We are back with a fan favourite! It's season 2 of our Thrift Flip Challenge, this time with a Halloween theme. Over three episodes, our contestants will transform their thrift store finds into the Halloween costumes of their dreams, with one winner coming out on top.

Our favourite thrift store in Montreal is part of the Le Chaînon Foundation, which works with women in need fleeing domestic violence. You can learn more here and donate to this amazing organization here: https://lechainon.org/en/


Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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Fall is officially here, which means fall sewing plans! Amy, Justine, and Nisan are back to show you what they actually made from their summer lists (and what they made instead, because that's how it goes), plus the fabrics and patterns they can't wait to dig into this season.

Expect a caramel corduroy fantasy that's very Fantastic Mr. Fox, a 70s western shirt with pearl snaps, a hot pink roller-disco costume sewn in under two hours, emerald crushed velvet straight out of the late 90s, a wool crepe Tereska with a hand-embroidered secret, and a LOT of Frank Jeans.

Tell us in the comments what's on your fall sewing list. And if you've got a better idea for Amy's 70s print… good luck beating that one.

PATTERNS MENTIONED

Josephine Set (Crew pattern): https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/2025-07-this-month
Sepia Pants + Shorts: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/sepia-pants-shorts-pattern
Rika Pants: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/rika-pants-pattern
Core Boréal Vest (FREE from Core Fabrics): https://corefabricstore.com/blogs/tips-and-resources/core-boreal-lined-vest-free-sewing-pattern
Tereska Soft Blazer: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/tereska-soft-blazer
Cornelius Western Shirt: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/cornelius-western-shirt-pattern
Jenna Shirt + Shirtdress: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/jenna-button-up-shirt-shirtdress-pattern
Eleanor Dress (Deer + Doe): https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/eleanor-dress-pattern
Onyx Pants (Crew pattern): https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/2024-01-this-month
Frank Jeans: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/frank-jeans-pattern
Donna Bodysuit (Crew pattern): https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/2025-10-this-month
Adriana Matching Set (Crew pattern): https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/2026-07-this-month
Arias Overalls: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/arias-overalls-pattern
Amélie T-Shirt, our October Crew pattern: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/2026-10-this-month
Fowler Barn Coat + Quilted Jacket: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/fowler-barn-coat-quilted-jacket-pattern

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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Beatrice Deer is a musician, designer, seamstress, mother, podcaster, interpreter, and advocate for the Inuit community, and quite possibly our most multi-hyphenate guest yet. Half-Inuk and half-Mohawk, she grew up in Quaqtaq, Nunavik, and moved to Montreal 19 years ago. Heather has been a fan of her music for a long time, so when Beatrice came into the studio with a suitcase full of incredible handmade pieces, we knew this one had to be on video.

Heather and Beatrice cover a lot of ground. Beatrice shares how she found her own voice as a songwriter after years of believing she could only write lyrics, and how a bandmate's encouragement and a secondhand guitar led to her writing an entire album in three months. She explains how throat singing works (it's a game, and the one who breaks the rhythm loses), and talks about her latest album, Inuit Legend, including "Epidemic," a song about the 1952 measles outbreak that took her grandmother's life.

Then they get into sewing. Beatrice tells the story behind the coat of arms she embroidered and beaded for Governor General Mary Simon to wear to King Charles's coronation, and walks us through pieces she brought in: a garment in Hudson's Bay colours reclaiming that history, the stage looks she dreams up at night, and a beaded amauti she made while pregnant with her youngest. She also talks about hand-sewing a caribou skin amauti for the Musée de l'Homme in Paris, the parkas she made her kids every winter (Transformers, Strawberry Shortcake, M&M's...), and her new clothing brand, Uummati, including her answer for anyone worried about cultural appropriation.

Beatrice's recommendations:
North of North, season 2 (a show by her friend, featuring one of her songs)
Angry Inuk, a documentary by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril about the impact of the seal ban on Inuit communities.

Find Beatrice:
Website: https://beatricedeerband.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/beatricedeerband
Uummati Clothing: https://uummaticlothing.com/

A HandBuilt Life is brought to you by Closet Core Studio.
🌐 Website: https://closetcorepatterns.com
📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/closetcorepatterns
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdb_3OevoozegQB6C5meFjQ

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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We're so excited to introduce Amelie, the semi-fitted tee we've been chasing for years! With three necklines, three sleeve options, and proportions we obsessed over through more versions than we'd like to admit, Amelie is the kind of wardrobe basic you'll sew once and then keep sewing forever (Heather has already lost count of hers).

And that's not all! We're also launching Learn to Sew Knits, our brand-new introductory to knits class and our most requested course ever. Using the Amelie T-shirt as the core project, Heather walks you through everything you need to sew knits confidently and professionally. You'll start with an in-depth look at how different knits stretch, recover, and behave, then move into troubleshooting the classic knit headaches like tunnelling and wavy hems. From there, Heather takes you through every view of the Amelie tee step by step, with tips for getting clean, professional results whether you're sewing on a regular machine or a serger.

