Sewing Technique Tutorials

Learn how to hem pants, use your sewing machine feet, make bias binding, and more!

Do I Need a Serger: What to Know Before You Buy
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Do I Need a Serger: What to Know Before You Buy

In the sewing world, some people consider a serger machine to be an essential piece of equipment. It is typically used for finishing raw edges and seams on woven fabric by creating a tightly bound edge that will not unravel or fray. Some fabrics, such as knitor stretchy fabrics are great for sewing with a serger because the serger makes a stretchy seam. If you are thinking about buying a serger and want to make sure you really need one, the following blog post will help you figure out if you need a serger!

So in this blog post I will explain the purposes of a serger and help you decide if you really need one. I won’t go into the details of how to thread and use a serger, but I will discuss how it works with different types of fabric.

How to Hem Your Pants: The Best Step-by-Step Techniques
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How to Hem Your Pants: The Best Step-by-Step Techniques

People want to know how to hem pants. How do I know that? I’ll tell you in a minute. But first, let’s be clear – this post will show you how to hem pants the quick and easy way with any sewing machine. It’s not fancy. You can see the stitching (so not for $400 dress pants). It’s basically the same hemming that you’ll pay $10 for at an alteration shop. Are you ready to DIY hem your own pants (or your kid’s pants)? I know you are.

How to Sew the Cheater’s elastic waistband
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How to Sew the Cheater’s elastic waistband

So, you may or may not have seen my absurdly silly church talent show video where I demonstrate my talent of ‘speed sewing.’ In the video I make a pair of pajama pants for an unsuspecting volunteer in less than 4 minutes. Anyone who takes pride in their sewing will cringe at my blatant disregard for proper hemming, seam finishing, and elastic waistband techniques.

But hey, I made them in 3 minutes and 20 seconds!

How to Use Pattern Weights – Plus a Tutorial for Sewing Your Own with Scraps
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How to Use Pattern Weights – Plus a Tutorial for Sewing Your Own with Scraps

If you don’t use pattern weights, let me tell you why you should! To be honest, the first time I used pattern weights was was one of those Aha! moments for me. Then I thought ‘yup, people are right about these, they fix so many cutting problems!’ You can use any small, smooth object that has a little bit of weight to it for a pattern weight, but if you want to sew your own, I’m sharing a tutorial for that too.