How To Replace a Zipper in a Jacket or Coat

Update: October 19, 2020 If you read my last post on How Much To Charge To Replace a Zipper, I promised I’d be back to show you how to put in a new zipper. Here’s the jacket with the broken zipper: On this jacket, the zipper teeth didn’t hold together when the jacket was zipped.…

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How Much Do You Charge To Replace a Zipper?

Update: October 19, 2020 This post is relevant no matter the year, no matter the economy, no matter the zipper! You’ve come here because you’re wondering, “How much do I charge to replace a zipper? I get this question all the time. The short answer is: “It depends.” The long answer:  “It depends, and here’s…

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Last Minute Gift Ideas

Update: October 20, 2020 I thought you might like some ideas for Christmas or birthday presents. You can put these on your list or buy them for others who sew. These ideas come in various price ranges from lowest to highest price: 1. How about some cute and practical flower head pins? These are great…

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How To Take In The Crotch Seam on Pants

Updated: October 19, 2020 I just got an email from a reader whose husband’s pants are hanging too low in the crotch area and she wanted to know how to take in the crotch seam on pants. It’s a very common problem. I thought about how to show you with an actual pair of slacks,…

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Update on Zambia

Sewfordough readers, My daughter, Michelle and I, want to thank you so much for your generosity and give you an update on what is happening with the incredible donations for the mamas in Zambia. Michelle sent this email for you yesterday: Ladies, I just wanted to email you and thank you again for blessing us with the…

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Sewing in Zambia

Hi Everyone, Some of you know that our daughter, Michelle, works for a ministry called Every Orphan’s Hope. It is an organization that has rescued orphans in Zambia, Africa, and built homes for these children to live in. Each orphan home has 8 children and one widowed “mama” who cares for the children. For several years, the mamas…

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Celebrate With Me…It’s Free!

Today is the 3rd anniversary of this blog and I thought you might like to know how it all started. About 6 years ago, a customer came to my door needing his suit jacket altered. As I spoke to him about the changes that needed to be made on it, he asked me if I had…

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Altering the Shoulders on a Jacket

A customer brought me two jackets to take in at the shoulders. Both of these jackets had shoulder pads, too, which she wanted removed. You don’t see those much anymore! The other jacket can be found in the post entitled, A Finely Tailored Jacket. Both were custom made in England for my customer and they were…

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How To Make a Sewing Pattern

A question came in yesterday asking how to line the inside of a nightgown. Without having the original pattern, you might think it’s impossible. But, even if you don’t have the original paper pattern for a garment or any item (and you won’t have it if the item was purchased online or in a store),…

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A Finely Tailored Jacket

It’s not often that I am in the presence of a finely tailored garment. It’s a rare commodity these days. But recently, a customer brought this gem to me to have it altered: Those of you who live in the U.K. will appreciate this label: It reads: Catherine Walker…The Chelsea Design Company Catherine Walker designed clothing…

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