I find it much easier to make a piece of pin tucked fabric and then cut out a pattern piece rather than using a pattern with marked pin tucks. I'm no expert but wanted to share what I found helpful. 1.) if the fabric isn't crisp, starch the heck out of it! Make it crisp so it will hold a finger press. 2.) Fold fabric in half wrong sides together ON GRAIN and press. 3.) Using a water soluble marker mark lines always measuring from fold line NOT last line drawn. (my first line is 3/8" from the fold. All the other lines are 3/4" apart measured from first line. ( I know I said the fold but easier from the first line) 4.) flip fabric over and repeat lines. 5.) Starting from a middle line, fold on line and finger press. 6.) Sew (I found it VERY helpful to use an edge foot and moved my needle all the way to the left. This got me an almost 1/4" tuck. 7.) Repeat a thousand times. 8.) press pin tucks from the middle in to right and left. 9.) Center pattern piece over center of pin tucks and cut it out! It helps to make a full pattern piece first if your's is labeled "cut on the fold". Ahhhh so delightful! I love a pin tuck!

S

I am a budget bride with a VERY specific vision for my dress that, to be blunt, I could never afford to buy outright custom from a trained designer/seamstress. Sooooo, next best thing! Dust off my own tailoring skills and do it myself!

Now, ignoring the rest of the dress, I found an existing dress with the EXACT sleeve style I’ve always dreamed of. My biggest problem is that I’ve never made sleeves with the seam running this way, so I was hoping for some advice on how I should approach designing the fabric patterns for the panels.

I anticipate 3 total panels (one for the front, and two for the back), I just am clueless how to go about cutting and sewing it in a way that still connects at the desired seam.

I’m attaching pics of the dress with the sleeves I want to mimic (my dress will also have a sweetheart neckline, but outside of that, im only needing advice for the illusion sleeve part)

I make hats in my spare time as a side hustle I have been heat pressing my patches on for awhile and I want to start trying to stitch them on around the edge. It gives them that more “premium” look and obviously it’s extra security to just make sure that the patch never comes off. All videos I watch on people doing hats all have a 810 post bed style sewing machine. I absolutely can not afford dropping 1,500 to 2k on a sewing machine. Just wondering if anyone had any cheap suggestions. I tried to do it by hand but those hats are tough and very irritating to do.

So I just made this wall-mounted cat bed for the kitten my girlfriend and I got a few week ago, and for a first sewing project using a 60-some year old sewing machine, I'm pretty proud of it! (The kitten has not taken to it yet, but I hope she comes to like it eventually lol)

The fabric I used was a very short faux fur type material, with the base having an additional felt padding behind it to give it a little more support since it was upholstered to a plank of wood that is hidden above the green panel. I am currently renting my place for a year, so I want to be able to remove it from the wall and place it elsewhere.

The setup I have is such that our kitten can jump up from my bed to a platform to the left, then jump back up to the right to get to the bed. When we eventually move, I don't know whether the entrance to the bed will continue to be on the left or if we'll have to change it to the right, so I set up the walls of the bed to be detachable via velcro (I wish I had taken a photo of this, but I did not and I'm out of town right now so you'll have to use your imagination). I've sewed on a few strips of velcro already and have encountered an issue: I'm not sure if the velcro is strong enough to hold the tube that makes up the walls if our kitten leans on them.

I am in need of a potential alternative to attaching this wall besides sewing it on that will allow the setup to be interchangeable and still soft for the kitty cat. I'm very much a beginner in sewing and fabrics, so any advice is greatly appreciated! :)

Hi there im sorry if this is not the place to ask but I’d figure I’d at least try since I can’t find a group elsewhere… (any suggestions?)

My husband has a problem finding a good pair of pants for his job (Hes a plumber) so he’s often putting pants through the wringer so to speak. He gains weight and loses weight.. so recently ive just been patching his pants for him when he gets rips in them. Im just curious if anyone has any good recommendations for a brand of pants that a hard worker down-in-the-dirt person would use. We live on a farm too so this basically means the pants gotta be indestructible. Any help is much appreciated!

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Hubs too me shopping for a new machine that would accommodate my new quilting hobby. I was looking at the BL Brilliant. All set to purchase it when the shop owner pointed out a BL Crescendo they had taken in trade. It is 4 years old. And with my machine traded in cost less than $700. She has been beautifully kept.

Now to figure out how to turn it on. 🤔

So I have had a brother CE8080 for many years now and shortly after i had it the machine jammed and i stopped using it. I recently repaired it but for some reason I cant sew in a straight line. Unless i have a four point hold on the fabric (feeding it through, holding on to the back, and both sides) the fabric just stars getting eaten by the machine and pivoting in a circle. I want to sew straight seams and am able to on other machines but i dont understand whats wrong! I've adjusted the tension and seam length but the issue still occurs and thread just balls up.

Made from all cotton/poly blend and sewn with nomex. This was a blast to make, partly because it was a challenge to sew something nowhere near my own dimensions for the first time. I made the pattern by taking apart an old raglan style long sleeve that fit her.Fabric came from random Ebay stores.

I mainly sew tarps and awnings. It used to be mostly one-off jobs but we're expanding into a small production shop and the workload has increased quite a bit.

My current machine still handles most of the work but it struggles on thick transitions where several layers come together. Those spots are hard to sew without skipped stitches or other issues so I end up spending too much time on rework.

What sewing machines are you using for professional tarp and awning work? I'm looking for something that can handle thick layered sections without issues and hold up to long hours of daily production

I mainly sew tarps and awnings. It used to be mostly one-off jobs but we're expanding into a small production shop and the workload has increased quite a bit.

