September Sewing Frenzy Challenge
I’m annoyed with myself. I have so many things I want to sew. I buy the patterns. I buy the fabric. And then… I repair my husband’s cycling gloves and hem my son’s pants. And then, I buy more patterns…
Tips and Tricks
Best tips for finding time to sew
When I ask people what their biggest struggle with sewing is, a common answer is finding time to sew. We lead busy lives with lots of responsibilities, and then there’s the million and one distractions that can eat up our…
Do this when you’ve finished sewing for the day
When you love sewing, the thought of something going wrong with your sewing machine can strike terror in your heart (or is that a little dramatic!). But what if there was a simple ritual you could perform at the end…
Can you sew over pins?
I grew up watching my Mum sew, and she meticulously removed the pins as she sewed. In my home economics class in high school, my teacher told us that it was fine to sew over pins. My Mum was horrified…
Sewing machine bottom thread bunching? Do this!
You sit down at your sewing machine and start sewing. Hmm, something doesn’t sound quite right. You flip your fabric over and find this: A big mess under your fabric and your sewing machine bottom thread bunching. Aaaagh! So what…
Cut and Go: The Best Fabrics That Don’t Need Hemming
Have you ever sewn a garment to the point where you try it on and think, “Woohoo, I’m done. It looks great,” only to realize that you still have to hem it and finish off the details? Or have you…
What do you call someone who sews?
If you’re new to sewing, you might be wondering what to call yourself. Are you a seamstress, tailor, sewer or sewist? Or is there something else? What do you call someone who sews? The most common term for someone who…
How to keep track of which needle is in your sewing machine
If you’re like me, and you sew with different weights and types of fabric, it can be difficult to remember which needle you last used in your sewing machine. One of the things I love about sewing is there’s always something…
The BEST thread rack for your sewing room
Are you looking to get more organised in your craft room and need thread storage? I’ve looked at lots of options, and tried a few, but here is my all-time favourite thread rack with a special feature that I love!…
Sewing Tools: How to use pinking shears
Pinking shears are a handy tool to have in your sewing kit. Here’s what they are and when to use them. What are pinking shears? Pinking shears are scissors with a sawtooth blade, that creates a zigzag edge when cutting…
How to remove lint from a sewing machine
If you’ve been sewing for a while, it’s only a matter of time before you go to change the bobbin and discover lint and dust bunnies have been breeding like crazy in your sewing machine. The amount of lint, fluff…
Pressing tools to take your sewing to the next level
Pressing is an important part of sewing and is necessary to give your projects a professional finish. With the right pressing tools, you’ll be able to press seams with ease, remove pesky wrinkles from fabric, and make sure everything looks…
Sewing oilcloth: how-to, tips and tricks
What is Oilcloth? Oilcloth is a durable, washable, cloth-like material made from woven cotton. It derives its name from the use of linseed and soya oils in its preparation (linoleum). Oilcloth was originally made by treating canvas fabric with multiple…
How to change a sewing machine needle
Sewing machine needles need to be changed regularly and are a consumable item when sewing. It can be daunting when it’s your first time, but it becomes a quick and easy task after you’ve done it a few times. Here’s…
What is a free arm sewing machine (and when to use it!)
When purchasing a new sewing machine, there are lots of features to consider. One of those is whether to get a free arm sewing machine. Here’s everything you need to know about sewing machine free arms: What is the free…
Everything you needed to know about Fabric Nap
After you’ve been sewing a while, you might be tempted to explore different types of fabrics. One thing to consider is the direction or nap of a fabric. Here’s everything you need to know about fabric nap. What is nap…
Keep track of your fabric with free printable fabric stash labels
Is your fabric stash growing faster than you can sew? These fabric stash labels will help you keep track of your fabric. When I first started sewing (and building my fabric stash), my fabric collection consisted of quilting cotton, cotton…
How to tie a perfect bow every time (even with one-sided ribbon!)
Here’s a quick and easy method to tie a bow that works perfectly every time, even with one-sided ribbon! Great for adding some flair to your craft projects.
How to remove fold marks from fabric
That fold line on a bolt of quilting cotton can be so stubborn. You can press and steam to your heart’s content and that line will NOT go away. Today’s tip is all about how to remove fold marks from…
Serger Troubleshooting Guide: Quickly fix your serger woes
I love sewing with my serger. It’s fast and the finish looks so professional. But when things go wrong, it can be difficult to know where to start serger troubleshooting. Here’s what to check when things go wrong with your…
Fabric Marking Tools for perfect sewing!
After you’ve cut out your sewing patterns, the next step is to transfer the pattern markings. This is an important step in making sure your sewing project comes together perfectly. Let’s find out all about fabric marking tools! Quick tip:…
Sewing Clips vs Pins: which should I use (and when)?
While sewing pins have been around for hundreds of years, there’s a new kid on the block – sewing clips. With every change, there is a debate of whether out-school is best or is the new thing an improvement. Sewing…
14 Ideas for How to Get Your “Sew-Jo” Back
Do you go through periods where you just stop sewing? You love sewing and have a million projects you want to make, but just can’t bring yourself to sew anything. You look at your fabric stash and patterns, and nothing…
Spring Cleaning Your Sewing Room (or wherever you stash your supplies!)
Spring is here, and it’s time to start spring cleaning! Not your whole house though – that would be silly. Let’s just focus on the important thing – spring cleaning your sewing room! As you’re sorting and decluttering, don’t forget to…