Hello! Today, I am getting some much needed girl time with my Mom and my sister. :) So so so happy about that. It's not often that we are together, since my mom lives on the other side of the continent from me...and my sis is 100 miles away from me. Yay! Anywho... I have wanted to share this little trick that my mother-in-law showed me awhile back. I found myself using it quite a bit while making the quilt of a bazillion knots. It seriously changed my life when it came to hand stitching anything. My mother-in-law is an amazingly talented seamstress. She makes these gorgeous smocked dresses for the little girls. She's the real deal. Here's a shot of some she made for Easter one year. my girls All of the girls.....she made all of these dresses :) You all may know this tip, and I might be the last person on earth to figure this out, but I figured I would share anyways, for those of us like me that are ignorant to these sort of things. I have always seen my mother in law thread a needle, smooth her hands down over the string and poof, it's tied in a knot at the end. I have always wondered how in the heck she does that. I would always take the time to make a loop, go through the loop with my needle and then make a little knot....one so tiny that it would slip through most fabrics anyways. So then I would try to knot it again at the same spot and I would always be off....so then I'd have two tiny knots right next to each other, so then I'd try to knot it a third time and try to incorporate both knots into a big knot....sometimes it worked....every time, it took forever and made me feel completely inept at sewing anything. It's a dumb thing to get frustrated over....but it is seriously annoying....especially when you look over and see a master seamstress like my lovely mother in law whip out a big fat knot in a matter of seconds with what seems like a magician swipe over the string. Do I have any ladies out there who are nodding their heads right now? I think I do. One day I was like....how in the world did you do that, and she looked at me like she couldn't believe I didn't know how to make a knot....and then took the time to teach me how. I really have the best mother in law in the world. I can't say enough good about her, really :) Here's how you do it. you start with a thread on a needle as usual. (forgive my busted up looking table that needs refinishing and my ratty looking fingernails. It was not a good day for photographing my mess). Gather both ends of the thread, so they are the same length and hold them together in your hand. You will have to lick or wet your fingers before you put the thread in between your fingers. Then pinch them like this between your thumb and forefinger with the end pointing down. Take the loose end of the string and wrap it over the top of your forefinger, around and under both your forefinger and then the thumb and then back to the top. Basically, you are wrapping a circle around your fingers. After you've wrapped the circle around your fingers, take the loose end and bring it down between your thumb and forefinger as you see below. Here's the tricky part. While pushing your thumb forward and pulling your index finger back, roll the string in between your fingers. While you are doing this, hold the long end of the string in your other hand and pull it tight as you allow the string to pull off from around your fingers and to tighten into a knot in between them. Here's what you will get when you are done! It takes a little bit of practice to master, but it's pretty easy. Once you have this down, it makes things go sooooo much more smoothly when you are tying things off or knotting something. I made a little video of me doing this for clarity. It's not the best, and my fingers go off screen for a second, but you can see what I'm doing for the most part. My 11 year old was my camera man. Hope it helps. Have a great weekend! xoxoxo! Anna Shared with: ny melrose family free pretty things for you someday crafts lady behind the curtain seven thirty three craftie alley ginger snap crafts just a girl and her blog happy housie remodelaholic jennifer rizzo the idea room my repurposed life the shabby nest craft dictator chic on a shoestring liz marie nancherrow city of creative dreams too much time on my hands one more time events just us four six sisters stuff sits girls reasons to skip the housework 2IY the girl creative vmg206 under the table and dreaming momnivores dilemma flamingo toes titi crafty mango seed designs the chicken chick it's overflowing uss crafty diy showoff thrifty decor chick skip to my lou C.R.A.F.T. making the world cuter the silly pearl twelve o eight carrie this home domestically speaking vmg206 tiny sidekick home stories a to z home work not just a housewife sugar bee crafts our delightful home home coming house on the way kathe with an e confessions of a plate addict mabey she made it yesterfood crafts on sea diy dreamer clean and scentsable ivy and elephants thrifty decor chick
Struggling to find good sewing information on various sewing techniques? Here you’ll find gamechanger sewing tips and sewing guides to help you at all levels of your sewing journey and help you solve your sewing problems.
A creative blog about all sorts of DIY, Interior Design, Building, Crafts, Frugal Living, Sewing, Tips, Advice and my general musings on life.
When sewing stretchy fabric, one of the most important things to consider is your needle.
Techniques and advice to boost your sewing skills.
Are you new to machine quilting? You may have made tied quilts for a while and now want to explore machine quilting. I’ve seen a lot of advice given for how to machine quilt but I think mos…
Expert sewing technique guides to help you learn to sew or boost your sewing skills. Includes dressmaking, quilting, bag making and hand stitching.
Sewing is often a slow process. It is so easy to let your imagination wander when you are choosing a design for your new dress, or fabric and a pattern to use in your next project. It takes a lot of time also to prepare the pattern, to cut the fabric, to sew all seams and press them. And usually we can’t sew all day long. So I am always looking for ways to be more efficient and sew faster. I don’t want to stay with one project for a few weeks, I noticed actually that the less time it takes from an idea to the result the more I am enjoying the process and I am also more satisfied with my garment. Over the years I discovered many ways to sew faster and to get professional results. I am going to share them with you in this list.
We are very lucky to have a community park near us that has a fairy garden in, and it has sparked a real magical appreciation in my little ones, so I wanted to bring a little of the magic home, by making our own fairy house to start our own fairy garden. Here's how I made it.
I've seen this a couple of times lately and stole it , mmph, "borrowed" it. For your enjoyment, of course.
Want to know the correct sewing machine settings? Learn everything you need to know about the stitch length with this detailed sewing tutorial.
