The Sewing Garden

Shortening a Zipper From the Top

By: Linda September 5, 2009March 9, 2023

Alterations, Bridalhow to add a corset back in a dress, How to add gussets in a dress, how to add width in a dress, how to increase the back of a dress, how to make a zipper shorter, How to make a zipper shorter on a wedding dress, how to make the back of a dress fit, how to shorten a zipper, How to shorten the zipper at the top of a dress2 Comments

In all my years of altering clothes, I had never thought of altering a zipper from the top to make a garment fit better. Usually, when a dress doesn’t zip all the way up, there are three things I might do. First, I try to let out the side seams at the bust area. If…

Flip the Shirt Collar to Extend Its Use

By: Linda August 31, 2009March 9, 2023

Alterations, Basic SkillsAlterations, how to alter men's shirt collars, How to fix worn out collars, men's shirt collars, men's shirts, mending, sew, shirt collars4 Comments

My husband had a job for many years where he had to wear dress shirts to work. Invariably, the collars would be the first thing on the shirts to wear out. It’s hard to see in this photo, below, but the collar is beyond help. It is worn out. Because my husband has his favorite…

Putting Bustles On Your Wedding Gown

By: Linda August 26, 2009February 25, 2023

Alterations, BridalAlterations, bridal gown, bustle, French bustle, how to put a french bustle on your wedding gown, how to put bustles on your wedding dress, how to put bustles on your wedding dress diy, how to put bustles on your wedding gown, how to put in french bustles, sew, under bustle, underbustle, wedding gown62 Comments

UPDATE 2/25/23: Read this post all the way to the end and then go back and read Making French Bustles, Even Easier Than Before for a shortcut on one of the steps. You’ll be glad you did! You’ll see why this dress ended up with a bustle in the location that it was and how…

How to Hem Lining on Pants (or Skirts)

By: Linda August 18, 2009February 16, 2021

Alterations, Basic Skills, Hems, Sew For DoughAlterations, cording, hem, lining, pants lining, satin ribbon, sew4 Comments

We’ve covered so many ways to hem pants so far. If you’ve missed those, click on “Alterations” right here, or above, and it will lead you to all the posts I’ve written on hemming. But, for now, lets look at how to hem lining on pants or skirts. It’s very simple. Don’t be intimidated. First,…

Magnetic Pin Holders

By: Linda August 12, 2009February 13, 2021

Alterations, Gadgetsmagnetic pin cushions, Magnetic pin holders, magnetic pin holders damage comouterized sewing machines?4 Comments

It took me years to realize how great magnetic pin cushions are. I had used the old stuffed “tomato” pin cushion during my youthful sewing years. Remember these? I still use one for my needles as you can see. That way, I can see the eye of each needle at a glance and grab the one I…

Hem With a Vent (or Slit)…Technique #2

By: Linda August 8, 2009February 19, 2018

Alterations, HemsAlterations, hem, how to hem a skirt with a back vent, how to hem pants or skirts with a vent, pants, sew, sewing, ventLeave a Comment

The last post was on how to hem a pair of pants with a vent or slit in the side. This post will give you instructions on how to do a vent another way. This technique can be used with skirts that have vents on the side or center back seam. Here’s what this pair…

Hemming Pants With a Vent (or Slit) in Them

By: Linda August 3, 2009February 8, 2021

Alterations, HemsAlterations, diy pants with a vent or slit, hem, Hems, how to hem pants that have a side slit or vent, how to hem skirts with a slit or vent, pants, pants hem, sewing, slit, vent7 Comments

Once in awhile, you’ll buy a pair of pants that have a vent (or notch) in the hem like these: The vent is a slit that is located on the side seam of the pants at the hem. You may want to hem those pants up, but you don’t know how to replicate that vent. It…

finsl view of darts in top or dress, 535

Putting Darts in a Tank Top or Dress

By: Linda July 27, 2009February 25, 2023

Alterations, Basic Skillsdiy gap in shirt, how to make a shirt smaller, how to put darts into a tank top or dress, how to sew darts into a garment, how to take in a top at the bust area, how to take in excess fabric, how to take in the bust7 Comments

Do you have a tank top or sleeveless dress that doesn’t fit well on top? Is there extra fabric hanging loose between the shoulder and armpit? Alot of loose fitting tops and dresses are made without alot of tight fit to them in that area. And they just feel baggy that way, don’t they? A…

Tailor Tacks…Instead of Pins

By: Linda July 22, 2009February 24, 2021

Alterations, Basic Skills, Bridal, Sew For Doughhow do I mark fabric without using a marker?, how do I mark fabric without using pins?, How to make a mark on fabric without a marker, what is a tailor tack?1 Comment

Have you heard of a tailor tack? If you’re 50 years old or older, you probably have. If you’re a young whipper snapper or you’re new to sewing in the last 25 years, you may not have any idea what I’m talking about. So, let me first tell you what one is and what it…

Rolled Hems

By: Linda July 9, 2009February 22, 2021

Alterations, Gadgets, Hems, Sew For Doughhow to make a small hem, how to sew a hem on a bridal gown, how to sew a hem on a prom dress, how to sew a hem on a wedding gown, how to sew a perfect hem, how to sew a professional hem, how to sew a rolled hem, how to sew a tiny hem8 Comments

This is a close up of a rolled hem: You’ll find them on prom dresses, wedding dresses, casual dresses, skirts and men’s shirt tails. In fact, they are found on all sorts of garments made from all sorts of fabrics. You can make a rolled hem “by hand”. You simply press up 1/8″ along your hemline…