Happiness Through Sewing
Recently a young friend of mine showed me a dress she bought second hand. This rayon floral dress featured two strong design elements. The first a corseted center front, purely decorative with a self fabric tie. The second feature was an exposed, silver toothed, zipper along the center back seam from top to hem. The […] Read more…
If you’ve sewn more than a dozen patterns I bet this has happened to you. It’s completely frustrating and this time it’s not your sewing skills or lack of attention that caused it. It’s your commercial pattern. It wasn’t trued. A true pattern is a pattern that all seams fit perfectly together as you would […] Read more…
1. It’s a Needle, Not a Harpoon Use the smallest needle for the weight of your fabric. Smaller needles give you better control over your stitches. Heavier weight and tighter weave fabrics need a strong needle but still choose the smallest strong needle you have. 2. Darker Thread Blends in Better When choosing which color […] Read more…
I “finished” the coat about two weeks ago. But it wasn’t what I hoped it would be so I wasn’t excited to share. However, I had put a lot of time, effort and money into the project, the sewing was flawless (flawless, I tell you) and it was cold outside so I was going to […] Read more…
I always say if I’m going to take the time to make a garment then I’m going to take the time to make it right. Trying my best to be efficient, by all means, but no short cuts. And now I sound like a complete hypocrite by challenging myself to get this coat done in […] Read more…
That’s odd. They don’t look like they go together. (next time I’ll smile) You’re not flat and fabric is so unless you’re going for an ancient Greek look the fabric has to be manipulated to go over your curves. This is why we use darts and seams like the princess seam. However, sewing convex curves […] Read more…
This video shows you how to begin any garment project. Prepping your fabric correctly, dealing with a nap, and lining up the selvedges. My favorite type of nap is the siesta kind, of course, but if you don’t know what a nap in the fabric is it means a one way design. The fabric I […] Read more…
Just a quick introduction to my one-week-until-she-needs-it sundress project. I’m using a commercial pattern, McCalls 5313. My teenage daughter picked out both the fabric and the pattern and I promised to have it done before summer was over and before she moved out of the house. That basically meant this was my last summer to […] Read more…
Alright, I just started the project and already I have a tip, two actually, to share. This little video shows you how to keep your pieces on grain when the directions request that you not line up your selvedges. The other tip just happens to be one of the best secrets ever; iron those wrinkly, […] Read more…
I’m half way through my week to get this project done but not necessarily half way done with the project. Funny how that happens. However, it’s Saturday and I don’t have to be at my day job so I believe I can get a lot done today. I had a tiny set back. My bodice […] Read more…