My name is Lauren Taylor. I am a 34 year old native Nashvillian with a love for all things sewing-related. I have a mean cat named Amelia Earhart and a lot of free time to devote to my passions. My life is pretty awesome.
In addition to sewing, I love riding my bicycle & eating tomatoes & watching Back to the Future. I am an avid knitter who has currently knit over 15 sweaters (and now the sock obsession has started, whee), and I also dabble in embroidery and watercolor painting. Someday, I’d also like to learn wood working, because why not? Who doesn’t want to build their own table, amirite?
Some FAQ for your faq’ing pleasure:
How do you pronounce “LLadybird”?
Same way you would pronounce Ladybird 🙂 I put the extra L there because I’m an ass. Just pretend it’s the same as Lloyd or Llama.
How/When did you learn how to sew?
I have been sewing for as long as I can remember (started when I was old enough to hold a needle), but I didn’t get serious about it until I was 20. I am self-taught!
How/When did you learn how to knit?
I was taught by my wonderfully patient friend Sarah, way back in 2011. She taught me pretty much everything I know!
What kind of dress form do you have?
My form is the Professional Female Form with Collapsible Shoulders from The Shop Company. I DO recommend this form – it’s solid and beautifully built. You can read my full review of the form in this post.
What kind of sewing machine do you have?
My main machine is Bernina 350 PE. I also have a Janome HD9, Pfaff 7570 and a 1957 Singer Featherweight. My serger is a Babylock Imagine, and my coverstitch is a Janome Coverpro 2000cpx.
What kind of sewing machine do you suggest for me?
I don’t know – it really depends on your budget and your sewing preferences! I feel like a sewing machine is kind of a personal purchase – there is no “right” answer. That being said, I strongly recommend visiting your local sewing machine repair shop and to peruse the goodies there. I know they are cheaper online, but the extra $ you pay at the store gets you the ability to test the machine and have someone to answer questions as they come up (and depending on what your store offers, you might also get other perks like free tune-ups, free sewing classes to show you how to use the machine, a discount on future purchases from the store, and additional warranties on the machine). Plus, don’t you want to support your local sewing shop so they stay in business for a long long time? Yes. Yes, you do.
What kind of camera do you use?
LOL JUST KIDDING no one ever asks me this.
Do you ever sell the clothes that you make?
Nope.
Does your sewing room really stay that clean all the time?
Yes.
Can I use a picture from your blog on my blog?
Sure! Use whatever you want! All I ask is that you link it back to me 🙂
How do you manage to sew all this stuff? Do you work?
I get asked this question a LOT, so here’s a whole post about it!
Will you sell/trace me one of the patterns you’ve used?
Not unless you have something really awesome in my size that you’re willing to trace for me in exchange!
Why do you use curse so much? It’s offensive to me!
Go away.
Questions? Comments? Contact me @ lladybirdlauren AT gmail DOT com
LLADYBIRD 
Stumbled on your blog today while searching for Colette’s Clover reviews. So glad I found you! It’s been sooo fun reading your blog. Thanks for taking the time to share your sewing ventures w/us!
So… I have some creepy sounding questions, lol. I’m trying to figure out if we have similar body types. If we do (from the picts it looks like we may) then I’ll be suuuuper stoked because I’ll be able to learn from your fitting descriptions even more!
From your picts you look petite. Did your weight fluctuate? The Boob Fairy never visited me…dammit…so that’s a diff, but from the waist down, our fit looks similar.
I’m not quite 5’2″ and shy of 100#. You may have more of a waist to hip diff than I do, but is your waist very defined compared to your hips? Mine isn’t.
Thanks again, and sorry for the creeper questions. Crossing my fingers that our overall measurments are indeed similar. Would help to know when it comes to altering patterns.
Thank you & happy sewing!!
Starr from Maui, Hawaii
Not creeper questions at all – it can be really helpful to find a “size twin” so you can just straight copy then when it comes to pattern alterations 🙂 It sounds like you are a little smaller than me… to be specific, I am 5’2.5″ and my measurements are 36-26.5-36 (my waist does fluctuate slightly – sometimes 27″ if i stop being active for a couple of weeks lol), high bust is 33″. I weight approximately ~120 lbs, give or take. My waist is pretty defined in comparison to my hips/bust and my height proportions are petite. Typical fitting adjustments for me include full bust adjustment (usually about 1″), tapering in the waist, full butt adjustment, short crotch, lowering the shoulders, and usually cutting off a LOT of length.
