of my idea. I always thought you had to make the pattern exactly like it was, but you don't. Changing it is fun.

Then I pinned my pattern to my fabric. I learned what grain was and that if I didn't keep my pattern on the grain that it would look funny and wouldn't fit.

Next I had to cut out the fabric. That was hard. My hands are little and the scissors were big. I do have some hits to make that easier. First make sure you have very sharp scissors and use them only for cutting out fabric, never use them for cutting paper. My fabric is pretty thick but having nice sharp scissors made it a lot easier than I thought. I have a pretty pair of pink scissors. If you have never cut out much before I think you need to practice your cutting skills. I used my paper scissors and practiced cutting on paper, even cardboard. Cutting curves is not easy, but you just need to practice.

When I finished cutting the fabric also had a lot of fuzz on the edges so I shook it off.

Next time I come to Nana's I get to sew on her BERNINA Fashionista sewing machine!! Yea!!

Signed, "The Fashionista," Tori

Tori's Hint: Always wash your hands before you start sewing!

Ed: Linda Stewart is a couture fashion designer, member of the American Sewing Guild, and proud grandmother of Tori, age 7.

Part of the fun and one of my main reasons for sewing is that I am not limited to the whims of ready-to-wear. I love to experiment by combining unusual fabrics and trims. This can be an unexpected surprise when you combine things that don't traditionally belong together.

This is my latest My Label jacket. I used the Belted Jacket pattern from the My Lable 3D Fashion Pattern Software and shortened the sleeves to 3/4 length. It is still in process, but I'm applying a very delicate black lace trim around the collar and the ends of the sleeves. The delicate lace contrasts nicely with the large yarns of the plaid tweed fabric.

Do you have any unusual combinations that you would like to share?

This jacket from Kwik Sew pattern #3653 was a great canvas for incorporating a touch of embroidery. I used several designs from the Studio BERNINA Design Collection Vol.8 - Spirit of Geometry. (Designs used: BE10813.ART, BE10841.ART, and BE10839.ART.)

I scanned the pattern pieces of the upper front, lower front, and upper back panels into v6 DesignerPlus BERNINA Embroidery Software, then used them as templates for combining designs and auditioning placement before sending the completed arrangements to the embroidery system. No more guessing - it's just that simple!

The knit jacket was constructed with exposed seams using a three-thread serger stitch and threads that matched the embroidery designs and color of the jacket. I love the serger - it adds such a professional look to garments and really made this jacket quick and easy to assemble. This pattern lends itself to many possibilities and I can't wait to serge up another!

Hi, I'm Tori. My Nana is a BERNINA Artisan and is teaching me to sew. I love it! Nana says I'm a Diva, but I told her I'm a "Fashionista" because that is what her new BERNINA sewing machine is called.

Nana says the first thing I needed to learn were the safety rules:

• Rule #1: Keep your fingers out from under the needle. My finger is much smaller than a grown-up's, and I know that needle would hurt. I also don't want to get blood on my pretty fabric.
• Rule #2: Wear safety glasses. I'm having a problem with that rule because we can't find safety glasses for children. My face is a lot closer to the needle than a grown-up's, so it would be easier for a needle to hit me if it broke.
• Rule #3: Don't eat or drink near the machine. Water and electric don't mix, and I don't want to get peanut butter on my pretty fabric either.

I think sewing machines are neat. To be able to sew, you need to learn all the things the machine can do first. I really had fun with that. Nana said to just practice with the stitches first, then I could worry about keeping things straight. I learned which buttons to push to make a LOT of stitches. Nana has about a million colors of thread, so I changed thread a lot to make the stitches look pretty. I practiced that for a couple of hours and even my practice material looked beautiful. I kept it and took it to school to show my teacher. She couldn't believe a little kid could make such pretty patterns. I told her that little kids can do a lot of things.

My Nana is a member of ASG. I can't remember exactly what that stands for (Nana's note: American Sewing Guild), but I know she has a lot of sewing friends there. They have a challenge and I'm going to enter it. They only have one pattern for kids and it is for a girl. I don't know what a boy would do if he wanted to sew, but that is another problem.

A challenge is where you try to learn something so you can do it better. So I have to learn to sew better while I'm making it. I have to change the pattern. I'm changing the pattern from a dress to a nightgown and bathrobe. I drew my ideas out and am learning how to make the changes in the pattern. That part is hard! I'd rather be back sewing. But it is learning something new. I would like to blog more about working on my challenge. So each time I work on a new section, I will write about it and send pictures.

These pictures are of me looking at the pattern and the fabric I picked for my challenge and of me practicing stitches on my... or rather on Nana's new sewing machine.

Signed, "The Fashionista," Tori

Ed: Linda Stewart is a couture fashion designer, member of ASG, and the proud grandmother of Tori, age 6.