Of all the tasks you perform when making sewn projects, cutting causes the most physical strain. Over time, this task can aggravate or even cause osteoarthritis of the hands and…
The humble pincushion is an essential sewing notion. Although it is easily taken for granted, its function and appearance have evolved alongside sewing for hundreds of years. Pincushion history The…
The sewing stiletto is the modern descendant of the awl, used in making the earliest examples of clothing. Its sharp point could create holes for lacing together animal skins, before…
Though it can be wonderful to wear soft, flowing fabrics, it’s not so fun to wrangle them on the cutting table or sewing machine. Liquid stabilizers temporarily stiffen fabrics. You…
A thread that sticks Fusible thread is made from a synthetic material, usually nylon (polyamide), although some types are made from a polyester/nylon blend. In either case, the fusible thread…
Velvet is sumptuous, with an elegance unlike any other fabric. It was once affordable only for royalty due to its expensive and unusual construction. It is woven on double looms,…
Tie-dyeing, with its vivid colors and bold patterns, is often seen as a symbol for the counterculture of the ’60s and ’70s, a T-shirt uniform of first-generation hippies and modern-day…
