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Sewing

Mimi G’s Sew It Academy Review – Is it Worth It?

31 · Jun 22, 2022 · 3 Comments

I signed up for Sew it Academy by Mimi G a few months ago. I found a lot of mixed reviews online so I wanted to try it myself. If you know me well enough, you know that I like to try things out myself and share it with you!

So, is Sew It Academy worth it? I’m going to share my honest review of Sew it Academy here in this post. Some of the other Sew It Academy reviews online seem to be fake. I think this is because they are using affiliate links to promote it so they give it a good rating so they can get paid for the review.

If you’re short on time I’ll give you the final verdict here…

I strongly believe that paid training and content for sewing is the way to go. Just like with education, it’s sometimes easier to find a tutor or search “write my essay in 3 hours” or “get help with my papers”. This way, you will meet your deadlines and improve your writing skills. You will also learn how to structure your ideas more effectively. No matter what you’re doing – writing, sewing, or any craft – getting help or taking a course can make a big difference compared to doing it alone.

You get so much more detail from creators and teachers when you pay for the content. With that said, there are definitely better online sewing schools than Sew it Academy for the money. For example, I created a Craftsy review that you can read and see why I like it better.  Read until the end to see why and which sewing schools might be of better value. 

How Much is Sew It Academy?

Sew it Academy is $17.97 per month for the full membership. I think this is a reasonable price to pay for a sewing school and it’s in line with the cost of other sewing schools. The only problem I have is that I don’t think it’s worth the cost. A better value would be Craftsy at $8.99 per month instead. Craftsy is even cheaper when you sign up for a year. You get so much more for the money. One good thing about Sew It Academy is that it has a free trial so you can see what you’re getting before you pay but I truly believe it’s not worth it. Mimi G seems to be more interested in being viewed as a great businesswoman instead of delivering a great product.

Get Craftsy Now

Sew It Academy Courses and Projects

The projects inside of SewIt Academy are good. I have been enjoying most of them because they’re fun and creative. However, I don’t really like the lessons. It seems like Mimi G, the owner, is more focused on marketing her program than she is on delivering good lessons.

While Sew It Academy is quite affordable, I am not that impressed with the overall quality of these lessons. I think she talks too quickly through skills and concepts that would take me more time to understand fully. You would think with such a successful business that she would put more focus and effort on covering things thoroughly.

The draping course is only a basic bodice. The entire tailoring series is only one hour long. Other sites like Craftsy have over 15 hours of lessons and content on these types of skills. This is the main place I think that Sew It Academy can improve.

If you can’t tell by now, I don’t think Sew it Academy is a great option. I’d strongly suggest getting a yearly membership elsewhere.

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Sew It Academy Coupons and Discounts

I sent an email to Sew It Academy to tell them I was going to be writing a review and asked for a coupon code for you, my readers. No one emailed me back about this. I don’t think they do discounts or coupon codes but you can always get the free trial to see if you like it.

Sew It Academy Customer Service

I don’t have experience with their customer service as a client. I did send them emails asking about discount codes but no one emailed me back.

There aren’t any bad reviews online about their customer service but from my experience of sending 4 emails, I received no replies at all. This seems odd to me. Maybe it’s just Mimi G cutting another corner to make more money? I’m not sure but it hasn’t been a good experience for me.

Conclusion for This SewIt Academy Review

I say you can sign up for the free trial to see for yourself. If you already know a lot about sewing and just want some patterns and fun projects it would be fun for a few months. If you’re looking for in-depth tutorials and classes then I would choose another program instead.

Get Craftsy Now

This wraps up the Sew It Academy review. I hope this has been helpful for you!

Zipper Pouch a Perfect Holiday Hostess Gift Cut with the Cricut Maker

121 · Nov 22, 2017 · 8 Comments

I am a HUGE fan of thoughtful handmade gifts! I try as much as possible to create something special to give friends and family during the holiday season. This year I have become a little obsessed with stylish little zipper pouches. They are so handy for keeping those little odds and ends organized and really… They’re so darn cute! I’ve even created a design of my own it’s called the WhipperBerry Zipper Pouch and it’s the perfect Holiday Hostess Gift!

