Once in awhile, someone will ask me a sewing question and sometimes I get to turn their question into a blog post. Such is the case with Rosemary’s question. Rosemary asked how to shorten a dress that has an overlay which is attached in the left side seam. What to Know Before We Go (aka; The […] Read more…
How to Patch Stretch Jeans so They Still Stretch
Adding spandex to denim was a genius idea. There may be no going back to the ol’ fashion itchy scratchy jeans after owning a pair of jeans with stretch. What can you not do in them?The only downside is they don’t always hold up like the 100% cotton twill weave denim. Is it the fiber […] Read more…
Rule Your Machine: Save Time; Use the Seam Guide as a Ruler
There are many, many times when you will need to fold over and press up a certain width of fabric. You may be pressing up a hem, pressing over fabric for a casing or pressing in the raw edges of a patch pocket. Your directions will simply state to fold over X inch(s) and press. (or […] Read more…
Rule Your Sewing Machine: How to Make an Accurate Seam Guide
There are times when you need to sew quite a ways in from the edge of the fabric. Further in than any seam guide marked on your machine. How do you know where to line your fabric edge at to sew 1.5 or 2 or more inches in? And if you measure over from the needle and […] Read more…
How to Apply and Join Together Bias Binding
Bias bound edges are popping up on all sort of designs lately; necklines of dresses, hems of sleeves, the tops of pockets. On some designs they add a cute factor, on others they give a nice polished look to the garment. I’m getting over my past prejudices that bias binding made garments look homemade, in […] Read more…
How to Make Bias Binding
Bias binding is used to bind or cover the raw edge of fabric. Bias binding can be made in self or contrasting fabric as a decorative edge of a neckline, sleeve, collar or other feature. It can replace a full facing as with sheer or bulky fabrics or it can bind and finish seam allowances inside […] Read more…
How to Gather Fabric
Gathers are small soft folds made by drawing fabric up on a line of hand or machine stitching. Gathers give a softness and fullness to garments and is a way to release a lot of fabric from a tighter area to a fuller area; for example a full skirt on a fitted waistband or yoke, a […] Read more…
How Paper Can Help You See
Cut right angled corners (or strips which can then be taped together at a right angle) from solid tag board or paper wide enough to visually block out the fabric extending beyond the area of focus (the area inside your frame). Mine are two inches wide (5 cm) and that’s probably the minimum width you can have […] Read more…
How and When to Make a Stronger Sewing Pattern
Novelty is a powerful attraction to me. I like trying new things; new Ritter chocolate bar flavors, new music, new hair cuts and so forth. Of course life is a contradiction and there are some things I am fiercely loyal to; flannel sheets, Breyers Vanilla, Dr Hauschka soap for example. However most things in my […] Read more…
How to Patch a Well Loved Stuffed Animal
Love can tear us apart and wear us thin and leak out our stuffing. This is what happened to my son’s girlfriend and Dotty, her knitted, stuffed cat from her childhood. However, love can fix us too and with the desire to make Dotty’s owner happy, my son suggested to her to let me fix Dotty’s six […] Read more…