This one tutorial gives you all the basics you need to create the first of what will surely be many zipper pouches. Learn how to cut a zipper to size, add end tabs, box the bottom corners, and insert a fully finished lining.
A true Sewing Survival Skill! The word fussy sounds negative. But in the world of sewing, a fussy cut is a beautiful thing.ย It means cutting in a way that precisely captures a specific section of fabric for a specific purpose.
Your project instructions call for two yards of 60" wide fabric, but the fabric you want to use is 45" wide. Hmmm... attempting to dredge up that old math lesson in proportions is probably not going to happen on the fly. Instead, print out our handy conversion chart for those times you don't have a
We love the look and functionality of zippers. But many of us are not crazy about installing them. To get good, you gotta jump in. Letโs start with a conventional zipper, where the fabric meets along the center of the zipper teeth.
These days, when young adults seem to be devoted nearly full-time to social media, it’s easy to think none of them could possibly be interested in something so archaic as sewing. But, while you weren’t looking, sewing became cool.
When you walk into a fabric store, you'll notice most fabric is wrapped around cardboard bolts that stand upright on shelves or racks. What you may not notice is that at the end each bolt is a label that provides important information about the fabric. If you want 100% cotton, read the label so you
If you want a flat, stable base, an inset base panel is the go-to option. Itโs easy, but you do need to carefully measure and mark, then sew each side independently during construction. Follow our steps to achieve an expert finish.
Picking out buttons is fun! Sewing on buttons, not quite so fun. The up-side of button sewing is that it’s relatively quick and easy, and by following our tutorial basics, yours will stay put stronger and longer.
Pleats are the origami of the sewing world. And although you don't usually need to fold one into the shape of a swan, there are a wide variety of pretty pleats that add distinct visual and textural embellishments for both home dรฉcor as well as garment sewing. Each type provides a different look based on
We explain the fundamentals of quilting, including the tools youโll need, cutting techniques, how to create blocks from basic shapes, piecing tips and techniques, and stitching. Enter at your own risk; quilting can be addictive.
It’s a little bit like the ancient art of origami. You start out with a flat square (or rectangle), and after a few folds, flips, and slices, you have perfect bias strips ready to become custom binding for your next project.
We worked with our friends at Coats to put together a handy overview that can help you understand not only the standard thread choices, but some of the specialty options as well.ย Itโs part science and part art.
How fabric is woven is important; fabric that is off-grain when youโre cutting can cause the completed project to stretch out of shape. Get a better understanding of how to identify fabric grain and tips on how to straighten it.
Outdoor jackets, yacht covers, baby clothes – the humble snap does it all. Theyโre easier to use than buttons and more durable than Velcroยฎ. Find out the best tools to use and tips to follow to make inserting snapsโฆ a snap!
A big part of sewing is knowing your fabric. A big part of knowing fabric is understanding how to care for it. Protect your project and fabric investment. Learn when to preshrink fabrics, what products to use, and more.
If you can imagine it, chances are you can appliquรฉ it! With appliquรฉ, you’re free to incorporate almost any kind of graphic into your project. Learn our favorite tips and techniques for finding designs, cutting, applying, and stitching.
There are two major curves you encounter in sewing: inward or concave and outward or convex. Learn the keys to a smooth result with both: an accurate seam allowance, proper clipping, and careful pressing.
Buttonholes. For many of us, beads of sweat start to form at the mention of the word. “Am I about to ruin everything by botching the buttonholes?” Nope! Theyโre really not hard once you break it down into individual steps.
We've made it to the finish of our seam finishes! In this final installment of the series, we venture into the world of the Hong Kong Finish and the Bound Seam finish. If you're not a 'finishing aficionado' (don't feel bad... few people claim that title), you may have been under the impression these techniques
We are not yet finished with our series of finishes! If you've been following along, you know we are working through the ways to make the inside of your projects look as great as the outside. Today, we're moving into a couple more unique options: the mock (or false) French seam and the French wrapped
A number of years ago, we had a French intern working with us... the daughter of a friend of a friend - you know how those things go. She was a sweet girl with a lovely accent, and we had fun asking her for the translation of things we tag as "French": a French braid
In sewing, there's a difference between stitches you use for construction and ones you use for finishing. When youโre first learning to sew, your immediate focus is getting all those pieces to fit together correctly. From the moment you cut the fabric, youโre concerned with maintaining the shape of the pattern pieces. You tediously concentrate
Learn to pipe like a pro. From types of cording to determining length and yardage to making the bias strips to finishing the ends. You can certainly buy packaged piping, but making your own means you pick the perfect size and fabric.
A knife pleat sounds dangerous, but it is actually one of the easiest and, we think, prettiest members of the pleat family. In a knife pleat, the folds are pressed to one side in the same direction, which is why they are also sometimes called side pleats. More than likely, you've seen knife pleats on
We use binding on lots of projects and we get lots of compliments about how nice it looks. We also get lots of questions about how we managed to pull that off! This tutorial summarizes the binding basics you need to know.
Ah, sheer fabrics. There's nothing quite like them for a light, airy look โ simplicity with elegance. But many folks avoid using them because you can't sew with them quite as easily as you can regular fabric. True, it takes some care and patience, but there's really no reason to fear the sheer. You just
At Sew4Home, we do everything possible using a sewing machine. It's so much faster. However, there are times when hand sewing is necessary. Instead of searching the junk drawer for that needle you thought you saw awhile ago when hunting for the tape, stock up on these five basic types of hand-sewing needles. Hand sewing