Sewing Tips and Tricks for Beginner and Intermediate sewists from a home sewist and sewing instructor teaching garment workshops in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Colourful fabrics are produced in a myriad of ways; from traditional piece dyeing to yarn dyeing, block printing and batik to name a few. Some of our favourite fabrics in the shop are yarn-dyed and we love them for their unique variation, beautiful drape and soft hand feel. You may be wondering what yarn dyed fabrics are and how they differ from other types of dyed fabrics and you wouldn’t be alone!
Read MoreFabric ribbon is such a hit! A nice palette cleanser and super satisfying scrap busting project too. You can use a large scrap or piece together small scraps as well. A multi-coloured scrappy ribbon would be so neat! Read more on the blog for some tips and tricks (Ribbon can be made on a regular sewing machine as well; it will just take a little bit more time and patience!)
Read MoreHere at WS we want to be thoughtful about our fabric scraps, how they are used and where they go at the end of the day. Sadly, the options for textile recycling in our city are virtually non-existent so we have to get creative with how we reuse our scraps or where we send them to get a second life.
Read MoreWe are continuing our scrap busting/gifting series today with a fun little project that can be machine or hand sewn. I had this idea to use up my scraps as filling for some festive ornaments or a garland and this is what I came up with. If you have kids in your life and they are into sewing (and decorating) this could be a great project for them too! If you like gifting ornaments or adding a crafty touch to a wrapped gift, these could make a sweet gift tag as well.
Read MoreAs crafty people we all enjoy a good upcycling project from time to time. Or finding other ways to use up scraps and stretch those fabric purchases as far as they can go. As we approach the holiday season you may be looking for some quick projects or gifting ideas so this week’s tip will get us started on a little scrap busting/gifting series to hopefully inspire you to think outside the box.
Read MoreToday we are talking about colour blocking over on the blog and how to tackle it yourself! There are several ways to approach colour blocking if you want to add some variety to your wardrobe or spice up a TNT (tried and true) pattern! It’s another great way to use up scraps or smaller remnants too. Have you ever tackled colour blocking a pattern on your own?
Read MoreKnit fabrics have a reputation for being challenging to sew but we say, you can do it! We hope today’s blog post will give you some tips for success when sewing with knits or the confidence to give it a try if you haven’t ventured there yet. And if you want some in person help, The T-shirt Class is a great place to start (Next class starts Nov 4).
Read More“Stretch percentage” in sewing is typically associated with knit fabrics (there are stretch wovens too!) and refers to the amount of stretch the fabric has, either vertical stretch or horizontal stretch. Vertical stretch refers to the amount of stretch along the grainline (parallel to the selvedge) and horizontal stretch refers to the amount of stretch along the crosswise grain (perpendicular to the selvedge).
Read MoreI was approximately today year’s old (give or take a few months) when I learned this trick. At the time, my mind was blown. How could I not know about this? That secret compartment was just there...the WHOLE TIME and I didn’t know. Well, you don’t know what you don’t know, right?! That is why we share these kinds of tips sometimes even if it’s not new for everyone and it’s not a long, detailed blog post. It’s always worth sharing, even for just that one person who says, “why didn’t anyone tell me!?”.
Read MoreWe’ve got something fun for you today! I’ve been thinking a lot about sewing tools lately because my birthday is coming up and I (Hali) like to buy one new sewing tool for myself each year. In the end you don’t really need a ton of tools to sew your own clothes but they sure do make sewing fun and there are some really cool tools out there! (Can you say “Simflex” anyone?!) Katherine and I have each put together a list of “Top 5” tools we couldn’t sew without and we want to hear about your favourite tools as well!
Read MoreIt’s popping up everywhere, but what is it? Correctly labelled, LENZING™ ECOVERO™, this eco-responsible viscose fibre made and trademarked by the Lenzing Group is another step in the right direction for sustainable fibres. Although it is still a viscose fibre produced in much the same way as rayon, with toxic chemical use and issues with wastewater pollution, the steps Lenzing has taken to ensure a lower environmental impact and their commitment to sustainable forestry practices gives this fibre a leg up on generic viscose and some cotton production as well.
