Tracy McElfresh

Vanlentine's Dress - Tracy's Sewing Studio Happy 2026. Can you believe it is already 2026? As I sit here eating chili in my studio, it is 19 degrees in Dayton, Ohio. Staying motivated with goals feels hard in this cold, and staying on track fe...

New blog post on making this formal, valentines dress fit perfectly without alterations or making a muslin. The techniques I used, the 1970s pattern and the fabric.

www.tracyssewingstudio.com/2026/02/05/v...

Walk With Me Free-Motion Embroidery Dress - Tracy's Sewing Studio I use a regular sewing machine to do free-motion embroidery. Most people don’t realize this and when they hear “embroidery,” their immediate ask is what kind of embroidery machine do I have. “I don’t,...

Today I write about making this dress.

www.tracyssewingstudio.com/2025/05/12/w...

Thanks

I used a Martha Stewart punch sold at craft stores. Each can I got about 8 butterflies. Opening the cans with metal cutting scissors was the hardest most dangerous part. Thank you.

2017 I made a dress of beer cans titled, Fish Bait.

What did you make?

Oh color. I have some really cool garments that I’ve made to sell when I get some time.

Early morning hike today at Cox Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio.

The One Hour Dress, Take Two - Tracy's Sewing Studio Oh, man! One of my goals this year is to revisit all of the textile skills I have learned, bought a ton of supplies for, and then quit as soon as I started blossoming. These include quilting, free mot...

I write about the 1920s ‘One Hour Dress’. Was it really just an hour? www.tracyssewingstudio.com/2025/04/15/t...

I bought toe guards off of etsy.

Dress I designed for Ruby Red Fox. She’s bringing the first indigenous people fashion to Dayton, Ohio this November.

Week #1 vs week #15 of daily practice. When I first started I traced a croquis of my body. After the first month I was able to draw it on my own. After that I practiced different poses. Now I’m working on eyes, hands and shadows.

I’m just learning how this new platform works. I just saw this. Thank you

March was a great month. Now it’s prom and wedding season and I can barely get my head together.

Replicated a houndstooth coat from the final episode of Twin Peaks.

I went roller skating with my seamstress friends.

My skater dress I designed and made is actually separates with bicycle shorts attached. Wearability for longevity.

I’m excited to announce that once again I’ve won an award for my sewing and dressmaking blog. 2018 I was 28 of 35 for best ‘Dressmaker’ blog on the planet. 2025 I’m #5 of 35 for, ‘Top Seamstress Blog’. I couldn’t do without the help of @juicymelt.bsky.social thank you!!

Slow progress is still progress. Week 11, art 365 Figures and Fashion.

Love

So cute

I made my first skate video in my newly designed “not” a skate dress! I went with separates and the skirt has bicycle shorts underneath.

I'm working on a 'Design Your Handmade Wardrobe' series for YouTube. Many of us sewists design with heavily printed fabrics. Week one was to pull out your favorites, week two will be to wear what you never reach for and consider why. Here's mine, all 15+ years old, and it's work to match them.

2015 I saw Frida Kahlo’s dresses and it influenced my designs.

Week 10 of 365 Fashion and Figures practice.

Can you see the people? Art by Tiffany Clark.

Thanks. I mentioned the paper to a friend and she has some she isn’t using and is giving it to me.

We had, The Dayton Garment Designers Meet-Up last night. It was so much fun sealing fabric and talking about sewing. Last picture is my haul.

I adore this! I just got watercolor markers yesterday for my 365 Figures and Fashion project. I watched a video and they Zoe Hong says I need to buy the right paper. Ha ha ha art supplies! Btw I’m Tracy and am new on here.