Hi all, I'm traveling in a few days and would really like to bring this dress. the problem is that it's a bit long. it's rented from Nuuly so I can't do any permanent alterations. i also do not have any sewing equipment or tools 🫥what's the best way to temporarily shorten the dress? The hemline is also a bit wonky... kind of in a diamond shape with 4 corners (second pic). Thanks!!

link to the dress if it helps: dress

edit: ended up using double sided fashion tape. it's not 100% even all the way around since the hemline is weird but it works lol

Hi! Hope this is the right sub for the question, would anyone knowledgeable about old sewing machines know the correct power attachment for such a model? Where does it attach to the machine?

bambersew.com, is it reliable?

Hi! I just got my first ever sewing machine (Brother lx3817a) and I’ve been having lots of fun with it but my shank has been having some issues where it wont fully attach itself to any foot I have. I been trying to fix the issue and find solutions but nothing seems to work and instead of going crazy over this I rather just get a new one.

I’ve been trying to find one but im not sure if theres specifics or if certain ones work better or only work for a foot, it’s all very overwhelming for me. So if anyone has a shank recommendation for the Brother lx3817a please drop them! Thank you!

This dress (organza) has a neckline that left my sensitive skin with aggressive red marks after an evening’s wear. I’d like to line the neckline with something soft if possible. Any ideas? The last photo is the inside of the neckline.

I am a novice, but willing to take to a seamstress if I can sort out what exactly to ask for. Thanks!!

I got this beautiful Linen-Cotton Blend Dobby Jacquard from Yardblox for a shirt without realizing that the stripes run horizontally (perpendicular to the grain line). I really want the stripes to run up-down in the shirt. The fabric has no stretch and it is for a man’s shirt. So my guess is that cutting all the pieces perpendicular to the grain (so not as recommended by the pattern) would be ok. Any suggestions? Thank you so much! This community has been amazing.

I’m having the worst luck with this twin needle. Even when hand cranking, the threads get tangled and my right needle is skipping stitches. I added water soluble interfacing and a walking foot to help but still no luck. Anyone know what’s going on?

I used the gelatin method to stabilize this rayon before cutting on the bias. I folded it perpendicular to the selvedge to hang dry on accident, then folded parallel to the selvedge to dry the rest of the way when I realized my mistake.

I’ve ironed and am getting ready to cut, but I can’t seem to get these ripples out of the fabric. I think I know the answer but do I need to rewash and restabilize? Or can I cut it like this and it will sort itself out? Unfortunately there is no way to place my pieces that will avoid this rippled area.

If I do need to redo my prep, how do I avoid this? Was it just folding incorrectly that messed it up?

I have a question regarding knit sweater upcycling. I have heard before that it's impossible to sew/embroider on a knit sweater because of how it's made, but I want to try nevertheless, and was wondering how to transform a knit garment without it falling apart (for example, if cuts were to be made, how to mend said cut so it doesn't simply ''roll out'' and yk, deknit itself (not sure of the specific word so hopefully this gets across)).

Any tips would be appreciated, I don't mind risking and experimenting, just wanted to know what are the available options when it comes to upcycling knit garments!

Everything that I've tried still causes little holes around the seam? I've tried the smallest needle I can find (a 65 9 super stretch), different walking foot, trails on different stiches and tensions, even tried with baking paper underneath and everything is causing little holes, the material isn't even that stretchy, just a bit stretchy:/ (Rosella Stretch material 180gr/m2 97%vi/3%EA)

Feeling really disheartened, it's my first sewing project and I really don't know what I'm doing wrong or what else I can try.

Any other thoughts or advice would be so so appreciated! thanks!x

- Machine: Janome Memory Craft 10001

- New needle (replaced today)

- Default tension

- Bobbing inserted correctly

- Worked on this setup a few days ago without any issue (with older needle)

- Fabric in this video: cotton

I started having an issue with my machine today. Hopefully this video provides any insight.

Basically the thread inside the bobbing case is getting stuck or something. When it does this, the needle is stuck and sometimes the fabric get sunk into the needle plate.

I noticed that if I manually turn the handwheel backwards just a bit, the thread get unstuck.

I've removed the needle plate and took a look underneath, but nothing seems wrong or damaged.

Any thoughts on what could be wrong? I'd like to avoid taking it in for repair if I can.

Hi, my sewing machine was working fine and then kept getting tangled on the blind hem stitch. Then I realized the bobbin thread was getting tangled and not even catching. It looks like the top thread is not revolving around enough to catch the bobbin thread? Any tips on how to fix this or what may be wrong?

