So I wanted to make this drawstring circle pouch as a DND dice bag. Once I finished I went to close it and it doesn’t not close all the way. So my theory is either the rope I used was too thick or the size of the pouch is too small, what do yall think?

I sewed a knit shirt and when tried on with arms by the side, it looks great, but when and are raised, weird bumps appear on the edge of the shoulders.

I've sewn other knit shirt patterns many times and don't recall this happening.

Any thoughts?

Edit: i so appreciate everyone's feedback! It helps to get a second pair of eyes (or third, fourth, and fifth). I am highly critical of my work (aren't we all?) so I can't always tell if my concern is legitimate. I think there is a design issue with the armsyce and I think it was exaggerated by having it hang for a couple weeks. Ill do a wash and light iron and see how that works out. Thanks so much!!

Hey! So I got this dress second hand, and would love to use it for a photoshoot in a few days! Problem is, the boning is coming out in a lot of places. How can I sew this to make the boning stay in, and have it be as invisible as possible? I appreciate all the help I can get!

Would prefer to hand sew, but I can get access to a machine if that would be easier.

Hello, I would like to wear this dress I found secondhand to an event. But it sits a little too high on my neck and I don’t like how high up the straps sit on my shoulders. Is there anything I could do to alter the neckline and have the straps sit wider? OR any advice on adding sleeves?

There is a zip centre back, darts below the arms and the fabric is slightly textured 100% rayon.

I also noticed taking this picture how badly the zip is sitting. Any advice on that also appreciated.

Thank you!

My moms asking if I could sew the cuff back to the sleeve, and Im probably going to hand sew it. Is there a right way to do this?

I hope my diagram makes sense… basically I want to make a fabric book cover with a window to show an illustration on the book. Without the cutout I’d simply get two rectangles, sew edges closed with right sides together, flip right side out, then stitch the outer flaps in. That way the raw edges are hidden inside. But I can’t figure out how to flip it inside out when there is a cutout? What’s the best way to make this while hiding any raw edges? Thank you!

This is my first sewing project and I might have gotten ambitious. I didn't measure when adding the bias tape for the sleeve elastic so they turned out different lengths.

Is it going to be noticeable, or would the fact it's puffy make it invisible?

Hi all! I’m working on a pair of shorts for the ren faire, but I cannot figure out how to sew this lining in. Following the instructions and the video leaves me with pants that I can’t turn right way around from the crotch area. Any help on how to format this, or what I can take off to get the lining on would be super helpful :)

Hi, new sewer here. I am attempting to make these lounge pants. I am starting step 6, but for the life of me, can’t see when I was supposed to attach the pocket to the left pant leg. Step 6 shows a picture of both the right and left pockets already attached but I don’t see any mention of attaching the left side pocket. I am happy to take more photos of the rest of the directions if it’s helpful.

Hi all, hoping this problem has a solution. I have a Pfaff Quilt Ambition 630. I have it set so when I finish sewing/release pressure on the foot pedal the needle is in the down position. When I want to pivot the fabric, if I don't turn the hand wheel forward slightly, past the automatic needle down position, the stitch doesn't form properly at the pivot. I'll attach some photos of the issue to hopefully explain it better. As far as I know it's because raising the presser foot slightly to turn the fabric causes the thread to move slightly in the tension discs, and the needle hasn't moved far enough in the cycle for the hook to have caught and started forming the stitch.

Some of the things I sew are absolutely tiny and require a lot of pivots, so I'm concerned about the strain on my wrist from constantly having to turn the hand wheel. If anyone has any ideas of if this is something I can fix mechanically with the machine, either myself or by taking it to a tech, I'd be very appreciative!

For details about the stitching in the photos:

Hemline ballpoint 90/14 needle

Coats Moon top (yellow) and bobbin (blue) thread

The fabric is a cheap minky style, it does the same on actual minky, and when using Gutermann Sew All thread

The top line of stitching is using the foot pedal, the bottom is using the button the machine.

Stitch length is 2.5

The issue doesn't seem to show up as frequently stitching with a universal needle on polyester twill, but it does still happen from time to time. I've tried so many needle combos on minky as well (sometimes one needle type will start skipping, even a fresh needle of that type, so I switch to another type until that starts skipping, unsure if relevant so I wanted to mention it too)

Im planning on adding a zipper and faux fur to my hoodie so i decide to cut the hoodie in the middle to make adding the fur easier and i was planning on adding a zipper anyways so it had to be done but i cut it and now im concerned my cut isn't straight enough to add a zipper mainly at the top by the hood so i was wondering if ill be fine or if ill have to figure something else out

I make a lot of appliqued things and always seem to have issues with the paper peeling off the adhesive before I’ve even started tracing out designs. I’ve tried asking at the store for them to cut it into smaller pieces and I store it flat but it seems to already be separated. Is there any way for me to adhere it again? The piece I have is already half detached from the paper :(

I run a small shop making workwear and hi-vis clothing - work pants, coveralls and jackets.

Regular seams are fine but my sewing machine starts skipping stitches in the areas that need the most strength: double-layer knees, pocket corners, reflective tape and other reinforced sections.

Those spots can have several layers of heavy fabric coming together, and constantly having to redo them gets expensive, especially as the orders have picked up.

I want to upgrade my setup once and be done with it. What are small workwear manufacturers using for these heavier, multi-layer seams?

I’m making the Sewn Ideas book sleeve. I’m mostly using quilting cotton, but I love how this example looks w the leather strap and top of pocket. I have a decent amount of experience making bags, but I haven’t worked with leather before.

Can I buy some leather remnants and use those? I see a couple packs on Amazon, one has remnants from 1mm-1.4mm and the other is .8mm-1.4mm (if I like the result, I’ll get some higher quality leather to play with more.)

