Buttons differ in design, material, and uses. There are 5 main designs: 2 and 4-hole flat buttons, shank buttons, stud buttons, and toggles. These are available in a wide variety of materials including wood, metal, pearl, horn, plastic, etc. In this article, I’ll walk you through the most popular types of buttons so you can … Read more
Contents list: Thread Supplies Preparation Rectangle buttonhole Round end buttonhole Keyhole buttonhole Troubleshooting Hand sewn vs machine sewn buttonholes What thread do you use for hand sewing buttonholes? Traditionally, silk buttonhole twist thread (for example [1], [2], or [3]) is used for hand working buttonholes. It’s a thicker silk thread that’s very strong, and it … Read more
If you’re new to making bags and zipper pouches, you’ll need to learn how to make 3D shapes by “boxing” the corners. Here are 2 ways to sew neat boxed corners, 3 ways to finish the raw edges if your bag is unlined, and how to calculate the corner sizes. This guide includes step-by-step video … Read more
Here’s how to hand sew the strongest seams using a backstitch (full and half versions). I’ve included beginner-friendly instructions for the whole process: getting your supplies, preparation work, the sewing process, and how to finish your seam and secure it in two ways. Contents list: What’s the best hand stitch for seams? What supplies you … Read more
Sewing for the dogs in your life can be super fun! I looked all over the Internet and found 30 great sewing patterns for clothes and accessories for dogs of all shapes and sizes. There are even 11 free downloads included! In this article, I’ll cover all sorts of garments from t-shirts and jackets to … Read more
Sewing corners is a skill you’ll use all the time. I’ve described how to sew the most common types of corners (outward right angles, inward corners, sharp corners, and collars). Plus 9 tips for getting sharp points. Hint: my favorite method for getting sharp corners is tip no. 5 (pull the corner out using a … Read more
What is a seam? And what’s a seam finish? A “seam” is formed whenever you join two pieces of fabric together. The raw edges of fabric need to be treated in some way so they don’t fray and come undone. “Seam finishes” are different ways to finish the raw edges, make them more durable, and … Read more
Have you seen an instruction to “gather fabric” recently but have no idea how to do it? Here are step-by-step tutorials with pictures for different methods of gathering. Plus guidance on how to choose the right method for your project. For most projects, the machine basting and u-turn basting methods with 2 rows of stitching … Read more
The best needles for hand sewing: “Sharps” are sharp, medium-length needles that are suitable for most hand sewing tasks. If you can only get one type of needle I recommend getting a variety pack of Sharps. If you want to build a small collection of needles, get some Ballpoint needles for working with knits, some … Read more
In sewing, we do a lot of measuring! Measuring bodies, pattern pieces, fabric, and more. So you’ll need the right tools for the job. If you’re new to sewing, the only measuring tools you need are a flexible 60″ (150cm) tape measure, a 6″ seam/sewing gauge, and a 12″ (30cm) straight ruler that’s ideally clear. … Read more