Sedimentary Sews

By Sarah | February 10, 2023 |

  Hello sewing friends! I’m back today to share some more sewing makes and family photos, but instead of the ocean, this time we are focusing on the desert! There are so many amazing desert places to visit, and despite spending quite a bit of time in the Southwest, I feel like we’ve barely scratched…

More Ocean!

By Sarah | February 7, 2023 |

Hello again friends! Today I’m back with one of my favorite outfits of all time, because it’s all about my favorite place in the world: the ocean! We often get asked where our favorite place that we’ve been is, and anywhere with an ocean easily tops the list for me. I grew up in Southern…

Tested: Nustle Joggers (and bonus Green Tee)

By Sarah | February 2, 2023 |

Hello everyone! Today I’m back with another test, this time for the new Nustle Joggers from Itch to Stitch. Until now, my favorite jogger pattern has been the Carita’s from Pattern Niche (formerly New Horizons, most recent pair HERE), and I’ve made them in both kid and adult sizes quite a few times. In general,…

Snazzy New Workout Set!

By Sarah | November 18, 2022 |

Hey friends! See, I promised I’d be back shortly, and here I am! I’ve got another fun outfit to share today, one that involved a bit of struggle and some new techniques for me, and I”m excited to share it! When this “Secret Forest” print arrived in my mailbox from Sew Dynamic Fabrics, I fell…

Celebration Outfits!

By Sarah | November 15, 2022 |

Hey friends! Long time no blog- I think last time I posted we were leaving Maine and into New Hampshire. It’s been a whirlwind fall filled with hiking, rock climbing and exploring. After New Hampshire we continued our tour down the east coast, stopping in New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Georgia before finally…

Throwback 90s Sweatsuit!

By Sarah | September 1, 2022 |

Hello friends! I’m back again today with a new me made outfit. This time, it’s a sweatsuit set that has a decidedly 90s vibe, and I’m not mad about it! When I received this “dark jungle” brushed jersey fabric from Sew Dynamic, I knew I wanted something soft and cozy. The fabric feels like athletic…

Matchy-Matchy!

By Sarah | August 23, 2022 |

  Hello friends! Fall is upon us, and I’m really enjoying seeing the leaves change and the weather get cooler up here in Maine. I don’t have any intention of staying into the winter (brrr!!) but for now, we are soaking up the autumn vibes and hoping for a spectacular leaf peeping season! I’ve also…

Tested: Itch to Stitch Soller Top

By Sarah | August 7, 2022 |

Hello friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful summer! We have been so busy hiking, rock climbing, swimming, biking and playing that I’ve barely touched my sewing room since we came to Maine. I had alllll these plans for what I was going to make, and then poof! Time has just flown by, and I…

Little Miss 4th of July!

By Sarah | July 3, 2022 |

  Hello friends! Happy 4th of July! This year, we are celebrating Independence day in Bar Harbor, Maine and hope to enjoy parades, fireworks and BBQs with our traveling family. While I sewed this swimsuit up in Massachusetts, we just got to Maine yesterday, and took our first dip in the Atlantic Ocean this far…

Tested: Greenstyle Courtside Dress and Shorts

By Sarah | June 20, 2022 |

  Happy summer y’all! We are happily three-quarters of the way up the East Coast, and loving every minute of the cool, pleasant days we’ve been having. We are currently in New York, and this state in particular has blow me away with its natural beauty and amazing hiking trails. We sorely missed hiking in…

Sewing with Sarah's Latest Posts

Baby Harbor Knot

By Sarah | April 7, 2017

A few weeks ago, Striped Swallow Designs worked their drafting magic again and came up with the women’s Harbor Knot, a semi-fitted tee with a perfectly on-trend twist at the side seam. I’ve seen tops like this come up frequently on the pattern hacking groups, but there is NO WAY I would have been able…

How to Insert Clear Elastic into a Seam with your Serger

By Sarah | April 7, 2017

Ready to wear clothing makes great use of clear elastic in seams to provide structure, stretch and durability. Check out my video on how to apply clear elastic quickly and easily with your serger! I have the Brother 1034D serger, available here on Amazon. You can find clear elastic on Amazon as well here. Full…

How to Gather with your Serger

By Sarah | April 7, 2017

Sergers can do so much more than just sew and finish seams! Watch this video to learn how to use your serger to gather fabric- no more pulling on long basting threads! I have the Brother1034D serger, which I purchased on Amazon here. Its a workhorse, and sews very well for the price. Full Disclosure:…

Spring is in the Air!

By Sarah | April 6, 2017

My goal this year is to sew up as much of the Princess’s spring/summer wardrobe as possible. Last year, as a small baby, she wore mainly footie pajamas, and those are pretty boring to make  (at least in the quantity she needed- due to baby spit up, poo-splosions, etc.) and I wasn’t feeling very inspired.…

Twirlin’ in Red White and Blue Sparkles!!!

