Sewing Life by MariaDenmark

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Sewing Life by MariaDenmark SewingLife by MariaDenmark is part Sewing School, part Sewing Pattern Design. They teach you how to sew.

| Sewing Inspiration & Teaching |
✂ Classes, Workshops, & Patterns That Teach Sewing, Knitting, and Crochet to all Levels & Body Shapes
🏳‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️Safe Space
📍 Learn & Get Free Sewing Pattern with the Newsletter👇🏼 MariaDenmark patterns are fashionable, wearable, and easy to sew sewing patterns with detailed illustrated instructions - designed in the Scandinavian design tradition of simple lines and

quality. The Sewing Life School is teaching in-person sewing, drafting, and fitting classes in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and online everywhere!

19/03/2026

I know I am not the only sewist (even with decades of sewing experience) who is slightly scared of buttonholes.

And that’s because they sometimes go wrong.

Even when you have done all the right things.
Made all the samples and tested an extra time.

What do you do when the buttonhole you sewed turns out a complete disaster? Is the garment ruined?

No. It can be fixed. You “just” have to unpick the miss-sewn buttonhole. Use patience, a seam ripper, sharp scissors (careful!) and a tweezer to get all the thread out.
Then try to figure out what went wrong (to keep it from happening again) and re-sew the buttonhole.

In this case, I think what happened was, that the last buttonhole was too close to the bulky corner, keeping the automoated buttonholer from moving freely. So I turned the garment around and sewed the buttonhole from the other side.


16/03/2026

- It’s not that we don’t know how to sew a nice hem on their pants.

- And it’s not that we couldn’t do it in less than 30 minutes.

- It’s mostly that we don’t want to.

(But I’ll always be happy to teach you how to hem your pants yourself! There are even several of my posts that shows you how!)


24/02/2026

This is a very typical example of the thought process behind choosing a fabric and pattern combi for me.
Are we thinking cardigan - maybe with a duster kind of vibe - or a blazer jacket - perhaps a bit oversized???

This is a thin-ish ponte knit fabric.
It does not have a lot of stretch and It’s printed

I think it could be cool as both. What do you think?

13/02/2026

Not enough fabric to sew the garment you wanted?
Either you bought to little, it’s stash, or it shrunk too much in the prewash?

There are several ways to deal with it.

1) Shorten the garment

2) Join pieces to get the length you want. In this case I was able to cut cuffs from the same fabric.

3) Add a second fabric - do some colur blocking!

This pattern for this t-shirt is the SewingLife/MariaDenmark 102 Birgitte Tee - made in the V-neck version. The fabric is a bamboo jersey knit from




The wonderful photos of tge shirt are by

27/10/2025

Listen, you are not going to be an expert after one sewing lesson. But you can start your journey and get better, and definitely make something you like and use within the first 5!

I started to crochet when I was 4, knit when I was 5, and started sewed most of my own clothes 25 years ago.
Meaning, I have practiced. A lot.

But I often experience students - especially brand new sewing or crocheting beginners - becoming frustrated when their work and effort don’t give them the same results as mine do.

But it’s only natural. They have spent their live doing other stuff as well :-)

And BTW - it will happen sooner rather than later.
Follow (and favorite!) to learn all the tricks to sew, knit, and crochet better (or just tips for practicing)



25/10/2025

A thread loop is often used for belt loops, button loops, or bra strap chains. So they are an important part of your sewing skill repertoire.

AND they are way easier - and faster - to make than they seem.

1) Use double thread and a hand sewing needle.
2) Anchor the thread where you want the loop to be
3) Take a tiny stitch and pull the thread 2/3 of the way through
4) Put your thumb and index-finger of one hand (I am right handed, and prefer to use left hand)through the loop, while holding the needle in your right hand.
5) Use the thumb + index finger to grab the thread through the loop and pull it. This creates a knot - a chain - on your thread.
6) Continue going until your loop is long enough
7) Stitch the other end of the loop in place and anchor your thread.

If you’ve never done one before, practice a couple times today while you enjoy your afternoon drink of choice and you will soon have another sewing trick in your tool box.

For belt loops I like like to use a heavier denim thread or even thin lace yarn to create the look i want. Test and see what you like!


25/10/2025

A thread loop is often used for belt loops, button loops, or bra strap chains. So they are an important part of your sewing skill repertoire.

AND they are way easier - and faster - to make than they seem.

1) Use double thread and a hand sewing needle.
2) Anchor the thread where you want the loop to be
3) Take a tiny stitch and pull the thread 2/3 of the way through
4) Put your thumb and index-finger of one hand (I am right handed, and prefer to use left hand)through the loop, while holding the needle in your right hand.
5) Use the thumb + index finger to grab the thread through the loop and pull it. This creates a knot - a chain - on your thread.
6) Continue going until your loop is long enough
7) Stitch the other end of the loop in place and anchor your thread.

If you’ve never done one before, practice a couple times today while you enjoy your afternoon drink of choice and you will soon have another sewing trick in your tool box.

For belt loops I like like to use a heavier denim thread or even thin lace yarn to create the look i want. Test and see what you like!

20/10/2025

Sewing your own wardrobe IS time consuming.

But look at it this way:

1) You don’t have to sew ALL your clothes - it’s not an All-Or-Nothing situation. Give yourself permission to also thrift your clothes or even buy new stuff.

2) Prioritize sewing that gives you joy - sometimes, that’s an advanced jacket that takes weeks - sometimes it’s a quick t-shirt which only takes a couple of hours.

3)The best way to get a lot of use of a garment, is if it fills a hole. SO if you find yourself thinking - I need a swishy skirt that matches this blouse - then sew that! You will look forward to finishing and wearing it!

ALSO - follow along her for tips, free lessons, and patterns

(Oh, and I don’t recommend running a sewing teaching business at the same time. Documenting everything you make, takes so.much.extra.time!)

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