Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Some people call it smocking. Some people call it shirring. Whatever you call it, it’s makes an awful pretty top for a sundress. Pretty Ditty shares a tutorial for smocking/shirring. Get the how-to.
[tags]sewing, tutorial, smocking, shirring[/tags]
It doesn’t matter whether you sew by hand or by machine, you need a pincushion. You need a spot to parks pins and needles and keep them within easy reach for when you need them again. There are a lot of styles of pincushion to choose from. Some magnetic, some fabric. Some cute, some purely functional. This “little bit extra” pincushion has a spot to store all the different types of pins and needles you might need while sewing. Polka Dot Chair has a free sewing pattern you can use to make one for yourself.
This handy little pincushion has a circular shape and is divided into sections to store different types of pins. The bottom section is for your regular straight pins. Just poke them in and they’re ready for when you need them. The top has one section with a felt flap perfect for holding your sewing needles. I don’t know about you but I don’t like mixing my hand sewing needles in with my pins on a pincushion. It makes it hard to find the needle when I want it. So having a separate section for the needles is a great idea.
This “little bit extra” pincushion also has a spot to hold a few fabric clips. Fabric clips have become popular alternatives to a traditional straight pin. They hold fabric pieces together without piercing the fabric, which is important when sewing leather, vinyl, or other materials that will show permanent holes from pins.
You can sew the “little bit extra” pincushion from large fabric scraps or small fabric cuts (fat eighth). You probably already have all the supplies you need to sew one in your sewing supplies already.
Get the free pattern for this “little bit extra” pincushion over at Polka Dot Chair.
[photo credit: Polka Dot Chair]
RE: SHIRRING
I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH SHIRRING A CHIFFON POLY FABRIC BLOUSE AT WAIST.
THE BOBBIN GETS STUCK AND LIFTS UP AND RAVELS, WHEN I THREAD IT WITH THE ELASTIC THREAD BY HAND. I DO IT BY HAND SO IT IS NOT TOO TIGHT. I DID ONCE BEFORE, BY HAND TIGHT THREADING AND THEN LOOSE, AND I SAW THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SHIRRING.
BUT NOW I’M HAVING PROBLEM WHEN I RETHREADED IT. AM I PUTTING THE NEEDLE BACK IN THE WRONG WAY, OR MAYBE IT’S THE NEEDLE, AND AT WHAT TENSION DO I USE IT..AT 0 OR 1. THE STITCH I USE 5 AS THE LENGTH.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? PLEASE ADVISE.
PLEASE ADVISE ASAP SO I CAN FINISH MY PROJECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP ON THESE ISSUES.
CAROLYN MONTY
[email protected]
1714-437-1035