beginner sewing tips


Sew Sweet: How to Sew With Your Grandkids

Over the years, since I founded Sew a Softie, I’ve learnt that there are a lot of grandmothers who want to sew with their grandkids. I’ve seen how thrilled they are when everything works. One grandmother was even sewing with her granddaughter 21st century style over Zoom! But I often receive emails and texts telling ... Read More

3 Ways to Support Your Local Fabric Store

In a time when retailers like Amazon have so much power, why not start shopping at your local fabric store? In the past, our editors have shared tips for sourcing vintage and upcycled fabric, as well as ideas for shopping for fabric on a budget, and now we’re here to share our favorite ways to ... Read More

4 Essential Tips to Sewing Corduroy

Corduroy fabric is both stylish and highly functional, making it popular over many decades for clothing and furnishings. It’s known for having a distinctive, visible grain line that can be thick or thin in width. Due to these grooves in the material, corduroy can sometimes be confusing to sew. Let’s discuss some tips for working ... Read More

3 Simple Tips for Spotting AI Patterns Online

As more companies and makers begin incorporating AI (artificial intelligence) elements into their selling experience, it can be difficult to sort out a genuine product or pattern from an “AI-enhanced” image. How can you tell what a real product being sold is versus an image that’s been created using AI? With the holiday season underway ... Read More

4 Tips for Searching for Vintage Sewing Patterns

There’s something so magical about holding a vintage sewing pattern in your hands. I’ve always found the beautiful illustrations on the front of vintage sewing patterns to be incredibly delightful and charming, and knowing that these patterns are most likely pre-used and pre-loved makes me feel like I’m holding a piece of the past in ... Read More