I hope this helps! And thank you for your sweet comments – always nice to hear that kind of stuff 🙂
Thanks SO much for the info! I was much closer to your measurements a few months back and then all hell broke loose & I lost a stress induced 30#. YUCK! Now I’m tooooo thin. I was a tad heavier than you back then. Hoping to put some of my padding back on. I miss my ass! Lol.
Thanks again!
Lucky me we actually are size twins! I think your waist is smaller (lucky). I am actually really interested in this full butt adjustment you speak of. I have read plenty about bust adjustments fba or sba but help for the back end would be brilliant! I am going to search through your posts but if there are any specific ones you can point me to that would be super!
The full butt adjustment I used is the one detailed in this tutorial 🙂 As a side note, if you’ve got a big rear, you NEED to check out the Thurlow trousers – they’ve got the big butt/small waist and the fit is AMAZING.
As a side note, I don’t think this matters so much right now but I did want to point out that I’ve lost a small amount of weight since I posted that comment. I’m closer to a 34-26-34, so keep that in mind if you’re trying to size twin anything I’m currently making 🙂
I wish you were my size twin, as I love your creations! I’m a petite little one, too, except that I generally need a small bust adjustment instead (so unfair!). Your blog is amazing – I’ll come here often for inspirations 😀
Hello there just wanna to say hello and there i love everything that u do ,your so talented :).
Also I love yor tips .,im not really good sewing but love it,love it ,my mom bought me a little singer I was 6she teatch me everything she new ,so now I have a big girl sewing machine .hugs
Hi there! I’ve been lurking around your blog for a month or so now… and as a newbie to the sewing world I find your posts VERY helpful. Oh, and I’m a Nashvillian too… East Nasty actually 🙂
Yay another East Nashvillian! Glad you find my blog helpful 🙂
Sorry Lauren, I’ve got no idea how I did that Trackback/Pingback thing. I tried to add your link to my current post, but the words wouldn’t highlight on the page. I also don’t know how to add your Thurlow Sewalong badge to my blog… any tips? Carola
It’s pretty easy! You want to save the image – either in your WordPress pictures, or on a picture hosting site like Flickr – then go to Appearance (in your Dashboard), Widgets, drag the little text box to where you want the badge to appear, and then paste your html in there 🙂 Here’s a picture tutorial of the process. If you want to link the badge back to the Sewalong, the link is https://lladybird.wordpress.com/tag/thurlow-sewalong/
Yay, it worked! Thanks for your help. 🙂
Are you able to delete that Trackback thing from your wall?
Haha I don’t think it’ll let me. Aw, oh well.
Glad you got the badge up!
I just nominated your beautiful blog for The One Lovely Blog Award. Check it out here http://thewayofthechiro.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/643/
Hey! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I
really enjoy reading your posts. Can you recommend any other
blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics? Many thanks!
I think I remember your clothes from might be Craftster in the reconstructed clothing forum?! Was before I got my over locker but I loved what you did with old t shirts and the like, and I always wanted to try some of your designs :). Love your blog too!
Hello to every one, the contents present at this web page are truly
amazing for people knowledge, well, keep up the nice work fellows.
What type of Dress form would you recommend? I do not have one and want to purchase one soon.
Sadly, I don’t have a recommendation for you. Sorry! The dress form I have is pretty terrible, and I don’t have experience with any other brands at this time.
Hi, I chanced upon your blog when I was looking for reviews of a certain clothing store (I won’t mention the name lest I be mistaken for a spammer). I’ve always said I envy people who can create things with their hands, and that one of the super power I’d wish for, if ever given the chance, is to have hands that can make things. (I have very dumb hands…) Anyway, just want to let you know that I am WOWed by the things you’ve created. Super awesome.
I need to to thank you for this very good read!!