+ This post is brought to you by Cricut +Everyone loves thoughtful homemade gifts and this stylish zipper pouch is the perfect gift to whip-up in a fews hours to give as a fabulous Christmas gift this year + you can take the guess work out of cutting the pattern with the Cricut Maker! Come on over and learn how to make one of your own on WhipperBerry.

  Not too long ago, I made a cute little pencil pouch using the pattern created by Anna from Noodlehead. I LOVED the pattern so much… I was a total nerd and decided that I wanted to convert Anna’s PDF pattern to a SVG file so that I could cut my fabric on my Cricut Maker. It took a little trial and error, but I managed to make it work. I imported my newly created SVG file to the Cricut Design Space and again, with a little more fiddling around, I managed to make it work. I was THRILLED! I love Anna’s pencil pouch and I’ve now sewn a few different variations trying to improve my sewing skills. I love this little pouch but, I’ve been wanting to make one that is larger and will hold things other than just pens and pencils. I decided to modify Anna’s pattern a bit and make a larger zipper pouch to give as holiday hostess gifts this year.

Why Sew with the Cricut Maker

This is a BOLD move for me! I’ve embraced all kinds of creative gift ideas, but I’ve never sewn for my friends and family. I’ve always thought it was too hard, too troublesome, too time consuming. This cute, stylish and heartfelt gift is quite frankly one that I would LOVE to receive. So, why not make several? I’ve always shied away from sewing because I could never cut the pattern just right. Something would ALWAYS be off… Not anymore!!! I’ve been cutting fabric for sewing projects now for a few months and man am I hooked. Knowing that you are starting off with good bones makes the sewing so much more enjoyable. Reasons why I love cutting fabric with the Cricut Maker…

  • Precision cuts – you’ll always start with good bones.
  • Less waste – you’ll use far less fabric by using a precision cutting tool.
  • Empowerment – the Cricut Maker is bring sewing to the masses, no more excuses, you CAN do this.
  • More intricate designs – have you always kept things really simple? With the Cricut Maker, you can get as fancy as you want.

Here’s a quick little video on how I cut my fabric for the zipper pouch

The WhipperBerry Zipper Pouch Material List

  • 10″ zipper
  •  14″ x 28″ of cotton fabric for lining + I used Cotton + Steel black and white Checkers for the lining and the accent fabric
  • 16″ x 18″ main print cotton linen canvas – I used Cotton + Steel  Tapestry Midnight Canvas
  • 8″ x 12″ accent fabric
  • 1/2 yard Fusible Ultra Lightweight Interfacing
  • thread that compliments your fabric
  • download the SVG cutting files

Everyone loves thoughtful homemade gifts and this stylish zipper pouch is the perfect gift to whip-up in a fews hours to give as a fabulous Christmas gift this year + you can take the guess work out of cutting the pattern with the Cricut Maker! Come on over and learn how to make one of your own on WhipperBerry.

Instructions

First thing to do it to visit my post on How to Import and Use a SVG File in Cricut Design Space. I have a full video Tutorial on how to cut this exact pattern and it will really help the cutting go super smooth. Before I start cutting though, I fuse my interfacing onto the lining of my pouch. If you are using a lighter fabric for either one of the exterior pieces, you’ll want to fuse that fabric as well. Make sure to do this step BEFORE you cut your fabric. Pro Tip • If you don’t have enough interfacing to cover your entire piece of fabric, don’t worry. Keep your interfacing scraps and piece it together. No biggie! IMG_2613

Piece the Outside

Start by sewing the outside together by placing the main print and accent fabric right sides together and sew using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam to one side and topstitch. Then repeat with the other side of the exterior of the pouch. IMG_2516 IMG_2529

How to Prepare the Zipper

Before you attach your zipper, you need to prepare both ends of the zipper by folding it over towards the back side and placing a few stitches to hold it in place. Repeat on all four ends of the zipper. IMG_2533

