What Is A Three Step Zig-Zag Stitch And How To Use It?
A three step zig-zag stitch also referred to as a multi step zig-zag stitch, 3-step zig-zag stitch or triple zig-zag stitch is a type of stitch that uses three smaller stitches in one diagonal line (see the image below). Just like the simple zig-zag stitch it is built in all sewing machines, even the veryContinue reading “What Is A Three Step Zig-Zag Stitch And How To Use It?”
What Is A Zig-Zag Stitch And How To Use It?
A zig-zag stitch is a basic stitch built in all sewing machines. It creates diagonal stitches while sewing (see the image below). It is versatile and can be used for various purposes such as finishing raw edges of fabric, decorative purposes, fixing trims, etc. In this tutorial, you will learn: How to finish raw edgesContinue reading “What Is A Zig-Zag Stitch And How To Use It?”
What Is A Hand Overcast Stitch And How To Sew It?
A hand overcast stitch (also referred to as a whip stitch) is a diagonal type of stitch used to finish raw edges of fabric in order to prevent fabric from fraying. It is a soft and flat seam finish, which is also really time consuming to sew. Use this technique if you do not haveContinue reading “What Is A Hand Overcast Stitch And How To Sew It?”
What Is A Circle Skirt And What Are Its Variations?
There are many types of circle skirts depending on the fracture of a circle the skirt is made of. If you wish to sew a skirt that will have a light flounce, pick a quarter circle skirt. If you wish to make a skirt, that will spin in the air charmingly, go for a circleContinue reading “What Is A Circle Skirt And What Are Its Variations?”
What Are Flounces And How To Create Them?
In this blog post, I’m going to describe what flounces are, how they are used and how to create them. In this blog post you will learn about: What are flounces Most common use of flounces What is a flounce ratio How to calculate quarter circle flounces How to calculate half circle flounces How toContinue reading “What Are Flounces And How To Create Them?”
Faux Chenille Christmas Pillowcase
Faux chenille is a fabric manipulation technique I really love as its application is so universal. With Christmas around the corner, perhaps you wish to make a special gift for someone and this contribution may be the right inspiration for you. In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a red and whiteContinue reading “Faux Chenille Christmas Pillowcase”
How To Pin Fabric?
Pinning might look easy and straightforward. Yet, there are multiple methods of pinning the fabric and, depending on what you do, one may prove a better choice for some reason. Are you asking why? Let me touch on this in my today’s contribution. Pin with classic pins along seam allowance I use this type ofContinue reading “How To Pin Fabric?”
Why Use A Half-Size Tailors Dummy?
The first time I saw a small size tailor’s dummy was in the series Pattern Magic by Tomiko Nakamichi. The designs in this book are amazing and for me the small tailor’s dummy was equally interesting. I bought one woman’s half-size dummy for fashion design and consider it my best investment. Why? Saves space inContinue reading “Why Use A Half-Size Tailors Dummy?”
How to Fold A Star Out Of Paper?
After exploring different possibilities of pleating, I finally started to create my own pleating designs. One of them is a folded star. I am probably going to create a few and use them as part of my Christmas postcards. In this blog post, I’m going to describe how to pleat paper and make a star.Continue reading “How to Fold A Star Out Of Paper?”
What Is The Difference Between Fabric And Material?
Before I started sewing, I could not understand how it is possible to buy cotton satin or even stretch cotton satin. I always thought something like “Satin is a fabric made of silk, which makes it smooth and shiny”. This blog post is for those who struggle with the same issue as I did. IContinue reading “What Is The Difference Between Fabric And Material?”
What Are Pinking Shears And How To Use Them?
Pinking shears are special shears with zig-zag shaped blades. Their purpose is to create decorative seam finishes or hems of non-woven fabric (see the images below). This tutorial will answer these questions: How to cut with pinking shears? Can I use pinking shears to cut woven fabric? How to finish edges of woven fabric withContinue reading “What Are Pinking Shears And How To Use Them?”
How To Pleat Fabric? Part 4 – Advanced Permanent Pleats
In my previous blog posts, I describe how to hand pleat fabric at home by applying heat in order to create permanent accordion pleats or permanent knife pleats. This time I am showing how to create a more advanced accordion type of pleat. For demonstration purposes, I’ll be working with a piece of fabric thatContinue reading “How To Pleat Fabric? Part 4 – Advanced Permanent Pleats”
How To Prepare Fabric For Sewing?
