Tag: how to

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 

diy Gottex Swim Skirt tutorial

diy Gottex Swim Skirt tutorial

Swim skirts seem to be all the rage this summer. I especially love the Gottex swim skirts, but not so much the price tag on them. Whenever I see them, I think, “I could make that.” Here’s how I did it… Swim Skirt with front 

How to Draft a Swim Skirt Pattern Sewing Tutorial

How to Draft a Swim Skirt Pattern Sewing Tutorial

Many have asked, “how do you draft a swim skirt pattern?” And so I’ll respond. Consider the following: A swim skirt is made from stretchy fabric and is therefore more fitted than other skirts (negative ease and a slight A-line) A swim skirt is shorter 

How to Draft a Swim Skirt Cover Up

How to Draft a Swim Skirt Cover Up

Sew a swim skirt in a half hour? When people say, “Oh, that project takes a half hour,” I never believe them. Well, because it usually takes me longer. Maybe if I made several, the time would be shortened. For that reason, I always hesitate 

How to Serge over Elastic

How to Serge over Elastic

Good question! I serge over elastic a lot in both my projects and in my tutorials, but I don’t focus all that much on what that looks like. Here’s a tutorial to show how I sew elastic onto my projects with a serger. 3 thread 

Classic T-shirt Sleeve Hem

Classic T-shirt Sleeve Hem

The last method I used for this round of T-shirts is the traditional sleeve style, using a stretch twin needle. This is quick and gives the shirt a non-homemade look. Can you tell that is something we care about around here? Using the twin needle 

Ringer Tee Sewing Tutorial

Ringer Tee Sewing Tutorial

A seventies style at its finest, the ringer tee is easy to make from any t-shirt pattern. I’ve done this technique for myself and my kids, using Jalie, KwikSew, and Ottobre. The example tee is an Ottobre pattern from 2/2007. You can see how I 

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 

Pressing Hems and Casings: DIY Ez-Hem pressing guide

Pressing Hems and Casings: DIY Ez-Hem pressing guide

I love my EZ-Hem–did you know it used to be spelled EZY-Hem? And that credit was given to Edna Bryte Bishop? And that it used to cost only $1.25? Fun facts I found out when I chanced upon this great find at my local thrift 

DIY Spaghetti Straps

DIY Spaghetti Straps

One of the handiest thingies in my sewing box is the bias tape maker. Nope, not the electronic machine thing. Just a simple gadget that keeps you from burning your fingers while pressing the small piece of fabric. I use this for making tiny straps