Shop the T-shirt with Crew: closetcorepatterns.com/products/2026-10-this-month
Shop the class: closetcorepatterns.com/products/learn-to-sew-knits-t-shirts-online-sewing-class

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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Knits are one of the most requested (and most avoided) fabrics in sewing, and for good reason — they don't behave like your favourite quilting cotton. In this class, Heather walks you through everything we know about choosing, cutting, and constructing with knits, so you actually enjoy sewing with them instead of white-knuckling your way through a t-shirt.

You'll learn:

🧵 How to read fibre, stretch, weight, and structure so you can shop for knits with confidence
🧵 Sewing knits on a domestic machine and a serger — no serger required
🧵 Cutting and grain tricks specific to knits (tubular fabric, we're looking at you)
🧵 Building a full t-shirt from start to finish, with four different neckline finishes: bound, band, v-neck, and a finished back neck seam

The Amelie tee pattern is included, so you'll walk away with real sewing hours logged and a wardrobe staple to show for it.

👉 Enrol here: [

New to sergers too? Pair this with our Serger and Cover Stitch Basics class — bundle available at:

#ClosetCorePatterns #LearnToSewKnits #SewingClass

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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Judith and Nisan are back with another reaction video. They're watching all those viral TikToks and IG reels that make sewing look soooooo easy. That is until you try them yourself! Separate the wheat from the chaff, the good from the bad, with us so you don't have to fall down a wormhole yourself!

#sewingtipsandtricks #sewinghacks #viralreels


Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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In this edition of Behind the Seams we are sharing samples from the patterns we've released this year! There are so many thoughtful bits of construction and meticulous details that go into these garments that we wanted to give them each their own spot in the limelight.

Patterns mentioned:

Cornelius Shirt: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/cornelius-western-shirt-pattern
Aylin Vest and Dress: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/aylin-wrap-dress-vest-pattern
Therese Track Pants: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/therese-track-pants
Eleanor Dress: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/eleanor-dress-pattern
Adriana Matching Set: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/adriana-matching-set
Arias Overalls: https://closetcorepatterns.com/collections/sewing-patterns-all/products/arias-overalls-pattern

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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Sewing your own jeans might just be the biggest confidence boost in your sewjo journey. 🪡

In this video, Heather shares her top 7 tips for making jeans that fit you — from choosing a quality pattern to why you should always make a muslin first (yes, even you).

These tips come straight from 10+ years of teaching jean making, both online and in person, all over the world, and they're just the tip of the iceberg!

In the class, you'll learn:

🧵 How to choose and fit a pattern that's actually right for your body
🧵 Machine setup, needle and thread tips for sewing through denim without a fight
🧵 Topstitching, bar tacks, rivets, and all the details that make your jeans look store-bought (but better)
🧵 Button flies, zip flies, pockets, waistbands — start to finish, no steps skipped
🧵 Full support in our class forum, so you're never troubleshooting fit issues alone

Whether this is your first pair of jeans or your fiftieth, this class will help you make them with confidence — and maybe even fall in love with your own handmade wardrobe a little more.

👖 Enroll in Jean Making 101:
📥 Grab our free Jeans Fitting Guide: [link]
🧵 Shop our jeans patterns: [link]

Don't forget to like and subscribe for more sewing tips, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes from the Closet Core team — new videos every week!

#JeanMaking101 #ClosetCorePatterns #SewYourOwnJeans #Sewjo #MMadeWhere to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

412 38

Thrifting vs. Vintage Shopping: A Sewing Treasure Haul (Part 1) 🧵✨

Grab your magnifying glass and your sense of humour: we're going digging through our sewing treasure stashes! In this episode, we sit down with our favourite treasure hunters (Nisan and Justine) to settle the debate once and for all: what actually counts as thrifting versus vintage shopping? (Spoiler: dust is a requirement.)

From this haul, you'll see:

🧵 A tiny antique tracing wheel from a milliner's tool lot
🧵 A porcelain thimble and the start of an accidental collection
🧵 Vintage sewing patterns passed down through friends (bunny costumes included)
🧵 A stash of notions, seam binding, and the cutest button packaging we've ever seen
🧵 Button boxes with decades of history, including buttons that immigrated all the way from Egypt
🧵 Vintage sewing and tailoring books, complete with mystery owners and 1980s classified ads
🧵 A very lucky $3 fabric find that should have cost a hundred times more

We could talk about vintage treasure hunting forever, so we're splitting this into two parts. Clothing haul coming soon, subscribe so you don't miss it!

Got a thrifting rule of your own? A number one treasure you're still not over? Let us know in the comments; we want to hear your finds.

#Sewing #Thrifting #VintageSewing #SewingCommunity #ClosetCorePatterns

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

414 35

Meet the Tereska Blazer, our new pattern for September 2026 and a Crew exclusive for the first month! In this video, Heather Lou walks through the design story behind our first tailored jacket pattern since Jasika, and why we think it's the perfect introduction to tailoring for sewists who've always wanted to try it but weren't sure where to start.

