Roman has a blankie that is his best friend. When he was first given it, I cut it into two so that I can wash one while he has the other or not stress if we leave one somewhere. A pair of these snuggle blankets makes a wonderful baby shower or newborn gift. Babies are popping out everywhere around here, so I've been sewing a few of these up. They are quick and simple to make ...
Tutorials
20 Tips for Writing Good Quality PDF Patterns
I love that there are so many indie pattern designers around these days. Modern day sewists are really spoiled for choice! You can find patterns and tutorials to suit any taste to make almost anything you want. A lot of bloggers who like to sew are turning to designing patterns as a way to explore their creativity and earn a little income from what they love to do. It's ...
Sewing 101: Adding Trim to a Seam Without Pins – Tutorial
Trims are often forgotten about, but are a great way to add some interest to a seam or to break up two fabrics. In this tutorial, I'm adding ric rac (rick-rack) to my seam, but the same method can be used to add pom pom trim, braiding, or lace to your seams. Piping is also a great trim to use, but I find it needs a bit more effort to add. You can see my tutorial for piping ...
Sewing 101: Bound Hem – Tutorial
This is a simple hem finish that has a few benefits. It is a great option for bulky fabrics as it reduces the seam bulk. It is also my go-to when I need to keep as much length as possible. This makes it great for pants and skirts that you would like a little longer. It also adds a pop of colour to the inside of your garment which is always nice. The amount of bias tape you ...
Flatlocking with your Serger – Tutorial
Flatlocking is a great technique to learn on your serger/overlocker and you don’t need any special accessories to do it. The resulting seam lies flat so it is a great option for clothing for kids who find a lot of their seams itchy. Flatlocking works on both woven and stretch fabrics, but because the raw edge is somewhat exposed inside the stitches, fabrics that fray a lot ...
Hemming with a Double (Twin) Needle – Tutorial
I use a double needle to hem most of the knits I sew. I love the finish... it looks so professional and just like ready-to-wear clothing. The bobbin thread zigzags between the two needles, giving the hem a bit of stretch, which is just what you want with knits. Using a twin needle is not as scary as it may seem. You can use one on most modern machines and I'm going to show you ...
Handmade Gifts for Men: Shoe Travel Bag
Hubby travels a bit and often takes runners into work to go for a jog at lunch time. The shoes usually end up sandy and sometimes muddy (where is he running??) so I made him up a waterproof shoe bag to store the shoes in. The bag is a simple drawstring bag made using waterproof fabrics. I used black PUL for the top part of the bag and Echino Laminated Cotton for the bottom ...
Handmade Gifts for Baby Boys: Reversible Bib
Adding to my Gifts for Baby Boys round up, I've got a pattern and tutorial for a reversible baby bib. I think bibs make such a great gift because they are just so handy! Bibs get used for a lot of cleanups around here and I've always got several on hand. Making the bib reversible means you get to buy two yummy fabrics to show off on your bib! Yay for fabric shopping! You can ...
Making and Adding Piping to a Seam – Tutorial
Piping is so hot right now, and with good reason! It's a great way to add a pop of colour to an item and it gives a professional touch. But it's not as scary as it looks. I'm going to show you how to make it and add it to any seam! Straight, curved, corners...you name it, you can pipe it! I'll also show you the quick way and the invisible way to finish off the joins. Pick which ...
The Flat Felled Bound Seam – Tutorial
This is such a pretty seam finish! It's a great way to add a pop of colour to an otherwise plain seam. This technique works great on the side seams of skirts and pants...think Tuxedo pants! I also like it on the sides of bags and pouches. You can make your own single fold bias binding for this project or use bought bias tape. If you buy double fold tape, you will need to ...
The Big T Nursing Top
Selfish Sewing Week starts today and I've already got something to show you. I did kinda cheat and make it early, but that's ok...right?! Selfish Sewing Week is being organised by Rachael from Imagine Gnats and Jill from Made with Moxie. What a great idea! I think most of us sew a lot more for our kids than ourselves. Fashion and breastfeeding don't really go that well ...
Turned Lapped Seam – Tutorial
The Turned Lapped Seam is very clever and offers a lot of great features. It's very strong, as the seam is sewn three times. The raw seam allowances are hidden inside, unlike the Lapped Seam, so it can be used on all kinds of fabrics. The seam gives a neat finish which is identical on both sides so it is perfect for reversible garments. You can also layer two fabrics together ...