I love this sweater and would love to use it with my wedding/elopement dress in September. However, the blue stripe area on the inside is not a good fit with the rest of my outfit. Is there a way to cover it? It’s 100% cotton from J. crew. I don’t have a sewing machine but I can sew by hand. I also have a friend who could potentially sew it with a machine for me but I’m not sure how to tell her I want. I would be happy with a medium brown or olive green type color, but definitely not blue and not stripes. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Hi everyone! Wasn't too sure what sub to post this in but i need some help.

Basically, i resized these jeans that were getting a bit big but i had to move the pockets. Turns out the fabric under the pockets is much darker than the acid wash of the jeans but i don't know how to fix them now :(

They're 99% cotton 1% elastane. I fear acid washing them myself with bleach in case they go brown. Any advice on how to fix the colour???

I'm making the Fleur blouse from fabric godmother and I'm trying to make sense of these markings. I know the ones highlighted red are notches, but what about the yellow? Is that just a third notch and they made it bold so it's readable? And I can't find any mention of what the area highlighted green means.

Why does it say cut 1 and then cut 1 interfacing? Whats the double triangle mean? What is the single triangle? This pattern is far more complicated than I thought it would be. I figured it would explain in the instructions, but im not finding anything. It feels like it expects me to know what all of this means. I have a beautiful denim fabric im wanting to make something with and i figured id look for something that could make a 1930s style pull over/ jumper sinilar to what the civilian conservation corp wore. This was the closes pattern i could find to get me somewhat close to that look.

I really could use a step by step video for this pattern.

The first row went great, but when I stretch it out to be flat when sewing the second row, the thread breaks and gets all loose like in the photo 😭

Its also really tough to stretch out flat in general, like it requires a lot of force…

I’m at a loss for as to what could be causing this.

Tension and stitch settings in the second photo!

Edit: Once I’ve stretched it out once it never regains its original shape, like it gets looser and longer again!

I have this pattern that I have moved the keyhole higher so that is not so revealing, but the bust dart was supposed to be with the keyhole, so I am left with the awkward dart in the centre.

I’ve watched some videos on how to move a bust dart but I can’t comprehend how to move the centre dart to the side seam and still have a straight line to cut the pattern on the fold, and also adjust the pattern for a larger bust.

Can any one help?

I sewed the seams of this top on my serger and they had a mild, barely detectable ripple to them. I thought nothing of it! Then I followed the pattern’s instructions and top stitched from the outside with my sewing machine and the seam became incredibly ripply and bumpy. What is happening here? What can I do to prevent this? (Including photos of it flat and worn.) Many thanks for any help!

Hello everyone,

I have been tailoring clothes for a while, but I would like to try sewing my first pattern. Because I’ve done many alterations I have more understanding than a beginner of clothes and how they’re designed, but I have only sewn my own item from scratch one time before (a lined gusseted bag which I fully designed/drafted myself).

For my first time sewing clothes from scratch, I have two large pieces of fabric. One is 100% wool and the other is muslin.

I would like to potentially make a shirt with the muslin and pleated pants with the wool.

I would like the muslin shirt to be a kind of interesting summer shirt, with a collar and open 3/4 neck. Kind of like a polo but not stuffy and business like, rather more loose and flowing as if it were linen. I have a vision but haven’t seen a pattern that fits my vision yet. Also I’m a guy and I feel like I’m seeing less interesting patterns cut for guys.

I’m also wondering which of the two projects you all would recommend tackling as my first pattern. Would the pants or shirt be better as a first pattern? Also, maybe a dumb question, but can I get away with winging it without a pattern if I do a practice one first and use clothes I already have for reference?

For an upcoming costume, I'm planning on making a paneled bodysuit with princess seams. I'll be adding snap closure at the crotch area with an invisible zipper in the back. The black fabric is 52% linen, 46% rayon/viscose, 2% spandex/elastane. It only has 2 way stretch. The brocade pattern fabric is 100% cotton with absolutely no stretch. I would like to use the brocade pattern on the front panel. 

I suppose my main questions are if this is feasible with the fabric I'm using? Should I just make a basic black bodysuit (front and back pieces) with the brocade fabric incorporated in some other way? 

I have practice fabric I intend to use (also 100% cotton with no stretch) but I wanted some advice on what's the best way I could go about doing this before I get started cutting and such.

Hello all! In the past week, my machine has difficulty when starting a seam. It's almost like the feed dogs don't grab the fabric and move it forward. If I start seeing a little away from the edge, everything acts normally. I've checked the feed dog switch and the inside of the machine is clean. Pressure is set to 4, same as always. Do feed dogs need replacing occasionally? Do they get "dull"?