Every garment needs seam allowance—it’s a crucial part of garment construction. Sometimes it’s already included in the pattern; other times, it may need to be added, especially when working with a self-drafted pattern or after making adjustments. Seam allowance is the extra fabric added around the edges of a pattern piece. It creates space between…
Category Archives: TUTORIALS
Dart manipulation is a pattern making technique used to reposition a dart on a garment without altering or adjusting its overall fit. Essentially, it’s a way to move the shaping in your pattern to a new location. Dart manipulation lets you customise a sewing pattern to suit your design preferences. Whether you want to move…
A little over two years ago when I was only a few months postpartum with my second daughter, I had decided I wanted to make a jacket for my husband for our anniversary. We had two daughters close together and felt like we were just trying to make it through the day, so making him…
In Part 1 of this tutorial, I covered the fundamentals of truing—aligning seam lines, smoothing curves, and refining edges—to create polished, professional patterns. Now, in Part 2, I will dive a bit deeper into more specialised examples of truing—hems, darts, and seam allowances. These details require a little more attention to ensure they blend smoothly…
Frances Featherstone’s indulgent and richly decorative paintings convey individuals caught in quiet moments of domestic bliss, gazing out of the window, lounging on the sofa, or (most commonly) curled up in bed under layer upon layer of plush, vividly patterned fabric. Looking down on these duvet dwellers from above, she captures them seemingly unaware, lost…
A fun new twist on the Paola Workwear Jacket is exactly what we wanted! I adore this pattern and I’m starting to lose count on how many of them I have made. The pattern is so versatile of a shape and so easy to switch up the look in interesting ways with various fabrics, patterns,…
One time a boyfriend put together High Tea for me on February 14th. I nibbled on pastries while wearing a tight pink velvet dress I made. Sometime later, in between High Tea and breaking up with him, he told me he didn’t like my dress. The hope of enjoying that dress again after hearing that…
Here’s the situation so far. Valentine’s Day. I think I’ve had about three years of feeling terribly lonely, two years of awkwardness with boyfriends I quickly decided I needed to break up with, 26 years of feeling indifferent, and the crown jewel, one year of exchanging silly valentines puns while a gentle romance unfolded. So,…
Truing is all about ensuring that the edges, curves, and seam lines of a pattern come together seamlessly during sewing. This important step helps prevent common issues like mismatched seams, uneven hems, and awkward transitions. By smoothing out sharp points and irregular lines, the garment will have a more polished, and professional finish. Since there…
Rotary Cutter For many years, I was not into the world of rotary cutting. And for many years, I was a great fool for not being into the world of rotary cutting. It’s better, altogether better. The cuts are more crisp. It’s faster. The fabric isn’t as prone to distortion when cutting through multiple layers….
Overlockers (or sergers) are great for giving sewing projects a polished, professional finish. Let’s face it though, threading them can feel like a real hassle, even for the more experienced sewist. But don’t worry, I’ve got a simple trick to make the process that little bit easier. While it’s not foolproof, it works more often…
If you have a bit of extra fabric and want to make something equally whimsical and practical, might I suggest a ruffle tote? Here’s how to do it! Step 1: Select some lovely linen and cut out the tote bag pieces. I used midweight signature finish linen in Evergreen. Ruffle – two pieces 4” x…
Pressing is one of those often-overlooked steps in sewing, but trust me—it’s worth it. Sure, it might feel like an extra hassle at the time, but it’s the secret to achieving a perfectly finished garment. So, what exactly is pressing, and why does it matter? Unlike ironing, which involves gliding the iron back and forth…
A few years ago, my brother flew home for his annual winter visit. Shortly after he arrived, we sat around the fire drinking Chamomile tea together. Maybe it was the hardship of the year, or maybe it was the reality of seeing parents and people getting older that made him say, “We should make Christmas…
I still remember the excitement—and slight overwhelm—I felt when I first received my pattern-making kit at university. The tools, some of which I had never seen before, felt very foreign to me. However, it didn’t take long for them to become second nature, and pattern making soon became my favourite subject. The freedom that comes…
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