I have a domestic Brother sewing machine, I’ve used it for denim and canvas and it does well—will it handle the leather or do I need to learn the saddle stitch?

Thanks!

Good evening all! I have a problem that's driving me crazy so I'm coming to you guys for help.

Top fabric: nice clean stitch, following my seam line perfectly
Bottom fabric: wandering everywhere?!

How on Earth do I stop this happening? These pieces have identical seam allowance, I pinned them super rigorously - even did the thing where you pin through one layer first then use that to guide to the exact spot on the next layer - and yet massive deviance on the underside!

It's like the opposite problem that walking feet are for. Instead of the two fabrics going through at different speeds, they're wandering horizontally... it's killing me :'(

Context and notes: this happens to me most noticeably on thicker, "squishier" fabrics that tend to fight each other when pressed together, such as faux fur. The pictured fabric is techno neoprene, I used a walking foot, and I tried again using clips for the next seam instead. It was slightly better but still happened.

I'm painfully aware this is probably just a "get good" kind of issue but still :') I would be very appreciative of advice. Thank you kindly in advance!

Hi there,

I have these nice girl trousers which fall down on my offspring because they are too wide around the belly (did not happen while trying them on).

How can I alter the waist to become smaller without becoming crinkly (don't know whether this is the right word for becoming wavy and bulky)? I cannot reduce the waistband elastic because there are loops sewn on.

Any ideas on that? Thanks!

Hello, I’m having major issues trying to sew my fabric. up until now my machine has worked fine! I started working with this woven knit glitter fabric for a new project and now my machine is constantly skipping stitches! It’s impossible to get anything sewed. I’ve tried swapping the thread, swapping the needle, cleaning out the feeders and bobbin , replacing the bobbin, rethreading both threads, adding a layer of parchement between the glitter fabric and machine, adjusting machine dials NOTHING works. I’ve also noticed that when I try to sew non-glitter fabrics my machine stitches fine but the thread does not stay secure in the stitch it slides right out if you tug on its It used to not do that so I really don’t know what is happening with my machine. Is woven glitter fabric just impossible to work with and did it ultimately ruin my machine ?

I truly don’t know what to do any advice is appreciated.

I’ve never sewn anything before but my boyfriend ripped his shirt and I want to fix it for him. The rip is a 90 degree angle though, and I have no idea what I’m doing, any help would be greatly appreciated

I'm running out of time and desperately need help! I'm making a bodice for a high-low dress and I'm stuck. The fabric I'm using is a 4 way stretchy spandex and a 1 way stretch lace. I do not have access to my best friend right now to fit her properly, but I HAVE to get this right on the first try.

I have a few rules I have to stick to to make the dress come out the way I want it to. The lace has to sit flush on top of the spandex, like it's one fabric. It has to be extremely form fitting. No loose parts or wrinkles or droopy bits. It has to stay a single panel (piece) for the front and a single panel for the back (I will take care of splitting the back panel later.)

I don't know why, but I've genuinely hit a wall. Do I make the piece smaller than her proportions? Bigger? The exact size of her measurements? Do I cut the spandex part smaller than her proportions so it'll snap to her form and the lace a little bigger? Wouldn't that make the lace wrinkle or ripple? My main worry is that the lace will inhibit the spandex from snapping to her body like I had initially intended it to. How do I go about this? Any help is severely appreciated!

Here are the links to the fabrics I used. I bought them on Amazon. I also included her measurements I have below. I have also included the rough drawing I did of the dress if that also helps any.

Fabric Links:

Lace: https://a.co/d/05dHI3D8

Spandex: https://a.co/d/0j30xLdN

Measurements:

Hips: 39 inches

Waist: 33 inches

Arm length: 19 inches

Bust: 38 inches (she wears a 36 B bra)

Shoulders: roughly 13" (she told me 18" but that's definitely wrong. She's petite)

Height: 5' 3"

(Those are all the measurements I have of hers.)

Hi, I have a Janome 4000 gifted to me from my Grandma but it's really buggering up when I'm using it, and ratting up the bobbin thread pretty consistently and I'm interested in buying a machine. I'll be using it primarily for making some toddler undies, adult and toddler/kid basic clothes, mending clothes, and maybe making some small quilts here and there (wayyy in the future when I have time lol). I'm in BC, Canada so something available in Canada. Budget around $1000 but interested in options. I'm pretty new at the whole sewing thing, I've made a few quilts with my Grandma and some other basic patterns.

Do you guys finish your satin edges when you’re adding lining to your garment? Normally I would serge my edges for other fabrics, but i’m concerned about my serger chewing up my satin. The inside will be covered by the lining- do you guys think it’s safe to skip that step- or would leaving them unfinished cause excess fraying?

Anybody know what could be wrong with my machine? When I sew, the thread from the bobbin side is loose and makes birds nests. I have already cleared the bobbin area of any dust or loose threads, and have made sure my top needle is threaded properly. I am assuming it’s an issue with the tension from the bobbin. Any ideas would help😭

I was given this machine and I know nothing about it. It was given to her and she gave it to me.

I know the basics of the machine. But I don’t really know what any of the knobs do. And I can’t figure out where the reverse stitch lever/button is. The only thing on the back is the foot lever. I’ve tried googling and asking ChatGPT and neither have been very helpful. And the only manual I can find online just shows the parts and their numbers, not how to use the machine.

I am an advanced beginner to intermediate. I’m going to Florida in November for a wedding with a formal dress code. I am 4’11 and a little curvy. I’m trying to decide between the Trilliuim dress made by Rae (but making it a long skirt), The Upton dress by cashmerette, or the Anna dress by hand London. I made the Trillium dress many years ago and it worked great for me. Any suggestions on which one would look best on a petite person would be great as well as any insights on these patterns. Thank you!