Beginner seamstresses, be fearless in your efforts to learn the art and skill of good sewing. This post is for you. Lets say you want to sew up something where two seam edges are NOT a straight line. This non-linear seam may be a purely creative design or an essential structural element in your sewing… Read More Basic Sewing Concept: Clipping the Curved Seam
Recently I had to sew an underarm gusset in a batwing sleeve, at the same time wondering why a batwing (or dolman) sleeve even needs a gusset. Anyhow, it started out as a godet insertion in the sleeve underarm. It meant 4 insertions which when sew together, served as a gusset. But…. sewing a godet… Read More Sewing in Godets. Lets Nerd Out.
…. so lets nerd out today. With this post, I’ll turn the tables and ask your opinion about shirt interfacings; if you make button down shirts for men or women what is your preferred collar and cuff interfacing? I have never managed to get my head wrapped around selecting the right one. I’ve asked… Read More Shirt Interfacing: I have Questions
Well, maybe not that basic, but worth learning – or at least having some knowledge about. I’ve come a long way from my former eye-roll response to the esteemed tailor’s tack. I’ve learned not to knock this very traditional technique of transferring pattern markings to the fabric. It’s so old school, that here is a… Read More Tailor’s Tacks, A Basic Sewing Concept for Marking Fabric
Under-stitching is an easy sewing technique; it’s a necessary technique if your garment has facings (versus bindings) on the neck, armholes, pant waistband, or the hem. Under-stitching keeps a facing from peeking out on the right side – that is it’s job. The images of my purple printed tunic show straightforward under-stitching at the neckline;… Read More Understanding Under-stitching
….and continuing to indulge my current obsession with pintucking ….. (did you read the last post?) Today, I’m proceeding with basic, straight pintucks. Sewing experts, please chime in with any thoughts or corrections. Interested beginning sewers, I hope you find this useful. There are two ways you can make pintucks. The end result is slightly… Read More Keeping Up With Pintucking
This post was originally titled “Making the Impossible, Possible”. Say you’re sewing up a see-through, diaphanous, loosely woven and therefore ravel-prone item. You’ve decided to use French seams throughout. Good! But hold on; there are side slits in this here garment. A French seam and a side slit do not mix – not really. Impossible… Read More Combining a French Seam and a Side Slit. Impossible.
It’s time to divulge more sewing secrets from the mysterious east, and from last week’s Guessing Games post. Congratulations to Myra of the Simple Inspirations blog, for winning the game. You nailed it, Myra! To the “baggy pants” crowd, also well done. The bottom garment here is a shalwar (pronounced shull-waar). It’s worn with a… Read More Making a Shalwar
We move ahead in replicating the grey (or gray) ready-to-wear silk tunic, mentioned in the last post. I’m lifting, so to speak, the “bones” of a pattern and using that information to make something quite different from original intentions by the pattern company. Same bones, but such a different look! Colette Pattern Company’s Sencha Blouse… Read More Grey Silk Tunic, Part 2.Manipulating the Pattern
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… Read More September Sewing Tips
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