I absolutely loved every bit of it. I’ve got you book-marked
to check out new things you post…
can I just say,I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, your blog!! sod those that comment on you swearing!, we all swear in truth, so to hell with them. I also love your wtf! , and as for vogue patterns, well for the money, who the hell are they designing for????, the criminally insane????, wtf indeed!!. I am a 59 year old mum,nana,and wife living in smallish village in wiltshire in england, and you brighten my day when I get the blues with my sewing[and husband for that matter!!. So my darlin’ girl you swear away and I’ll keep on reading and chuckling along with ya!! love to you, sue donachie
GAH! Just found your blog. I love your style and your swearing too. I just got so inspired!
I posted this on one of your pant/trouser posts…. but I don’t know if you will see it there. I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE your pants. The facings make them soooo unique! 2 questions for you: 1-What do you line your pants/trousers with?? It looks like cotton. 2- Do you interface your waistbands?
Anyway—love your blog. It inspires me to turn off the TV and do something productive. I look forward to your posts. Take care!!
I saw it 🙂 I will answer on both though, ha!! The lining/facing for those pants (and everything else I made using the Thurlow pattern, for that matter) is just a basic cotton. Might even be a quilting cotton, I’m not sure (I picked it up at the flea market so it was unlabeled). I think you could use anything as long as it’s fairly light and stable. And yes, my waistbands are interfaced – I use this lightweight fusible from Fashion Sewing Supply. It’s my favorite! Thank you for your nice comments 🙂
I’ve been enjoying -with amazement!-reading your blog for a while now. You are such an inspiration! It is really time for me to buy a serger, and while what I really want is Babylock, at least an Imagine, it’s pretty pricey. I searched for an alternative and I’m looking at Brother 1034D, thinking I’ll get it now until I save enough to buy an Imagine. Now, is that still a really bad idea?? My reason for wanting is vastly for the jet air threading capability besides what it can do. What do you think?? Waste f time and $$ to get a temporary Brother 1034D??
Hi there Lladybird, recently found you while trying to find a particular pattern. I have searched high and low for the Vogue 9668 featured beautifully in one of your blogs. As you mentioned, it is out of print. It has the components I need to make my daughters wedding dress. Scary shit! Hard to imagine but it’s mainly the fitted midriff that I’m after. Isthere anything you can do to help me out. Can I pay you to cut a draft off your pattern? Getting desperate. I am not experienced enough to improvise. Fingers crossed 🙂
Hey Cheryl 🙂 I’d be happy to trace the pattern for you, but I must warn that I don’t preserve my original patterns- so the copy I have is cut to a size 6 at the bust (8 at the waist and hips, I believe) and has a full bust adjustment taped up in there as well. Email me if you still want it!
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the long run and it’s time to be happy.
I’ve learn this submit and if I could I want to counsel you some interesting issues or suggestions.
Maybe you could write subsequent articles relating to this article.
I want to read even more things about it!
Hi Lauren — I wanted to let you know I have just started a blog and it’s partly your fault! I love reading your posts. You manage to combine great sewing information with what is clearly a delightfully big personality. Thank you so much for inspiring me. — Virginia
Hi Lauren. Here I am at work again lurking away on your blog. I just wanted to say thank you for all you do here! It’s a great reference and inspiration for me! You are a large part of what got me back in to sewing. Thank you!!!
Hi Lauren, A new subscriber here with lots of random comments. I found your new post regarding fitting pants….a writer complained about your language. haha! You remind me of my daughters so this old lady wasn’t bothered at all. I haven’t sewn in decades and am going mad for needing to return to a craft I love. And having grown up using my mom’s Bernina, well………your Bernina front and center really caught my eye. That is my dream machine, but haven’t figured out how to accomplish it yet. My dress form would not be nearly so shapely as yours (but wait, round is a shape!). Anyway, I’m subscribing because you have a charm and wit that expresses a joy of handwork that is delightful and contagious; so glad to see the youngster embracing it. One day I hope to be sharing a project of my own. Jen.
You are so effing amazing! My God those socks you just finished are brilliant! You are nothing short of brilliant! I am so glad I found your blog.
Hey 🙂
plz create a facebook page
I don’t use Facebook, so no Facebook page for me. I do have an Instagram account if you’d like to follow that – @LLADYBIRD is the handle 🙂
What kind of hair bleach & dye do you use? I love your hair so much!
