I haven’t been sewing for too many years, but one thing I noticed when I first started was a movement to #topstitchallthethings. I’m telling you, it didn’t matter what group I was in, if you were sewing, you were topstitching. What I later discovered was the lost art and technique of understitching. Understitching is the […]
Hi Itch to Stitch Readers! Today I would like to talk a little bit about grading seam allowances, one of the easiest ways to reduce bulk in your seam allowances and keep your garments looking smooth. But what is Grading? In the simplest terms, grading a seam allowance is cutting the layers of fabric in […]
The Lisbon Cardigan pattern is released today! The Lisbon Cardigan comes in two bodice lengths (regular and cropped), as well as two sleeve lengths (long and 3/4). It has a button front, but of course you are free to omit them. I can tell you now that you are going to love this sewing pattern. This is […]
If any of my pattern instructions involves stitching a corner, inevitably one or more of my testers would tell me, “you forgot to say ‘clip seam allowance’ in the step.” That’s what I love about my testers. These ladies are detailed and diligent. I cannot express my appreciation enough for their help. (This post contains […]
Have you ever wondered why it happens to you? That moment you sit down to your machine to complete that super-fast thirty minute project and it somehow becomes a three hour project. I spent several hours on an infinity scarf once, it only had two seams. How is that even possible? For me, it was […]
TESTING CALL CLOSED The testing call is now closed. Thank you so much for your support! The Sirena Dress is now available in the shop. +++++++++++++ I am quite excited about the Sirena Dress. I want to design a dress that has a fitted body with many darts, which offer opportunities to fine-tune the fit, so that […]
Hi Itch to Stitch Readers! Who here has ever added piping to a sewing project? For years I was intimidated to try this sewing technique, thinking it required a special presser foot and advance skills, but once I tried it for the first time, I was shocked by how easy it was to use! Piping […]
TESTING CALL CLOSED The testing call is now closed. Thank you so much for your support! The Lisbon Cardigan is now available in the shop. +++++++++++++ I was hoping to do a testing call for two patterns, but one thing led to another, I need several days more for the second pattern. So I thought why […]
If you think that Itch to Stitch’s patterns fit me perfectly out of the file, you would be incorrect. I don’t use my own measurements to draft the pattern. Just like everything else in life, it’s not always all about me. Since I develop the patterns for different women, it makes sense for me to […]
Tacking the lining loosely to the garment is a technique used in several Itch to Stitch’s patterns. These tacks are called as “French Tacks”. (I just looked up how many “French” sewing terms there are. Apparently we have French canvas, French curves, French darts, French seams and French tacks. The French seems to have invented many […]
People are always wondering what sewing tools and notions they NEED and what they can live without. I am finding that there were tools I thought I could live without, but then I accidentally tried them. The problem is, now that I’ve tried them I’m almost non-functional without them and have now made several splurge […]
I am cooking up a new pattern and it has a fitted bodice with waist and bust darts. So I think this is a good time to talk about moving bust darts to fit your figure. Even women of the same height could have busts sitting at different levels. This could be because of age, cup size […]
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