Sewing Halloween Costumes
‘Tis the season! Costume season, that is. In the fabric stores, the waiting line at the cutting-table is backed up with moms and their kids, planning Halloween costumes. I love this….there are many great reasons to sew (rather than purchase) a…
Dyeing Fabric and Trims: some tips
Do you ever color-dye your sewing materials? It’s quite helpful if you cannot find the exact shade that you want at retail, and especially useful if you need trims to match your fabric. But I never see dye products marketed for this purpose….maybe I’m…
Sewing with Whites
Do you like sewing solid white garments? Many people tell me they don’t like to sew with white fabric, usually for one of two reasons: It’s boring (“How can I walk past all of the gorgeous prints and lovely plaids and brilliant…
How to Correct a Mirrored Knit Shorts Pattern
Here’s a quick review of a new free pattern that was released today, the Tupelo knit shorts from SewLikeMyMom. Like several other pdf kids’ knit pant/legging patterns, it has a mirrored front/back rise, with instructions to adjust the rise height…
Adding “Pouf” with Horsehair Braid
Previously I blogged about my recent haul from Wawak Sewing supply company, including a pair of 144-yard spools of horsehair braid, one white and one black. Then a friend asked me “Why do you need so much? What do you do…
Free Pattern: Bow Headband
The best thing about sewing is making exactly what you want. I was looking for a free pattern or tutorial online for a “Bunny-ear” or “Dolly-bow” headband….but I couldn’t find one with the specifics I was after: woven fabric (since I have so…
Free Pattern: Wing-Collar Shirt Dickey
Many of my sewing projects are born of necessity, in other words they are “needs” instead of “wants”. This is one of those. My dear friend Allison has a job that requires wearing a uniform smock, and recently management decided that staff…
Simple Preemie Angel Gown: Free Pattern
Update June 2018: Interested in making a vested gown for boys? Please check out this YouTube video for an easy pattern draft and instructions for a boy’s vest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t9uCNdZVOg. Thanks Rachel Ann! ……………………… How to make the easiest, fastest “angel…
How to Walk a Sewing Pattern
“Walking” a pattern is the process of matching up stitching lines of each seam, to determine if the seams will line up correctly when sewn in fabric. In some cases the stitching lines will be exactly the same length, which is straightforward…
Another Way to Finish Waist Seams on Dresses
When sewing a gathered skirt to a bodice, I find that these are the two most common home-sewing-pattern instruction methods for finishing the seam allowance: 1. Clean-finish couture“: press skirt seam allowance up towards bodice, and press bodice lining seam allowance under (left),…