By Sarah | April 1, 2017

Hello friends! I have something really fun to share with you today! My first strike offs! I hinted at it in my last post, and here they are! In case you’re unfamiliar with what a strike-off is, they are essentially samples of fabrics that will be run as a pre-order. To help customers to get a…

GreenStyle Midway Bomber Jacket

By Sarah | March 27, 2017

Floral jackets have been EVERYWHERE this season, and I’ve been dying for one of my own. Self made, of course, so it won’t fall apart at the seams after a few washes (Target jacket, I’m looking at you!). But, I’ve been too scared to dive in and make one on my own without some serious…

Waterfall in the Garden

By Sarah | March 27, 2017

Ahh…waterfalls. When I’m stressed out (so much fabric, so little time!) I like to close my eyes and imagine myself by a forest stream at dusk, listening to the water cascade over the rocks as it flows toward a magnificent waterfall that can be heard rushing in the distance. Just close your eyes and picture…

Patterns for Pirates Heartbreaker Cami

By Sarah | March 14, 2017

It’s time I told you: I’m a pirate! No, not the kind with a parrot and an eye patch (the closest I’ve come to that is a pet lovebird in junior high) but the sewing kind- a swashbuckling member of the Patterns for Pirates Sewing Pattern Group. I have many (as yet unblogged) versions of…

The good kind of Clique (and a M4M Mama Ella and Greenstyle Brassie Joggers)

By Sarah | March 12, 2017

I have to be honest, I wasn’t one of the popular girls in high school. Not even close. In fact, I think they kinda hated me. But whatever! Now I’m part of new COOL clique, one that involves one of my favorite things: FABRIC! A couple weeks ago, Dhee, of the Fab Clique, reached out…

GreenStyle Open Back Pullover and Stride Tights

By Sarah | March 9, 2017

When I’m not sewing (or taking care of the kids, or keeping up with life), I love to run and workout. I’ve been running for seven years (took it up right before I got pregnant with my twins- THAT was a sanity saver), but just recently got into TRX training, which I do at a…

An Easter Dress for the Princess

By Sarah | March 9, 2017

Can you believe its March already? We’ve got leprechauns running around and its almost time for Easter, which means: Easter Dresses! Growing up, picking out my Easter dress was one of my favorite things to do, and I’m no less excited about sewing the perfect Easter dress for Princess this year. Now that she can…

This one’s for the boys!

By Sarah | March 3, 2017

   I’m back with another pattern testing adventure, the Willow and Redwood vests from 5 out of 4 Patterns for two of my favorite guys! I could have alternately titled this post,  zipper immersion therapy, because with four! zippers a piece, these vests will desensitize your zipper fears FAST. I’m happy to say that thanks…

Portlander Shorts Hack!

By Sarah | April 16, 2018 |

Counting how many Portlander pants I have is a bit like asking me how old I am…I’m pretty sure I’m over 35, but unless I do the math, I can’t *quite* remember by how much 😉 That’s totally OK though, because it gives me the freedom to sew a few more pairs- and since I’m…

Brassie Joggers Sewalong: Supplies

By Sarah | June 11, 2017 |

Welcome to the Brassie Joggers Sewalong Series! I’m delighted to be hosting this sewalong over at Knitpop- you can join the event here. If you aren’t a member of Knitpop yet (you should be! They have awesome fabrics and lightening fast shipping!) join the group first, and then the event. How a SewAlong Works: If…

Back 2 School Blog Tour 2019: Preschool Edition

By Sarah | August 12, 2019 |

                      Hello friends! I’m happy to be back again today (so much more time for blogging now that we’re home!) as part of the Back to School Blog Tour, hosted by Karly of Paisley Roots (be sure to read to the end to enter the giveaway- she’s got some…

Green Tee Hack: Side Lace-Up!

By Sarah | July 2, 2017 |

You know what I LOVE about a great staple pattern? The ability of hack it of course! The Green Tee by Greenstyle Creations is a great example: solid drafting (no sleeves cut on the fold! Can I get a hallelujah?!), perennial style and clear instructions. In fact, I love the Green Tee so much, I’m…

Tutorial: Gathered Back Lago Tank

By Sarah | May 31, 2017 |

The whole time I was testing the Lago tank (here), I knew I wanted to hack it, and had a specific style I wanted to recreate based off a favorite ready to wear top that has a knit front and back yoke with a gathered woven lower back. While testing isn’t the best time for…

Greenstyle Lacy Slope Tank and Applique Tutorial

By Sarah | April 9, 2017 |

Do you love the look of appliques but aren’t sure how to attach them? I received some gorgeous appliques and this super soft rayon spandex from Dhee over at the Fab Clique, and I’ve put together a tutorial for you using the Lacy Slope Tank by GreenStyle Creations over on their blog! Jump on over…

Tie Back Tank Sew-A-Long: Finishing!

By Sarah | September 14, 2017 |

Welcome back to the Tie Back Tank SewAlong! Today is our last official day- we will just be hemming our tops! If you still need the pattern, you can grab it here (aff link). Catching up? Check out these videos from the past couple days: Pattern Options, Fabric, and Supplies Printing your pattern, Cutting Fabric, and…

Serape in the Sun

By Sarah | June 30, 2017 |

When I was a kid, we had this old Serape woven blanket that my dad picked up in Mexico on his travels. The colors were incredibly vivid, and despite heavy use, the blanket never seemed to show it’s wear. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of laying on this blanket at the beach, resting…

Reach for the Stars! (with your fabric, that is)

By Sarah | October 6, 2019 |

Ya wanna know my biggest fabric pet peeve ever? When a fabric company refuses to list important details, like weight, stretch and content on something, and simply labels it as “activewear”. There are as many types of activewear fabrics as there are stars in the sky, and knowing these important features helps me determine whether…

MY Stitch Fix!

By Sarah | October 9, 2017 |

Before I got back into sewing, I was subscribed to Stitch Fix, a mail order service that sends you a selection of clothing every month, which you can then review and keep or return. It’s supposed to be “personalized”, with a shopper evaluating your preferences and doing all the hard work for you, while you…

Sarah Connell

About Sarah Connell

Sarah is a wife, mother and avid seamstress. She is passionate about teaching, encouraging and empowering other women to express themselves creatively. 

Follow her sewing adventures on SewingwithSarah.com or your favorite social site.

Find us on

Join our Sewing Group