To all my sewing buddies:

HAPPY SEWING MONTH!

It takes all my energy to keep from sharing a sewing tip as soon as I discover it or after a light bulb moment. Here are two tips I want to share with you. Just two because I need to share right away, and importantly, it makes for a shorter blog post – which you are more likely to read through :).

Sewing tip #1

Mark the Inner Markings

On the pattern tissue, mark all inner details with a brightly colored, contrasting pencil or marker. This pattern tissue is Vogue8979. You will need to transfer things like dart lines, dots, pleat lines and such on the fabric anyway. Making them clear on the tissue will save time when transferring the marks on fashion fabric. If you already do this disregard this tip. For me it was a hit-myself-on-the-forehead moment. Why did I not think of this before now?

 

Sewing tip #2

The Slip Stitch Used for Basting

Use the slip-stitch to baste something, and bring it’s snob factor down a notch. Yes, it need not be used only in couture sewing. There was the time I wished I could baste an underarm side seam from the right side of a lined dress, the armhole of which was being reduced in size to fit the wearer (the things one does for family).  I pinned the underarm seam on the right side to fit, drew chalk marks at the pins, forming a dart-like shape. Chalk marks were done on the outside and the lining.

Then I brought the chalk lines together, pinned, and slip-stitched the folds of fabric, doing outer fabric and lining separately. You can see below the fashion fabric pinned together at the chalk marks. Repeat on the lining side; on the right you can see the folds being slip stitched together on the lining. Note the label, which I included in the photo — on purpose.

 

After removing the pins and turning it to the wrong side, the underarm was basted just as it should have been on the dress and the lining. Also note: the underarm on the fashion fabric is reinforced with silk organza, and the lining with a strip of fusible interfacing.  Mr Oscar de la Renta gets high marks for construction.

I proceeded as usual with the alteration; if you’ve already used this trick, excusay moi.

A blogging note: As consistent as I want to be in uploading a post every Friday, I want to apologize for missing the last two.

Now it’s your turn. I’m sure you have a lightbulb-moment sewing tip. Please share in the comment section!

Samina