Happiness Through Sewing
A few months ago I made a video How to Hem Dress Pants in which I sewed the hem, as I always do, by hand, because that’s how I learned to sew an invisible hem. But then a lot of people asked, “Ok, but can I do that with my sewing machine?” Ahhh, yes, but I […] 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…
Almost all garments need to be hemmed – with needle and thread. Hemming is how you finish the lower edge of a garment after you’ve decided on the length you want it. Hemming is securing the fabric in place while also covering the raw edge and preventing it from unraveling. In this video, some basic […] Read more…
There are many, many times when you will need to fold over and press up a certain width of fabric. You may be pressing up a hem, pressing over fabric for a casing or pressing in the raw edges of a patch pocket. Your directions will simply state to fold over X inch(s) and press. (or […] Read more…
Where your dress or skirt falls on your legs impacts your overall look. Even just a couple inches longer or shorter can change the entire an outfit from off to great. Since most of us benefit from a longer looking leg it’s handy to know how to shorten your skirt or dress. There are two ways. You can stick to […] Read more…
There are times when you need to sew quite a ways in from the edge of the fabric. Further in than any seam guide marked on your machine. How do you know where to line your fabric edge at to sew 1.5 or 2 or more inches in? And if you measure over from the needle and […] Read more…
We’ve all heard you should take your clothes to a tailor for alterations; have them fit to you. But you got sewing skills. You don’t need no stinkin’ tailor – well, not for every alteration and besides, you always want a good smelling and talented tailor when you do need one. Shortening a dress, skirt, […] Read more…
Shortening a skirt is pretty straight forward. Fold up the appropriate amount of excess skirt at the hem. Trim off any fabric that is more than you need for turning under a new hem and hem it. My skirt, too long as it was, could not be taking up at the bottom for it had […] Read more…