Thank you! I had my hair initially bleached in a salon, and for the root upkeep I just buy those little bleach packets and 20 volume developer at Sally’s. This was after consulting my stylist and getting the go-ahead – bleach can absolutely destroy your hair if you use too strong of a developer or try to bleach over old hair dye, so definitely talk to your hair person to see if that’s something you can do at home, at least for the roots (when I touch up my own roots, I *only* bleach the roots. Don’t pull the bleach all the way to the ends of your hair, you might fry it) . I definitely recommend getting the whole head bleached professionally the first time. I’ve used a different dye for every color – Special Effects (purple blue), N’Rage (cobalt blue), Raw (turquoise) and Crazy Color (green). The Crazy Color is by far the best one; it’s stuck around really well with barely any fading. You can only get it in the UK, but it’s super cheap. I also use the Redken color extender shampoo and conditioner (the one in the pink bottle), which has really helped with keeping the color strong and vibrant 🙂 Hope that helps 🙂
Thank you so much! That helps a lot. I have very dark hair and a pixie cut that I get cut every 4 weeks, so that makes it both better and worse for dying. We’ll see how it goes!
Hey I have a question on a post you did a year plus ago about the portside duffle. I’m gonna try and make it for my daughter who’s doing a semester abroad and I’m wondering about the lining. Did you hand see per the directions or is there a way to machine stitch it in. Thanks
Hi! I followed the instructions and attached the lining to the zipper by hand. I’m sure there is a way to machine-stitch it in, but the bag is pretty large and bulky, and I didn’t feel like trying to figure out the logistics (or wrangle it under my machine!). Hope that helps 🙂
WordPress recommended your blog and I’m glad they did! I love your work and the photos in the woods 😊
♥ !
lauren
very original and imaginatve your blog, i am sincere:-)
i like also your photos, and your outfit including your hair!showing an out going and positive personality…
if you visit me and my very little blog, i would be happy
daniela from italy
https://infusodiriso.wordpress.com/
You’re so cool it blows my little mind. I sew legit looking shit up like you do some day. Also I’m maybe 12 years younger than you but I feel like we talk the same way. YOU SO AWESOME.
Aw! I think you’re awesome too! ♥
Hi Lauren,
I just wanted to say that I love your blog. Also, I wanted to tell you that I really like the picture of you on the
Elizabeth Suzanne website. I love how you made the dress your own.
Thanks for all you do.
Charlene
Charlene, thank you so much for this sweet comment! You made my day, seriously 🙂
Hi Lladybird! I just read almost all of your Vogue reviews after finding them when I Googled Marcy Tilton patterns. I just about choked laughing at some/ A LOT of your comments. We Aussies LOVE irreverence!! I do love the Tiltons, mainly because they’ve tried to break out of the box, but have to agree about them becoming ‘too much of a good thing’ lately……Thanks for the loud guffaws – my cat is looking sideways at me!!! Aless (in Adelaide)
It’s a rainy day in Vancouver BC and reading your blog (even the older posts) makes it a lot less dreary.
I’ve been a follower for a while – thanks for the fun.
PS – my sisters moving to Nashville soon so hope to stop in at Craft South 😉
You are FABULOUS! That’s all I have to say, which, if you asked ANYONE who knows me, is pretty amazing, since I generally don’t ever shut the fuck up. You are SO fabulous that you got me to shut up!
Hey Lladybird. Your writing is so refreshing and I totally dig your style. I found you by Googling “why I sew” – your post on that was great, a standout from the usual “I love being creative” explanations I’ve read. When I started by blog I fretted over whether or not I should swear on it – I’m salty as fuck IRL. You have me reconsidering my decision 🙂
Hey!! I’m going for the weekend in. NEw york im from montreal
Do you have any stops that are a must to stop for materials and fabrics?
Thanks 😇
Hi Lauren,
Really random question! But I’m hoping you can help me 🙂 I’ve been hunting the vogue easy options pattern 8280 for ages (I am definitely obsessed with finding it now and determined I will make that dress!) which is a copy of the infamous Roland mouret galaxy dress from about 2008/2009. I came across your blog post and tutorial on how you made it and loved it! Is there absolutely any chance you still have the pattern or know where I could get it from? It would make my day, my week or maybe even my year to find it!