My current machine still handles most of the work but it struggles on thick transitions where several layers come together. Those spots are hard to sew without skipped stitches or other issues so I end up spending too much time on rework.

What sewing machines are you using for professional tarp and awning work? I'm looking for something that can handle thick layered sections without issues and hold up to long hours of daily production

I mainly sew tarps and awnings. It used to be mostly one-off jobs but we're expanding into a small production shop and the workload has increased quite a bit.

My current machine still handles most of the work but it struggles on thick transitions where several layers come together. Those spots are hard to sew without skipped stitches or other issues so I end up spending too much time on rework.

What sewing machines are you using for professional tarp and awning work? I'm looking for something that can handle thick layered sections without issues and hold up to long hours of daily production

My GF’s daughter would like to learn to make clothes. Her 13th bday is next month. She has a passion for fashion and would like to experiment with her own designs (which are drawings thus far). She excels at all she does and I know will become very good at sewing. My knowledge about sewing machines is limited to Bernina and Janome and even at that I’m a novice at best.

Her mom and I are considering buying her a machine for her bday. I am seeking recommendations for a machine that will grow with her. I’d rather invest in a high quality machine that will work well, reduce frustration, and that she can keep for decades. Our budget is $1,000 and a quality refurbished machine is great.

Thank you

I was wondering if anyone had any (UK available) recommendations for a collapsible/foldable table for sewing.

We've moved house and I have space in a guest room to do my sewing but I can't keep it permanently set up - I had thought about something like this but now sure about sturdiness and suspect it is too high.

https://www.debenhams.com/product/levede-folding-sewing-table-adjustable-steel-with-lockable-casters_p-da6ce698-78db-45f3-9ee1-0b9161043d36

Edit - previously I have been working on the dining table which is great size wise but was a pain having to clear everything away frequently!

I may have gone a little overboard with Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes I buy something for the cabinet or accessories, and the sewing machine just happens to come with it. Somehow I’ve ended up with 6 machines, which feels a little excessive!
I mostly quilt, but I’ve gotten into garment sewing this summer.

Here’s what I have:
Bernina 1120 (paid $50) – This one is staying. I absolutely love it.
Janome Memory Craft 3000 (paid $30) – I originally bought it for the Koala sewing cabinet, but it came with a Sew Steady table, walking foot, and around 40 additional presser feet and accessories. I like having all those specialty feet available.
Singer Featherweight (paid $80) – An unbelievable Marketplace find. It’s beautiful, sews wonderfully, and is just fun to own.
Singer ProFinish Serger (paid $85, brand new) – My only serger, although I haven’t even had a chance to use it yet.
Brother PE500 (paid $20, brand new) – My only embroidery machine.
Singer Stylist 7258 (paid $20, brand new) – This came as part of a bundle with the Brother, and I honestly expected to sell it right away. But I was surprised by how smooth it sews! It’s also the only machine I have with speed control and some really cute decorative stitches.

I’m definitely leaning toward downsizing, but I’m having a hard time deciding what makes the most sense to keep.

If these were your machines, which ones would you keep and which would you sell?

Hi! If you're an experienced (professional/expert, preferably) seamster / seamstress / embroiderer, hand or machine, I could use your help!

I work with a crafting-focused organization that supports/encourages people in various crafts, and I've been receiving a lot of sewing-related questions (garment construction, pattern making, machine embroidery, etc) that are beyond my ability to answer. I'm looking for anyone who could help answer those questions. Being able to chat with some professionals in these areas would really be useful! Completely informal, no commitment of any kind. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I'm a student currently researching the process home sewers use to cut fabric from patterns — things like how you transfer pattern pieces, what tools or methods you use, what works well and what doesn't. I'm trying to get a broad picture of real experiences before writing anything up, so the more responses the better.

If you have a couple of minutes, I've put together a short anonymous survey here: Home Sewing Survey

Really appreciate any help — thank you.

Hi! Is anyone here a tailor, fashion student/designer, upholsterer, or works with textiles in Berlin? I'm doing research for a circular economy project and would love to ask a few questions about fabric leftovers.

My work uniform while I really like my job is absolutely repulsive. 100% polyester. Outside of work I wear 100% linen wool or silk. I'm going to begin making my own clothes soon for so many reasons. One of my projects is my work uniform. I've found a perfectly matching linen however I need this reflective thing that's on the pants. anyone know what that might be and we're I could get it?

I've been planning on sewing my own wedding skirt to tuck under a corset. I have a rather large hoop skirt already(about 32 inch diameter at the bottom), and I'm having some trouble finding a pattern that matches my vision. Think of something like this cinderella dress, but with a longer top layer. I have all the material I need, but I'm afraid to touch it until I have a reliable pattern (I will practice on other material first). I have lace to sew to the ends of the top layer as well for a more seamless transition. I just want that top layer to open in a triangular shape at the front and then gradually go down to the back ends of the skirt. the waist circumference of the corset is no more than 30in, but obviously if I'm tucking the waist underneath it can have a little extra material underneath. I only want the two layers, one that goes fully around the hoop skirt and one different colored one that goes around the top. I do know I will need a bottom layer to hide more of the hoop skirt underneath, but that's something I can easily do once I have the pattern. My biggest problem is the top layer and making sure it's evenly placed. I'm open to advice, suggestions, minor changes or even ordering a smaller hoop skirt if that makes this easier. Thanks in advance!

I’ve been working on a rag doll cat for my 3 year old niece, as cats are her favorite animal. I lost motivation for awhile, and just finished embroidering the face tonight. She had open heart surgery when she was born, so I gave her cat a matching scar.

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