1. It’s a Needle, Not a Harpoon Use the smallest needle for the weight of your fabric. Smaller needles give you better control over your stitches. Heavier weight and tighter weave fabrics need a strong needle but still choose the smallest strong needle you have. 2. Darker Thread Blends in Better When choosing which color […] Read more…
Basic Sewing Tips: A Better Way To Clip A Corner
You know how pattern directions always tell you to clip the seam allowance of a corner off? Well their method of one snip across the corner works okay but this is what I learned in my first semester in Fashion Design classes. It’s that basic. You need to know this and it’s so simple you […] Read more…
Preparing and Cutting Wool Coating
Wool is one of my favorite fabrics to sew. It’s so easy and pliable, and as a finished garment, holds up well. Wool comes in all different weights and weaves and blends. My coat fabric is wool and alpaca. It has a pile and is heavy and thick enough for a coat. (This is why […] Read more…
A Lesson to Learn Before Cutting Into Your Fabric
I was reminded of an important step when cutting out your garment pieces and the more expensive your fabric is the more important the step. Before you cut any piece out of your fabric, lay out the pattern pieces on your fabric according to the pattern’s plan to be sure they fit. You don’t have […] Read more…
Coat Collar
Geez Louise! I’m so happy that I did not skip making this coat in muslin first. I did it to make sure the fit was right but it’s the opportunity to figure out the collar construction that makes me glad I’m sewing a muslin. Let me share my confusion; Read more…
Sewing the Lining to the Bodice – Not How I Thought it Would Be.
Sewing my daughter’s Halloween costume, Simplicity #2757. I didn’t have the camera when I was sewing this part so I drew the steps out. Because the front and back pieces form a right angle with the side pieces at the neckline I couldn’t just sew one seam starting at the left side center front, around […] Read more…
Clipping the Princess Seam Allowance
That’s odd. They don’t look like they go together. (next time I’ll smile) You’re not flat and fabric is so unless you’re going for an ancient Greek look the fabric has to be manipulated to go over your curves. This is why we use darts and seams like the princess seam. However, sewing convex curves […] Read more…
How to Prepare Fabric for Sewing Projects
This video shows you how to begin any garment project. Prepping your fabric correctly, dealing with a nap, and lining up the selvedges. My favorite type of nap is the siesta kind, of course, but if you don’t know what a nap in the fabric is it means a one way design. The fabric I […] Read more…
How to Lay a Pattern on Fabric for Easy Cutting
Alright, I just started the project and already I have a tip, two actually, to share. This little video shows you how to keep your pieces on grain when the directions request that you not line up your selvedges. The other tip just happens to be one of the best secrets ever; iron those wrinkly, […] Read more…
Tips for Lining Print Fabric to Avoid Show-through
I’m half way through my week to get this project done but not necessarily half way done with the project. Funny how that happens. However, it’s Saturday and I don’t have to be at my day job so I believe I can get a lot done today. I had a tiny set back. My bodice […] Read more…