Sewing

A stitch regulator is a tool used in quilting to ensure even and accurate stitches. While many quilters are accustomed to making the stitches without the aid and guidance of a machine, this modern...

Many of us have sewing machines capable of creating decorative stitches. In fact, machines with a variety of stitch possibilities have been manufactured since the 1950s. Learning to use decorative...

Digitizing pictures or designs to embroider consists of scanning a design into a computer or using an already digitized design found on the Internet. These digitized designs must then have the...

Tension controls how strongly the sewing machine squeezes the thread onto the fabric. It is a tedious part of sewing to master. However, perfecting tension is a necessary part of adequately...

Have you recently shopped for a Singer sewing machine only to find yourself utterly lost amongst a myriad of models? Purchasing a machine can be quite difficult if you are unsure of its worth....

Owning and using a serger sewing machine brings a new level of professionalism and quality to your sewing. However, the machine may at first seem incredibly daunting, with its multiple spools and...

Soft sculpture is a practical art form. Deriving from a 19th century German fabric method for cloth sculpture, soft sculpture has found a revitalized market in the craft industry. Popular soft...

A delicate and pretty baby bonnet can be made from a handkerchief by taking a few simple hand stitches. This is a lovely use for an especially beautiful vintage handkerchief or one with...

Wouldn't it be nice to have a magical pillow that smells like a lush field in the mountains or a bouquet full of flowers? As simple as they sound, herb pillows are just as easy to make. All you...

Modern sewing machine come in a variety of styles and offer many options besides simply sewing. Some double as serger or embroidery machines. Some have hundreds of different stitches, while others...

Gathering stitches are rows of loose stitches made by machine, necessary in some sewing patterns. They're used to gather skirt fabric into a waistband or a puffy sleeve into an armseye, among...

An overlocker (also known as a serger) is a type of sewing machine used both industrially and at home for seaming, hemming and edging fabric. There are several different types of overlockers and...

Skipped stitches not only look shoddy when used as decorative topstitching on a sewn item, they also affect the quality of the seam holding the garment together. Gaps where stitches should be are...

Imagine machine embroidery as a jigsaw puzzle. When assembling a jigsaw puzzle, the easiest way to start is by finding and piecing together the edges and corners because they are the most...

The most basic and most complex sewing machines all operate in essentially the same way. With any machine, there are some basic techniques and concepts that you should understand for successful...

Using a serger is a perfect way to complete a garment and lend a professional finish to home-sewn items. There are two types of sergers: four- and five-thread. Sergers feature a looper system that...

Applique is a versatile form of needlework that can be incorporated into many types of sewing projects. A few basic techniques and materials are involved in hand and machine applique that can be...

Machine stitching has several distinct advantages over hand sewing. The first, and probably greatest, is speed. Once you are familiar with operating a sewing machine, you can literally machine...

There are a number of ways to sew fabric together to form garments, home decorating items, or even tents and awnings. Learning a variety of ways to stitch fabric can help you choose the best...

A bean bag cover can be filled with beans to make a comfortable and inexpensive chair. All you need is some basic shapes of fabric and a zipper. The fabric should be fairly thick and tightly...

Smocking is, essentially, embroidery on pleated fabric. The stitches are worked over the top third of each pleat, allowing the pleating to retain some amount of elasticity. Both traditional...

Hand-embroidered greeting cards can be made from threads that vary widely in color, texture and thickness. They may be embellished with beads and other decorative material. The card stock,...

Basting is a sewing technique used to temporarily hold elements of a garment together. Seamstresses use a variety of different basting stitches for different sewing situations. Millinery is...

Sewing machines usually have a pressure regulator dial to adjust the tension of their stitches. If the tension is wrong, the stitches will be uneven and the fabric will pucker, making the finished...

A plastic zipper that is too long can be shortened by sewing stitches to form a new bottom stop, then cutting the excess zipper below that point.

Many upholstered items, including sofas, chairs and ottomans, come with decorative buttons often become loose and fall off over time. With the right tools, you can easily resew the original or new...

Smocking is a way of gathering material and then embroidering over the gathers. It is decorative for baby girl dresses or for a billowy summer top. It does take some practice to get the various...

Operating a sewing machine depends on the type of machine, but generally, all sewing machines are equipped to sew a variety of stitches, to stitch backwards and to change the size of each stitch....

Sewing a slip stitch requires placing the fabric together, pulling the needle up from underneath, pushing the needle back down halfway and then pulling it out through the top again. Practice this...

A ruana is a cape-like garment often found in Latin American countries. It is often woven in one piece as a giant square with a keyhole-shaped opening in the front. Unlike the poncho shown, ruanas...

Marking the fabric to sew a round pillow indicates where the stitches should go along the border of the pillow. Mark fabric to sew a pillow with tips from a seamstress in this free sewing video.

Pinning the fabric for a round pillow anchors the edges to ensure the stitches are in the right place. Pin pillow fabric together with tips from a seamstress in this free sewing video.

Marking and pinning the second Euro hem creates a template for the stitches. Mark and pin a Euro hem with tips from a seamstress in this free sewing video.

Pinning the first Euro hem on a pair of pants ensures the stitches will be in the right spot. Pin a Euro hem with tips from a seamstress in this free sewing video.

Couch stitches are a hemming technique, simple and invisible on the front side. Learn to hand sew couch stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

Applique stitching, like the fell stitch, is a decorative stitch. Learn to hand sew applique stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

Baseball stitches resemble the popular stitches on a baseball and works down the fabric about every eighth of an inch. Learn to hand sew baseball stitches from a fashion designer in this free...

When sewing a cross stitch always point the needle to the left. Learn to hand sew cross stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

Tie a strong knot to secure thread in the needle, doubling if desired. Learn secure a knot and tie off thread to hand sew stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

Use a running stitch to make a simple hem or join two pieces of cloth. Learn to hand sew running stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

The basting stitch can avoid the use of pins on nice garments. Learn to hand sew basting stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

The back stitch adds more strength to the stitch than a basic running stitch. Learn to hand sew back stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

A whip stitch is a simple looping stitch often used inside garments on hems. Learn to hand sew whip stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

Hand sewing is good for avoiding the complex use of a sewing machine for smaller projects. Learn to hand sew stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.

Sewing a design onto a shirt with stitches or sewing an existing design onto a shirt can be easily achieved with the right preparation. Adjusting the sewing machine to meet your needs and...

When you first sit down at your Kenmore sewing machine, the foot pedal can feel as intimidating as the gas pedal when you learned to drive. Similar to a car, the harder you press the faster you...

Putting a zipper into a dress is a technique that requires a bit of precision in order for the dress to look good and the zipper to operate smoothly. The zipper must be centered exactly over the...

Even if you own a sewing machine, it is useful to know a few hand sewing techniques. And if you are new to learning to sew, these stitches can be handy to know and can help you through most basic...

For someone not familiar with sewing machines, it may be awkward to first sit down and start putting pressure on the foot pedal. With the buzz of the motor and your fingers right next to a large...

Easy and elegant, sashiko stitching dates back to at least 1600s Japan. Originally used to mend and reinforce cloth, it has evolved into a decorative stitching technique. Hand sewing sashiko is...