School, future plans, long term goals, and donations

 This is a loooong post, but there's important updates and school stuff for transparency of what I've been working towards. 

 Let's just call it a few long term goals, and a call out for some help. I'm not working at this time. That's right, I don't have a job. 

 This is so I can focus on school, to get the experience I need, to start looking into working for garment repair places, or possibly even having the piece of paper I need from school, to teach mending, sewing and repair. How anyone can do all the full time courses and manage to find time to hand all their stuff in with a full day of classes, along with all the homework, which takes a lot of work, is beyond me. 

I've spent DAYS sewing the same hat to finish it for class, or patterning out something by hand to get the best grades possible. For the record, I have a straight A grade average across ALL of my classes I've taken so far. 

 For possible future employers who come across my videos (or this blog), if there's any Toronto (Canada) based businesses that is a sewing shop, repair shop, or crafting studio that is looking for someone who's been home sewing since they were in grade school, that wants someone who can teach sewing basics on their payroll, or someone that is willing to learn tailoring methods through working experience, please send me a message and I will reply! 

My email for my Youtube channel is kiera.oona.crafts@gmail.com

I can also be reached via the following platforms:

 Instagram: @kieraoona

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@kieraoona

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/kieraoona

Bluesky:  https://bsky.app/profile/kieraoona.bsky.social

 I want to do better by the environment, moving towards a job in the Toronto area (preferably closer to home) that has sustainability in mind, or towards slow fashion or more tailored fashion, so people can make their own clothes, or reach for clothes they will wear more often.... but I also need to keep a roof over my head. 

With that said... The current problem, is all my classes that I planned on taking, and wanted to take as a backup were all cancelled (a little frustrating). 

I have enough funds to keep a roof over my head and pay for classes **for now** without going into debt. However, most sewing places expect that you have experience in the industry, which I don't. 

Everything I have learned is either through personal experience, or through the continuing education courses at George Brown so far.I also have tools and supplies I needed to replace or get repaired. I was able to replace my steam iron with my own money, but I could use some help to recoup the losses....which is where all of you lovely people come in! 

The money will funnel back into my Youtube channel for supplies, music subscriptions for music on my videos, as well as taking more classes if they become available through the college in the spring (April is when the next semester for Con-ed is usually available) 

 For transparency, I'm still looking at taking the following classes that I need to obtain the Fashion Fundamentals Certificate at George Brown College: 

Pattern Drafting 2 (I have supplies for this from the last class)
Introduction to Adobe (prerequisite) (Adobe Creative Cloud subscription needed)
Adobe Illustrator for Fashion (Adobe Creative Cloud subscription needed)
Fashion Illustration and Design (will probably need Copic markers for this)
Draping for Fashion Design (possibly some fabric expenses)

For these classes I still need a laptop to take with me, and that will run Adobe Creative Cloud (another monthly expense)

In the images below, I have the course list, and the classes that I still need or want to take are listed on the image, which is the list provided from the college. Also my Ko-Fi goal posting on my Ko-Fi page.

As for the other courses for more industry experience, I'm hoping the professors will provide me with more information on the following courses through George Brown Fashion Exchange:

Power Sewing
Apparel Fit Technician
 

In the meantime, I'm still working on making more videos while waiting for classes to open back up, working on body blocks that are tailor fit to myself for pattern drafting practice, and passing along the knowledge of what I've learned, in video format, for all of you out there. For anyone who is able to donate, thank you! My Ko-Fi link is https://ko-fi.com/kieraoona

 

 

 

 

 

Joining Bluesky

Just wanted to give a bit of an update.

Other than kicking off 2025 with Covid (still getting over the symptoms but they are fading slowly), I decided to join over on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/kieraoona.bsky.social is the link to my profile if you would like to join me over there.

I may start slowly backing off of any META platform due to their most recent policy changes, and lack of ability to opt out of AI scraping.  I don't like generative AI in general.

In the meantime, I'll be at home, drinking my juice, taking my meds, and hoping my classes for this semester have enough people to go through.

Tinker Workshop - Bampot house - December 19 2024 - Toronto

 

 As a heads up, I will be facilitating at the Tinker workshop again, for sewing assistance, visible mending, mending suggestions, and other fiber related things.

Have a torn fabric item that you want to fix that you need a bit of guidance?

Have a home sewing pattern you are stumped on by the instructions?

Have a hole in your sock?

Come on down and I will help you out

Limited amount of seats available, and please be sure to register at the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPGgh8gufVqdJU6UtX-Ozfjkn-8u_noP9jIJs-P15R8zsdeg/viewform

I'll see you there!

Making a handstitched soup bowl cosy - last minute handmade gift idea

 

 

Come on in and grab your bowl of soup.   

Need something to keep your bowl warm, and your fingers insulated from the heat?   This might be the perfect household item to do just that.  

You might also be able to make one for a friend or family member! 

This project only took me 2 days to make, while filming, but if this is your first time, or if you make one that has more top stitching, you may need more time to make it.

Above is the pattern

Please note that you may need to adjust the darts for length, and width, as well as the size of the fabric, for the size of your bowl.

 

How to use a modern domestic sewing machine 101 - Machine parts ID and threading

 Now....before anyone says anything, I bought this machine with my own money, and zero sponsorships from Singer sewing company.

I only heard about the pitfalls of this machine after I bought it, and only mentioned a few things in the video as to why I bought it.

Your machine may be better than this one, but most modern domestic machines thread in the same way, which is what I'm trying to showcase, not this specific brand and model. 

In fact, you'll notice that I semi de-badged this machine. 

With that said, I think some of you out there may find this video helpful, with even non-Singer branded machines.

