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Sewing Skills
All Topics
Accessories
Bags
Bias Binding
Christmas
Dresses
Sewing Skills
Sewing Space
Skirts
Tops
Trousers
The Difference Between Jersey and Stretch Needles
How to sew a simple patch pocket
The Sewing Kit You Actually need
Joining bias Binding
Learn how to join Bias Binding to give a clean and flat finish.
How To Sew a clean finish Bias binding
How To Sew a visible Bias binding
Learn how to get the perfect finish to a visible bias binding to finish off any exposed edges.
How to sew a French Seam
Learn how to sew a French Seam, perfect for lightweight fabrics, and it encloses all the raw edges too.
Cressida Dress
HACK ALERT! This is a fabulous pattern made even better by turning it into a dress!
Love Your Overlocker
Getting to know your overlocker and what it can do will help you take your sewing up to the next level.
Neatening Seams
Overlocking is just one way to neaten seams, here are a few more you may want to try
Flat Felled Seam
This is a wonderful seam, it's strong and encloses all the raw edges. It's most popularly used on shirts.
Making More of Your patterns – A Sleeveless kate Dress
KATE IS JUST THE MOST PERFECT DRESS FOR HOT WEATHER AS IT’S INFINITELY HACKABLE. THIS IS HOW YOU CAN ADAPT THE PATTERN TO MAKE A SLEEVELESS VERSION JUST RIGHT FOR THE LONG HOT SUMMER DAYS.
Circular patch Pocket
This is wonderful alternative to the usual shape of a patch pocket.
Cordelia Dress
Cordelia is an incredibly flattering shape for all sizes. The jersey knit fabric makes it very quick to make up and fit as well.
Hermione Wrap Top
This is an exclusive pattern just for our Members and is a really easy project to make.
Sir Toby Belch Bowtie
A lovely project, perfect for gifting or to wear yourself
Sir John Falstaff Tie
Embroidery Stitches
A Few Basic Stitches to help you embellish or create a beautiful decorative feature
Cargo Pocket
These are a brilliant and utilitarian addition to any project
Welt Pocket
Welt pockets look wonderful as a detail on a jacket and are very straightforward to sew.
Jetted Pocket
A professional looking pocket to add lovely details onto your garments.
In-seam pocket
This pocket can be inserted into most seams, both horizontal and vertical
Western-Style Pocket
A tutorial to help you create cut-away pockets in your new garment.
Sewing with Sequins
Sewing with Velvet
A wonderful guide to sewing with Velvet fabrics
Sequin Regan Top
It’s time for a bit of Sparkle and Glamour on the run up to Christmas!
Rosalind Pyjama Bottoms
Possibly the most comfortable pyjamas... in the world!
Peaseblossom top with Pocket
Our Peaseblossom top with a pocket
Getting Started
All the technical info
Digital Sewing Planner
Our lovely digital planner to help you plan all your new projects!
How to make a needle storage book
A lovely way to store your needles using up your left over fabric.
Make your own Make Up Remover Pads
How to make your own make up remover pads
How to make a simple drawstring bag
Lovely quick project to make a useful drawstring bag
How To Make a Simple Scrunchie
How to make your own hair scrunchie!
how to make a Twist Turban Headband
How to make your own headband!
So What’s Different
Getting To know your Overlocker
It really is worth taking the time to get to know your own overlocker and the types of needles and threads you can use.
Basic Seams
Here are some great tips for getting your seams just right
Clean finished Seam
This can look great on mid-weight fabric where the seams will be visible
Measuring
Measure the Polystyrene Balls
Fabric choices for Hermione
Hermione works best with lightweight woven fabrics
Cutting out
Sewing the tie pieces together
Making a pattern for Your Cargo Pocket
It's easy to create your own pattern to get your pocket just the right size.
Prepping the pocket
Getting Started
Getting started with your pocket
Getting started on your pocket
Types of sequin fabrics
Different types of velvet
Laying, Cutting and Marking the pattern
Fabric choices for Rosalind
Make the right fabric choice for your Rosalind Pyjama Bottoms
Getting started
All the technical info!
