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…
Sewing Glossary–Z is for zipper (U-Z)
Underlining: A lining used to give body to the garment. Understitching: A method to keep the lining or facing from rolling to the outside of the garment. Press the seam allowance and facing away from the garment and then sew…
Sewing Glossary–T is for thread
Tack: A removable stitch which holds sections together until they can be permanently sewn. Tailor’s tack: Tailor’s tacks are used to mark pattern pieces. Thread your needle and double the thread. Draw the thread through all layers of the fabric…
Sewing Glossary–S is for seam (part II)
Sloper: A fitting pattern usually made of muslin or gingham. Slopers are adjusted to fit your figure and then the adjustments are transferred to the paper pattern. Spool: Round cylinder on which thread is sold. Spools were once always wooden,…
Sewing Glossary–S is for seam (part I)
Satin stitch: A satin stitch is a tightly packed hand embroidery stitch or a short machine zig zag stitch. If your zig zag machine does not have a special satin stitch, simply set the stitch length to nearly 0. Seam:…
Sewing Glossary–R is for rotary cutter
Raw edge: A raw edge of fabric is not finished or stitched. Reinforce: Seams which receive a lot of stretching or tugging need to be reinforced. Examples are crotch seams and under arm seams. Seams can be reinforced simply by…
Sewing Glossary–Q is for Quilt
Quilt: A quilt is two layers of fabric with a layer of batting or other insulation sandwiched in between. To quilt means to sew these three layers to together, usually with stitching which forms a pattern. Quilting may be done…
Sewing Glossary–P is for pattern (part III)
Press: Learning to press correctly is a valuable skill for a sewer. You will press several pieces as you construct your project. Seam allowances should always be pressed flat and then open before being crossed with another seam. To press…
Sewing Glossary–P is for pattern (part II)
Pivot: To turn a corner or curve without interrupting the seam, leave the machine needle at the corner point or about mid-way along the length of the curve. Lift the presser foot and turn the fabric in the direction you…
Sewing Glossary–P is for pattern (part I)
Pattern: The design on a fabric or the paper templates (cutting guides) used to cut out the fabric so that it can be made into a finished product. Pattern weights: Special, small weights used to hold the pattern onto the…