Threads #217, Spring 2022

Draft and Sew an Ombré Scalloped Skirt

Put an ombré spin on a gored pattern.

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Alter a Men’s Shirt: Make a Collar Smaller

You can reduce a collar and its stand at the center back. Learn more about how to make a collar smaller.
Alter a Men’s Shirt: Adjust the Shoulders and Torso

Too-wide shirt shoulders can have different causes. Learn how to alter shirt shoulders.
Alter a Men’s Shirt: Shorten the Sleeves

You can start with a store-bought shirt and easily customize the sleeve length with these techniques.
Crown to Catwalk: Exhibit Spans 150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework

A new exhibition showcases exquisite works from the Royal School of Needlework’s 150-year history.

Make a Statement with Oversized Appliqués

This spring, enjoy the contemporary trend for coats with extra-large embellishments by trying large appliqué.

Design a One-Shoulder Dress

Altering a fitted dress pattern to create a one-shoulder design is easy, and you can adapt the look to suit any aesthetic.

Prepatching Jeans

Is there a best practice for determining the shape of the reinforcement piece?

Vintage Lattice Collar Created from Fabric Strips

Although the lattice collar appears to be woven, it’s less complicated than that.

Sew a Designer Jacket Sleeve Placket

An outside vent on the sleeve is a make-or-break detail on a designer jacket.

Mapate Diop’s Streetwear Celebrates West African Heritage

Diop is a Detroit-based fashion label started in 2018. Learn more about this streetwear that celebrates heritage and diversity.
Choose the Right Ironing Board, Pad, or Mat for Your Sewing

One of the most underappreciated pieces of sewing equipment is the lowly ironing board.
Spring 2022 Sewing Preview: A Stylist's Fabric and Pattern Picks

The arrival of a new season feels like a fresh start, and the memo from designers is clear: It’s time to forget the sweats and have fun with fashion again.
Add a Pocket Along a Side-Seam Invisible Zipper

If the pattern you choose doesn’t have pockets, you can add some that don’t interrupt the lines of the garment, such as in-seam pockets.
How to Adjust Sewing Patterns to Fit Your Posture

As you start custom-fitting commercial sewing patterns to your own figure, you may find yourself doubting the pattern shapes you create.

A Bag of Surprises

Nothing prepared me for the joy experienced by sewing for my nieces, Lucianne and Audrey, and my nephews, Ian and Domenic.

Pattern Review: New Look 6695

This is a calf-length dress features a round neckline with a slit opening at center front.
Pattern Review: Butterick 6828

This flowing surplice-front top with a peplum has a nice drape.
Pattern Review: By Hand London Sandeep Dress

Put on your dancing shoes—this dress is meant for twirling.
Pattern Review: Amy Nicole Studio Whitney Raincoat 5007

This fully lined, A-line raincoat ends at the lower hip.
Pattern Review: Petite Stitchery & Co Adult Janie Dress and Separates

This ensemble pattern contains several garments.
Pattern Review: BurdaStyle 112621

A youthful, off-the-shoulder, blouson style, this top has an edge that sits above the waistline.

DIY Tool for Well-Sewn Jeans Belt Loops

Belt loops for jeans can be difficult to sew onto the garment since they are thick and narrow. Make a custom jig for easy, even topstitching.

4 Reader Tips for Improvised Sewing Notions

Check out these reader tips for improvised sewing notions.

Extraordinary Organza

Organza is a versatile player in the theater of garment construction. A thin, stiff, and somewhat transparent fabric, it is typically a balanced plain-weave fabric, meaning the warp and weft…