Have you ever experienced the discomfort of wearing a garment that hangs awkwardly or twists unexpectedly? Or, have you had the frustration of laundering a particular garment only to find that it has shrunk or grown unevenly? These annoying problems often come from the fabric’s grain alignment. This little detail has a big impact on…
Category Archives: SEWING ESSENTIALS
Taking body measurements always felt daunting, so I often avoided it. Even with a fashion design degree, our curriculum only skimmed the surface on this crucial skill, focusing instead on creating patterns for a “standard” size 10. However, a recent digital pattern-making course helped me overcome this. I had to take my full body measurements…
In my ten years of sewing, the most common question I have been asked by fellow seamstresses is, “Which tools do you use every day?” So today, I’m tackling that question with some reflection on those ten years and a little peek into my workspace. As a beginner, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the amount…
We get many questions on fabric weight. If you’re trying to comprehend this, you are not alone! The weight of the fabric is measured in ounces per yard or meter: approximately 2-4oz for lightweight, 4-8oz for middleweight and 8-14oz for heavy weight. This chart would be very helpful as well and includes information on changing…
The ability to make clothes that actually fit your body is one of the most rewarding aspects of sewing. Have you ever gone shopping for new pants only to try on 20 pairs in different stores and end up not buying any because they are all too tight in the bum and too loose in…
As many of you have been asking for advice on how to adjust our patterns for bustier ladies, we thought we’d kick off this new year with a tutorial on how to do a Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) and add a bust fitting dart to dartless patterns. If you’ve been following our blog, you might…
Continuing on from Five Useful Pleats and Folding Techniques, Three Useful Hem Techniques, How To Sew Your Most Essential Four Pockets and How To Sew Your Most Essential Four Collars article, here are five useful ways you can fasten your trousers, skirts and dresses with. Simply click on the links below to either go straight to the hem…
Continuing on from Three Useful Hem Techniques, How To Sew Your Most Essential Four Pockets and How To Sew Your Most Essential Four Collars article, here are five useful ways you can fold your fabric to shape it into gorgeous designs. Simply click on the links below to either go straight to the hem tutorial or try…
Continuing on from How To Sew Your Most Essential Four Pockets and How To Sew Your Most Essential Four Collars article, here are three most useful hem tutorials you might appreciate in one place. Simply click on the links below to either go straight to the hem tutorial or try out any of our free patterns…
The Riva is a beautifully drafted pattern collection that consists of a button-down shirt with either a long sleeve or sleeveless option and high-waist trousers with a shorts option. As the description for the pattern says, it really does combine classic tailoring with casual ease for the perfect balance. One of the most unique details…
Continuing on from How To Sew Your Most Essential Four Collars article, here are your four most relevant pocket tutorials you might need in your sewing practice all in one place. Simply click on the links below to either go straight to the pocket tutorial or try out any of our free patterns below to…
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was one place where I could have all the links to tutorials for all the different collars I love/ am eager/ am always scared to make? It would save me from bookmarking separate pages and possibly procrastinating which, let’s face it, is long. Yes! We think so too, so…
If you like sewing your own clothes, there will be a time where you will come across a pattern that requires knowing how to sew set-in sleeves and attaching them to the bodice. And this is when this tutorial will come in handy. A set-in sleeve is the most basic of sleeves and as its…
Don’t you just love it when your garment looks as good on the inside as the outside? There are many terrific sewing techniques that can provide a neat and clean finish to your projects and the flat-felled seams are one of them. A flat-felled seam finish gives sturdy seams and a clean look. Just like…
Today I am practicing a basic heirloom technique known as “Drawn” or “Pulled” thread work embroidery. This type of embroidery is achieved by gently pulling out individual thread along the grain line to create a small gap in the fabric. A combination of hand stitches is then used to create simple to elaborate designs within…
SEW THIS LOOK
Latest Posts
Search engine
Use this form to find things you need
LATEST COMMENTS
04 Mar 2010 @ 5:02 pm by Matching Fabric to Literary Era – Fairy Tale Fashion
26 Mar 2023 @ 5:14 am by Tea Towel Hems – Blogula Rasa
27 Nov 2024 @ 8:45 am by 20 Free Christmas Stocking Patterns: Creative Ideas to Make Your Holiday Season Magical - Quilt Trails WNC
05 May 2020 @ 4:34 am by Carolina Oneto The power of yellow in quilting
19 Mar 2019 @ 3:00 am by Paola Workwear Jacket – Free Pattern by FabricStore.com - Hungry Scissors