Sewing Techniques

In this section you will find a whole host of useful sewing techniques, from simple seams to seam finishing, buttonholes and zip insertion, darts, hems and more. We've also a useful  Beginner's Guide to Sewing if you are new to sewing and tips on patchwork and quilting.  So whether you are new to sewing or wish to refresh some techniques, take a look . We upload new techniques regularly so others are archived to make room, so if you can't find what you are looking for, click on the right hand box and search by technique category.

Sewing Expert Profiles

There are many sewing experts in the UK who willingly share their knowledge and skills through magazines, workshops and classes. Here you will find biographies of leading experts Ruth Cox, Wendy Gardiner, Lorna Knight, Janet Moville, Jennie Rayment and Alison Smith >> more

Hot tips to sassy up your summer wardrobe

Hot summer tips to update your wardrobe with a little sewing ingenuity provided by Sue Lock >> more

Lining trousers

Add a lining to trousers and you provide a smooth line as well as help prevent bagging at the seat. Rosemary Simpson has some simple tips to follow >> more

Drafting a Skirt Block

Skirts are one of the easiest things to make without a store-bought pattern, so why not jump in and give it a try?  We’ve the how-to tips by Francesca Denhartog and Carole Ann Camp from Sew What Skirts >> more

Creating an hourglass shape in a loose-fitting blouse

To give a more flattering silhouette to a blouse the side seams may be taken in at the waist and vertical darts added to the front and back to give the garment an hourglass shape. >> more

Flower Stitch Attachment

This month is all about embellishing with stitched flowers using an attachment which fits onto your sewing machine - Wendy Gardiner shares how. These pretty flowers are just right for adding to garments for the summer and a key decoration on the latest High Street fashions >> more

Space Dyeing

Dye fabrics using space dyeing techniques with beautiful rainbow backgrounds for using in Shibori. and other sewing porjects. Choose colours which are close to each other in the spectrum for harmonious sequences. >> more

Luxurious Lingerie - part 1

Underwear - bras, briefs and tights convey an idea of practicality while the word lingerie conjures up more of a picture of delicate, feminine underwear. We cannot ignore the function of what is worn beneath women’s clothing but we can make sure it looks good and is designed well >> more

Luxurious Lingerie - part 2

Lorna Knight shares her tips for achieving pretty decorative stitching – often called heirloom stitching. Use to enhance fabric or make simple pieces of lingerie even more special - use on bras, negligees, French knickers and slips or even on a pretty summer skirt >> more

Luxurious Lingerie - part 3

In this final part of our three part lingerie techniques series, Lorna Knight takes a look at cutting material on the bias and using knitted fabrics to create comfortable and flattering lingerie.  >> more

Beginner's Guide to Sewing

If you are just starting out or need to refresh some basic sewing skills, take a look at our basic guide here. We will continue to add more tips, so do keep coming back for more >> more

When Things Go Wrong - Trouble-Shooting Tips

We can all heave a huge sigh of relief because, it’s quite true, nobody is perfect! Wendy Gardiner provides a list the most common stitch problems and some helpful solutions >> more

Buttonholes on Sheer and Stretch Fabric

Many modern sewing machines offer a selection of pre-programmed buttonholes and will automatically make them to the correct size, but we still need to decide on the type of hole required and where to position it. Read this and create professional buttonholes on sheer and stretch fabric >> more

Busted – adjusting tops to fit bigger boobs

As so many women today are larger than a B cup, we’ve some easy to follow tips on how to adjust different bodices to fit fuller figure >> more

Guidelines for Adjusting Fit

If you’re one of the few people who can buy clothing right off the rack, congratulations! The rest of us usually need to make some small (or large) fitting adjustments. A quick tuck or a loosened seam might be just what your wardrobe needs! >> more

Zips - centred and invisible zips

Zips are easily inserted if a proper zip foot is used, allowing the stitching to get as close to zip teeth as possible. Most machines have a zipper foot as one of the basic feet supplied. We provide general tips and how-to insert both centred and invisible zip >> more

Lining a Skirt

Adding a lining, adds fluidity to a garment, helps it crease less, hang nicely and fit better. Our tips on lining a skirt can be used on any pattern, even those without lining included in the instructions >> more

Buttons and Buttonholes

With so many people wary of even sewing on buttons nowadays, we’ve included an easy step-by-step guide as well as demystifying the art of stitching perfect buttonholes. It’s easy when you know how >> more

Seam Finishes

When a seam is stitched you take a seam allowance - thus the seam is not stitched at the very edge of the fabric. This allowance is then finished or neatened >> more

Hemming

The choice of hemming method will depend on personal preference, fabric type and project being hemmed. However, two commonly used hemming methods are blind hem and double hem >> more

Darts

Darts are one of the ways used to shape fabric to fit over body contours at bust, hips and shoulders. The majority are single V-shape, with the widest part of the V at the outer edge, tapering to a point >> more

Seams

A seam is quite simply where two or more layers of fabric are stitched together. There are different types of seaming suitable for different fabrics and projects >> more

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