Nothing is more frustrating than uneven stitching—your thread stitches can go from long to short in an instant, ruining your line of topstitching or seaming. In severe cases, the wickedly short stitches can damage fragile fabrics by creating a hole, and some fabrics don’t take kindly to ripping out stitching and beginning anew. Stitching in […]

A sleeve placket is that nifty little opening at the bottom of a sleeve, skillfully stitched to let your hand slip through with ease. Typically, you’ll spot it on shirts or blouses, and it’s usually topped off with a neat cuff. Beyond its practicality, the placket can also be a real style statement. Ever thought […]

Zippers don’t have to be under flaps—they can be showcased on the outside of a project and embellished as well. It’s All About the Stitches You know all those stitches in the machine that you admire, but may not use often? Many of those are perfect to highlight an exposed zipper. Just pick one that’s […]

As sewing enthusiasts, most of us make a lot of bags in our lifetime—from totes to backpacks and beyond. Most may be soft or lightly structured, but few are actually shaped by frames. So, let’s take a look at some accent frames and how to use them. Types of Frames Frames provide the external structure […]

It never fails that the closer we get to the holidays, there’s more to do, and time can get crunched. But if you need quick gifts for friends or family, your sewing skills can come in handy to save the day. The two items detailed in today’s ASG blog post are great for almost anyone […]

You can take advantage of the bias grain in couture garments in two ways: Garment sections or entire garments can be cut on the bias grain to create interesting effects in the drape, fit, and visual design of the garment, or Bias-cut fabric strips can be used to bind edges and to create piping for […]