Happiness Through Sewing
Knowing how to do some basic alterations can save you a lot of money. Not only are you not paying someone else to do them but you can keep wearing the item you altered to fit and avoid buying a replacement. One of the basic alterations you’ll come across is Taking In. And while this […] Read more…
Confession, I have an overflowing, extra-large, mending basket. Repairs and alterations always seem more like a chore I have to do while sewing something new is fun and exciting. Until a couple of hours into sewing the new pattern, the project hits a wall with fit issues. The kind that zaps all joy from the […] Read more…
Invisible zippers, also known as Concealed zippers, are just that: so concealed once they are sewn into a garment that they appear to be invisible. Unlike other zippers, there is no outside stitching around the zipper, no obvious lapped fabric or fly. Nothing but a slim zipper pull gives it away. This makes invisible zippers […] Read more…
Forget googling it. It’s right here. A list long enough to keep you looking busy for hours. disclaimer: I have not bought or tried patterns from all of these companies so I can not vouch for the drafting and instructional quality of all of them. This list focuses on women’s patterns and patterns still available […] Read more…
I made a set of cloth linen napkins in 2012. We used them every day and washed them every week. The linen became softer, the color mellowed evenly and so I never thought I would have to make cloth napkins again. Until Atlas joined our family. Atlas is our new Rottweiler pup. He’s a wonderful […] Read more…
A pattern piece has a lot of information on it as discussed in a previous post/video “How to Read a Pattern”. You need that information when you are sewing all the pieces together, but you want to transfer that information, from pattern to fabric, at the beginning while the fabric is still on the cutting […] Read more…
A sewing friend recently joked that sewing was actually only 50% sewing and 50% cutting, pressing, and fussing. She’s pretty accurate. But let’s not let that stop us from sewing. We’ll just accept it as part of the process. This post and video are all about the process of laying out your pattern pieces and […] Read more…
When trying to teach myself how to knit I found decoding the pattern was, and still is, the highest hurdle. If you want to sew but the sewing pattern is confusing, daunting, or just leaves you in doubt about even trying tp sew, let me clear things up for you, please. This is your How […] Read more…
Hemming men’s trousers was my first side hustle. It’s a pretty common task and one you can do with professional results even if you don’t have much sewing experience. You just need to follow a couple of easy tips. Note: you will need someone to do the initial pinning if you’re hemming your own trousers. […] Read more…
This post has affiliate links to products that I use and always recommend. You can buy them from anywhere but if you buy through the link (and Amazon) I receive a tiny percent back from that mega-retailer to help support this blog. Just letting you know 😉 I confess Mini Sewing Machines brought out the […] Read more…