Make up remover pads – Sewing machine method
Make up remover pads using a sewing machine
Sewing the Outer Booklet
Scrunchie Project
Headband Project
Fabric Choices
Chosing the right fabric can make all the difference to your project
Sewing Corners
Sewing around corners can be tricky, but here are some fabulous tips to help you get it right.
Zig Zag finished seam
Nearly all sewing machines will have a zigzag option and this is just one way you can use to neaten seams.
Notions
Make sure you have everything you need to hand to make up your Cordelia Dress
Cutting Fabric strips
Cutting Multiple layers to make more necklaces
Getting started and a bit of prep
Cutting and prepping the fabric pieces
Sewing together
Completing the tie tips
Making up the cargo pocket
Creating the three dimensional Cargo Pocket
Attaching the Welt
Sewing pocket bags together
Creating a nice curve
Sewing with sequins – Do’s
Nap Direction
Sewing the Shoulders
Cutting Out
Understanding the pattern layout and accurately cutting out the fabric. Transferring all the patter information you need onto the fabric.
Cutting and making the pocket
Make up remover pads – Overlocker method
Make up remover pads using a sewing machine
Adding the Inner
Notions
These are all the other things you'll need to make your dress
Basic four thread overlocking
This is your go-to, or default setting for your overlocker, and probably the most used setting too.
Trimming a Stitched Corner
You need to be able to trim back the corners you've sewn to get a better finish.
Pinking finished Seam
This is a method that can work work well on very fine fabrics
Machine Options for Making Cordelia
There are different machines you can use to make up your Cordelia Dress. Have a look at an overview.
Sewing the Strips together
Joining the shorter strips to create a long bias strip
Sewing the darts
Make sure to press the darts downwards
Clipping edges
Finishing the central seam
Attaching the cargo pocket
Keep your pocket square as you sew it to the main fabric
Cutting the opening
Adding Pocket bag
Finishing the pocket
Sewing with sequins – Don’ts
Laying and cutting out the pattern
Sewing the Neckband
Sewing the crotch
Sewing the fronts and backs together.
Attaching the pocket to your garment
Fabric Quantities
The fabric quantities for the Cressida Dress are on page 1 of the Cressida Dress PDF Instructions
Neatening ends
Most of the time your overlocking ends will be included in another seam or hem. But sometimes it's nice just to tidy it up a bit.
Mock overlock finished seam
This is rather a fancy zigzag but can also be used instead of overlocking to create seams as well.
Using a Sewing Machine
It is possible to make the entire Cordelia Dress with just a sewing machine, even though its made with Jersey Knit fabric.
Creating the Tube
Finishing the leading edge
Neaten off the front curved edge first
Pulling Through
Final touches
Pocket Flap
Adding a pocket flap can really add to the finish of your cargo pocket
Finishing the Welt
Marking out Stabilising
Making and finishing the rest of the top
Adding the Pockets
Sewing the pocket bags onto the trouser fronts.
Sewing the Shoulders
Pattern adjustments
Sometimes a small pattern adjustment can make a much better fit
Bound Edge seam
This is a beautiful couture method neatening off seams and can look amazing on unlined jackets if using a contrast binding.
Using an Overlocker
Using an overlocker will ensure your sewing is much more professionally finished, but it is not essential.
Creating the Necklace
Sewing the shoulders and back neck facing
This is a great way to neaten everything at the same time.
Adding the Clip and Slider
Sewing Velvet
Sewing the Pocket Bags together
Matching up the side seams.
Attaching the Neck Band
Cutting out and marking up
The best ways to cut out and transfer pattern markings to your fabric
Stitch Length
The stitch length will be something that you can alter depending on the type of fabric you're working with.
neatening seams
These are just a few ways to neaten seams without using an overlocker
Using a Cover Stitch Machine
This will give your sewing a Super Professional finish. But you could use a normal twin needle if you prefer.
Sewing the Sleeves and side seams
Make sure to leave a gap in one of the side seams
Pressing Velvet
Sewing the Front and Backs together
Sewing the fronts and backs pieces together.
