Do you have scraps of faux fur leftover from other projects? Or maybe you have other fur items you’d like to repurpose into something else? Try making just 2 pompoms, and you may become “pompom crazy!” A major symptom: embellishing everything in sight with puffy little faux fur pompoms. At a glance, tracing circles on […]
The Fringe/Tailor Tacking Foot
Foot Fun You probably have lots of presser feet for your machine(s), but truth be told, we use only a few of them regularly: straight stitch foot, zigzag or satin stitch foot, and the zipper foot. What about all those others lingering in the accessory box? Let’s take a look at one rather funky one—the […]
Couture Sewing: Working on the Bias Grain (preview)
You can take advantage of the bias grain in couture garments in two ways: Garment sections or entire garments can be cut on the bias grain to create interesting effects in the drape, fit, and visual design of the garment, or Bias-cut fabric strips can be used to bind edges and to create piping for […]
Stabilizers: Not Just for Embroidery
Firming Things Up If you own an embroidery machine, chances are good you have a drawer full of various types of stabilizers needed for your embellishing. However, if you don’t have an embroidery machine, you may not think you need stabilizers—but think again! What is stabilizer? Simple answer—something to put behind or over fabric temporarily […]
Pin Weaving (preview)
Pin weaving is a form of small-scale weaving traditionally done on a frame made of pins with the warp and weft wrapping around the pins. Pin-woven textiles have a selvage edge all the way around. The equipment needed for pin weaving is minimal, consisting of straight pins; a padded, pinnable board; a rectangle of fusible […]
Project: Doris’s Adult Bib
Is there ever a day that goes by that you aren’t thankful for your sewing skills? Not here. When I first moved to my small coastal town, I discovered that the post office does not deliver mail to the town’s residents. “What?” But the more I thought about it, there was an opportunity for exercise […]
The Italian Flap (preview)
Known for their high-priced ready-to-wear and timeless tailored designs, Armani, Gucci, and Valentino frequently accent their impeccable jackets with this decorative flap. The flap is easy-to-sew and since all the raw edges are completely enclosed at the top, it is also very neat. It’s used on fine wools, silks, and linens in medium and light […]
Meant-to-be-Seen Seams
Most of our sewing positions seams on the inside of a garment or project, but there are times when you may want to showcase a seam on the outside of your creation. Why, you ask? Seams can be fun! Inside Out Traditional seams are sewn right sides together and the resulting seam allowances are on […]
The Heart of the Sewing Room
For most of us, the sewing machine is one of our most important possessions. And it’s no secret that the space we use to pursue our passion for sewing plays an important part in the ultimate enjoyment that we receive. The following suggestions are offered knowing that not everyone who sews has unlimited space, but […]
Tote Tactics
Totes are one of the easiest projects sewers can make and are often a first project for beginners. They can be lined, unlined, open-top, zipper-top or even closed with a magnetic fastener, and some offer inside and/or outside pockets as an extra convenience. Tote bags generally have flat bottoms and corner shaping, though they can […]
Wearable Art with Asian Flair (preview)
Creating wearable art satisfies the desire for something special to wear, the craving you feel to express yourself, and a reason to use the luscious fabrics and threads you just bought. Now, what to make? Why not create a garment that takes you to a land far away… to an exotic place of serenity and […]
Sticking to It: Glue in Your Sewing Projects
OMG—for some of you, the very thought of using glue with any sewing project probably makes your inner home economics teacher cringe! But take a deep breath and consider that it could be a helpful tool when used properly. Check Points There are a number of types of glues on the market, and they’re used […]
Front Fly Zipper in Slacks or Jeans
The traditional fly zipper you see on a commercially made pair of jeans or slacks works well in a manufacturing environment because special machines can make them very quickly, even though it is not necessarily the best technique or finished product. A mock fly is a great option for home sewers and is a good […]
Patch as Patch Can: Hole-y Jeans
We all have our favorite garments to wear and sometimes we just wear them too long and they show the signs of their preferred status. Jeans are one of those garments in most wardrobes. But don’t give up and toss them—instead get creative to patch them so you can keep them longer. Of course, there’s […]
Fiber Fun Scarves
If you love fabric, there’s also a good chance that you love fibers of all kinds—yarns, novelty threads, ribbons, trims, cords, etc. Assuming that’s the case and perhaps you have some of those things in your stash, making your own scarves is a fun way to showcase a medley of those fun fibers. Here’s what […]
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