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No, this hasn't turned into a butchery blog - rather this is a guest post by Kristiann Boos, aka Ms Victory Patterns, showing you how to make your own pressing aids. If you want something a bit more professional looking than my rolled up towel trick, Kristiann will explain how to make your own... ****** A tailor's ham is a helpful...

If you are looking for a quick and easy mini project to keep you busy, then we've got you covered.These projects can be completed in an hour or so and could even make use of the fabric scraps you have lying around. We've got six free projects to have a go at and three of them will spruce up your...

First up, a massive THANK YOU for your lovely comments on my last post. I'm getting soooo nervous now but it feels so good to have your support! Right, on with the post... Thought using the iron was boring? Think again, my friend! Call me a total saddo, but I find a bit of hot iron action really satisfying when...

Sewing darts is a fundamental garment construction skill that every sewist should master. Whether you’ve never made one before, or have stitched hundreds, it’s always good to brush up on your technique. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to sew darts smoothly, avoid pointy dart tips, and get a professional-looking finish every time. Whether you're sewing a dress, blouse...

Although it can save you money in the long term, sewing can be a costly hobby, particularly when you’re just starting out. In addition to investing in a machine, there are about a squillion tools on the market tempting you with their promise of making sewing that little bit faster, easier, more efficient. But just as you’re being creative making...

Have you ever sewn darts that come out a touch bulky and unsightly, no matter how much you steam them into submission? This can be a problem when sewing thicker fabrics in particular. Vanessa here with a super simple couture dressmaking technique that will “balance” out the layers of fabric to get a beautifully smooth finish on your darts, even...

Darts are one of the methods used in garment sewing for shaping the fabric around the curves of the body, such as at the bust and waist. When stitching a dart, essentially what you're doing is folding and removing a triangle shape in order to give a flat piece of fabric a 3D form. Clever, non? Darts can be straight...

Pressing might not sound like the most exciting part of sewing, but honestly? A steamy hot session with the iron can make a huge difference to your handmade clothes.  Proper pressing is the secret weapon that transforms okay sewing into professional-looking garments. It can help shape fabric, set seams, eliminate puckering, and create crisp, defined lines. And the good news...

Sewing the Francoise dress? Today we’re going to sew the darts. Darts are folds of fabric (often triangular- or diamond-shaped or a variation thereof) stitched down to shape a garment around your curves. The Francoise dress is great for practising sewing darts as it features no less than three different types – classic triangular-shaped bust darts; long diagonal French darts...

Princess seams are a gorgeous alternative to darts for adding shaping to a garment. If you haven’t sewn princess seams before, you may be look at your pattern pieces and wonder how you’re going to get the opposing curves to join together smoothly, without puckering. Read on for my tips on how to sew them successfully... What are princess seams?...

Sewing the Orla top? If you’ve followed the other steps in the sewalong up until now, you’re ready to sew the darts. (Not joined the sewalong yet? Catch up here.) Let’s start by sewing the bust darts on the front bodice. We’ve marked the top of the dart stitching lines on the pattern – transfer these markings to the wrong side...

Making the Cleo pinafore or dungaree dress? This sewing pattern has become our new bestseller! While the dungaree clips may make it look fiddly, it's actually quick and easy to make - it's a great pattern for beginners, or more experienced stitchers looking for a speedy project. Today I thought I'd share some bonus tips for sewing Cleo... Sewing the...