Finishing off the hems
A Little bit of Prep
Attaching interfacing and stay stitching. Instead of the fly facing you'll be using the Skirt Front Facing so make sure to add interfacing to that.
Cutting width
The cutting width is another little feature that will really help to get your sewing perfect.
What Size to Make
Use the pattern information to help you decide which size to make up.
Finishing off the Hems
The bottom edge and the sleeves are finished in the same way
Finishing seams and hems
Making the Waistband
Constructing the waistband
Front Darts
Pinning , sewing and pressing the darts
Differential Feed
The differential feed is so important and will help no end in getting a better finish and results for your sewing
Pattern Alterations
These are just a few alterations you can try to help to get a better fit.
The finished top
Your finished Hermione
Attaching the Waistband
Attaching the waistband to the trousers.
Making up the top
Sewing the top and creating the cuffs
Three Thread Ovelocking – Left needle
Just using three threads can be very effective in edging and neatening your sewing projects
Cutting Out
Now you have the pattern sorted, it's time to cut out the fabric.
Inserting the Drawcord
Optional - adding the drawcord into the waistband.
The Collar
Making up and attaching the collar
Marking up
It is VERY important that you transfer ALL the pattern information carefully to ensure the twist works correctly.
Hem the trouser legs
Finishing the trouser legs.
Making up the Pockets
This is where it deviates slightly from the Jumpsuit, but the processes are exactly the same. Remember to use the pocket pieces for the dress as they are a different shape to the Jumpsuit pockets
Narrow hem
A lovely way to neaten lightweight fabrics
Making up the dress Back.
Sewing the back of the dress together first, makes it much easier to sew the rest of the dress together.
Making up the Skirt
This is the same as the jumpsuit with sewing up the side seams, just miss out the inside leg seams
Picot edge
This is a very pretty, decorative edging stitch
Making up the Dress Front
This lesson is all about making the Twist work. So you can pause and rewind as many times as you need too.
Joining the top to the Skirt
Again this follows exactly the same process for the Jumpsuit, you're just adding a skirt instead
Rolled Hem
This is one of the most useful stitches on your overlocker
shoulders & facing
Putting the shoulders together now gives you option of finishing off the facing at the same time. This is different to the PDF instructions so you can follow that method if you prefer.
Sewing and attaching the facing
Exactly the same as the jumpsuit, but using the skirt front facings instead of the fly facing
Pintucks
Pintucks can be a very effective decorative addition
Sleeve options
Cordelia has three Sleeve or sleeveless options. So you can chose which one you prefer.
Bonus lesson #3 – Alternative Hemline
Give your dress more or of a 'shirty' feel with a curved shirt-style hem.
Finishing the front opening
Top stitch in the same way as the jumpsuit but sew all the way down the skirt fronts to the hem
Gathering
This is a handy little function to use on your overlocker
Version 1 – sleeveless
This version shows you how to neaten off the armhole for a sleeveless option.
Buttons and buttonholes
Marking and sewing buttonholes and sewing on the buttons. All the buttonhole positions are on the new skirt pattern pieces
Mock cuff finish
This is lovely way to finish the hem of a sweatshirt or woven top.
Version 2 – Straight 3/4 Length sleeve
This Version give you a straight 3/4 length sleeve option. But it is very easy to extend the sleeve to make it full length.
Finishing the hem
This is a quick and easy way to finish the hem of the dress
Adding Cuffs
This is actually pretty straightforward and gives a very professional result.
Version 3 – Butterfly sleeve
This version gives you a pretty flared butterfly sleeve option.
Making up the tie belt
The tie belt just finishes off the dress
The finished Cressida dress
It really is worth having a go at the hacked version of Cressida and turning it into a dress
Two Thread Flatlocking
Flatlocking provides a lovely decorative stitch that you can use as seams or for hemming.
Side Seams
Whatever version you choose for the sleeve you can pick up the lessons from here to finish your dress.
Care of your machine
It is really important to make sure you take care of your machine.
Finishing the Hem
Now its time to finish and press the hem - you're nearly there!
Conclusion
