Category Archives: SEWING ESSENTIALS

One of the most beautiful and feminine accents that you can add to a sewing project is a ruffle. Ruffles can give a lot of personality to any simple garment: from tops and dresses to home decor and craft projects. Being armed with a basic technique for ruffle making will allow you to dress up…

A baby hem, as its name suggests, is just a tiny narrow rolled hem that is only 1/8” or 1/4” wide. The fabric is double turned to enclose the raw edge within a small fold. This technique is used on sheer or lightweight fabrics to create a neat and delicate finish. A baby hem is…

There are many ways to add original details to your simple garments, and a side slit is one of them! It can really change the feel and mood of any skirt, top or dress and make it more feminine or plainly practical. Even if the pattern you are using doesn’t call for a slit, it…

There are many ways to embellish a simple garment and a back tie is one of them. It gives a touch of originality and femininity to any top or dress and is very easy to make in just a few simple steps. In this tutorial we are going to show you how to sew a…

There are several ways to finish a neckline: you can either use a bias tape, invisible (or visible) binding or opt for a facing. But we decided to share with you this very simple band binding method which is a great (and quick) alternative to the traditional techniques. It consists in folding a band of…

Pintucks are a decorative element that can be added to your garments: tops, dresses, skirts etc. They look fabulous on linen and can bring a touch of fantasy and sophistication to a simple garment. They are formed by folding and stitching the fabric on the right side (much like a pleat) and are typically created…

Facing is another great way to finish a neckline along with bias binding and lining. Facings are pieces of fabric that follow the shape of the neckline. They are usually reinforced with interfacing (fusible or sew-in) to add a bit of extra firmness and shape. There are many different types of interfacing but the fusible…