Julie Cox Designs and Alterations

09/08/2025

It's been about five years since my last post, which fittingly coincides with my youngest child's upcoming fifth birthday. This creative embroidery patch project signals my return to offering sewing and alterations. If you're willing, please share my information with those seeking these services.

12/31/2020

I've taken some time off from alterations to have a baby and do some sewing for myself. Had to share this bag and shirt I made with fabric from Scarlett Crusade Designs.

02/06/2020

Have you ever wondered why embroidery scissors are shaped like storks? Well, these scissors didn't actually start out as scissors, but as umbilical clamps. Sometimes, the clamps would be used with a set of forceps shaped like snakes. Why snakes? To symbolise the Rod of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing and medicine.

Between the 19th century and now, these little stork scissors have gone through some really big changes. In the past, most of them were between four and a half to six inches long, with their heads mounted at almost a 45-degree angle. The beaks were heavy clamps not meant to cut, but to restrict the blood flow before the umbilical was cut. Some even had little babies hidden inside the stork's beak that would appear when the clamps were opened.

The midwives began to use the scissors for needlework that they carried with them to work on during long waiting times when babies were being born.

Who knew these scissors had such a long history that started with delivering babies? The Smithsonian has a medical bag on display with a pair of stork scissors, in their American History Collection.

12/20/2019

These bad boys were sewn up today. Both were custom orders

12/20/2019

12/04/2019

I'm thinking of making children's pants like these to sell. There would be a variety of sizes available and the band color could be customized.

Feel free to pm me if you are interested.

Also pictured are some of the fabrics that are available already.

05/16/2019

A personal project I thought I would give a try. Literal blood, sweat and tears went into this.

05/14/2019

When you should have just paid a seamstress to do it:

How are people good at this?

05/02/2019

It is wedding and prom season! Alterations available to change the fit of your suit or dress.

12/17/2018

There's something so satisfying about everything lining up after replacing a zipper!

04/23/2018

Recovered a bouncy chair to match the rest of the babie's items.