Attach the Zipper

With exterior panel right side up, center zipper right side facing down (zipper pull at left) along top edge then pin in place. IMG_2602 IMG_2605 Place one lining piece, right side down on top of the exterior piece again pin into place. Using your zipper foot, sew along top edge using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Open like a book and press exterior panel away from zipper. Topstitch along zipper using an 1/8″ seam allowance. Make sure NOT to top stitch both layers together. Position outside panel and lining panel wrong side on together and press away from zipper. Repeat the same steps to attach the other side of the bag with the remaining exterior panel and lining panel to the other side of the zipper. This time placing zipper pull at right. Keep and eye on your top seems and make sure they match up.  IMG_2609 Then press both sides again. IMG_2606

Finish the Zipper Pouch

Open zipper halfway. This is an important step. IMG_2611 Position exterior panels right side together and lining pieces right side together and pin along sides and bottom. IMG_2614 Be sure that you place pins on either side at the intersections of where the lining meets the exterior on each side of the pouch and where the seem of the exterior meet. IMG_2610 Sew along the bottom and sides of the pouch using a 1/4″ seam allowance. You will need to leave a 4 inch opening in the lining so that you’ll be able to turn your pouch. Make sure to not stitch together the corner cut outs. IMG_2617 IMG_2615 Speaking of corner cut outs… Check out the precision of how the fabric lines up. That’s solely possible because of the Cricut Maker. You can sew with confidence knowing that your fabric will line-up easily because of the perfect cuts. Ok, back to work… Reach inside your bag and shimmy the zipper open all the way. Box your corners by pinching the corners together and line-up the seam and pin. IMG_2616 Repeat on the remaining 3 corners. IMG_2618 Sew straight across with a 1/4″ seam allowance. IMG_2620 Repeat with the remaining 3 sides. You’re so close to the finish line! All you need to do is turn out your pouch so that it is right side out. That’s where the 4 inch opening comes in handy. IMG_2621 IMG_2622 Pull it through that opening just as if you were turning a sock right side out. IMG_2623 Are you just swimming with PRIDE now!!! Take a minute to make sure everything is settled in all the right places. Push the lining corners into the right spot. You may want to use the eraser side of a pencil or a chopstick to push those into place. You may want to even press your pouch again if it needs it. That’s it, you now have a beautiful, stylish large pouch that you made yourself. It has your fingerprints all over it. You chose your favorite fabric and it screams your style! Everyone loves thoughtful homemade gifts and this stylish zipper pouch is the perfect gift to whip-up in a fews hours to give as a fabulous Christmas gift this year + you can take the guess work out of cutting the pattern with the Cricut Maker! Come on over and learn how to make one of your own on WhipperBerry. Now, you can profile all of your friends and figure out what their perfect little somethings zipper pouch would look like. Then, whip one up for them to take as a hostess gift, holiday gift, friend gift, it’s Tuesday gift… Basically, it’s a great creative gift that ANYONE can make with a little help from the Cricut Maker & a sewing machine. You could even personalize it with some Cricut Iron-on Lite and the Cricut Easy Press. That would be really cool. What to win some amazing Cricut goodies for yourself? Enter below for a chance to win! a Rafflecopter giveaway If you’re looking to make a shorter pencil pouch, visit Noodlehead for that pattern and directions.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Shirt to Skirt | T-shirt Refashion

9 · Apr 11, 2012 · 20 Comments

My daughter, Hales and I worked on a fun project together and shared it a few weeks ago over at Craftaholics Anonymous and thought I would share it here just in case you missed it.  Here is our fun Shirt to Skirt refashion…

 Hales and I have had quite the challenge trying to find skirts that,

A. I find modest

B. She finds stylish

So… we decided to make one of our own out of some old t-shirts and then thought we would share it with all of you!  This is the PERFECT first sewing DIY craft project for your girls or for you, if you are new to sewing.  If I can do it {I’m a rather novice seamstress} ANYONE can do this!!  Not only that, but it is super quick as well.  Here is what you are going to need…

 

  • 2 t-shirts
  • cutting mat
  • rotary cutter
  • scissors
  • yard stick or some type of straight edge to help with cutting the fabric
  • sewing machine
  • thread

To begin, I carefully laid out one of the shirts and cut a 7 inch strip out of the bottom of the t-shirt using the cutting mat, rotary cutter and straight edge ruler. Now, the 7 inch measurement works for my daughters size, you may want to measure against one of your skirts and figure out what the best measurement will be for your height.

