Sew What? by Sharon Mosley on Creators.com

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Sew What?

So, we're all aware that many of us fashionistas are becoming recessionistas — by changing buttons on a coat instead of buying a new one, spacing out our haircuts or scouring flea markets for costume jewelry and funky scarves. But, hey, have you dusted off your sewing machine yet?

Christine Haynes is not surprised that the do-it-yourself craze has hit home for the fashion-savvy. As a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago and a designer of one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories, she has been creating a unique wardrobe for herself since growing up in Detroit.

"When I was a kid, my mom sewed, knitted and crocheted," she says. "My brother and I would go with her to the local fabric store in Michigan, where I grew up. We didn't have a lot of money, but I've always been a clotheshorse, so staying on trend was something that I was conscious of from an early age."

After years of experimenting and hanging out at craft fairs to show off her "indie" fashion designs, Haynes admits that her design career has had a haphazard path. "But what happened next was amazing," says the designer who now calls Los Angeles home. "Many of my friends, including myself, turned these hobbies into real businesses."

And just to prove that home sewing can be both stylish and easy, Haynes has put together the ultimate sewing manual for the novice seamstress in her new book: "Chic & Simple Sewing" (Potter, $27.50). And girls, there's not one zipper or buttonhole in the book.

"You don't want homespun, and you don't want difficult. You want hip, modern and easy," says Haynes.

But then we've all fallen in love with "Project Runway" and secretly know there's a high fashion designer lurking just a few stitches away. The pattern companies are aware too: McCall's and Simplicity both launched collections that appeal to a new generation of sewers — "Stuff by Hilary Duff" for McCall's and "Hannah Montana" for Simplicity.

Homemade clothes have long carried a Laura-Ingalls-Wilder stigma: boring, outdated, earth-toned blouses that look, well, homemade.

Haynes offers 20 fashion-forward seasonal patterns for the modern woman who wants to make her own clothes. The patterns are even included in an envelope inside the book's front cover. And you can whip these up in one afternoon.

Here are a few examples of what's currently hot for home sewers:

— "Singing in the Rain Trench": Everyone needs a trench coat, right? Maybe two or three. Made in a vintage-inspired print or a bright solid fabric, this is a great way to jazz up your black basics.

— "The Baby Doll Dress": Made with lightweight fabric, this timeless dress flows against the body easily, hiding flaws and flattering almost every body type. It can also be worn as a tunic top layered over jeans or capris.

— "The Wrap Skirt": This skirt, which launched Haynes's clothing line (after her first samples sold like hot cakes), can be made in any fabric; it looks good on every body type.

— "The Wrap Top": Another classic that can be produced just in time for summer. Instead of a boring white button-down, stitch up a white cotton top.

— "The Cape": Depending on the type of fabric, a cape can be worn year-round. It is great over jeans and a T-shirt, a cocktail dress and everything in- between.

— "The Sundress": When it's time to hit the beach, you can never have enough of these dresses. Sew in lightweight cottons and fun retro prints for summer.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.