I've got a great sewing technique for your facings to share with you in my latest YouTube video. And it might be something you've never heard of! Basically, you face your facing. Yes, it sounds a little strange, I know! But trust me, this simple trick will give your facings a beautiful finish, without any hemming required. How's that possible? You interface and seam your facing, all at the same time. This method ... Read more »
sewing tips
Understitching: a sewing secret weapon!
Ever get frustrated when your handmade clothes look great at first, but then your facing or lining is really hard to press back into submission after the wash? There's a simple secret weapon you might be missing: understitching! Understitching is a sewing technique that may sound intimidating if you've heard about it but never known what it was. Fear not, it's actually really easy to master! And let me tell you, it ... Read more »
How to match prints at a seam for perfect pattern matching
You know me, I love sewing with prints! It's a huge part of what I sew. And one of my favorite sewing skills is print matching, or pattern matching: matching the fabric print across a seam. Often for me, I'm doing this on a center back seam (and usually with a zipper). In my latest YouTube video, I'm showing you how easy it is to do. This bit of sewing magic is closer to your fingertips than you may think! You ... Read more »
A walking foot for sewing garments is a game changer!
Let's talk about one of my absolute favorite presser feet: the walking foot! One of the things that's been an interesting discovery for me since I started doing video content in January, is that not everyone knows how absolutely amazing this presser foot is, and that it can be your new best friend for sewing garments. Quilters know about it and use it, but why not more dressmakers?? Ever sewed a seam when the top ... Read more »
The benefits of keeping a sewing journal
It's no secret that I love to sew. A LOT. And sewing is a constant journey of learning. One of the most important things I've learned is that keeping a sewing journal is a total game-changer! It's basically just a big ol' notebook to keep track of projects. I record things like the pattern I used, include a little swatch of the fabric, and any other details I deem important at the time of writing about the project. ... Read more »
Sewing tutorial: all-in-one facing for a center back zipper dress
I love sleeveless dresses, but I don't love sewing separate armhole and neckline facings. They are annoying and even with understitching and tacking them at seam lines, they love to try to flip out, and often require more pressing after laundering than you might want to bother with. And then they still want to flop to the outside when you get dressed. Annoying. For awhile, that was the main reason I preferred lining ... Read more »