A flounce is a specific type of ruffle that lacks gathers or fullness at the top edge, where it attaches to the garment, but provides significant fullness at the bottom…
Anyone who lives an active lifestyle knows that a conventional bra doesn’t provide essential support during exercise or other strenuous activities. Enter the sports bra. The original designs were engineered…
There are many great pleasures in my sewing practice that I originally resisted. One was the use of a thimble when hand sewing. A thimble felt awkward and in the…
In the 1930s, the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression. Many Americans looked to Hollywood to escape the challenges of daily life. It wasn’t only the…
Few sewers have an easy time of getting an ideal garment fit. If your measurements aren’t represented in the patterns you like, you may feel defeated before you begin. However,…
A dress form, especially one that has been customized to resemble your figure, is an invaluable fitting tool. However, a standard torso-only form doesn’t give you a complete picture. Whether…
Each year, Threads sets a design theme for the members of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. In 2019, we asked the competitors to express the idea that, just…
Q: How did the feed dog get this name? —Eliana Norton, via email A: Threads senior technical editor Carol J. Fresia looked into the question: In the parlance of mechanical…
When making women’s pants, you need to know the correct front and back-crotch lengths. Women have many different body types: flat derrières or protruding abdomens, and everything in between. Patterns…
From our profile on Vilma Mare: "Fashion is a powerful means of self-expression. For Vilma Mare, originally from Lithuania, her designs are an extension of her culture and her identity.…
Fashion is a powerful means of self-expression. For Vilma Mare, originally from Lithuania, her designs are an extension of her culture and her identity. She has a studio open to…
1. Pack your embroidery essentials An embroidery machine comes with many accessories. These are useful, but they're cumbersome to transport. The BlueFig Designer Series Embroidery Arm Bag is the solution.…
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…
Rayon is a fabric made of regenerated cellulose from plant sources including wood pulp. While this fiber comes from natural sources, it is made with chemical processes, which puts it…
Bias binding accents garment edges, but it can make them bulky. The wider the binding is, the more difficult it can be to achieve a smooth and flat finish. For…
In his article, "Starstruck Sewing" from Threads #208 (April/May 2020), Brian Centrone explores the story behind pattern companies from the 1930s that built their brands upon reproducing looks from movies.…
Simplicity 8962 is a fully lined, single-breasted, two-button men’s jacket that has notched lapels, patch breast pocket, lower patch pockets, and inside welt pockets with loop-and-button closures. The center back…
