A big thanks to Christy, at Alterations By Christy, for telling me about an even easier way to put French bustles in your gown! Many of you have seen the post I wrote on How To Put Bustles on Your Wedding Gown. Christy saw it too and wrote to tell me about a step in the…
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Taking in the Waist and Center Back on Denim Pants and Skirts
One of the more common alterations I do is taking in the waist and center back on pants, jeans and skirts. Most people try and solve this problem by just making a dart or two in the back of the pants. That doesn’t work too well if your pants or skirt is made of thick fabric…
Read MoreHow To Alter a Bubble Dress and Other “Closed” Lined Garments
This year, I’ve seen alot of Bubble Dresses for Prom and Homecoming. Here is one I altered yesterday: They have lots of pouf all over them, don’t they? The hem and the lining are usually sewn together at the bottom of the dress. So, instead of opening up the hem area, I leave that alone…
Read MoreHow To Sew a Partial Hem
There are many instances where you may need to sew just part of a hem. Maybe you have a skirt that is uneven, too long in the front or back, or maybe you have pants with the same problem. Many times, when I get a bridal gown to alter, the bride likes the train length…
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Keeping Your Notions Handy
Last week I showed you my sewing room. Today, I ‘d like to show you how I organize it. I was raised by a very organized mother. She taught me well. When you are finished with something, it goes right back where it belongs. But I’m not as good as I used to be. I…
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My Sewing Room
Where do you sew? Do you have a designated room where you can keep your machine set up at all times? Is it in a bedroom, a basement, a dining room, an office? Is it well lit, roomy, comfortable and has lots of storage and all the tools you need to create the projects of…
Read MoreWriting Receipts For Your Customers
Some of you are sewing or crafting for other people. If you’re like me, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on supplies. I wanted to give my customers a receipt, but I didn’t need them to look like a beautiful keepsake. Chances are, most people throw theirs away. In fact, some just…
Read MoreMending What the Dog Chewed Up (Part Two)
In the last post, we looked at a technique on How to Mend What the Dog Chewed Up, Part One. In that scenario, I mended a few small spots on two Vera Bradley bags that a customer brought to me to fix. Her dog had chewed them both to pieces. Today, let’s look at one of the bags.…
Read MoreMending What the Dog Chewed Up (Part One)
A customer brought me 2 Vera Bradley bags (purses) that her dog chewed up and asked me if I could repair them. She really didn’t have high expectations; she figured anything I could do was better than what they looked like. But, she didn’t know that I have a favorite mending technique that earns rave…
Read MoreShortening Long Sleeves
Are the sleeves on your shirts too long? Shortening sleeves is a quick alteration. This technique will work for men’s or ladies shirts that have cuffs on them. Let me show you what I did on this purple shirt: There are two rows of stitching on the top edge of the cuff It’s a little hard to see…
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The Sewing Garden 