The craft of connecting two things using a needle and thread. This tag can cover all methods from hand-sewing to machine sewing. Questions specifically about specialty "sewing" crafts like embroidery or cross stitch should use those tags instead.
Questions tagged [sewing]
174 questions
19
votes
3 answers
How do you choose a stitch length when straight stitching an arbitrary fabric?
When looking to sew a piece of fabric, what factors are looked at to determine the correct stitch length?
beattyac
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12
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2 answers
How can I hand-sew an "invisible" hem?
I'm sitting at work and my pant cuff started unraveling. Luckily I have a needle and thread in my purse, and I would like to repair this while I'm on a conference call with little else to do.
Since these are work pants, I don't want to see the hem…
Erica
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12
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8 answers
How to reuse a sewing pattern without damaging it
What's a good strategy for reusing a sewing pattern without damaging it?
Say I have a pattern I like, I can fuse some interfacing to it to make it last longer. That said, the way I was taught to cut fabric from this pattern involves either using…
wyer33
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11
votes
8 answers
How do I keep ribbon ends from fraying?
My teenage daughter dances ballet, and on a fairly regular basis we need to get her new pointe shoes. After so many pairs, I've gotten surprisingly good at sewing in the elastic and ribbons that need to go on the new shoes.
One thing I would like to…
Erica
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10
votes
1 answer
How do I determine what size zig-zag stitch to use?
I have a standard sewing machine, not a serger, so I use a zig-zag stitch when sewing knits. Typically, I just use trial and error on scrap pieces to figure out a good size of zig-zag stitch for however stretchy I want the seams to be. This can take…
user812786
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9
votes
1 answer
How to make stitches invisible
I'm working on a DIY kit of a plush doll. This is the first time I'm sewing. Per instructions, I'm using a back stitch to sew together two fleece pieces.
The problem is that the stitches are visible from the outside, and I think they should be…
HeyJude
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9
votes
6 answers
Can I replicate this "bumpy" fabric on a pillow?
I saw this pillow for sale and would like to make it with my own fabric, in a different color. How can I replicate this look? I have a sewing machine and moderate confidence in my by-hand skills as well...
Erica
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9
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3 answers
What kind of stitch makes up t-shirt seams on commercial grade clothing?
I recently decided to take up sewing, but the stitches I use to hold two pieces of fabric together (like the side seams of a shirt for example) is a simple lock stitch. My machine (like most I've seen) has several different styles of stitches but…
leigero
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7
votes
2 answers
Cuff strategy to maximize longevity of pants
When the bottom hem of pants/slacks gets frayed there are various ways to re-sew the hems or cuffs so that the frayed material is no longer exposed. Presumably there are ways to optimize/extend the longevity of a pair of pants by following a…
ebpa
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7
votes
2 answers
What is a "triple interlocking stitch"?
I'm looking at the stitching on my hammock, wondering what kind of stitch it is and how to do it myself.
I see this marketed as a "triple interlocking stitch." But searching on Google only brings up marketing materials for hammocks. I cannot find…
Mike M. Lin
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7
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2 answers
Sew Hidden Seam
I have a leather couch that the seam on the arm split. How can I sew this up without showing the stiches (or least obvious that it was hand sewn)?
Dman
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6
votes
2 answers
How can I handle the existing thread from a broken seam?
What is the general recommendation as to what to do with the thread from a seam that has been broken?
I have this concern when I am repairing stuffed animals, which my kids have a plenty of, that get worn from general play or roughed up by real…
Matt
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6
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3 answers
How can I fix or prevent getting holes in my jeans near the crotch?
I am a male and I get a hole in the crotch of my jeans all the time. It happens in about 6-12 months of owning the jeans. It always happens in the same spot. I have tried many different brands now and it happens to all of them. What is causing this?…
anton2g
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5
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2 answers
How to stitch together two fabric pieces without creating "lips"
Take a look at the stitches of this doll. It is sewn so that the shift from the upper fabric piece to the lower one is very smooth:
Compare it with this kind of sewing: The shift from the two fabric pieces is salient, and looks kind of like "lips",…
HeyJude
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5
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1 answer
