Have you ever been sitting at the sewing machine and become aware that you seem to be lifting and lowering the presser foot more than you are actually sewing? The exact details about the first time this happened to me are a little fuzzy, but I know it happened when I was working on machine ... [ Read More ]
Memory Items: Sewing Unique and Personalized Projects
Clothing is a part of everyday life. Many times we gravitate toward a particular article of clothing or type of fabric. As a result, friends and family members may connect us to that certain fabric or garment. With sewing skills, you now have the ability to create unique memory items from ... [ Read More ]
DIY Face Masks – Do They Work and Should You Make Them?
Update: May 4, 2020 - As the benefits of face masks become clearer, find out how you can have fun with handmade face masks. Note: Past updates to this post are noted toward the bottom right before the tutorials. If you've been reading and hearing about the face mask shortages and want to know ... [ Read More ]
Hand Sewing for Beginners
Sometimes hand sewing is better for a project than machine sewing. There are several reasons for this including, but not limited to, your machine can't do a certain stitch or it's impossible to get the fabric under the needle for the particular task you want to do. Regardless of the reason, ... [ Read More ]
How to Finish a Stitch in Hand Sewing
Have you been doing some hand sewing and aren't 100% sure how to finish a stitch as you near the end of the thread? If so, you're in the right place! You'll learn multiple ways to securely tie off a thread in hand sewing. In addition, I'll show you two ways to make sure your finishing knots ... [ Read More ]
How to Whip Stitch by Hand
When an invisible stitch (like the ladder or blind stitch) isn't critical, the whip stitch could be the hand stitch you want to use. The whip stitch is a visible stitch that can be used to hold 2 edges together (finished edges or raw) or hold a raw or flat edge against a flat surface. I've ... [ Read More ]
How to Sew the Blind Stitch by Hand
Do you need an invisible stitch, but the ladder stitch just won't work? Chances are the blind stitch (also called the slip stitch) will get the job done. In the quilting world, this barely-there stitch is called the blind stitch. It's often used in applique, attaching bindings to the back of ... [ Read More ]
How to Do a Running Stitch
The running stitch is a straight stitch that can be worked in both straight and curved lines. Believe it or not, it can be both practical and decorative. It's one of the basic hand-sewing stitches you want in your sewing skills toolkit. Gathering, tucking, mending, and fine sewing are some of ... [ Read More ]