Techniques – Page 26

Tutorial: Easy way to unpick a serged seam

April 21, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Ooooh, don’t you hate it when you realize you need to unpick a serged seam? All those threads, all those stitches! Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings tells how to unpick a serged seam the quick way. Pull the right threads… Read more ...

Sewing Tutorial: Bohemian maxi dress for girls

April 21, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Celina from Petit à Petit and Family shares a tutorial at The Sewing Rabbit showing how to make a girls’ Bohemian maxi dress. It’s such a pretty dress for late spring and summer. The long halter dress has a… Read more ...

Tutorial: Springtime cut-off jeans shorts with knotted fabric hem

April 13, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Ashley from Make It and Love It shows how to make cut-off jeans shorts with a knotted fabric hem. It’s a good project to eke an extra season out of a pair of jeans that have become too short. The… Read more ...

Tips for topstitching like a boss

April 13, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Topstitching is like the icing on a sewing project. When done well, it creates a clean, polished finish. But if your stitch lines are wavy or the stitches uneven, it’ll be obvious. Heather from The Sewing Loft has some tips… Read more ...

Sewing Tutorial: Using the differential feed setting on your serger

April 11, 2015 by Anne Weaver

There’s a dial on my serger labeled Differential Feed. I don’t entirely know what that means so I never touch it. Irene from Serger Pepper explains differential feed in a post on Craftsy. A short explanation is that this setting… Read more ...

Video tutorial: Installing a separating zipper

April 9, 2015 by Anne Weaver

The kind of zipper you need for the front of a jacket is different than the standard zippers you use at the back of skirts and dresses. Jackets need separating zippers. Installing a separating zipper is different than installing a… Read more ...

Tutorial: Turn a narrow tube of fabric using household items

April 1, 2015 by Anne Weaver

A sewing project can be rocking along so steadily… till you see a step in the inatructions that says to turn a narrow tube of fabric right side out. Deby from So Sew Easy shares her trick for turning a… Read more ...

Tutorial: Sew fringe to a garment

March 27, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Fringe trim is a fun way to add texture and movement to a garment. You can keep things simple with fringe at the hem, or cover the whole garment flapper-style. Professor Pincushion shares a video tutorial showing how you can… Read more ...

What to say when someone asks you to sew for them

March 27, 2015 by Anne Weaver

When people know you can sew, you’ll often get requests for hemming, making blankets, that cool project they saw on Pinterest. Sometimes it’s something you’re willing to do, but sometimes… not. But you’re on the spot and you don’t… Read more ...

Tutorial: Belgian Waffle improv pleating

March 26, 2015 by Anne Weaver

An from Straight Grain shows how you can use an improv pleating technique to create a criss cross surface design. She calls it The Belgian Waffle, and it’s beautiful on the bodice of a little girl’s dress. I can also… Read more ...

Tutorial: Add a lace hem to a sweater or top

March 25, 2015 by Anne Weaver

LiZ from Simple Simon & Co. upgraded a clearance sale sweater by adding a strip of lace to the bottom. This simple embellishment dresses up a plain sweater and gives the appearance of a light lace layer underneath. All you… Read more ...

Tutorial: Upgrade a tote bag with a photo transfer technique

March 23, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Sara from Radiant Home Studio shows a cool photo transfer technique you can use to decorate the front of a plain tote. She creates a weathered geometric pattern using images from magazine pages. This same technique would also be pretty… Read more ...

Tutorial: Add a drawstring ruched hem to shorten yoga pants or leggings

March 21, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Steph from The Silly Pearl added some ruching to the bottom of a pair of yoga pants that were too long for her. The gathers shortened the pants so they were the right length, and created an more interesting ankle. … Read more ...

Tutorial: Add ankle zips to a jeans or pants pattern

March 15, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Heather Lou from Closet Case Files shows how you can insert an ankle zip into a pair of jeans that you’re making. In order to make the zips exposed and showing the shiny metal teeth, it takes a few more… Read more ...

Tutorial: Shorten a zipper by adding a fabric tab

March 12, 2015 by Anne Weaver

Roslyn from Sew Delicious shows an easy way to shorten a zipper

. This works best when making zippered pouches or bags, as she adds a fabric tab across the end. She also uses this method to lengthen a zipper.… Read more ...