There is no anxiety sewists dread more than the anxiety that comes when you are snipping away at your precious fabric. The saying "measure twice, cut once" is there for a reason. If you cut your fabric incorrectly, it can ruin a project and it can cost you a ton of money. That's why we have this quick guide on How to Cut Fabric. This resource is going to provide you with the basics of cutting fabric for sewing and more. Fabric is not cheap and if you do not know how to cut fabric properly, it can do some serious damage. It is even harder to learn how to pin and cut a pattern on the fabric. You have to cut your fabric to match your piece, ensure that your print is going the right way, and make sure that you cut the right side facing out. Stressed out yet? Don’t worry, sewists. That’s why we are here yet again to help you out. This sewing guide is going to give you the top 5 things you can do to cut fabric perfectly every single time. For more sewing inspiration, sign up for our e-newsletter!
Sewing knits and stretchy fabric beautifully is actually very easy, and this can all be done on a sewing machine. No serger required.
Learn how to sew velvet fabric with a sewing machine using these 16 tips for sewing velvet. Make great pillows, curtains, garments, and more!
Definition of the word ruching and the different ways to do ruching with fabric, to decorate clothes, accessories and home decor accessories.
DIY Long Fabric Winterberry Cape Free Sewing Pattern
Drafting and sewing instructions for you to sew a robe - DIY gift for women that can be made in any size out of rectangles
Velvet is my favorite fabric for creating a high-style look and I like to use all kinds of velvet for my sewing projects but it can be a little bit tricky sometimes. In this sewing tutorial, you will find 12 must know velvet sewing tips and tricks: how to select patterns to sew in velvet, how to cut velvet, how to determine nap of velvet, how to sew velvet on your sewing machine, how to iron velvet, etc.
Gathering fabric is beautiful, but it is also time-consuming. In this article, you will learn the easiest and fastest way to gather fabric. Any kind of it!
Knit fabrics can be a bit confusing in the beginning. I hope this quick overview will help you understand the basics! Zoom in on the graphic to see it better..
After sewing for years, I’ve naturally acquired a handful of sewing hacks and tricks. I’ve gathered together 39 of my favorites just for you!
Like sewing tips? This sewing tutorial will focus on stretch thread for sewing. Learn all about types of stretchy sewing threads and how to use stretchy thread in your sewing projects.
The Fat-Quarter Bag is a fast and fun project. It goes together so quickly you’ll want to make one for everyone on your gift list. Free DIY Tutorial
Learn to sew difficult fabrics like rayon knit with these tips for slinky knit fabrics - ITY knit, tissue knit, rayon jersey, bamboo knit and more - Melly Sews
Stretch velvet can be a bear to sew! Here's how to sew stretch velvet, including cutting tips + patterns that work well for this luxe fabric.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you may remember this post, but I’ve been getting a lot of French seam questions lately so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to resurrect this tutorial from the blog archives and set it free a second time. I’m first going to do a run through of the french seam and then will show you how to apply it to the armhole. Just a few notes before we begin… 1. french seams are usually best used on light to medium weight fabric. 2. French seams require you to split your seam allowance in two parts. This tutorial is done using a 1/2″ seam allowance, but if you are working with a 5/8″ seam allowance, sew the first seam at 3/8″ and the second at 1/4″. I’ve tried to notate where this applies. With that, lets get to it! Click through to view the tutorial. French Seams on Straight Seams Step 1 | Cut your pieces from your fabric. I only made a half top for this so photographing would be easier, but yours will look normal of course. Step 2 | Sew the sides and shoulder seams with the wrong sides of the fabric together at 1/4″ (or 3/8″ if you have a 5/8″ seam allowance) and press the seam open. I like to do all of the seams at once instead of completing one seam at a time because you are much less likely to end up with one seam backwards. Step 3 | Grade your seam allowance down to 1/8″. Step 4 | Fold and press along the seam so that the right sides are together and stitch at 1/4″. Step 5 | Press both the side seams and shoulder seams towards the back of the garment and