When learning how to make a sewing pattern, there are several methods. This post walks you through using a woven garment to make a sewing pattern...
Use your own clothes to make more clothes!
Learn all about the fabrics for sewing clothing so that you'll love to sew that fabric and love to wear the clothing you make with it!
Beginner sewing refashion tutorial for how to add fabric to a shirt to make it bigger with a full photo walk through
When learning how to make a sewing pattern, there are several methods. This post walks you through using a woven garment to make a sewing pattern...
Learn how to fix holes in your shirts, sweaters, jeans, and even leggings with visible mending. Steps by the woman who taught me—Lucie of @wemadetogether.
I LOVE BIAS BINDING! There, I said it...I love bias binding and yes all caps that's how much I love it ;) Why am i in love with bias binding? It's an elegant finish suitable for a lot of projects and fabrics. After using the technique for a few years (on just about every project) I find it's actually a quick, clean and easy way to finish garments.
Learn how to draft pattern blocks with Pattern Making Basics! A text course with one lesson per day you can start making your own pattern blocks or slopers!
I love that collared shirts are in style. They are versatile, comfortable, and can easily dress up a casual outfit. Unfortunately, however, I don't have many. And most that I do have are too short for today's style. So I decided to hit the local thrift store in search of men's shirts (so they'd be nice and long) to alter to my needs. Here is the man-shirt pre-altering. I bought this on half-off at Goodwill for $3. Pretty big and shape-less, huh? But it has good arm length and fun, unusual pockets, so I was hoping for some potential. It's important to choose a shirt that isn't way too big in the collar or arm-length because those are not easily altered. Now on to the altering process. It is SO quick and easy. If you are a sewing rookie, this would be a good way to get your feet wet. 1. Turn the shirt inside out and flatten along the seam on the inside of the arm and torso. 2. Use chalk to draw a smooth line along the seam the amount you'd like to take the shirt in. Blend the ends of your chalk line into the existing seams prior to the cuff and base of the shirt. If you are unsure of how much to take in, lay a shirt that fits as you would like this one to, and trace along that shirt's outline. 3. Cut along the lines you drew. 4. Lay the piece you cut out from the first side along the opposite edge to use as a guide to draw another chalk line. 5. Cut along the chalk line. 6. Pin the edges together, being sure to line up the cross seams at the armpit. Sew the new edges closed, blending into the existing seams at each end. I used a serger, but if you don't have a serger, a zig-zag stitch outside your first straight stitch will help prevent fraying. Here it is all sewn up, but still inside out. It actually looks like a woman's shirt now! Now I have a "new" shirt! Go thrift-store shopping or raid your hubby's closet and enjoy! Participating in these link-ups
Pattern cutting is like writing a recipe for a cake (for me that's a chocolate cherry roulade at the moment!).
What you need to know before mending your clothing.
I was never taught how to make clothes, but it was one of those things I so very much wanted to be able to do. So a few years back I began my dressmaking journey (one I’m still on today…
Subtle Mends for Unmentionable Areas I teach workshops on visible mending regularly, and by far, the most requested mend is the dreaded crotch repair. Luckily, it's a pretty simple repair. If you are like me, jeans are my favorite article of clothing to wear. And a well fitting pair of jeans is magic, and also tragic
Learn how to adjust the armscye to remove excess fabric and create a garment that fits you perfectly, including under and around your arms.
Good Morning All! I received a question about how to adjust the fit of the Magic Bias Dress from Fashion In Harmony, and I was asked if there are side seams for adjusting. I decided to do a special post to answer the question as I thought an explanation might be helpful to many of you who are making the dress. Just as a review, there are 3 main pieces to the dress. 2 sleeve patterns are included, but of course the sleeves is optional, the 3 main pattern pieces of the dress are not. There are no side seams in the dress. Look closely at the picture below. The largest pattern piece is the main body of the dress. You see the armholes and the back neck which are angled to the side. The smaller pattern piece in the top right hand corner is the front inset and includes the front neckline. Then there is a long triangular pattern piece. The long triangular piece is your key piece for adjusting the fit of the pattern. A few notes on bias garments; Remember that the bias grainline has the most stretch of the 3 grainlines in a piece of fabric. Typically, when a garment hangs on the bias, due to the stretchy nature of the bias grainline, it is not necessary to adjust the fit. With that said, bias garments look best if there are 4" to 7" of ease at the hips, at the VERY minimum, 3" of ease. Remember, we want the garment to skim the body and not cling or appear tight. If your shoulders are quite narrow compared to your bust and hip measurements, then it would be best to adjust the pattern. If your shoulders are quite narrow, choose your pattern size based on your upper bust measurement and then make adjustments to the pattern. The key to adjusting the Magic Bias Dress is the triangular pattern piece. Simply draw a line down the center of the pattern piece. Cut down the center of the pattern piece. If you need to adjust for a larger bust measurement, spread the top portion of the pattern piece the amount needed to obtain the desired ease for the bust. Also spread for the hips. If you need to adjust for an even larger hip measurement, the spread may angle out at the hip area. If the bust is fine, but you need more in the hips, cut down the center of the pattern and then keep the top portion of the triangle pattern piece together but spread for the hips. So now you see more of the "magic" of this pattern. A bias garment that's cut on the straight of grain is revolutionary. The fact that you can adjust the pattern by simply spreading what seems like a rather non-important pattern piece is ingenious! If you have any other questions about the pattern, please ask and I will do my best to answer.
