The International Quilt Festival
The International Quilt Festival will be held in Houston, Texas November 1-4. This a wonderful opportunity to see quilts from around the world. The four day annual event is one of the world’s largest quilt shows. There is still time…
A Few Tips to Improve Your Sewing
Whether you are just beginning to learn to sew or have been sewing for many years, you want your work to be the best possible. Here are some tips to improve your sewing skills, regardless of what level of skill…
Book Review—Singer Complete Photo Guide to Sewing
The Singer Complete Photo Guide to Sewing by the editors of Creative Publishing is one my favorite guides to recommend for beginning sewers. The revised and expanded edition is so complete! It features 1200 full color step-by-step photos, so it…
Refine Your Sewing Skills
No matter how long you have better practicing a craft there is always room for grow and improvement. Why not take advantage of your free time to brush up on your sewing skills? Sewing gives you freedom to create. There…
Learn to Sew–Making Pleats
Does making pleats strike you as difficult or time-consuming? While it does take a little extra time to add pleats to a garment, pleats are actually easy to make. The key to perfect pleats is precise marking and folding. Ready-made…
Types of Pleats
Pleats are folds in the fabric which add interest and style to a garment or project. In some cases, pleats add ease of wear to the garment, as well. There are several different kinds of pleats. Knife pleats are the…
Books for Beginning Sewers
If you want to encourage someone to learn to sew, a book can be a nice starting place. These books are fabulous for beginning sewers: Stitch by Stitch: Learn to Sew One Project at a Time by Deborah Moebes. This…
Sewing Tools–the Awl
Most people think of awls as strictly a woodworking tool, but they can be useful in sewing. An awl can be used to press thick fabric down so that it goes smoothly under the presser foot. Place the awl in…
Learning to Sew–Using Beeswax
Hand sewing can sometimes be difficult if you don’t know the tricks of trade. Heavy fabrics can make it hard to pull the thread through the fabric. Thread sometimes tangles and knots making sewing unpleasant and time consuming. A trick…
Book Review: S.E.W.—Sew Everything Workshop
If you want a book that teaches you to sew in a clear, fun manner, I definitely recommended S.E.W.—Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp. Included is a section on selecting a sewing machine and a chapter on learning about your…