All posts tagged: tutorial

An Invisible Invisible Zipper Tutorial

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Because not all invisible zips are invisible. SewPhotoHop from Rachel of House of Pinheiro is back! It’s day 2 which is “Your Favourite Skill”.  Knowingly or unknowingly we’re all quite a skilled bunch out there and a lot of them skills we don’t know we have.  We’re also a generous bunch too who like to share our skills with other lovely sewists out there. Over on IG i’ve posted that my favourite skill is inserting invisible zips, or zippers depending where you are in the world.  I also mentioned I could share how I do it as it works a treat every time with no pins and no tears.  As there were quite a few who wanted  me to show you, here we are. 2 things for me when inserting an invisible zip are important. it’s invisible any seams match up So here’s how I do it. Gather your supplies: an invisible zip a pencil iron on interfacing if your fabric is anything other than denim or a robust fabric. a normal zipper foot   1  Open …

My Colette Wren – The Nitty Gritty

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I had a vision! + = POSH FROCK Here’s how it happened! After taking my measurements I opted to trace off size large.  I didn’t notice the chart for the finished measurements.  If I had I would probably have saved myself some time.  The pattern has negative ease and my fabric (being a ponte knit) wasn’t quite as stretchy as suggested. The left photo shows my first muslin in a large.  I recut it in a XL and lengthened the pattern pieces by 4cm (on the shorten/lengthen lines). A lesson to all – Trace your pieces!  I’d have been snookered if I’d have cut into my PDF pattern and would have had to print and stick it all together again! The lower back bodice picture above is the first muslin.  As you can see its tight and also there is excess fabric in the lower back.  I lengthened the bottom by 4cm and then did a 5cm sway back adjustment – following this tutorial. I ended up with a very odd shaped piece but it …

GBSB Capri Pants – converted to an easy elasticated waist

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I need more pants!  No not knickers, I mean trousers! Cropped ones for summer.  I’m living in my jeans and when we have the occasional warm day I’m stuck at just what to wear.  So I decided to make the Capri Pants which are in this years series of the GBSB book. The pattern looked straight forward.  Side invisible zip and facings instead of a waistband. I chose a denim with some lycra content.  Not sure how much, but they had a definite stretch rather than had ‘give’.  I sewed them up without the darts (i marked them but waited to add them) and basted the left side seam – but sewed all the others with a normal stitch length and overlocked all the edges..  I also stay stitched the waist band. I tried them on and apart from taking in the centre front seam I thought they’d be ok. I made 2 new rows of stitching for the centre front seem before I was happy with the fit. After adding the darts I then found …

Finishing A Cowl Neckline

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I recently made Lekala 4119.  If you’ve tried Lekala you’ll know the instructions generally expect you to have a fairly decent knowledge of garment construction or time to google.  Or both. These are the complete instructions of the top describes as “Blouse with Draping” INSTRUCTIONS:  1. Sew side and shoulder seams. Serge and press toward back.  2. Serge neckline, fold to wrong side and topstitch.  3. Serge armhole, fold to wrong side and topstitch.  4. Sew bottom part into ring. Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and sew to hem, stretching a little bit. The seam is at the left side seam. Serge the seam. This is a great easy to wear top.  Cowls are in, but sleeveless ones narrow down their wearability. With this there’s no sleeves to set in so it’s a really quick make – if you know what you’re doing!  I like a clean finish on all my clothes – makes them last longer, they look more professional and less home made. I thought I’d share how I finish my tops …

The Oslo Cardigan from Seamwork & Tips on hemming a slinky knit!

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I was a little late subscribing to the new digital magazine from Colette at the back end of last year so I missed out on the free pattern.. including The Oslo.  At first it wasn’t a problem, but then they were popping up all over, even in the Supermarket!  And I needed one to snuggle and slouch in, with so splashed out! I went down to Dewsbury to Lucky Fashions and spotted this scrumptious knit with an amazing drape for an even more amazing £3 per yard.  I snapped up 3 yards and dashed home! Before the sun set I had my very own Oslo. And boy has it been put through its paces.  It’s gone with everything! (as you’ll have seen on MMM15).  It seemed a bit daft taking pictures of me in the Oslo for this post, what with all the selfies of me on MMM, so I sweet talked my lovely niece into putting it on for a few photos.  That was the easy bit, The hard bit was getting it off her! I …