Sewing Tips

Fabric Shopping: Tokyo, Japan
Explore our shopping experiences and tips from Tokyo’s famous Nippori Fabric Street — discover must-visit fabric stores, hidden gems, and personal recommendations for sewing and textile lovers. Read more...
Sewing Girls Boyshorts - Free Pattern and Tutorial Sewing Tutorial
Learn how to make your own girls' boyshorts in this free sewing tutorial. It's a great way to use scrap knit fabrics as this project only requires very little yardage. Free PDF sewing pattern for the boyshorts can be found at our PDF Sewing Patterns page.   Read more...
Drafting Circle Skirt
Learn how to draft various styles of circle skirts — from quarter and half circles to full, three-quarter, and asymmetrical designs — with simple formulas, illustrations, and tips for hemming, waist fitting, and fabric layout Read more...
Sewing Tutorial: Making Pleats for Shirts
Step-by-step tutorial on how to draft and sew common pleats for shirts — including centre back box pleats and knife pleats — with clear instructions and illustrations to guide marking, folding, pinning, and stitching. Read more...
Fabric Shopping: Hoi An, Vietnam
An honest, first-hand account of fabric and tailoring shopping in Hoi An, Vietnam: what worked, what didn’t, and what surprises await.  We share our picks and highlights pitfalls like mislabelled silk and pushy vendors at the market, our evaluation on tailors on stitching, fit, and finishing, as well as tips for getting good value without compromising quality. Read more...
Fabric Shopping: Taipei
A first-hand guide to fabric shopping in Taipei, with a focus on Yong Le Fabric Market — what to expect, how to get there, and which stalls carry cottons, linens, knits, lace, and prints. Highlights include affordable finds like Japanese imports, laminated cottons, satin and lace, plus tips on store hours, fabric prices, and where to grab books or refreshments nearby. Read more...
Fabric Shopping: Chiang Mai, Thailand
A post sharing the fabric shopping experience at Warorot Market in Chiang Mai, Thailand as well as the craft and textile-related experience at the various places in Chiang Mai including the Sankampaeng Handicraft Village, Thai Silk Village, Sa Paper & Umbrella Handicraft Center and Chiangmai Celadon. Read more...
PLEATS PLEASE!
This post introduces both the theory and practice of drafting pleats, beginning with definitions of pleats (knife, box, inverted), their components (overlay and underlay), depth, fabric considerations, and how to estimate yardage for pleated skirts. Next, we will walk through drafting a pleated skirt: laying out a rectangle block (commonly 3× the waist), choosing pleat count and width, adjusting for waist curve and hip fit, and optimizing fabric layout while preserving graceful drape. Read more...
Bunka Style Basic Blocks - Missy Block
The post introduces a simplified “Missy” version of the Bunka bodice block, which omits darts for a quicker, easier drafting process while producing a looser-fit blouse. You can learn how to draft your own Missy block with your own measurements in our multi-part video tutorials. The post also shows how to draft a compatible sleeve block. Read more...
Drafting Bunka Bodice Block (Original)
This post explains how to draft a Bunka style basic bodice block using just three body measurements (bust, waist, and center back length), following the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) method. It discusses the use of multiple darts (including back and front, centre back, etc.), highlights the precision and flexibility of the Bunka system, and suggests fitting with a toile to adjust for body variances. Read more...
Seam Finishes
This post discusses various methods to neatly finish seams—especially in woven fabrics that fray—offering both simple and more professional techniques. It outlines options from pinked edges, zigzag/overcast stitching, flat-felled seams, French seams, to binding, noting pros, use-cases, and tips for clean execution. Read more...
Tips to using your serger (Part 2)
This post continues the serger‐care tutorial by covering key settings and maintenance: tension adjustment, stitch width and length, proper pressing of serged seams, and cleaning and oiling the machine. Read more...