Blog entry

Offside Raglan Sew Along- day 3 (placket mod)

This is the "just-about-exactly-a-year-in-the-making" offside placket tutorial. This is definitely more of an intermediate to advanced modification.  I have tried to streamline and simplify the process as much as possible. Do not combine this with the sleeveless mod; This requires the full sleeve attacmhent to work. 

The pattern piece for this mod is up on Facebook in the files section of the Sew and Chat group.

Anyone who submits a picture of this placket mod will be entered to win TWO free patterns!

Offside Raglan Sew Along - Part 2 (sleeveless mod)

If you are interested in how to make the offside raglan (or any raglan, really) into a sleeveless tank, here is a video showing you how! If you need help with the curve of the arm opening, feel free to use any set in sleeve bodice as a template; you can layer it over the sleeve, align the armpit points and the neckline, and just copy the curve! This mod is rated intermediate since it includes a little more guesswork and intuition in attaching the sleeve to the attachment. Confident beginners should be able to pull this off, as well.

Offside Raglan Sew Along Part 1

Welcome to the DBD Offside Raglan Sew Along!

Tension - not just in your shoulders: tips for balancing your serger threads.

One of the marks of a professional seam is a perfectly balanced stitch. 

When you are working with a sewing machine, there is really only one tension you have to worry about: the top thread (although some machines allow the user to adjust bobbin tension as well). Sergers, however, are a different story. With up to three wo needle threads and up to two looper threads, many first time users throw up their hands in frustration. How does one make sure that each of the upwards of five threads works together to make the perfectly balanced stitch?

What even IS a balanced stitch? 

Cookie Pants Hack!

Preview Image: 

We interrupt our regularly scheduled "Beginning Sewist" series to bring you...

A BEAUTIFUL version of the latest DBD pattern: the COOKIE PANTS (and short. especially shorts.) With a huge thanks to Amy Kushner Wilson, who always makes making beautiful things look easy. Many customers were interested in making a version of the Cookie Pants without the center panel, but unfortunately due to the construction and the side pockets, it's impossible as drafted. That being said, here is a tutorial on how to take it in a different direction. 

Well, well, welt.

You all asked for it, so here it is! A tutorial on how to create a welt pocket. 

Too often, people are intimidated by this technique, but if you can sew a straight line (and pivot at a corner) and fold fabric, you can make a welt pocket with ease. 

Throw it in revers(ible)

My kids think reversible shirts are magical and, after making a few, I'm inclined to agree!

When I first started sewing, I thought "I'll just make two shirts, sew them together, and turn them right side out!" (It did not go well.)