News

Batch Sewing with the Pony Tank Pattern

Hello everyone! My name is Michele and I am honored to be one of the contributors for this year’s Chalk and Notch Blog. Find me on Instagram, where I share all my adventures in sewing, DIYs, or wha...

Sewing Tip | How to Assemble PDF Patterns

We want to do everything we can to help you have an enjoyable sewing experience. If you're new to our patterns or just PDF patterns in general, we've put together this post to demystify the PDF pat...

Tutorial | Marcel Front Ruffle & Tie Straps

We've wanted to add a tutorial for adding tie straps to the Marcel (shop the PDF here or paper pattern here) since its release so when we saw Alexis's creation as part of the 2021 Collaborator team...

Printed Patterns Have Arrived!

Chalk and Notch printed patterns have arrived! We've been working towards this goal for a long time! If you enjoy a physical pattern, with no printing or taping required, I have news for you. You c...

Sewing Tip | How to Sew Drawstrings

We include drawstrings on a few Chalk and Notch patterns. We thought it would be helpful to round up a few different ways to sew drawstrings using either woven or knit fabric. Here are two ways to ...

Page hoodie grommets 1160x655 Blog Feature

Sewing Tip | Grommet Installation

Adding grommets is an optional way to finish the openings for the drawstrings on the Page Hoodie and the Joy Jacket. Buttonholes are another option if you don’t have grommets. Be sure to follow the...

Page hood and finishing 1160x655 Blog Feature

Page Hoodie Sew Along | Sew Hood & Finish

Now it's time to add the hood to your Page Hoodie! If you ever want to try a crew neckline for the Page, you can check out our tutorial on the blog and the free neckband pattern piece in the shop. ...

Page Hoodie Sew Along | Sew Hem Band or Casing

In this post we will be hemming the Page. View A has a hem band and View B includes a drawstring casing. SEW THE HEM BAND TO THE BODICE – VIEW A If sewing view A, place the bodice inside the hem t...

Page Hoodie Sew Along | Sew Bodice & Sleeves

Now you are ready to attach the sleeves to the bodice. In just a few seams you will have a bodice to try on! SEW SLEEVES TO FRONT BODICE With right sides together, pin the sleeves to the front bodi...

Page Hoodie Sew Along | Prepare Markings, Cuffs, & Hem Bands

You will always be happy that you took the time to prepare before you begin sewing. Read over all of the instructions and make sure you are familiar with the seam allowances and markings. First, we...

Page Gathering Supplies 1160x655 Blog Feature

Page Hoodie Sew Along | Getting Started

We are excited to add the Page Sew Along to our library. Throughout this sew along we will be sewing both views. We hope you will find all the support you need, even if the Pagey is your first garm...

Victory Fabric Recommendations and Inspiration

There's almost nothing I love more than planning a project and selecting or shopping for fabrics. Well, except maybe actually completing a project. Putting together these fabric recommendation post...

Victory Tank Sew Along | Sew the Hem

You have made it to the final steps of sewing your Victory Tank! Only your hem is left, and then you are ready to wear your Victory! STITCH MAIN HEM GUIDE & FOLD UP EDGE Prep the main tank hem ...

Victory Armhole & Side Seam 1160x655 Blog Feature

Victory Tank Sew Along | Sew Armholes & Side Seams

You can review the photos below or we also have a video clip of the clean fishing the armholes HERE. Roll the Bodice to Finish the Armhole To clean finish the armhole, take the bodice and roll one ...

Victory View B Neckline 1160x655 Blog Feature

Victory Tank Sew Along | Sew Neckline View B

The View B neckline includes a few more steps to add the strap details but the sewing is pretty simple and you are in the right place for more support. Sew the Front & Back Straps There are sev...

Victory View A Neckline 1160x655 Blog Feature

Victory Tank Sew Along | Sew Neckline View A

Sew the Shoulder Seams on Main & Lining With the right sides together, sew the front and back bodice together at the shoulders. Press the seams open. Pinned Main Fabric Shoulder Seams Se...

Victory Center Back 1160x655 Blog Feature

Victory Tank Sew Along | Sew Darts and Center Back

Just a reminder, unless noted, the seam allowance included is 3/8″ (1 cm) for joined seams. Clip or mark the notches indicate by ‘T’ marks and triangles. Now let’s get sewing! STAYSTICH THE NECKLIN...

Victory Getting Started 1160x655 Blog Featurez

Victory Tank Sew Along | Getting Started

We are excited to add the Victory Sew Along to our library. Throughout this sew along we will be sewing both views. We hope you will find all the support you need, even if the Victory is your first...

Thank You Farrah Update Testers!

We have big goals of updating our full pattern library, and thanks to our wonderful testers, we're another step closer to achieving that. All our Farrah testers were incredibly helpful while workin...

Farrah Fitting and Custom Adjustments

If you are looking for any help fitting your Farrah, you've found the right post! We have put together this post covering the most common fitting adjustments for the Farrah. We have been working to...

Farrah Update Release

THE UPDATED FARRAH IS HERE! Farrah was the second Chalk and Notch Pattern to be released in adult sizes, and it's now our tenth pattern to be available in our current 0-30 size range. We are so clo...

Fringe Sew Along | Hem and Attach Bodice to Skirt

Your Fringe is almost finished! Let's stitch up the hem and attach the bodice to your skirt. STITCH THE HEM FOLD GUIDE AND FOLD UP I prefer to hem the skirt before attaching the skirt to the bodice...

