Creative Sewing Techniques and Theatre Costumes Shine on Upper Michigan Today
On a lively Tuesday, Upper Michigan Today turned its attention to the world of sewing and costume design. Seamstress Madie Loebig and NMU Theatre’s costume designer Em Rossi joined the show.
Loebig walked viewers through three essential stitches for home mending. Meanwhile, Rossi opened up about her own approach to costume design for the stage.
The episode also touched on why sustainability in fashion matters. Plus, viewers got a little preview of what’s coming up in NMU’s theatre season.
If you’re curious for more, you can catch the full article on Upper Michigan Source.
Table of Contents
The Art of Mending: Madie Loebig’s Mission
Madie Loebig cares deeply about keeping textiles out of landfills. She’s always looking for ways to give old materials a new life with her needle and thread.
During her segment, Loebig showed off three stitches that just about anyone can use to fix up their clothes at home. These are the kinds of basics that make a real difference.
Simple Mending Stitch
First up was the simple mending stitch. It’s a go-to move for patching up small tears or holes in fabric—nothing fancy, just practical.
This stitch can really stretch the lifespan of your favorite shirt or jeans. You don’t need to be an expert to pull it off.
Blanket Stitch
Then there’s the blanket stitch, which Loebig highlighted for fixing frayed edges. It’s also a neat way to jazz up plain materials with a bit of personality.
This one not only keeps your fabric strong but adds a little extra style. Sometimes, it’s the small details that make a piece feel special.
Lazy Daisy Stitch
Last, Loebig demonstrated the lazy daisy stitch. It’s a playful, creative technique for adding embellishments and colorful touches to clothing.
For anyone itching to personalize their wardrobe, this stitch is a fun place to start. It’s surprisingly approachable, too.
Want to see more of Loebig’s work? You can follow her on Instagram @dumpsterslayer444 or check out her site dumpsterslayer.com for updates on classes and patterns.
Behind the Scenes: Em Rossi’s Costume Design Process
NMU’s theatre department is gearing up for a busy fall, and the costume shop—spearheaded by Em Rossi—is already buzzing. Rossi sat down to share how she brings costumes from concept to the stage.
Conceptualization and Research
Rossi starts by digging into the script and getting a feel for the characters and show’s vibe. She spends a lot of time researching to nail down the right look and era.
It’s all about understanding the story and finding ways to reflect it in what the actors wear. Sometimes, that means poring over old photos or studying fabrics from a certain period.
Sketching and Fabric Selection
Once she’s got a vision, Rossi sketches out her ideas. These drawings become the framework for each costume.
Picking fabrics comes next. She looks for materials that look great on stage but won’t drive the actors crazy after a few hours under the lights.
Pattern Making and Construction
With sketches and fabric ready, Rossi gets to work making patterns. She takes careful measurements and tweaks things as needed.
Then comes the actual sewing. This part can get pretty detailed, especially when costumes call for special trims or unique shapes.
Fittings and Final Adjustments
Actors come in for fittings once the costumes are mostly assembled. Rossi checks the fit and how the actors move in the outfits.
She’ll make adjustments so everything looks right and works for the performance. It’s a hands-on process, and sometimes things change up until opening night.
If you want to see these costumes in action, Into the Woods runs at the Forest Roberts Theatre from September 25-27 and October 2-4. Tickets are over at nmu.universitytickets.com.
Watch Upper Michigan Today
Upper Michigan Today airs weekdays at 9:00 a.m. ET on FOX UP. You can stream the show on your smart device, too, if that’s easier.
Want to catch up on past episodes or just poke around for more info? Head over to the Upper Michigan Source.
The show shines a light on creative folks like Madie Loebig and Em Rossi. Their work in fashion and theatre brings some real energy and sustainability to the scene.
Even if you just dabble in sewing or love theatre from the audience, you’ll probably find something here that sparks your interest. There’s a little bit for everyone, honestly.