Read MoreJust a fun tidbit for you today! I had no idea people were so creative when it came to bobbin storage. I’ve had the same little bobbin box I got when I first started garment sewing a few years ago but now I’m thinking I might need to try some of these ideas! I found so many unique ideas for how to store bobbins. They can be so pesky sometimes, always dropping on the floor, constantly unravelling but as a very necessary part of sewing you just gotta deal and figure out what works for you and your space.
Read MoreNot everyone has a serger (or overlocker) and that is OKAY! You definitely don’t need one to make your own garments. If you do have one, did you dread the first time you needed to change colours or re-thread your machine?! This is a fear many sewists have but like anything, with practice it gets easier and you will gain confidence in your rethreading abilities.
If you just need to change thread colors or replace one spool, then this tip is for you! This is the method I primarily use and I find it works well with very few broken threads. I also like this method because it doesn’t waste as much thread (or time) as other methods. You’ll see why in a minute.
Read MoreSo what is bamboo, really? We know it as that extremely versatile fabric that has a beautiful drape and luxurious hand feel but is it really the more sustainable choice when it comes to eco-friendly fabrics?
We don’t have all the answers but definitely some food for thought.
Bamboo is a versatile raw material and increasingly recognizable as a sustainable alternative to plastic used in construction, home decor, personal hygiene items, kitchen utensils and even reusable coffee cups.
Read MoreIt’s been a year of gathered dresses and statement sleeves! Whether you have been eyeing the newly released #romygatherdress or the timeless #waikeriedress or have a pattern hack with gathers in mind, we have you covered. We may be late to the game with this tip but we also know that there might be someone out there who is new to sewing and this is just the type of post they need to get inspired! We love that and if that is YOU, we are so glad you found us!
Read MoreYou can’t beat this look when it comes to classic jeans or a denim jacket! It may seem complicated but fear not. We have simplified it for you and this quick instructional video will have you rolling out flat felled seams like it’s your job.
We know there are several ways to sew a flat felled seam. This is by no means “The Only Way” but we like it because it’s quick and it does the job well. These seams are durable and strong, making your clothes last and hopefully reducing the amount of pants in your mending pile.
Read MoreThere are many methods out there for how to make continuous bias tape binding in a few simple steps. This is by far our favourite method and it only uses a square of fabric!
No more wasteful diagonal cuts, hooray!
It’s a time saver and uses scraps of fabric in an economical way so those larger offcuts are put to good use and your fabric dollars go much further. Win win.
Read MoreTencel™ and lyocell fabrics are gaining rapid popularity in the sewing world and they often come with the “more sustainable option” tag line but you may be wondering, what does “more sustainable” actually mean. Let us break it down for you!
The terms Tencel™ and lyocell are often used interchangeably, bringing about some confusion. Tencel™ is the registered name for the fabric lyocell, made and trademarked by the Austrian company, Lenzing. Lenzing is world renowned for their closed loop production system which recycles over 99% of the non-toxic solvents they use to produce lyocell fibres. They are a trusted partner in sustainable forestry practices, renewable energy and eco-friendly manufacturing processes.
Hemp is a strong fibre from a plant that uses the land well, providing more fiber per acre than cotton or flax. As a robust annual crop, it grows quickly and successfully in many different climates and requires significantly less water than crops like cotton. The plant itself replenishes the soil around it with minerals while also cleaning toxins from the ground and acting as a natural weed suppressor. For this reason, hemp is considered a carbon-negative crop meaning it removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it adds, reducing its carbon footprint to less than neutral. How cool is that?!
Read MoreIt’s no secret, we love linen! From its temperature regulating, antimicrobial properties to its crisp hand and soft drape, we think linen is a great place to start on your natural fibre journey! In this fabric spotlight we discuss the properties and production of linen and the exciting ongoing #FlaxToLinenPF project led by @pembinafibreshed right here in Treaty 1 territory!
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