with my hands – Dream

sewing, knitting, creating… always learning, always dreaming

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    • Suomalaisia käsityökirjoja – Finnish sewing books (for free)
    • Käsitöitä 1894-1915
  • Home
  • Shop
  • My projects
  • Sewing
    • The pleated skirt calculator
    • The Big List of Sewing Pattern Companies
    • Ompelun suomi-englanti sanakirja
  • Tutorials
  • Reviews
    • Sewing patterns
    • Sewing books
  • Other crafts
    • Pirtanauha-generaattori
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • Paper crafts
    • Food
  • Events
  • About me
  • Resources
    • Suomalaisia käsityökirjoja – Finnish sewing books (for free)
    • Käsitöitä 1894-1915
  • Home
  • Shop
  • My projects
  • Sewing
    • The pleated skirt calculator
    • The Big List of Sewing Pattern Companies
    • Ompelun suomi-englanti sanakirja
  • Tutorials
  • Reviews
    • Sewing patterns
    • Sewing books
  • Other crafts
    • Pirtanauha-generaattori
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • Paper crafts
    • Food
  • Events
  • About me
  • Resources
    • Suomalaisia käsityökirjoja – Finnish sewing books (for free)
    • Käsitöitä 1894-1915

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

  • My PU foam legform.
    My projects,  Other crafts,  Tutorials

    How I made my legform aka Holly the Halfling

    July 28, 2019 / 10 Comments

    I made a legform to fit my body shape. I used duct tape as a mould and filled the leg form with PU foam that is easy to acquire and makes a pinnable form.

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    kk
  • My homemade leather sandals.
    My projects,  Shoemaking,  Tutorials

    How I made a pair of leather sandals

    July 11, 2019 / 4 Comments

    I made a pair of cute leather sandals. This is a shoemaking project that doesn't require lasts, patterns or any expensive equipment, so read on!

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    kk
  • Red ballet flats
    My projects,  Other crafts,  Shoemaking

    Making red leather ballet flats

    June 11, 2019 / 7 Comments

    I made a pair of red leather ballet flats with die cut decoration. This is my first ever leather shoemaking project and a successful one!

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    kk
  • Kirjakori
    Interior decoration,  My projects,  Other crafts,  Suomeksi,  Tutorials

    Tuunattu kirjakori – Painted book storage bin

    March 30, 2019 / No Comments

    Käsityöhaasteena tuunattu kirjakori. - I solved my library book storage problem by painting and decorating a wooden bin I found from the Recycling center.

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    kk
  • My projects,  Other crafts,  Paper crafts,  Tutorials

    Cardboard spools for sewing organization

    March 9, 2019 / 3 Comments

    Here is how I arranged my tangled lingerie materials. I made spools out of cardboard and wrapped everything neatly. A bit of decoupage added prettiness.

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    kk
  • Home cosmetics.
    My projects,  Other crafts,  Tutorials

    Home cosmetics

    March 2, 2019 / No Comments

    Here are some ways you can make home cosmetics out of things that can mostly be found in your kitchen. It's fun, safe for kids and good for your skin!

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    kk
  • Interior decoration,  My projects

    Pimp my speakers with d-c-fix vinyl

    January 30, 2019 / No Comments

    Some time ago my husband spotted a pair of quality speakers on a flea market at a ridiculously low price and he bought them. I have nothing against a good sound quality but the worn cherry wood finish was not really something I wanted to see in our living room. After some thinking, I bought black woodgrain d-c-fix adhesive vinyl to cover the red cherry wood. I don’t know if I have ever used d-c-fix before but it was really easy to use. I removed part of the backing paper and just rolled it on my speakers, removing any bubbles with a plastic ruler. The vinyl was sturdy enough for…

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    kk
  • Photographing your makes.
    Photography,  Tutorials

    Photography tips for a sewist

    January 24, 2019 / 11 Comments

    Here are my tips on how to take great photos for your sewing blog.

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    kk
  • Lightbulb vase
    My projects,  Other crafts,  Suomeksi,  Tutorials

    DIY flower vase from an upcycled light bulb – Kukkamaljakko hehkulampusta

    October 23, 2018 / 2 Comments

    I show how I turned an old light bulb in to a nice hanging flower vase. Askartelin vanhasta hehkulampusta kivan roikkuvan yhden kukan maljakon.

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    kk
  • Three bracelets
    My projects,  Other crafts,  Suomeksi

    Bracelets – rannekoruja

    October 3, 2018 / 2 Comments

    I made some bracelets using both glass, metal, acai and buri-beads strung into elastic cord. The design came out in accident but I like it.

    Read More
    kk
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Foundations Revealed - Your wardrobe unlock'd. The costume makers companion.

