Sewing Tutorials

Please utilize this glossary to assist navigating the Simple Box Top Pattern as well as Simple Box Top Construction Instructions.   Pattern Terminology Grainline -  Refers to the direction of the lengthwise grain on your fabric and indicates how you place your pattern piece on the fabric. A grainline on a pattern piece always follows the warp and runs parallel to the selvedge. This will be a long line with arrows on your pattern piece. Seam Allowance – Seam allowance is the distance (usually in 1/8’’ increments) between the fabric edge and stitch line when two materials are sewn together. Seam...

  The selvage is a finish on the edge of the fabric that binds the edge of the fabric and is often a different color than the textile. The selvage runs parallel with the lengthwise grain (warp) of the textile and is very important to become accustomed to when starting your endeavors in clothing construction. The threads that run parallel with the selvage are the strongest in terms of resisting stretch. The lengthwise grain is most often placed vertically in clothing to prevent any or sagging in your garments. On the contrary the crosswise grain (weft) are the fibers that...

So you made sure your fabric is cut on grain, now it is time to make sure the fabric is oriented "on grain".  When your fabric is oriented on grain they fibers will be running perpendicular to each other at a 90 degree angle. When you need to correct a warped textile oriented at a slight angle as picture above, it  is called “Blocking”. This is important to make sure the fibers are running in the proper direction on your finished garment. If your horizontal grain is not oriented at a 90 degree angle to your lengthwise grain, your garment...

There are a couple options when securing your pattern to our fabric. This process should be done with great care to make sure pattern is traced "on grain" to your pattern. For more information on placing your pattern pieces correctly, visit tutorial "Placing Your Pattern Pieces on Your Fabric." Pinning Your Pattern To Your Fabric When pinning a pattern to your fabric, make sure you do not hinder the path of your scissors with pin placements. Pinning pattern pieces to a garment allow the pieces to remain attached to the pattern until they are ready to be sewn which can be...

French Seam Tutorial - 3/8'' Seam Allowance - On Scrap of Fabric Tutorial will demonstrate french seam on a fabric with a print in order to help reader identify "wrong" and "right" sides of fabric. Place your pattern pieces wrong sides together. Pin along edges matching end points and notches. Stitch 1/8 Inch from seam allowance making sure to back tack at beginning and end. Trim any fray strands, or trim down seam allowance if you noticeably strayed larger than 1/8 Inch.  Press seam flat, then open seam, press seam to one side.  Turn over and press seam from back to...