Happiness Through Sewing
Sewing is a creative process, yet recently it has felt boring and chore-like. It has become a bit stale, and I realized these feelings in me when I actually considered ditching garment sewing for quilting. Quilting! For someone who still can’t quite grasp why you’d cut up perfectly good fabric just to sew it back […] Read more…
It’s true that little things make a difference. Hidden details in our self-made clothing, like linings, special seam allowance finishes, and strap guards, take a garment from fine to special. Lingerie strap guards allow you to move freely without your bra straps peeking or slipping out. And I realize some people don’t care about this, […] Read more…
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…
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…
Because I rarely attend dress-up functions I don’t want to spend weeks sewing something I’ll only wear a little (unless, I really want to make that particular item, or it’s a very special occasion). So my “fancy” clothes need to be fun and easy and, yes, still comfortable so that I am comfortable when wearing […] Read more…
What can I say that you don’t already know about making a pair of shorts from your jeans? Well, I think I can help with a few pointers and tips. Like how to cut so you remain covered, how to mimic jeans thread with regular thread, and how to stitch over those thick seams without […] Read more…
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…
Finding a hole in your sweater doesn’t mean the end of your sweater. Taking just a few minutes to mend that hole will let you continue to wear your sweater for years to come. Those few minutes will save you the money and time it takes to replace the sweater and the more years you […] Read more…
Elbows of sweaters tend to wear thin and sometimes wear out completely while the rest of the sweater is still good and still a favorite. How can you fix your sweater’s elbows to get a few more years of wear from it? Because, why not? For me, it is faster to mend a sweater than […] Read more…
A wise woman once told me, when we dress for bed we dress for ourselves. I never thought of it like that. We’re not dressing for others. There is no dress code written or implied, or even socially enforced. So why not wear something we truly like? I like pajama pants with pockets (as I […] Read more…