This sewing basic tutorial will teach you how to sew a gathering stitch for perfect ruffles every time.
Have you fallen in love with a pattern, only to find that it doesn’t come in your size? A few ladies told me that Itch to Stitch’s patterns don’t come in their sizes – some are smaller and some are larger than the measurements. Perhaps you have a tween who is not quite big enough to […]
I love that collared shirts are in style. They are versatile, comfortable, and can easily dress up a casual outfit. Unfortunately, howe...
I've made lots of sewing mistakes with clothing that sit in my closet instead of being worn. I'll tell you how I learned about how to sew clothing I love.
Use your own clothes to make more clothes!
How to Make a Fitted Sheet
Love is in the air! To complement the new pack coming on the 25th, I decided to make a series of clothes for men and women that are perfect for a glamorous hot date. BGC 35 solid colors (new palett…
Are you wondering how to add lace trim like in earlier times? Learn 6 different vintage ways to insert lace and improve your heirloom sewing skills!
Learn how to draft pattern blocks with Pattern Making Basics! A text course with one lesson per day you can start making your own pattern blocks or slopers!
With this simple how to, you can draft your own flutter sleeves. Use them to alter any pattern with a basic bodice to add flutter sleeves.
Learn how to draft pattern blocks with Pattern Making Basics! A text course with one lesson per day you can start making your own pattern blocks or slopers!
*orders of more than one piece will be cut in one continuous length unless instructed otherwise * **Please visit our website for better prices www.appleoakfibreworks.com I would love to describe Linen as the European version of Silk. The best linen is produced in Ireland, Belgium and some other European countries. Our 'LINON' Linen Fabric is soft and perfect for Clothing: Summer clothing, skirts, dresses, Blouses, Shirts Homeware and Crafts: Patchwork, Quilting, home accessories and embroidery. Material: 100% Linen Width approx.: 150 cm Colour: White Weight: 125 g/square meter Oxygen bleached Not pre-washed Expected Shrinkage: 10% Wash: 60-90 degrees Celsius ______________________________________________ Environment: Linen can be expensive, but it is also much better for the environment. Flax plants are very resilient, they can grow in poor soil, and require very little water. What’s more, every single part of the flax plant is then used in making all types of products, from linen clothing to varnishes. Health: Similar to silk, 100% linen is wonderful for people with sensitive skin and those prone to allergic reactions like "prickly heat" in hot weather. For women who suffer from "hot flushes", 100% linen is the most comfortable answer in warm environments. Care: Linen can't and shouldn't be ironed. The creasing is part of the natural allure. The creasing also molds the garment, and in practice the more creasing there is, the less evident it becomes as the whole garment softens. Linen loves being washed and dries much quicker than Cotton. The more it is worn and washed the softer the fabric becomes. It also lasts much longer than cotton, as it is harder wearing and a much stronger material. ______________________________________
Full of texture and fun, these bobble stitch patterns will inspire you to make something new this year! Whether you knit or crochet, there are several kinds of bobble stitches in both crafts that will have you swooning over the lovely textures and making the next addictive row! This sweet Bubble Stich Pixie Hat Knitting
I’ll be honest buttonholes are scary! They are a lot of work and they are usually the last thing you do on a sewing project – so if you mess it up your could ruin all your hard work. Never fear my hand how to make buttonholes for beginners guide will show you the basic...
Learn how to create a sewing journal to plan and document your sewing makes. Plus Love Notions updated the Serenity Sweater pattern!
Learn How to Make Your Own Patterns - Part One Pattern Making Basics - The Pattern Making Process
