On my "to sew" list for some time has been the Akita pattern from Seamwork Magazine. Akita is a simple top pattern with just one pattern piece. I decided to have some fun and embellish my top with some graduated tucks. Tucks are simple to add, and just require a little basic math, and some planning ahead of time. Yes, math, I am sorry but there is no way around it! I added a total of six 1/4 inch tucks to the front and back of the top. (Since Akita is one pattern piece, what

Everyone has their way to relax and for me it has always been with a good book. Not a novel - I tend to get too caught up in them; although over Christmas and vacation, I always indulge in a good one. No, my preference is a good non-fiction book, new sewing or knitting books in particular. A cup of tea and a roaring fire in winter, or the glider on the deck in summer, and a good book is my idea of heaven. To indulge this passion and not break the bank, I scour the new book s

The Wiksten Tova is an indie pattern that has been all over the web for the past few years, and I finally got around to trying the pattern – twice! First the pattern: there is a reason that the pattern has received rave reviews. The pattern pieces all work together as they should. The directions include lots of pictures and walk you through the sewing process step by step. The Tova would be a great second, or third project for a new sewist. For my first Tova, I choose a rayon