In this lesson, we’re going to be covering how to sew a few things that many new knit sewists have a hard time with. Namely, neckbands, sleeves, and hems.
Take your sewing projects to the next level using these sewing tips and tricks.
Find out how to make your seams disappear when you follow this how to sew lace guide
Sewing knits is not scary, promise! Personally, I find they're easier to sew than wovens as the stretch allows some flexibility in fitting pieces together and fact they don't tend to unravel at the cut edges. I'm lucky enough to have both a serger and coverstitch so I normally do my knits sewing on those but it's not impossible (or even super tricky) to sew knits with a regular machine! Here are some posts to get you started if you're new to knits: Know Your Knits: Part One Know Your Knits: Part Two How to Successfully Combine Different Knits into a Single Garment (by KID, MD) Getting ready to sew with knits Different Methods of Knit Bindings / Bandings Conquering curling knits: Banding instead of hemming How to Sew a small cuff onto a larger edge (video tute) Pin It
It can get frustrtating when your favourite clothing gets too tight on your body - Here are some tips to alter them to make them looser.
Haute couture demonstrates the height of technical skill and creativity in fashion design and sewing. It literally means "high dressmaking" in French, and there are technically only a small number of accredited "grand couturiers" in the world. That being said, you can still apply this sophisticated style to your sewing projects! From handmade clothing to accessories, couture-style class and elegance can add an impressive "wow" factor to a range of creations. This guide goes over Couture Sewing Techniques. Learn how to add a "couture" touch to sewing projects with these tips on creating fashionable made-to-measure clothes for your own closet. Whether you want to be sewing couture clothing of your own or simply wanting to add impressive details to everything you create, you can use this advice. This page includes helpful information on embellishments, the type of fabrics used in haute couture, how to style and drape, and how to customize tailoring to match that elegant and stylish fashion world. Sign Up For More Free Patterns >>> Here are some ways you can incorporate this skill in your own sewing:
How to sew a curved hem? Well it depends! I've made a few videos explaining different techniques for sewing around curves.
There comes a time in every stasher’s life when they have a hankering to combine a couple of yarns to make a yarn of a different weight. Patty Lyons, writing on the Mason-Dixon Knitting websi…
Prompted by the arrival of our fabulous 100% linen sheeting range, here's a tutorial to show you just how easy it is to make your own fitted sheets. It might be easier to enlarge the images as you wor
Learn how to choose sewing machine needles to sew denim. Whether you're sewing jeans or upcycling denim, these tips will help you.
We help you succeed in sewing by offering video tutorials,free patterns,unique sewing tips,interesting sewing ideas, easy sewing projects
Diagnose and solve poor sewing machine tension with this step-by-step checklist.
I’ve been asked how to do this by a few people so I thought it was about time I took a few pictures and made up a tutorial. Overlockers are great for seams, especially on knits, but if you don’t secure your threads, they can come undone. There are a few different ways of doing...Read More »
15 Sewing Tips and Tricks that Make Sewing "SEW" Much Easier!
Learn more about Kenneth's collections, notions, and sewing machines.
I always thought the positions of button and buttonhole are pretty self-explanatory. But more than one occasion, I have seen buttons that were placed a bit too close to the edge of a garment. I haven’t seen anyone discussing the topic in a blog post, so I thought I could contribute a little to the […]
Wondering what the different sewing machine needle sizes mean? This tutorial will explain everything you need to know, including when to use each size.
Learn how to understitch to make your handmade clothing look better and last longer. The lining or facing will never peak out again!
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...
Master how to use a serger before your next project by watching this instructional video and you can use it in more fun and creative ways.
It’s often taken for granted that everyone knows how to use pins while sewing. When I first started sewing I was putting pins in every which way. It turns out that there actually is a best way to put pins in fabric while you’re sewing! And most people will tell you not to use pins...Read More »
Not all bodies are the same shape, so it's natural to need to do a small adjustment or two to get the bodice sitting nicely. It is easy to alter a
There are many sewists out there who swear by sergers, and it's no wonder why! Similar to a sewing machine, a serger is used to sew pieces of fabric together, but it does so with a twist. Not only does a serger stitch fabric, but it also cuts off extra fabric and seals in hems with an overlocking stitch, all at once! By using this one-stop-shop machine, you can cut your sewing time in half and produce projects that look professionally sewn. See only some of what you can do with this page full of serger basics and 15+ Serger Sewing Projects! Your stitches will be stronger than if you use a sewing machine and your hems will be protected against fraying. In short, a serger is a godsend for the sewing process. Itching to try out a serger yourself? Whether you want to know more about what a serger is, how to operate one, or to find free serging patterns, this collection has something for you! In this list, you'll find everything from a guide on serging 101 to patterns for couture fall accessories. If you'd like to know more about sergers, read our guide, Is a Serger the Same as an Overlocker? You don't have to scour the internet for serger patterns anymore. We've done the heavy lifting for you so that you can get to sewing designer-level pieces right away. Click any link below, and your serger will do the rest! Plus, we're sharing advice from our readers who use sergers to help you before you buy or as a beginner. Sign Up For More Free Patterns >>>
I ran out of bias tape that matched the fabric I was working with the other night, but had some ribbon that matched perfectly, so though...
Learn how to trace a sewing pattern from a template in no time. An easy sewing hack you'll love!
Here are 10 next-level pieces of advice for making fitting sewing patterns by yourself a more enjoyable and productive experience. […]
Here are 11 tips that you need to know before you start sewing minky fabric! It's the softest fabric and great for beginners! Click to see the tricks!