No shoulder pads. No sleeve heads. No princess seams or darts to fit. Just a relatively simple front and back, a traditional set-in sleeve, and a beautiful welt pocket detail that reads as "blazer" without any of the fuss. Fully lined with our classic bagged lining, it's an oversized, double-breasted silhouette with an easy, borrow-it-from-your-closet vibe that goes from jeans and a t-shirt to date night in seconds.

We also share the story behind the name: Tereska is named after Heather's business partner at Core Fabrics, Tereska, and a nod to the relaxed, put-together style she embodies every day.

🧵 Fabric recommendations: midweight European linen, coating-weight tweed, or a classic suiting. Avoid finely worsted suitings, which can bubble when interfaced. A viscose gabardine or lighter ponte also work beautifully.

Shop Tereska: https://closetcorepatterns.com/pages/2026-09-this-month

Shop fabric and kits for the Tereska Blazer at Core Fabrics: http://corefabricstore.com/collections/tereska-blazer-fabrics

The Tereska Blazer is available now for Crew members and launches as a standalone pattern in October.

Tag your makes with #ClosetCoreTereska — we can't wait to see what you make!

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

280 21

Nisan made the top to our Adriana Matching Set and proves it's a great pattern on its own!

Shop Adriana: https://closetcorepatterns.com/collections/sewing-patterns-all/products/adriana-matching-set?variant=44117149352070

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​

170 5

How to Sew the Perfect Hem: Tools, Techniques & Fixing Common Mistakes

Let's talk about hems, baby. If your sewing room is full of almost-finished garments, we're willing to bet the hem is what's standing between you and a finished closet. In this first episode of our hem series, Judith breaks down the double-fold hem, the technique you'll use for about 80% of your sewing, plus the tools, tricks, and fixes that take a hem from homemade to handmade-on-purpose.

We cover the essential tools for marking and measuring hems, how to press (not iron!) for a crisp fold, dealing with bulk at seams on fabrics like denim, working with slippery fabrics like lining, and how to spot and fix the most common hemming mistakes, from puckering to uneven stitch tension.

This is part one of a three-part series. Next up: tiny rolled hems on lightweight and finicky fabrics, and finally, faced hems, a couture technique and Judith's personal favourite.


#SewingTutorial #HemTutorial #LearnToSew #SewingTips #DressmakingBasics #CoutureSewing

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

421 18

Justine is wearing our Adriana Set. Available in print and PDF in sizes XXS-6X.

Get it here: https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/adriana-matching-set?variant=44117149352070

Fabric here: https://corefabricstore.com/en-ca/collections/prints/products/stripe-textured-fsc-viscose-green-cream-pink-navy

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

137 3

Welcome to the New Closet Core Patterns + Core Fabrics Studio! 🏠✨

We're so excited to finally show you around our brand new home! After three (very cozy, very cramped) years in our last space, we've moved into an 11,000-square-foot studio that has completely changed the way our team works, creates, and connects.

In this tour, you'll see:

🍳 Our big, warm kitchen and hangout space (yes, with three microwaves)
🎬 A dedicated video studio for both Closet Core and Core Fabrics content
✂️ The new Closet Core sewing studio, complete with custom 5x10 and 4x10 cutting tables
🧵 Our sewing wall, sample library, and prop storage
📦 A massively expanded Core Fabrics warehouse and wholesale space
🛋️ Heather's very first office of her own (after 13 years!)
🎉 A flexible event space for future workshops and trunk shows

This move wouldn't have been possible without this incredible community. Thank you for supporting both brands and for helping us dream bigger than we ever thought possible.

If you're in Montreal and interested in hosting an event in our space, reach out! And if you're curious about our wholesale fabric program, get in touch with the Core Fabrics team.

Happy sewing! 🧵

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

984 95

Labels: why we use them, and our brand-new custom sewing labels are finally here 🏷️

Heather and Justine sit down (a first for the two of them solo on camera!) to talk all things sewing labels — why you'd want one, how to use it even if it's not "yours," and the year-plus journey behind Closet Core's own custom label packs.

We cover why a label matters (hint: it's basically jewelry for your garment), Justine's out-of-control label collection, the wild constraints of designing something that tiny, and every place you can tuck, patch, or stitch a label into your next make. Plus: no labels on hand? We've got you covered with some low-effort, high-cute alternatives.

Shop the new labels: https://closetcorepatterns.com/collections/labels
Featured pattern: Arias Overalls https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/2026-08-this-month?variant=44178706202758
Featured shirt: Cornelius Western Shirt https://closetcorepatterns.com/collections/sewing-patterns-all/products/cornelius-western-shirt-pattern?variant=43122333581446

Got a favourite way to use your labels? Let us know in the comments — and if you're a fellow label hoarder, we want to hear about it.

New videos every week. Like, subscribe, and happy sewing!

#sewing #sewinglabels #closetcorepatterns #handmadewardrobe #memade

Where to Find Us!
Closet Core Patterns
Blog – https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/closetcorepatterns/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/closetcorepatterns/_saved/
Shop – https://closetcorepatterns.com/
​
Our Sister Brand
Core Fabrics
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/corefabrics/
Shop – https://corefabricstore.com/

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