I preserved the finished bottom of the shirt to use as the finished bottom of the skirt, so as to not have to worry about the finished seam.  I then cut one more 7 inch strip from the blue shirt and then two 7 inch strips from the white shirt.

Now as you lay them out, don’t worry when they don’t match-up. That’s not going to be an issue, we are going to cut down the sides and even things out in just a bit.  At this point the t-shirt strips are tubes.  What you need to do is open up the tube by cutting down one side of each of the strips and then opening them up to make long strips of fabric. Hales and i decided that we should double up the white fabric so she didn’t have to worry about it being see-through. We layered the two white strips and stitched them together on the the sewing machine.

O.K. I am going to pause right here and offer a TRUE CONFESSION… I own a Hello Kitty sewing machine!!!

Phew… I’ve been holding that in for almost two years of blogging now.  I don’t LOVE nor do I HATE Hello Kitty.  I found this fabulous starter sewing machine on clearance at Target for $40 {it was normally over $100} and had to buy it.  The funny thing is that I now LOVE this little green machine… We’ve had a lot of fun together her and I! Now I can finish the photo tutorial without trying to hide my Hello Kitty machine. he he!

The next step is to sew the long strips of fabric together. Make sure that you place the finished bottom of the t-shirt at the bottom of the skirt for the finished bottom and then sew the layers together layering them one on top of the other… Blue, white, blue {or whatever colors you select.

 

Once you have the layers sewn together, fold the long strips on half, basically like you are recreating the tube of the the cut t-shirt.  I placed one of Hales’ skirts on top of the fabric to measure the perfect width of the skirt making sure to leave a little room for seam allowance. {That skirt was one of those a little too short skirts that i didn’t like, so I kept the length of the skirt quite a bit longer on purpose.}

 

Turn the two different layers so that the you have the wrong sides on the out side and carefully match-up the stripes.  Sew a seam down the length of each side. Go slow, keep in mind that the jersey knit fabric can be a bit of a challenge to sew with. Just take your time and you won’t have to worry about the fabric stretching out of place.  When you finish the two sides, take a look at the sides of the skirt. If you find you have too much fabric on the sides {that will make the sides of the skirt lay funny when you are wearing it} trim down the sides a bit to create a skirt that will lay properly.

Once you complete both sides, turn your attention to the top of the skirt, the waist.  Because of the type of fabric you are using, you won’t have a need to worry about adding elastic or anything. If you take the proper waist measurements the skirt will naturally hug the hips and stay in place.  I folded down the waist of the skirt one inch, and then sew around the top of the skirt to finish off the top of the skirt.

I actually went around the top twice with a quarter of an inch between the two stitches to create the same look as the finished bottom of the skirt.  Turn the skirt right side out and voila you have a super cute skirt made out of two old t-shirts!!  How fun and easy is that?! Oh, and doesn’t Hales look cute?

I think I may have a budding fashion designer on my hands!  What kind of projects do you like to do with your kiddos? With Spring Break season upon us, what do you guys have planned?

Shirt to Skirt

1 · Mar 8, 2012 · 2 Comments

Hey guys just jumping in for a minute while I'm still working on operation new flooring.  I'm guest posting over at one of my favorite blogs today… Craftaholics Anonymous!!  Eeeeek, I know totally excited.  Hales and I worked on a super fun shirt to skirt refashion together and we thought you guys might want to give it a try. 

And you may want to come on over to learn another little secret about me… I know, it's like true confessions week at WhipperBerry this week.  If you missed yesterday's confession, you may want to check it out!

Also, you don't want to miss Friday Flair tonight!! Can't wait to see what you've been working on…

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Heather from Whipperberry
Hello... my name is Heather and I'm the creator of WhipperBerry a creative lifestyle blog packed full of great recipes and creative ideas for your home and family. I find I am happiest when I'm living a creative life and I love to share what I've been up to along the way... Come explore, my hope is that you'll leave inspired!

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