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…
How to Take in a Lined Dress That’s Too Loose
Note that while this post is about taking in a lined, sleeveless dress along the side seams there are some basic tips for altering any garment included, mostly in the first two sections. Do I Keep It? What to Look for Before Removing the Tags I bought this dress because I liked the style and […] Read more…
How to Sew In the Ends of a Zipper
How do you finish the top of a zipper? If you’re following a pattern there will be instructions but if you’re without a set of instructions or you just need some further clarification, let me explain some typical ways the top end of a zipper is cleanly tucked out of sight. But first, a quick […] Read more…
Altering Your Clothes; Take in a Skirt at the Sides
Ever have a skirt (or dress) that’s just too big on the sides? The fabric sticks out in an odd bell like shape? Having no crotch seam to stop us we wear our skirts at different places on our torso out of comfort or habit than the designer intended. This is why you may find many […] Read more…
No More Sloppy Back Pockets
Does this drive anybody else crazy? The welts on a double welt pocket should lay flat against the garment. Welt pockets that gap open permanently in a twisted way look sloppy. Having two twisted, gaping, horizontal lines across one’s backside isn’t stylish or flattering. What really drives me crazy though is that more and more […] Read more…
How To Easily Fix Baggy Pants
There is a fine line between stylishly baggy pants and sloppy, frumpy, baggy pants. And I think the line has a lot to do with, not the pattern, but your body. The younger and fitter someone is the more they can look cute, perhaps even fashionable, in loose fitting clothing. Well, I’m no longer young […] Read more…
Sewing a Princess Seam
The princess seam is perhaps ubiquitous and therefore not as appreciated as it should be. Or maybe it’s the name that turns us off. This is a great seam for fit and fitting. It runs over the bust in the front, separating the center of the garment from the sides. It allows for a […] Read more…