Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Summerset of Pins and Needles has posted the next installment in her blog series on tracing patterns from magazines. Go read Part II: Actually Getting to Trace.… Read more ... 
If you want to add a chin strap to a hat but don’t want the awkward knot in the cord, check out this tip from Noiledotnet. She uses a bead instead of the knot. Read more about it.… Read more ... 
If you’re making an unlined garment, consider using Hong Kong seams to hide the raw edges. Bunny at La Sewista! has a tutorial to demystify this seam finish.… Read more ... 
A recessed zipper is a nice way to add a zipper to a bag. My Spare Time has a great tutorial showing how to add this feature. Get the tutorial.… Read more ... 
If you draft your own patterns or trace them out of a magazine, you’ll probably need to add your own seam allowances. Off the Cuff shows an easy way to do just this using your sewing machine. Get the details.… Read more ... 
U-Handblog has started a series of blog posts on Bag Making for Newbies. In her first installment, she focuses on basic sewing terms like right/wrong side out, press seams, and more.… Read more ... 
My sister cuts out her patterns using her set of pattern weights. They’re nice, but they’re also expensive. I sometimes use canned goods as pattern weights, but have found that the tall cans often gets in they way of my… Read more ... 
The appearance of the word “zipper” in the notions list on a printed pattern is enough to send many a sewer into fits of anxiety. Too often, zippers end up uneven or puckered, but Sew Mama Sew! has a solution. … Read more ... 
Most sewing machines come equipped with an automatic buttonhole feature. But if you want to try a buttonhole on your own, without the automatic feature, Bari J shows you how. Get the tutorial.… Read more ... 
Magnetic snaps add the “sexy cool” to any purse or wallet project. They’re easy to add, and Craft Apple shows you how in her tutorial on installing a magnetic snap.… Read more ... 
***Editor’s note*** The link posted in this article is no longer active. You can find a similar tutorial at eHow: How to Take in the Waist on a Pair of Blue Jeans I was a happy girl today when I… Read more ... 
Thrift stores (also called op shops) and garage sales are some of my favorite sources for vintage fabrics. The only problem is, there’s no bolt-label to tell you the fiber content of the fabric you bring home. Area Thrifty One… Read more ... 
Thread tension. These two little words conjure up a host of questions. How do you know when your thread tension is correct? How do you know when it is not? More importantly, how do you fix it? The Sewing Republic… Read more ... 
Welt pockets are one of those features that distinguish a crisp, tailored garment from a muddled-through homemade looking garment. Luckily, Gorgeous Things’ Blog offers help with a step-by-step tutorial for achieving the tailored look for your welt pockets.… Read more ... 
The day I discovered the metal bias tape tools, I was a happy girl. Now I could have bias tape in any color or print I desired. But with each bias tape tool making only one size of bias tape… Read more ... 
