Velcro is often used as a fastening for clothing, but there are many other options available that can be used if velcro is not your thing. I know that when I’ve recieved something with velcro as a fastener, I quickly look for a something that I can replace it with. Mostly because the loop tape ends up catching on other garments and ruining them, so …
Making clothes is something that fills me with joy. Whether I’m designing and making my own using self drafted patterns, or sewing something up using another pattern designer’s pattern, knowing how to make clothes is one of the most rewarding skills that I know of. In this article I’m going to cover the various reasons …
I was recently asked by one of my male readers if I could recommend a male dress form. And I had to think about it for a while. The sewing community is largely made up of those who identify as women, which means that dress form companies often create new models for them. And men …
The more you sew your own clothes, the more sewing patterns you will end up with, but what is the best solution for all those PDF sewing patterns that you’ve printed out over the years? What about all the patterns that you’ve purchased in physical form too? With the envelope and accompanying instruction booklet? And …
Every year I mean to write an article about spring sewing projects and every year I forget until it’s too late. Not this year! I’m currently sewing up a storm so that I have some summer clothing to wear and I’m sharing the different sewing patterns that I’m using as well as details on the …
One of my readers recently told me about The Gentleman’s Wardrobe and suggested it might be a good one to add to my article covering the best books with sewing patterns. As pointed out, that list did not cover any books for menswear, and it is well known that menswear patterns are trickier to find …
Today we’re looking at what stitch in the ditch is, and how to do it, because it’s a great technique to use when sewing your own clothing. As well as being used for garment sewing, stitching in the ditch is also used for quilting, whether machine quilting or hand quilting. What Is Stitch In The …
When it comes to sewing machine maintenance, knowing how to clean and oil your sewing machine is something everyone who owns a sewing machine should know. That’s not to say you shoud never be taking your sewing machine to be serviced, but maintaiing the health of your machine at home will mean less damage to …
I recently made a DIY corset top for my Drape & Contour for Beginners course, which teaches beginners new to draping how to drape a bodice block, skirt block and corset style top. I show the process of designing the DIY corset top using a larger sized adjustable dress form and in May this year …
Leather is a natural product being a type of material (not a fabric type) that is made from the hide of animals. As it is a natural product, you’ll find that it will vary in both color and texture from one animal hide to another. Leather is also susceptible to damage, especially from sunlight and …
If you’ve ever worn an item with stretch factor in the fabric, chances are that you’ve worn elastane. But what is elastane and how does it differ from other stretch materials like spandex and lycra? And is elastane toxic to wear or perhaps sustainable? That’s what this article is about! What Is Elastane? Elastane is …
Have you ever wondered how many different types of socks there are? Or when the first sock was created? For such an integral part of our clothing, the humble sock is often overlooked. Which is why today I’m going to share with you a history of the sock, as well as a variety of socks …
Today I’m going to show you how to draft a sailor collar pattern, which is a collar type inspired by the uniforms worn by sailors. Who’d have thought it? This collar style is classified as a non-convertible collar type – you can learn more about collar types here! – and is an easy enough collar …
I’ve got a lot of fabulous sewing tutorials on the website which will help anyone new to sewing get started, but for those who are a little more practiced and want to know how to sew high quality clothes I thought a quick guide covering some more professional sewing tips was in order. These are …
It’s been a long time coming, but I recently spent time at an exhibition, something I haven’t done in several years due to the worldwide pandemic. The exhibition was ‘Viva La Frida’. Featuring many of the garments worn by Frida Kahlo as well as some of her most famous paintings, the Frida Kahlo exhibition in …