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 »
tutorials
How to insert a lapped zipper for skirts & pants
I've got a great sewing tutorial for you today! The first of several in a series, in fact. I know! Watch the video to learn my favorite method to insert a lapped zipper, for skirts and pants with a waistband. I've often been asked to do a tutorial for lapped zippers. They feature prominently in many of my handmade garments. In fact, I haven't done an invisible zipper in over a decade! Around the time I learned how ... 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 »
Quick felt sewing machine ornament: FREE template & tutorial
I've got such a fun tutorial for you today! I adore making vintage-inspired felt ornaments, and this year I designed a sewing machine ornament. I made the template free to download, and on YouTube you can watch my full tutorial on how to make this cute ornament! Get the corresponding template for this Christmas craft here. And hey, does the dress look familiar? It should! It's my flannel snowglobes dress that I ... Read more »
Bias tape armhole facings tutorial & a summer blouse
Do you love gingham? I loove gingham. Apparently, I love gingham so much, that between my two latest YouTube videos, where I show you my favorite tricks for achieving perfectly smooth bias tape facings around armholes, and then sew up the example blouse from the tutorial, I end up showing 4 different gingham summer tops I've made. I really had no idea until making of those videos that I sewed it that much! If you'd ... 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 »