Guides, tutorials, tips, and tricks.
Read more
I’ve been interested in body type analysis recently because of my fitting drama with the M6696 shirtdress. You can’t talk about fitting without talking about unique features of your body — short waistedness, sloping shoulders, swayback, etc. Body type analysis lets you identify unique figure features and sew clothes that better fit everything you’ve got going on between your chin and ankles. […]
Read more
Back in December 2016, before Sie macht had a following of any size, I published this free pillow pattern. It didn’t get a lot of attention at the time, but I never lost faith in its appeal. That’s why I’m resharing it now! […]
Read more
Instead of a straight-ahead sewing pattern review, I thought I’d walk through my process for making a muslin. I stitched the Sew Caroline Larchmont T that appears in the new “Weekend Style” sewing book. It’s a simple woven T-shirt pattern that was a freebie in the spring issue 2017 of Sew News magazine. Because it’s only three […]
Read more
The sewing pattern for May’s installment of Project #SewMyStyle is the Cali Faye Collection Pocket skirt. For me, it’s been the most difficult pattern so far (keep reading for details on why!). […]
Read more
Sewists have good reason to sweat over buying an iron. A good iron for sewing is as important as a good sewing machine for professional results. If you’re on the market for an iron for sewing, keep reading to discover which features matter most to sewists and my top five iron picks that won’t break the bank! […]
Read more
I am sergerless. At Van Handel Headquarters, I’m sewing knits with a sewing machine. And, for the most part, sewing knits without a serger works just swell for me. I’ve sewn scuba knit, sweatshirt fleece, ponte, heavy sweater knit, cotton spandex, and more on my Babylock Elizabeth machine and been happy with the results. And then I sewed my Bridgetown backless dress. And I scowled a lot. That experience inspired an epic sewing experiment. […]
Read more
Scuba knit fabric is having a moment. It’s showing up at my local Jo-Ann, and Threads magazine ran a big scuba knit article in late 2016. I used scuba knit to sew the Victory Patterns Jackie dress. I’d never worked with scuba, and it took some research to figure out best pressing practices. That’s when I decided to write all MY tips for working with scuba fabric. So, dear sewing friends, keep reading to learn scuba knit basics, how to press scuba knit, and more tips for working with scuba fabric. […]
Read more
I’ve got sewing patterns for yoga clothes on the brain. That’s because I’m participating in a month-long yoga challenge. (If you’re interested, it’s Yoga Revolution, hosted by Yoga with Adriene, and it’s good stuff! Join the fun!) Every day this year, I’ve hit the yoga mat, and every day, I’ve thought about yoga sewing patterns. […]
Read more
If you’ve thought about upgrading your sewing table situation but didn’t know where to start — and you’re a Type A personality who loves to do research and make lists — this sewing table buying guide is especially for you. (If you’re a Type B personality who’s a more laid back, you probably won’t get […]
Read more
When I started a chemo quilt (see above) for my mom, it was quilt No. 2 in my quilting career. An expert quilter I was/am not. I made a lot of mistakes, which are the world’s greatest teachers. I have to be honest, though — there are many quilting tips for beginners that I wish […]