An Advent calendar with pockets that holds cards suggesting the day’s special activity or a special treat is a popular tradition with children of all ages. The first Advent calendars originated as early as the 19th century and was used to mark the countdown in December to Christmas. Advent calendars are 24 or 25 days […]
How Bad Is It To…
We all have our idiosyncrasies and shortcuts to help our sewing go faster and easier, but are some of those things harmful to the final product? How bad is it to sew over pins? Pretty Bad While technically you can sew over pins that are placed perpendicular to the seamline, it’s better not to as […]
Anyone Can Win Contest Entries 2022
View the entries from the 2022 Anyone Can Win contest.
Would You Use Wood for Machine Embroidery?
If you are a machine embroiderer, you are probably familiar with embroidering on cottons, knits, quilted fabrics, and even cork and some leathers, but have you ever tried embroidering on wood? Yes, I said WOOD! We’re not talking 2 x 4’s here, but a thin, relatively-soft balsa wood makes a great medium for machine embroidery. […]
Sewing Q&A: Bias Tape, Re-Using Ties, Shop Hops, and Ease Pleat
Bias Tape Q. Why does bias tape have diagonal seams? A. Bias tape has diagonal seams to reduce bulk, pure and simple. Since fabric has a limited width, seaming is necessary to create continuous bias lengths. If the strips are seamed together with straight seams, then when the bias is folded in half, all the […]
Piping Between Lining and Facing (preview)
A bias piping or cording between the lining and facing of a lined jacket or coat is an attractive addition. Make your own piping from purchased decorative cording or use bias strips of contrasting lining, polyester, silk, or any other silky woven fabric. One-quarter yard of fabric makes a lot of bias, and cord or […]
Pattern Weights
What’s’ your preferred method for cutting out projects—pins or pattern weights? There are sewists who swear by one or the other, but most of us tend to love both, depending on the fabric being used. Pins hold pattern tissue firmly in place for cutting, but there are some fabrics where pins can leave permanent marks […]
Five Simple Steps to Truing a Hem (preview)
Careful finishing touches on a garment are a reflection of your overall sewing skills. No matter how well your garment looks, something as simple as a puckered hem can easily detract from your garment’s overall appearance. Do you know what may cause your hems to pucker and ripple? It might be as basic as the […]
Decorative Stitches: Accenting a Print
Who doesn’t love a great print fabric? But, sometimes, it might “just need a little something” to make it pop. Enter the myriad decorative stitches found in your sewing machine…those that often sit unused and those you’ve always wanted to use but didn’t quite know where. Accenting a print is easy! Just look at the […]
Sewing Tips for Perfect Trousers (preview)
Great looking trousers, like all successful sewing projects, requires a bit of specialized attention. Here’s a collection of tips and techniques to help you achieve the best possible results: Stitching Order Stitch all vertical seams before stitching the crotch seams, except when making jeans, making sure to stitch the inseams and outseams in the same […]
Handy Notions: Tracing Wheels
The tracing wheel may be a sewing notion you were first introduced to when you began sewing, as it’s a handy way to transfer construction markings from the pattern to the fabric. Whether it’s patch pocket locations, a zipper opening, buttonholes, darts or pleats, using a tracing wheel is a quick way to get accurate […]
3 Steps to Perfecting the Princess Line Seam (preview)
Why Princess-Line? Princess-line seams often result in a smoother line that allows for a body-skimming fit. They can also be more flattering than typical darts, especially if you have a large bust or shoulders as they not only help to flatter curves, but allow for more opportunities for fitting. They can also be used to […]
Suit-ability: Repurposing Suits for Other Projects
Not all fabric we use in our projects comes from the fabric store—some comes from our own closets or from the closets of others near and dear. Have you noticed in the past few years that there are fewer and fewer men wearing suits? Blame it on the popular work-from-home phenomena or simply the trend […]
Sewing Swimwear: The Details (preview)
Sew a swimsuit in August? Of course! It’s still swimsuit season in many locations; however, a recent visit to a new gym with an indoor pool was a good reminder that aquatics classes are becoming more popular. This is especially true when they have titles like Aqua Fitness and Aqua Arthritis Movement. For those who […]
Triple Straight Stitch
Often overlooked because the machine icon doesn’t really look like the actual stitch, the triple straight stitch is a fun one, both for utility use and for embellishments. Depending on the machine brand, the stitch may also be called a straight stretch stitch or a backstitch. On the stitch screen or dial, it appears as […]
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