Tutorials
How to make stuff
Elastic Casings the Easy Way
(Pinterest link: https://www.pinterest.com/7pinedesign/7-pine-design/) What was your first apparel sewing project? Chances are that it was an elastic-waist skirt, an elastic-waist pajama pant, or an elastic-neckline peasant dress: simple, un-fitted silhouettes with minimal pattern pieces. What was your least favorite step? My…
Free Pattern: Bias-trim Pocket
Last week I was making the Brownie Goose “Junie” dress and decided I’d like to add pockets, and since I was already making bias tape for the dress, I made pockets trimmed with the bias tape: Rounded pockets are great because…
How to make your own Bias Tape
(Pinterest link: https://www.pinterest.com/7pinedesign/7-pine-design/) Some of the cutest sewing patterns use bias-tape-trim: strips of fabric cut diagonal to the fabric selvedges. Bias tape can be folded into binding, or stitched around cord to make piping. I love bias-tape-trim, but I’ve struggled with the most…
Pattern Review: Brownie Goose “Junie”
My first Brownie Goose pattern! Although I’ve purchased way too many pdfs over the past year, I still scan the new releases to see if there’s anything I “need”. The “Junie” struck me as so very vintage-yet-fresh, simple-yet-clever….like something a…
A-line Skirt: “Slash-and-Spread” Method
…... In pattern drafting, you often want to add fullness to the shape of a pattern piece: The CORRECT way to add fullness is from WITHIN the pattern piece. The INCORRECT way is to tack on more to the OUTSIDE the…
How to Fix Mirrored Front/Back Rises
Are people shaped the same in the front and back? No, never. ….…... Our bums are generally larger than our bellies (with the exception of maternity-wear), plus additional length is required in the back rise because we move our legs forward…
Charity sewing: for the Angel Babies (Free Pattern)
Recently I posted about a special sewing project, and mentioned that I was cutting up a vintage wedding dress to make a sash. I promised to explain why I was disassembling the wedding gown, so here goes. A lovely heartfelt project…
How to use Sewing Blocks
What are “blocks”, where do I get them, and how do I use them? Previously I blogged about how a basic SLOPER is used to make multiple BLOCKS, which are used to create endless PATTERNS. When you hear the word “block”…
