I want to teach you how to alter a garment that has French Seams in it. But, first, I’d like to talk about what they are and show you how they are made. The French Seam is a seam that is encased within itself so that no raw edges can be seen. You’ve probably seen French…
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French Seams
Sewing Machine Needles…How to Choose The Right One
How do you know what kind of sewing machine needles to use in your machine? Well, I prefer to use Schmetz brand needles. They work. They work well. I have been using them for at least 27 years. Before that, I used my mom’s Singer machine and just used Singer needles on it. But then,…
Read MoreHemming With Twin Needles
Have you ever sewn with twin needles? They are awesome! Schmetz makes several different kinds. This is one of them: You can find them at Joann Fabrics. Schmetz makes twin needles where the needles are different widths apart, which is really nice. Do you see the numbers at the bottom of the package of twin…
Read MoreHow To Shorten Shoulder Straps on Your Dress or Top
When your dress or top needs to be taken up at the shoulders, the process is not difficult. Often, my customers will tell me to just stitch across the strap and cut off the excess. Yes, you can do a version of that, but it leaves a very large lump that doesn’t always lay flat,…
Read MoreWe Interupt This Regularly Scheduled Sewing Post….
I just had to tell ya’ll about an incredible weekend I had with my eldest daughter in Houston, Texas this weekend! (I will try to find something sewing related to share with you as I write, but if you’re here looking for an honest to goodness “how-to” do an alteration, you’ll be so disappointed.) There are two posts…
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Hem…Using the Inseam Measurement
Several of my customers leave their pants to be hemmed on my porch without ever coming inside. It’s because I hem their pants using their inseam measurement. The inseam is the seam on the inner leg that runs from the crotch area to the hem edge of the pants. Once I know what their inseam measurement is,…
Read MoreTaking In A Dress That’s 5 Sizes Too Big
I haven’t written in almost a month. Not because I didn’t want to. I was preoccupied with altering a bridal gown. I should have known that taking in 8 inches at the bust was going to prove to be difficult. Isn’t there an unwritten rule that you shouldn’t take in more than like three inches…
Read MoreHow To Mark Your Hems..Another Method
As I mentioned in How To Mark Your Pants For Hemming…One Method, there are many ways to mark a hem. Besides the method I showed you in that post, I have tried using several measuring devices, including a yardstick. None of them worked super well for me. They all had their issues. But many thanks to Christy, a…
Read MoreHow To Mark Your Pants For Hemming…One Method
There are several ways to mark a pair of pants in order to hem them. I have used the same method for years. It is so easy that your kids, husband, neighbor, or friend could do it easily. And so can you! First, I make sure the customer has on a pair of shoes that…
Read MoreTaking 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…
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The Sewing Garden 