Hope you’re having an awesome awesome week and hope to hear back from you soon 🙂
Katie (England) xx
Hello! I do still have my copy of the pattern, but unfortunately I’m not interested in selling it (it’s also cut – not traced – to the size I originally made it in). I’m not sure where you can buy it now, but I know people have had luck finding it on eBay and Etsy. Good luck with your search! 🙂
Hi Lauren. Just wanted to say Hi. I’ve read your blog for a couple of years now and I find it deeply inspirational. I’m not a bona fide sewing hobbyist, but I discovered the blog when I got the urge to sew a project (a bathrobe) for my wife for Xmas 2015. The thing that has kept me coming back is your incredible passion for your hobby and your super-human work ethic. I’ve tried to use it to inspire myself in my own life and projects — albeit in other hobbies. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for this incredibly kind and thoughtful comment 🙂 You just made my day!
Hello Lladybird ~ thank you for the delightful writing! I have kids your age and am not much of a sewer these days… BUT You made me laugh! LOVE your humor. Keep up the good work ~ You are also a fabulous sewer. Maybe you will convince me to try it again. Lots of love to you for the fun ♥️
Love your blog, was looking for interlining tutes. Greetings from Franklin,37064 weird! LOL.
Hi Lauren, are you still in Nashville? My favorite store there was Textile Fabrics. If you’re still in Twangtown & love to knit, maybe you know my sister, Gayle? She loves to knit & cuss, too! I am the sewist in the family. I have a Pfaff Passport, but am interested in either a Bernina 330 or 350, which is how I found your site. All the best!
Hello! Yep, I’m still in Nashville – hoping to never leave 🙂
Hi my name is Michelle Lleigh. I too am an ass so my assness is drawn to others assness hahaha. Thank you for your genuine honesty and the fearlessness in being yourself cuz fuck everybody else and their people pleasing right? Anywho I’m making the Thurlow pants pattern
1203 as I realize this may be an ancient relic of a project I’m wondering if you could search your memory banks and answer this question.
I am a very shortwaisted girl as my grandmother always called me that since she made clothes for me when I was little and I never understood what the fuck she way talking about until now. I am 41 can’t find a pair of pants that don’t zip up to my damn nipples so damn it I’m learning pants so I don’t look and feel like an idiot. So finally my Question I’m half way through making a muslin and can already tell the waistband will sit way too high on my waist, should I adjust my crotch length or make the waistband narrower?
Hello!! If you search the archives of my blog, you’ll see that I did a full sew along for the thurlows- where fit and construction are covered. Shortening the crotch is one of the things I cover, and that sounds like what you need to do. It’s a very easy adjustment, esp since you have a muslin to work with! Here’s to no more nipple-high pants!! 😀
I just took a break from work to read some of your Vogue pattern reviews after hearing you on the the Love to Sew podcast. I couldn’t stop cry-laughing. Thanks for that awesome break for my day; you are fucking hilarious!
Heard you on sewing podcast. Interesting
Lololol Lauren,
I really am impressed (over & over again) at your ‘calm’ when idiots comment on your blog! Like today. (And I’m hoping that I’m not in that category myself…)
Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with them thinking that you’re offensive? I think that you’re fucking awesome, and don’t forget it!
WE love ya!
Lodi
Hi, Lauren,
I hope you’re well and safe. I’ve been reading your blog with delight over the past few years. Thank you so much for sharing with us readers! Random question (and I apologize if you’ve already addressed this in the FAQs), would you be interested in some hand-me-down serger thread? I’ve got four half-full spools of cream, three white, three yellow, and two purple, all Maxi-Lock, if you want them. I’d be happy to mail them off to you!
Hi Karen-
Thank you so much for your sweet comment and your Maxi-Lock offer 😉 I’d love to put them to good use if you are willing to ship them 🙂 Send me an email (lladybirdlauren AT gmail DOT com) and I can give you my address. Thank you! ❤
Great! Just sent off an email. Thanks again for your delightful blog!
I’m about to make this top for my daughter and her measurements (34-26-36) are very close to yours…You mentioned you used the size 4 from the pattern, but when I read the measurements on the back of the pattern envelope, size 4 measurements are 29.5-22…The measurements for the size 12 (34-26.5) seem to be the right one…I’ve always found the body measurements on patterns to be so confusing (I mean who has a 22″ waist??)…Should I be using the size 4 or the size 12 measurements?