All Posts
Patterning My Warmup Jacket – Pt 1 & 2
In this second post of My Warmup Jacket series, I share the behind-the-seams details of my jacket’s patternmaking and mockup stories! And after putting this patternmaking post together (which was part of my “warmup” for testing new shots in my new space), there ended up being so many photos and video clips that I’ve decided…
Designing My Warmup Jacket
Learn how Yves St Laurent, Eddie Murphy, Threads Magazine, Starry Nights and Neon Lights helped me design myself a garment that I didn’t see coming…
Figuring Out Fabrics by Designing Digitally
Welcome to a somewhat meandering story of three custom garments! This blog post loosely threads between my previous tutorial post on creating custom croquis, a couple of my “Custom Sewing Love Letters”, and there’s even some bridalwear throwbacks… The common thread: My iPad.
How To Create Custom Sketching Croquis from Photos
It’s early 2010. Michelle, my very first custom bridalwear client, is leaving my home studio after our Design Consultation. I snap a photo of her on her way out the door. My mind is buzzing with ideas. My table is scattered with images and inspirations. I pull out a blank piece of paper. I’m ready to…
My 7 Year Quest to Custom Jeans (+ more about those pockets!)
Contrary to what you might think, I don’t have a lot of clothes and I tend to wear the same (old) things over and over. Almost all of my custom garment making is for others. Even the custom clothes I have made for myself were mostly crafted on-screen while sharing with my students. But I’m…
My Sewing Story Pt 4: Pandemic to Present
(If you are new to this series, start with Pt 1: Academics. Otherwise…) It’s THE END of this Sewiversary series! My previous post “Entrepreneur” left off in October 2019, when two of my custom brides walked down (different) aisles in the same weekend. I was working in my dream studio while teaching couture sewing to…
Hi there! I'm Brooks Ann.
I’m a former professional costumer and couture dressmaker for one-of-a-kind bridalwear located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, who teaches custom garment sewing too the sew-curious online.
My blog mostly follows along with the couture process of how each heirloom-quality custom wedding dress was made from idea to wedding day, as well as other interesting tidbits related to sewing, weddings, and body positivity.
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