Once a friend of mine told me: “I have just sewn an amazing wool skirt with a concealed zipper. But after I washed it, the area around the zipper got distorted and it looks awful now. I just don’t understand what happened.” One of the main reasons may be the absence of fabric treatment beforeContinue reading “How To Prepare Fabric For Sewing?”
What Are Gathers And How To Gather Fabric Easily?
I have tried various methods of gathering fabric and again and again I was either unhappy with the outcome or struggled with broken threads. Nevertheless, after many experiments the “yes, this is it” moment came and it hasn’t failed me since. No wonder that it has quickly become my favourite way of cloth gathering. InContinue reading “What Are Gathers And How To Gather Fabric Easily?”
Book Review: Make Your Own Dress Patterns by Adele P. Margolis
Dover Publications, 2006 “Anyone who can work through the labyrinthian directions for sewing that company the commercial pattern can surely learn the comparatively simple and clear rules for pattern making” says Adele Margolis, author of the book in question. This book was first published back in 1985 and the 2006 release is it’s unabridged republication.Continue reading “Book Review: Make Your Own Dress Patterns by Adele P. Margolis”
How To Sew Faster And Easier With These Tools?
When I started sewing, everything took me far too long. Yet, over time I have gained more skills and also collected a few tools that really simplify my work and make sewing much easier and faster. In this blog post, I will share with you my favourite tools I use most frequently and that IContinue reading “How To Sew Faster And Easier With These Tools?”
How To Pleat Fabric? Part 3 – Permanently Pleated Fabric Samples
After reading book Paul Jackson’s book and refining the technique for hand pleating fabric at home with heat, I have decided to hand pleat different 100% polyester fabrics at home. Tulle, chiffon, crinkle chiffon, georgette, crystal organza, mirror organza, satin, crêpe satin, micro satin and duchesse satin. For each fabric I made a pleated sampleContinue reading “How To Pleat Fabric? Part 3 – Permanently Pleated Fabric Samples”
How To Pleat Fabric? Part 2 – Permanent Knife Pleats
In my very first blog post about pleating fabric, I have described how to pleat an accordion type of pleats. In this post, I will show you how to permanently pleat another common type of pleats – knife pleats. These, unlike the accordion pleats lie flat (see the images below). What tools will you needContinue reading “How To Pleat Fabric? Part 2 – Permanent Knife Pleats”
How To Practise Sewing Straight Seams?
How do I sew straight seams? How do I sew curved seams? These are the most common questions, and often a nightmare, of every sewing beginner. I was asking myself the same question. The most common advice is to practise, practise, and practise. All right, but how? Well, with just a few sheets of paper.Continue reading “How To Practise Sewing Straight Seams?”
How To Pleat Fabric? Part 1 – Permanent Accordion Pleats
After I have read PauI Jackson’s book about pleating, I felt really inspired to start hand pleating different materials. How to hand pleat fabric at home is touched on in the publication fairly briefly and the lack of detail has led me to trying out my own ideas and resulted in slightly refined methods comparedContinue reading “How To Pleat Fabric? Part 1 – Permanent Accordion Pleats”
Book Review: Complete Pleats, Pleating techniques for fashion, architecture and design by Paul Jackson
Laurence King Publishing, 2015 This is one of my favourite books and I consider it as the most important publication for someone who desires to create their own pleating designs. Complete Pleats offers plenty of schemes, well written step-by-step folding instructions and photos of folded paper. There are also a few images of how pleatsContinue reading “Book Review: Complete Pleats, Pleating techniques for fashion, architecture and design by Paul Jackson”
How To Make Fabric Flowers – Faux Chenille Style
Having finished my first dress with a heart applique followed by a tunic with a butterfly, I intended to make another dress for my second daughter and decided to further experiment with the faux-chenille style I came across in Ann Small’s book. While experimenting with fabric cutting, it occurred to me that creating small flowersContinue reading “How To Make Fabric Flowers – Faux Chenille Style”
Pattern Making for Kids’ Clothes by Carla Hegeman Crim
Barron’s 2014 I bought this publication as I was looking for a book about fashion design for kids. The book promises information about designing, adapting and customising patterns. In this particular case the term designing means creating various designs based on basic slopers for kids’ wear provided by the author. There are QR codes forContinue reading “Pattern Making for Kids’ Clothes by Carla Hegeman Crim”
How To Make A Butterfly Applique?
Having finished my first dress with faux-chenille like appliques, I created another one utilising a slightly different technique of fabric manipulation. Instead of cutting out the heart shape from selected fabrics, used on my first dress, I cut stripes of stacked fabrics on the bias and sew them in the desired shape. In this tutorialContinue reading “How To Make A Butterfly Applique?”
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