 

 

 

 

 

As for reviews, you know a sewing machine is sturdy by the feel and "drive" of it in a way.  This specific make and model feels about as cheaply made as the Singer Esteem II that was given to me, that you may have seen in other videos.

 

I also have a Singer branded serger that "does the job"

 

However, if I had the space, and money to get industrial machines, I probably would, but being in an apartment, I can't afford that kind of space, so home sewing machines will have to do.

 

The one that really feels the most sturdy, is my vintage 1937 Singer 99k machine.  It still needs a bit of repair, and looking at the springs to get the tension discs to de-tension when I lift the presser foot, but it still works all the same.

 

Making a Patchwork Witch Hat - Part 2 - Light - Halloween

 

 

 

It's that time again!

 

It's October! 

 

When the sky starts to get a bit more rainy, the leaves begin to turn color, and the ghosties, ghouls, and goblins start coming out to play. 

 

This month, we'll be doing a make-a-long in the form of a Witch Hat! You can sew this by machine, or by hand. By machine is ideal.

 

This video goes through the addendum to the materials list, and the "light" version of this hat.

 

(Also, don't at me cause in the video I spelled addendum wrong.  It was 4am when I finished editing this video.  I think we need to live with a few imperfections)

 

We have some cottagecore vibes and construction instructions for you, for those early fall and first half of October vibes. 

 

So, grab your cozy drink of choice, grab your scraps, and let's get stitching!

 

Making a Patchwork Witch Hat - Part 1 - Halloween!

 

 

It's that time of year! My favourite time of year, so lets get spooky with this kooky scrappy patchwork hat!

This is part 1 of 2. 

Part 1 being the basic supplies and sorting out the math you'll need to make this hat!

I've also confirmed that the Excel spreadsheet link works, as I used it for this project, which is courtesy of hellowsewing.com at the link below, which will go directly to the spreadsheet download.

hellosewing.com

I'll see if I can make a copy of the math, but as a google sheets version for ease of access.

I'm still waiting for more material to come in, which shouldn't take too long historically speaking from the store I bought them from. But...I'll be filming a bit of the process while waiting for it to come in so I can get part 2 out ASAP!

You can hand sew this, or use a machine. Totally up to you.

I hope you'll join me on this sewing adventure!

Changes and updates - Visible Mending - Tinker Toronto - Millinery video

Some of you who have been to this blog before, may notice some changes.  I've decided to remove the older content, as it would be irrelevant for use anymore, because most of the links are outdated, I don't use certain sites anymore, or for other reasons. 

With that said, I am trying to work on newer content, and I'm continually updating my YouTube, for more tutorials and content.  

I have several projects on the go, but these things will take time to create, and publish.  

 In the meantime, I suggest going to check out my YouTube Channel or my Instagram for additional content, which is where I post the most frequently.

 

As an update, on September 19 (2024) I had visited Bampot House of Tea and Board Games, for a night of teaching people how to mend their clothes, through means of "visible mending".  I even managed to finish a patch on my own Threadbanger T-shirt.  

Since Threadbanger has sadly disbanded (they have their reasons for no longer continuing, and please respect their privacy) I want to keep wearing the tees I bought as long as possible. 

I'm still creating videos with the spirit of Threadbanger in mind as best I can, and I want to keep making more content for those of you to follow along at home, in the spirit of DIY.

I also now have a Linktree, where you can find free patterns I'm working on, which I only have one available at the moment, but again in the spirit of DIY, a lot of it is "do it yourself" as the format may leave a few people scratching their heads.

I also have been taking classes at George Brown College, to bolster what I know in the realm of sewing, and have even completed my Millinery certificate!  That's hat making for those who don't know the term.

 

With that said, if you like my videos, please go to my channel, like, subscribe and comment, and pass the info along to friends, or family, as it really helps to boost the algorithm to let Youtube know you want to see more.  It also helps me with a bit of a serotonin bump, knowing that you like what you see, find it useful, and want to see more.

I also have a Ko-Fi page in which you can donate to help keep me caffeinated, or to help me get supplies to showcase more builds and more DIY tutorials, since sewing with a camera in my lap gets really awkward, and could really use better audio equipment, as well as fabrics to make things to show you how it's done.  Especially if you like hats, cosplay or just want to learn how to sew.

If you want to donate, please scan the QR code below:

 

 

I'm also writing a small e-zine on how to do sewing in general, with techniques, tools, ideas, but it's slow going, so it might be a while as I'm hand writing it, but I also plan on making a typed up version for people who need it, which will eventually be available on my Ko-Fi page as well.

In the meantime, I'm working on more school, as well as a new video, so stay tuned!

Making Opus Elenae's Londinium Hood - Time to get Medieval! - Pattern link available!

 It's time to get Medieval, with the Londinium Hood pattern by  Opus Elenae  

 Their Ko-Fi page can be found at the link below, along with the pattern: 

https://ko-fi.com/s/ec44c3c4d8 

Keep in mind I finished this hood in 2022 as part of a challenge to finish a historybounding piece, to help keep me warm in the winter.

 Please also note that I paid for this pattern with my own money, and is not sponsored.

 

 

 

Happy Historybounding!

See how to make this GIANT HAT! - Things I learned at college

 Join me in seeing the process of how to make this GIANT HAT! 

I need a broad brimmed hat to keep the sun off in the summer, and this dark brown felt hat certainly does the job! 

You can style a broad hat like this many ways, adding flowers, greebles, and it certainly gives some Cad Bane vibes (Star wars for you cosplayers out there) I know this is a fast one, but it gives you a peek into the process.

Happy hat making!