Tag: sew

Tips on Sewing with Knits

Tips on Sewing with Knits

In trying to keep my latest pattern concise, I’ve been struggling with what tips to include and which to leave out. Instead I thought I would post a bunch of tips I have learned over the years for working with knits. Many are found in 

A Great Beginning Project

A Great Beginning Project

A question I hear often: “I’m going to teach my child how to sew. Can you suggest a project?” What’s a good project for beginners? There are many great first projects. Simple straight lines, and after learning to pivot, right angles can be added. In 

Best Press Practices and Tips

Best Press Practices and Tips

It’s essential to press your project while sewing it. Why? There are many reasons for pressing while sewing. Because the pattern says to and blind obedience are not the reasons why.  Pressing (not ironing) will help your sewing to be accurate and well made. It’s 

Seam Allowance? Helping Kids Sew

Seam Allowance? Helping Kids Sew

  What’s a seam allowance? This is pretty common for kids to ask and a challenge to master. After explaining what a seam allowance is and showing students the lines along the throat plate of the sewing machine, it’s still  a skill that takes lots 

It’s So Close

It’s So Close

I’m getting so excited for my book, Sew in Style – Make Your Own Doll Clothes, to be released in May. That’s not that far away. I just received my class registration confirmation for the Quilt Market in the mail; last week, I received my 

Road Trip: I’m off to a sewing expo

Road Trip: I’m off to a sewing expo

I’ve been so busy lately with family activities (4-H, birthdays, college visits, music concerts & competitions, and scholarship competitions), but Friday it’s going to be all about me! I’m off  on a road trip to a sewing expo and looking forward to joining a big 

Being Wrong, the path to finding and exercising creativity

Being Wrong, the path to finding and exercising creativity

So I joined in on a doll quilt swap. I am not a quilter. Let me just say that again, I am not a quilter. This is becoming clearer. As I look around the net, there are so many  amazing quilts -I love quilts, but 

Tips on Sewing with Twin Needles

Working with a twin needle…here are some sewing tips for sewing with a twin needle (double needle). I love using the twin needle. It can be a quick and very clean looking finish for a project. It’s ideal for hemming knit fabrics or adding a 

Making an Adjustable Waistband

Making an Adjustable Waistband

This sewing tutorial explains how to add buttonhole elastic to a 2 piece waistband in a skirt or pants pattern for an adjustable waistband.   Step 1: If lining is not interfaced, then add a square of fusible interfacing approximately 2-3 inches from sides. This 

Sewing a T-shirt or Two

Sewing a T-shirt or Two

Yes, I sew my own t-shirts. Sewing T-shirts is actually one of the fastest projects I regularly do. It’s no secret around here that I live in t-shirts and jeans (and shorts during our few warm months). Recently, I lamented that I have too much