Sewing Techniques – Page 7

Read all about it: Tips for sewing with minky

February 27, 2012 by Anne Weaver

A friend of mine recently made a baby blanket for her soon-to-arrive baby boy, and called me up mid-project to vent her frustration working with minky fabric. The fabric is soooo soft and snuggly, but it can stretch out of… Read more ...

Tutorial: Use lace trim to hem lingerie fabric

February 26, 2012 by Anne Weaver

Sally Ann hares a tutorial on her blog showing how to sew lace trim on to the edge of lingerie fabric. The lace trim looks pretty and finishes the edge without adding bulk. Even better, you can avoid the headache… Read more ...

Tutorial: Use your serger for more than basic straight seams

February 24, 2012 by Anne Weaver

Threads magazine shares some quick tips for using your serger for more than just a standard straight seam. Their article explains how to use a serger to gather fabric, how to create a lettuce edge, how to serge around corners… Read more ...

Tutorial: Exposed zippers

February 23, 2012 by Anne Weaver

Zippers are usually installed so that you see as little of the zipper as possible on the outside of the garment. Exposed zippers take the opposite approach, putting the zipper right smack dab on the front of the garment. Kate… Read more ...

Video tutorial: Sewing a buttonhole on your sewing machine

February 15, 2012 by Anne Weaver

Jamie from Prudent Baby shares a video tutorial showing how to sew a buttonhole on your sewing machine. Her how-to video takes the scary out of this technique. She also includes a handy formula for figuring out how long to… Read more ...

Tutorial: Hemming knits without creating waves and puckers

February 15, 2012 by Anne Weaver

I find that sewing with knits to be very easy – until you get to the hemming. And then the bottoms go all wavy and wonky and much cussing ensues. Sound familiar? If so, check out this post over at… Read more ...

Sewing Tutorial: Boy’s appliqued argyle hoodie

February 5, 2012 by Anne Weaver

Melissa from Melly Sews shares an absolutely charming tutorial for making a little boy’s argyle hoodie—one of those projects that manages to be playful, polished, and genuinely wearable all at once. What really sets this hoodie apart is the argyle… Read more ...

Tutorial: Sew a lined bodice

January 17, 2012 by Anne Weaver

I’ll admit it. Every time I make a lined bodice or vest, my brain turns to mush trying to figure out which seams to sew in which order so that I can turn it all inside out. Happy for me,… Read more ...

Tutorial: Faux welt pockets

January 13, 2012 by Anne Weaver

Shauna from Shwin & Shwin shares a tutorial on her blog showing how to make pockets that look like welt pockets but don’t have the pocket lining behind them. They’re great for back pockets on a pair of pants –… Read more ...

Tutorial: Elastic thread shirring using a sewing machine with drop-in bobbin

December 17, 2011 by Anne Weaver

Dawn from Designed by Dawn Nicole shares a tutorial on her blog showing how to do elastic thread shirring on her Brother sewing machine, which has a drop-in bobbin. She also shows how she uses her machine’s bobbin winder to … Read more ...

Tutorial: Stitch buttons down using a sewing machine

August 19, 2011 by Anne Weaver

True confession time: I HATE sewing buttons! At least, I hate sewing buttons by hand. It was a happy day when I discovered that I could sew them with my machine. Want to know how to do it? Ashley from… Read more ...

Tutorial: How to sew a French seam

August 15, 2011 by Anne Weaver

Trish from Two Peas in a Pod shares a tutorial on her blog showing how to make French seams. The fancy-sounding seam finish encases all of the rough edges of your seam allowance, making the inside of your garment (or… Read more ...

Tutorial: Sewing perfect corners

August 14, 2011 by Anne Weaver

Eerika Valkonen from Rag Pets shares her method for making perfect corners when sewing together two pieces of fabric. Would you believe it involves no snipping of seam allowances or clipping of corners? Get the tute. [photo from Rag … Read more ...

Cool idea: Add care instructions to a garment with a printable label

August 12, 2011 by Anne Weaver

Sara from Sara vs. Sarah shares a clever tip for using ink jet transfer paper to create custom labels for the clothes she makes. Rather than a simple “handmade by…” message, she includes information about sizing and washing instructions. Brilliant!!! … Read more ...

Tip: Feeding fabric into a rolled hem foot

August 5, 2011 by Anne Weaver

A rolled hem foot makes it much easier to sew a narrow hem on the edge of a piece of fabric, but it can be difficult to get it started. Quilt in Progress figured out an easy way to feed… Read more ...