Fringe Sew Along | Sew Pockets and Skirt Side Seams

At this point, your bodice should be sewn and we're ready to stitch up the pockets (optional) and skirt of your Fringe blouse or dress. SEW THE SIDE SEAMS WITH NO POCKETS If omitting skirt pockets ...

Fringe Sew Along | Attach the Sleeves/Cuffs and Sew the Side Seams

We're almost finished with the bodice portion of the Fringe. The sleeve and cuff options are interchangeable for both views. If sewing View B, skip all View A instructions below. SEW THE SLEEVE TAB...

Fringe Sew Along | Sew Shoulder Seams and Attach Facings

Let's continue construction on your Fringe bodice with shoulder seams and facings for both Fringe views and the Mini Fringe (with a bodice lining). SEW THE SHOULDER SEAMS Before you attach your fac...

Fringe Prep Facings 1160x655 Blog Feature

Fringe Sew Along | Prepare Facings and Sew Darts

Now that pieces have been prepared and cut, it's time to begin sewing. We'll start with the facings and bodice darts. SEW THE CENTER FRONT BODCE SEAM FOR VIEW B This step is for View B only. With r...

Fringe Sew Along | Getting Started

The Fringe is one of our most popular patterns, and we're thrilled to bring you more support in your creative endeavor with the Fringe Sew Along. Throughout this sew along, we will be sewing Fringe...

Tutorial | Wren FREE Short Sleeve

Hello! Today we're excited to be sharing a FREE bonus sleeve add-on for the Wren Blouse and Dress pattern. We explored several different variations through development and testing. Although this op...

Wren Sew Along | Sew Dress Skirt & Hem

This is the last step before you can wear your Wren dress! Sew the Ruffle Side Seams With the right sides together, sew the ruffle side seams. Finish and press to the back. Gather the Ruf...

Wren Sew Along | Hem Blouse, Sew Buttonholes & Attach Buttons

In this post we have a few tips for sewing your buttonhole and your blouse hem. I prefer to sew the buttonholes and buttons of the dress before attaching the skirt but you can always add them at th...

Wren Sew Along | Long Sleeves & Cuff

This post is for the longs sleeves and cuffs. If you are looking for the short sleeve instructions you can find the post here. The Mini Wren includes an elastic hem for the long sleeves so the shor...

Wren Sew Along | Short Puff Sleeves

We are ready to sew the short puff sleeves (View A). The construction is the same for the Wren & Mini Wren for the short sleeve option. If you are sewing the Mini Wren long sleeves (View B), yo...

Wren Sew Along | Sew the Facing

Now we are ready to sew up the facing and create the fold-back placket. This might be a new construction method. Just follow along and trust that it will work out! We also filmed steps 8 through 11...

Wren Sew Along | Stay Stitching, Sewing Darts & Shoulder Seams

Now we are ready to start sewing! Stay stitching, sewing darts (the back darts are optional) and sewing the bodice shoulder seams are up first. STAY STITCHING NECKLINE Before handling your cut bod...

Wren Sew Along | Getting Started

We are excited to bring you a sew along for our latest release, the Wren Blouse & Dress. Throughout this sew along we will be sewing the Mini Wren for the Blouse (View A) and the Adult Wren for...

Thank You Wren and Mini Wren Testers!

After testing several updates over the last several months, it was a joy to be testing a new pattern again. We were fortunate to have a helpful group of testers. Their valuable input helped make th...

Wren Fabric Recommendations and Inspiration

Planning is often one of my favorite stages of creating something new. I love the excitement and seemingly endless possibility that surrounds those first moments. This makes creating these inspirat...

Wren Fitting and Custom Adjustments

If you are looking for any help fitting your Wren, you've found the right post! We have put together this post covering the most common fitting adjustments for the Wren Blouse and Mini Dress. We ha...

Wren & Mini Wren Release

THE WREN AND MINI WREN PATTERNS HAVE ARRIVED! Fabric Source || Tencel Shirting from Style Maker Fabrics The Wren & Mini Wren patterns will be on SALE through Wednesday, March 31st. You can e...

Meet Our 2021 Collaborator Team!

Today we're thrilled to announce the 2021 Chalk and Notch Collaborator Team. In 2020, we worked with several different teams to bring you tutorials, inspiration, and promotional photos. This year, ...

2020 Review & 2021 Plans!

Honestly, just getting through 2020 feels like a win. I'm doing my best to take the important lessons learned from 2020 and look forward to 2021 with hope. I wish the very best for you, and I want ...

Tutorial | Color Block Page

A matching lounge sweatsuit seems like the 2020 outfit I keep seeing everywhere! Kelli of True Bias and I have seen so many of your Page and Hudson combos. We thought it would be fun to share our v...

Tutorial | Orchid Puff Sleeve

Hello, I'm Laura from @cottonreelstudio. I'm based in the UK and I have been making my own clothing for a number of years. I am thrilled to be a part of the Chalk & Notch blogger team for 2020....

Tutorial | Elastic Waist, Cuffed Crew Trousers

Hi, I’m Teri (@teridodds1) and I’m so happy to be part of the C & N Blogger team! I’m sharing my tutorial for how to change the Crew Trousers pattern into a pair of elastic-waist, cuffed pants....