Sewing Tips

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...
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...
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...
Tips to using your serger (Part 1): Differential feeds, thread tails and unpicking
This post offers essential guidance for serger users, focusing on differential feed adjustments, managing thread tails, and techniques for unpicking serged seams. It provides practical advice, such as increasing the differential feed to prevent stretching in knits and using a tapestry needle to secure thread tails, ensuring clean and professional finishes. Read more...
All about Pockets: Pleat Pockets
We delve into creating pleated patch pockets, commonly used in uniforms and men's shirts, and adaptable for children's and women's clothing. This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions for crafting both box pleat and inverted pleat pockets, including marking, folding, sewing, and finishing techniques, with visual aids to guide the process. Read more...
All about Pockets: Simple Patch Pocket
Introducing the concept of patch pockets, which are sewn onto the exterior of garments and can be customized in various shapes and sizes. It provides practical tips for creating durable and attractive pockets, such as using a cardboard template for consistent shaping and reinforcing top corners with techniques like backstitching or adding triangles. Read more...