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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Do you know the difference between natural and synthetic fibers? As we in the crafting industry see a shift towards working with more sustainable materials, we thought it important to share with our readers a quick guide to different fibers so that you can not only choose materials that work best with your sewing and ...
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Who knew something as small as a button could transform a garment into something truly special? Covered buttons are a fantastic way to add a personal, stylish touch to your sewing projects. And the best part? They’re surprisingly easy to make, no matter whether you want to add flair to a new garment or give ...
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Cozy soft and wonderfully comfortable against your skin, it’s always an eye-catcher and protects against the chilling winter cold, yet… it’s completely fake. I’m talking about that great pretender, imitation fur, also known as faux fur, fake fur, or hobby fur. In fact, it’s not fur at all but a warp knit with a plush ...
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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 ...
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A pattern weight is an alternative to pinning a pattern piece to fabric, especially ideal for delicate or slippery fabrics which may be misshapen by the pins. Some people think rotary cutters are only for quilting, but they work just as well on curves and clothing patterns! Pattern weights can also hold fabric in place ...
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If you aren’t sure what to use pinking shears for or when you should use a rotary cutter, let us help you with this quick guide to cutting tools! We’ll cover the basic cutting tools that sewists and quilters are most likely to encounter, as well as some specialty tools you can find online or ...
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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 ...
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