If only there were a tool that did the opposite of scissors... a handy tool that would uncut fabric after a mistake. How great would that be! Until this future sewing essential is on the market, a simple checklist will have to do.
Decorative Stitches - Sewing Outside The Lines
Stitching a nice straight seam is important, but sometimes you want to break out of the box. For you, there is the liberation of decorative stitches. Imagine it; you just push the foot control and out come swirls, leaves or diamonds in a row. I love to break them out for cool accents on pillow fronts and linens, but they also have their practical uses, like hiding seams or mistakes.
Mistakes Happen: How to Rip Out a Seam
Anyone who sews knows that some seams just weren't meant to be. If it isn't right, STOP! Reach for your seam ripper and follow these easy step-by-step seam ripping instructions.
Bed Pillow Size Standards
Benjamin Franklin said "fatigue is the best pillow." Maybe so, but I prefer a standard size, medium loft down pillow.
Standard Bed Sizes: What to Remember
Even the hyper-sensitive princess in Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea, would be comfortable on today's extra-thick thick pillow top mattresses. Mattress technology has come a long way in the last 20 years and "standard" sizes don't mean as much as they did. If you're planning a bed linen project, the best advice is to measure your mattress to be certain your finished project will actually fit your bed.
Sewing a Basic Seam
You may feel like there are a million things to remember when you're sewing. Fortunately, everything is based on one simple task: joining two pieces of fabric with a basic seam. Once you have that down, you're ready to do anything. You'll be chewing gum and sewing in no time.
Selecting Machine Stitch Length
Adjusting the stitch length isn't necessary for every project, but as you learn to work with different types of fabrics and understand the special needs of some, this guide will come in handy. A little length goes a long way.
How to Make a Blind Hem Stitch
A blind hem is exactly what it sounds like: a hem with stitches you barely notice. It's perfect for window coverings or anywhere you want a clean finished edge. When I first started sewing, attaining a perfect blind hem was like finding the Holy Grail. And then a funny thing happened, I practiced it a few times, and realized it was really easy. It's sort of like learning to use chopsticks – at first it seems so awkward and difficult and then, suddenly, it's second nature. Try a blind hem and you'll never drop a wad of sticky rice in your lap again.
Basic Machine Stitches
So you’re ready to start sewing, and you're feeling pretty darn proud of yourself. Until you pull out your machine and notice a bunch of funny looking symbols printed along the top. Secret hieroglyphic messages from a lost race of master seamstresses? Unfortunately not. These are pictures of the stitches included on the machine. We’ll help you figure out what each of them means, and more importantly, when you should use them.
Quick Tip: Test Your Stitch Before You Sew
I'm always eager to get started with my sewing project, so test stitching feels like a roadblock to me. With experience, I've learned that ripping out a bad seam is an even greater roadblock to finishing my project. Now I test about 80% of the time. It's the 80-20 rule, right. Here's how I decide...
