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 …