Careful step-by-step pressing, combined with trimming, clipping, and grading, eliminates excess fabric thickness and creates a crisp, custom finish. The goal is to produce seams, darts, edges,and corners that are smooth flat, and thin.This cannot be achieved if all pressing is left until last or correct trimming, clipping, and grading methods are not used.Correct pressing opens and flattens seams, hems, and enclosed
22nd Aug 2016
Create your very own Caddy, personalize it with some unique lettering, your favorite fabrics and appliques. Kellie Brown has created hers using vintage Singer material.This pattern includes optional instructions for embroidering lettering on to this project.Shopping List
¾ yard fabric for outer bag⅝ yard fabric for lining½ yard fleece or low-loft battingOne 12” zipperAll-purpose thread for constructionBobbin threadA
11th Aug 2016
Create this super cute apron and put your own personal spin on it. This apron would make the perfect gift for your family and friends or even something to make for yourself. Credit the image to Kellie Brown winner of the September SewAlong in Australian Sewing Advice and Inspiration Facebook group.Optional Embroidery instructions are included to create monograms with the HyperFont software. If you want to i
11th Aug 2016
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…. Well actually it was only just recently and in Tasmania!!I have always been a geek and a bit quirky. But before having my two boys I was never into star wars. I even refused to watch the movies because I thought they’d be boring!! I loved Star Trek and I’d always heard you could never be fans of both.Falling pregnant changed all of that! My first born is even named after Geo
28th Jul 2016
A great inspiration for Book Week this year is one of my favourite Australian books (and movie!) from my childhood, ‘Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest’, by Diana Young. A young fairy teams up with a human and a crazy bat to save the Australian Rainforest from destruction. Full of Australian Flora and Fauna with a touch of magic, it’s the perfect children’s story. Batty Koda was always a favourite character with his off
22nd Jul 2016
Why Pre-wash Fabric?Preshrinking fabrics removes excess dyes and chemical finishes used in the manufacturing process.Most cotton fabrics shrink 2-3% when washed and dried, so if they are not preshrunk, the fabric may pucker at the stitching lines the first time it is washed.Some dark or vivid colours need to be checked for colourfastness to determine whether the dye bleeds to light coloured fabrics or colours the wat
18th Jul 2016
These Fun and easy to make fairy wings are the perfect costume idea for Book Week 20 - 26th August. The theme this year is Australia. The fairy wings are inspired by the works of the Australian Illustrator Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, who was known as the Queen of Fairyland, the illustrator of many children's books which mostly depicted fairies. I sewed this project on my Singer Talent 3323."Then clear on a flute of purest
15th Jul 2016
Once I saw this oven mitt pattern, I knew I had to replicate a mini version for my daughters! It is so adorable with the cherry fabric and quilting lines. I will admit there was a little frustration at turning a small version of this the right way in - especially the thumb! But with my trusty chopstick in hand (or Harry Potter wand as my daughter thinks it is) I got it done and was so pleased with how quick and easy
2nd Jul 2016
I remember watching 27 dresses years ago and thinking wow how can someone own so many dresses?That was before I started to sew!!.Around three years ago I decided that making appliques wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to be able to create my own clothes as well! I struggled to read patterns and so I started by drafting my own patterns. Some worked… others were major flops!!It wasn’t long after I started making my
30th Jun 2016
Hi I'm Christina, a 36yr old mum of two gorgeous boys. I'm also known as Chrissy, mum, Rainbow on legs or my least favourite Pickers (fortunately I don't have enough space to tell you how I got that nickname) I started sewing 5 years ago thanks to my mum giving me my first ever machine - I have a feeling she was sick of me asking for her to make things for us. That's when my love of sewing began. Unfortun
24th Jun 2016
'Hi! I'm Melissa, a 30-something Kiwi living in Wellington, New Zealand. I love bright colourful prints, pretty new dress patterns and vintage sewing machines. I'm a self-taught sewist and I've been sewing for as long as I can remember but more seriously since 2008. I'm passionate about social sewing and encouraging everyone to sew and expand their skills.'We are our excited Melissa is going to start sharing with us
24th Jun 2016
Customised tablecloths are a simple way to change the look of a room without spending too much time or money. These easy projects make good home sewing sense.Because most tablecloths are wider than one fabric width, you must seam fabric widths together to make the tablecloth the width you need. Avoid a center seam by using a full fabric width in the center and stitching narrower side panels to it.Use selvage edges in
16th Jun 2016