Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
If the instructions on the little plastic invisible zipper feet leave you confused or frustrated, then take a look at this tutorial offered by Coats & Clark’s Sewing Secrets blog. (This blog is no longer activie and re-directs) We were able to find this tips and tricks section of the new page.
They give step-by-step instructions and plenty of photographs to show you how to get the invisible zipper foot on to your machine. Here is another helpful tutorial we found for Zipper foots.
Dear Crafty Readers,
“I’ve been sewing long enough that people now treat it like a personality trait instead of a skill.
Somewhere along the way, ‘you sew’ turned into ‘you should teach.’
Friends mention it casually. Family assumes it. Coworkers bring it up over lunch.
‘You could show me sometime.’
‘It wouldn’t take long.’
‘You’re so good at it — you’d be a great teacher.’What they don’t realise is that teaching sewing drains me in a way sewing itself never does.
I don’t enjoy explaining basics. I don’t like being responsible for someone else’s frustration. And I don’t want my creative time to turn into unpaid lessons.
When I say no, people are surprised. Some are offended. A few act like I’m withholding something I owe them.
So now I’m questioning myself.
Am I the asshole for not wanting to teach sewing just because I know how?
— Anonymous
This question taps into something deeper than sewing.
It touches on expectations, emotional labour, and the strange idea that being skilled automatically makes you responsible for everyone else’s learning.
There’s a lovely idea floating around the crafting world that skills should be shared freely. And sometimes, that is a beautiful thing.
But sharing only feels generous when it’s voluntary.
When teaching becomes expected, assumed, or repeatedly requested, it stops feeling like kindness and starts feeling like obligation.
And obligation has a way of draining joy — fast.
One of the biggest myths here is that being good at sewing automatically makes you good at teaching it.
It doesn’t.
Teaching requires:
Many talented sewists simply don’t enjoy that role — and that doesn’t make them selfish or unkind. It makes them self-aware.
What people often forget is that beginner sewing comes with:
When you teach, you don’t just explain stitches — you absorb someone else’s emotions.
That’s a lot to carry, especially if sewing is your own way to decompress.
This phrase shows up again and again — and it’s almost never true.
A “quick lesson” usually turns into:
What was meant to be a casual favour becomes a full mental commitment.
Many sewists say yes not because they want to — but because they feel guilty.
There’s an unspoken pressure to:
Saying no can feel like rejecting the person, not just the request. And that’s where the guilt creeps in.
This is the heart of the debate.
Some people believe that skills should be shared freely, especially traditional ones like sewing.
Others believe that no one is entitled to your time, energy, or expertise — especially when there are books, classes, videos, and tutorials readily available.
Both perspectives exist — and neither is inherently wrong.
Here’s a middle ground many sewists land on:
You can encourage someone to sew without becoming their teacher.
Recommending a YouTube channel.
Suggesting a class.
Pointing them to a beginner pattern.
Support doesn’t have to mean personal instruction.
This is where opinions diverge — sharply.
Some readers will say:
Others will say:
And many will quietly think:
Now let’s hear from you — honestly.
Scroll down and add your voice to the conversation.
This is one of those topics where every experience adds something valuable.
(If you have a sewing dilemma of your own, you can submit it anonymously to Sewing.CraftGossip — sometimes the hardest part is just asking the question.)
Where is the darn tutorial for putting the invisible zipper foot on your machine?
I hear you! Definitely a tutorial I’ll keep my eye out for. The last time I tried to put an invisible zipper on my machine, I spent over an hour fiddling with all the pieces. I finally just gave up and stitched the zipper down with a regular presser foot.
I bought a zipper foot last year and threw out the instructuins when i had sewn the zip. Now I want to sew another zip this year but I have forgotten how to attach the zipper foot. I cannot find (except for the photo) where you have a video of this.
Judy
The link is imbedded in the text.
Second from the link which is weird I figured out.. The yellow in my case goes on the white Slipping in where the x part is into the white.. Then this yellow bit slides over the metal column then you screw the screw back into place
except that it doesn’t lead to the tutorial. I get sent to the yarnspirations website, and no tutorial to be found. I can buy a foot there, but don’t need one, I already have the foot, just need to know how to put it on my new machine.
Looks like they have changed their website completely. We have made some updates to the post to reflect that.