this part of the process is over! French Seaming Armholes (and other curved seams) Step 6 | First we will assemble the sleeves, this part is a bit repetitive. Sew the underarm seams with the wrong sides of the fabric together at 1/4″ (or 3/8″ if you have a 5/8″ seam allowance). Step 7 | Press the seam open and grade the seam allowance down to 1/8″. Step 8 | Fold and press along the seam so that the right sides are together and stitch at 1/4″. Press seam towards back of sleeve. Step 9 | Sew a line of gathering threads from the front notch to the back notches. Step 10 | Pin your sleeve and armhole together with wrong sides facing. Begin by matching the underarm seams and notches. Step 11 | Pull on your gathering stitches to ease the sleeve cap into the armhole. Stitch around the seam at 1/4″ (or 3/8″ if you’re working with a 5/8″ seam allowance). After sewing this seam, check for any tucks and remove them if you have any. Step 12 | Press the seam open and grade the seam allowance down to 1/8″. This will be most easily accomplished by cramming a ham or sleeve roll inside your shirt and pressing the seam around that. Step 13 | Fold and press along the seam so that the right sides are together and stitch at 1/4″. Check for any tucks and correct those if you have any. You should now have a french seamed armhole like the one below, congrats! And that’s that! As always if you have any questions leave me a note below and I’ll leave you a reply; I try to respond to all comments. Hope you find this tutorial useful!
Download this Free Photo about High angle of seamstress using sewing machine, and discover more than 60 Million Professional Stock Photos on Freepik
Beginner sewing refashion tutorial for how to add fabric to a shirt to make it bigger with a full photo walk through
How to Cut Fabric PERFECTLY STRAIGHT...and Square It Up! No more crooked lines and frustration with cutting!
Sleeve designs can be a little bit intimidating. Drafting them is kind of a science on its own, and it’s hard to imagine what shape you need to start with if
This sewing basic tutorial will teach you how to sew a gathering stitch for perfect ruffles every time.
Learn how to alter the neckline opening directly on the pattern or on a finished garment. Watch the video tutorial and detailed written explanations.
Need I remind you that fabrics can either make or break your project. Read on for more info on our guide to different fabrics and their properties.
This sewing tutorial will help you learn how to hem knit fabric with a serger or sewing machine. I’ve compiled my tried and true tips on hemming knits so that puckered hems and popped stitches are avoided
Take your sewing projects to the next level using these sewing tips and tricks.
Top-stitching is a really handy technique, especially for sewing projects like a tote or any other sort of bag. Learn how to top stitch here!
In this collection of sewing tutorials, tips, and techniques, you'll learn The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew. My tips are also featured in the best-selling book
At Sew Modern Bags we bring you lots of fabulous sewing patterns each week. However, now and again we come across a training video or photo tutorial that we
Here is a very interesting sewing tutorial for your sewing projects. Learn how to sew with the bobbin thread in the needle. Find out why you may need to do it.
The Hana Tank + Dress Pattern features the bias binding method of finishing the neckline and armholes. While this method is a great scrap buster, the first few times you try it might be frustrating. It takes practice and a little patience to make sure all those seams lay flat with no puckering.
Who wants to learn how to sew a rolled hem?! For silk or any kind of sheer fabric, you'll want to know how to sew a rolled hem.
YARN TYPE The yarn terms vary from location to location. I am usually referring to Australia yarn ply in this blog unless stated otherwise. Here’s a yarn conversion chart (credits to Wool War…
The Idra Dress free sewing pattern is an adorable take on a non-stop recent trend: the sweatshirt dress. Comfy, cozy, and chic!
How to make a sewing pattern bigger or smaller - sewing pattern grading - make a sewing pattern a different size
Gathering fabric is beautiful, but it is also time-consuming. In this article, you will learn the easiest and fastest way to gather fabric. Any kind of it!
Learn the difference between terry fabrics like towel terry and French terry and get tips for sewing with them.
Sew a bolster pillow for an outdoor couch or indoor bed - either way they're a great way to add shape and texture to your decor!