From my YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsUWz_jCoP4

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 different types of fabric that you should recognize with your fingertips!
    10 different types of fabric that you should recognize with your fingertips!
  • The Big List of Sewing Pattern Companies
    The Big List of Sewing Pattern Companies
  • The quest for the well-fitting trousers - what I have learned
    The quest for the well-fitting trousers - what I have learned
  • What a sewist should know about interfacing?
    What a sewist should know about interfacing?
  • Ironing board cart for your sewing room
    Ironing board cart for your sewing room
  • A grey teeshirt bra and panties
    A grey teeshirt bra and panties
  • Restoring an antique Singer 12 from 1888
    Restoring an antique Singer 12 from 1888
  • A wool walking skirt
    A wool walking skirt
  • A Victorian bashlik hood at Espoo City Museum
    A Victorian bashlik hood at Espoo City Museum
  • Free Finnish sewing and crafting books
    Free Finnish sewing and crafting books
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withmyhandsdream

Katja Kuitunen
I was invited to see and study the genuine Victori I was invited to see and study the genuine Victorian Bashlik at Espoo City Museum. Check out my YouTube video to see it! My warm thanks to the intendent Suvi Kettula ja Espoo City Museum! #bashlik #espoocitymuseum #kamuespoonkaupunginmuseo #Victorianfashion #hood #historicalfashion #Espoo #antiquegarments #history
I made a hair stick out of a chop stick. I never t I made a hair stick out of a chop stick. I never thought I could keep my slippery hair in control with a simple stick but I tried with a chop stick and it worked. Only the chop stick was wat too big. I shortened the stick and made a decorative spiral end. To be honest, that was an accident! I didn’t cut the wood straight with my Dremel and I saw the spiral forming. I then just continued cutting in an angle. #hairstick #woodcarving #diy #hairideas #dremelproject
It's been exactly 15 years since I married my husb It's been exactly 15 years since I married my husband but the time has gone so fast. And yes, we married on April Fool's day! Made it much easier to find the venue! However, we look so young in the picture! Five years ago we took a trip to Edinburgh together, just the two of us. We might have done something special this year, too, if not for covid, but now it's just a regular evening at home. #anniversary #15yearstogether
I managed to find real silk ribbon in my hometown! I managed to find real silk ribbon in my hometown! My Edwardian silk underwear deserves real silk and not polyester. However, this quick lets-just-use-the-silk-scraps-for-a-quick-corset-cover project has turned in a long one with days spend carefully hemming ruffles by hand and sewing lace on with silk thread. #Edwardianunderwear #trulyvictorianpatterns #sewing #costuming #historicalcostuming #corsetcover #silk #lace #ribbons #ruffles #sewfun #sew #ompelu #ompeluelämää #historiallinenompelu
My newest blog post and the YouTube video are now My newest blog post and the YouTube video are now live! I can finally show how I made this Victorian-inspired tailored jacket. The pattern was (a bit modified) Marfy #1989 and the gorgeous wool tweed was from @materialshelsinki. I finished the jacket already in December but it took me a while to edit all the footage I recorded during the process. In the meantime I have been wearing this jacket a lot. It is very warm and comfortable and a perfect jacket for #historybounding  shenanigans. #sewing #sewingblog #tailoring #jacket #tweed #tailoredjacket #räätälinhommia #ompelu #ompeluelämää #sewcialist #sewistsofinstagram #victorianinspired #sewfun #sew #sy #nähen #marfypatterns #marfy1989
Just uploaded three old Finnish sewing and pattern Just uploaded three old Finnish sewing and patternmaking books from the years 1892, 1902 and 1915 to my blog. After all these years they are in public domain but as far as I know they haven't been available digitally. Go and have a look! Link in bio! #sewingbooks #historicalsewing #oldbooks #digitizedbooks #sewingpatterns #sewing #patternmaking #historybounding #ompelu #ompeluelämää #ompelukaavoja #historiallinenompelu
Onion peels and tea for the dye and potato starch Onion peels and tea for the dye and potato starch to stiffen! Today, I started the work for my petticoat project in the kitchen! Now I must get silk ribbon to match - or then more onions! #sewing #historybounding #naturaldyeing #dyeingwithfood #lace #cottonlace #historicalsewing #petticoat #laceinsertion #sewcialist #sewistsofinstagram #ompelu #luonnonvärit #ompeluelämää #historiallinenompelu #pitsi
This wide lace was bright white similar to the nar This wide lace was bright white similar to the narrow lace in the picture. However, my silk fabric was cream-coloured. I first dipped my lace in hot tea (a good use for those bags in a selection that no one wants to drink) and it turned into light reddish beige. The colour was much better but I would have wished a colour closer to yellow. So, I took some leftover onion peels and dyed over. Now the colour matches exactly! Note that to do this your lace has to be made out of natural materials. I also put some salt in and removed the onion peels before adding the lace. I then used vinegar to set the dye. #fabricdyeing #lace #historybounding #dyeing #matchymatchy #sewing #sewcialist #historicalsewing #ompelu #värjäys #luonnonvärit #ompeluelämää #pitsi #puuvillapitsi #cottonlace #onionpeels #sipulinkuorivärjäys
I made an 18th-century style Finnish shirt for my I made an 18th-century style Finnish shirt for my Kokkola national costume. In a true 18th century fashion, the shirt is long but the lower part of the shirt is made out of cheaper fabric, I used an old tablecloth from the Recycling centre. Check out my YouTube video on sewing it! #sewing #sewcialist #sewistsofinstagram #ompelu #ompeluelämää #kansallispuku #kansallispuvunkorjausprojekti #sewfun #paita #aliset #historicalsewing #folkcostume
Should I line the hem ruffle? How much pf the cott Should I line the hem ruffle? How much pf the cotton netting should go beyond the lining? What lace trim to use? Can I match the colour of the silk if I dip my lace into some tea? Decisions, decisions? Opinions, please! #sewing #silk #victorianpetticoat #blacksnailpatterns #historybounding #lace #ruffle #historicalsewing #victorianfashion #labelleepoque #sew #sewfun #sewcialist #sewistsofinstagram #ompelu #pitsi #alushame #ompeluelämää
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