Chances are good that if you’ve sewn for years, there have been a few unconventional projects emerge from your sewing room—things that onlookers (and even fellow sewers) are amazed that you tackled. Maybe it was a behemoth sized project like a tent or sail, or perhaps an uncommon material for the sewing world like metal […]
Bag a Skirt in 10 Easy Steps (Preview)
Everyone knows that a lined skirt will look new longer, wrinkle less, hold its shape better, and be more comfortable to wear. But since it takes quite a bit longer to sew a lined skirt, it’s easy to succumb to temptation and simply make one sans the lining. The 10-step method described here is so […]
Project: Advent Calendar
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Make It With Wool Contest Entry: Coat & Dress
I joined ASG during Covid, having been motivated by a rediscovered ASG flyer. I had been given the flyer some years prior at the ASG booth at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA where I had been wearing my WA State winning Make it With Wool (MIWW) garment and was approached by the […]
Tips and Hacks for Machine Embroidery
Whenever ASG members are asked what they love about their organization, high on the list is always the willingness of fellow members to share ideas and help out with solutions. This is true, especially in neighborhood group meetings held in person or on electronic platforms. The Princeton, NJ Chapter’s “Thread Magicians,” is an online machine […]
Zippers as Trim
Sometimes things normally found in our sewing rooms end up with surprise uses. Such is the case for zippers! With the myriad types of zippers available, they can definitely do more than close a garment. Think about them turning into jewelry or becoming piping or a surface trim. When grouped, they can also cover an […]
Single Layer Construction
One Layer at a Time There are times when more than one layer of fabric really isn’t necessary or desired—think bulky hems, facings, etc. Single-layer construction techniques to the rescue! Fabric Choices Many types of fabrics are suitable for single-layer construction, but those that are most commonly used are sheers, laces, handwovens, fleeces, boiled wools […]
Moving the Dart to Create a Princess Line
If good fit is important to you, especially when sewing with woven fabrics, you already know the significance of a properly placed and well-fitting bust dart. Darts shape that two-dimensional fabric to fit around your three-dimensional body. Even for the less-endowed figure, when darts are the correct size and pointed to the correct location, they […]
Horsehair Braid
What do horses and braids have to do with sewing? Now that we’ve got your attention, let’s talk about this uncommon notion called horsehair braid! Historically, it was made from the stiff hair of a horse’s mane and tail, and then from cotton and linen, but today’s version is made from nylon or polyester fibers. […]
Sew Thrifty
Every sewer seems to have a bit of a thrifty soul…whether it’s finding a great fabric at a bargain price or reusing something to create something new. An easy way to do both of those virtuous tasks is to shop thrift stores. We’re not suggesting that you do that as your sole source for sewing […]
Grams Per Square Meter – Why Does It Matter?
GSM stands for grams per square meter and is a standard industry-wide method of measurement of the density or weight of a fabric. (In the US, because we haven’t embraced the metric system of measurement, you might see this measured as oz/sq yard.) The GSM measurement is not thread count, which is a different method […]
Pressing Tools—Clapper and Sleeve Board
It doesn’t matter whether you tailor fine wool jackets or make casual everyday wear, or if you’re a quilter—getting a good press is of the utmost importance for a professional-looking project. There are tools to help with that process. Let’s take a look at two tools that work for all sewers and quilters—a clapper and […]
Sew Confusing: Pattern Instructions
As you read pattern instructions there may be some unfamiliar terms or worse yet, things that sound similar and you’re not sure what’s what. Let’s take a look at some often-confused terminology and set it straight for your next project. Interfacing/Stabilizer Interfacing (woven, non-woven or knitted) is used anywhere more firmness or body is needed […]
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