Sewing Tips & Help Archives - Everything's Famtastic

February 26, 2026February 26, 2026

How to Mark Fabric for Sewing: 5 Simple Tools That Make a Big Difference

Let’s be honest… marking fabric is one of those steps that feels very skippable when you’re excited to start sewing. You trace your pattern, you cut your fabric, and all you want to do is sit down at the machine and actually sew something. I totally get it.

But here’s the thing ☝️: those little markings are what stop your pockets from ending up in wildly odd locations and you forgetting about adding that seam allowance to your dream project. Marking fabric ready for sewing is simply how we transfer the helpful little clues from a pattern onto the fabric so we know where to cut, fold, embellish and stitch. It’s the difference between calmly following a map and randomly hoping you’re heading in the right direction.

If you’ve ever wondered how to mark fabric for cutting or even what actually works for marking fabric without buying every gadget on the market… you’re in the right place. Because you really don’t need eighty different tools. You just need a few that are practical, budget-friendly, and fit into your already-full life (and sewing supplies crate).

January 29, 2026January 26, 2026

Seam Allowance Made Simple for Sewing Beginners

If you’re just learning to sew, there’s a lot to wrap your head around: fabric, needles, thread, and so many patterns that look like they’re written in a secret code. One little thing that can lead to big headaches for sewing beginners is seam allowance.

Knowing what it is, why it matters, and how to actually use it can make a huge difference in how your sewing projects turn out—and save you from a lot of “WTH?!?” moments. 😅

Here I’ll break it down in simple, friendly steps so you can feel confident the next time you cut into your precious fabric and fire up that sewing machine.

all about seam allowance, woman working at sewing machine

July 31, 2025July 31, 2025

9 No-Nonsense Ways to Sew Smart and Save Big

Want to start sewing without blowing your budget? Sewing can be an amazing, creative outlet- and yes, it can also get expensive. But it absolutely doesn’t have to be.

Whether you’re a sewing newbie just starting or trying to get the even more out of your hobby, you’re in the right place. 😉

These budget-friendly simple sewing tips will help you save money, avoid overspending, and still feel totally excited to sit down at your machine.

From fabric hacks to smart project choices, here are 9 no-nonsense sewing tips that keep things simple, affordable, and fun to try. Perfect for all sewing fans, no matter whether you’re a beginner or totally experienced.

Read on to see what can work for you too!

July 17, 2025July 9, 2025

5 Easy Ways to Stop Fabric Edges from Fraying

If you’re learning to sew, one of the first surprises you’ll probably run into is just how messy those raw fabric edges can get. But here’s the good news: there are several simple ways to stop your fabulous fabric fraying, and you don’t need to be a sewing expert or own a fancy machine to use them. 😉

You’ve probably seen this with your own eyes- you cut a nice straight line, blink twice… and suddenly your fabric looks like it’s falling apart at the seams (literally😅).

Don’t worry. Nothing’s gone wrong- this is totally normal. Many fabrics, especially woven ones like cotton or linen, are prone to fraying.

In this post, you’ll learn how to stop your fabric fraying using easy, beginner-friendly techniques that are quick to try, affordable and totally doable- even if you’re still figuring out all of those sewing machine settings! These small steps can make a big difference in how polished your projects look (and just as important, how long they last). 💪

Let’s take away the frustration of fraying so you can get back to the fun part- actually sewing. 🤩

June 19, 2025June 19, 2025

What’s That Thing? 10 Important Sewing Machine Parts You Need to Understand

So, you finally dusted off your sewing machine (yay you!)- but now you’re staring at it like it might be able to also vacuum your kitchen and prepare you a cappuccino while you wait. 😅 What do all those knobs and levers on your sewing machine actually do?!? And do you really need to know them all before you can sew something?

The good news is: nope, you don’t need to memorise the whole instruction manual (although you should still take a look at it! 😉). But there are a few basic parts of a sewing machine that are super helpful to understand- especially if you’re just starting out.

Think of this as your “get to know you” guide for your sewing machine. Once you’re familiar with these ten parts, you’ll feel way more confident (and way less likely to scream into a pillow when your stitches go rogue).

Read on for simple, clear, and beginner-approved details of the anatomy of a sewing machine!

May 29, 2025May 28, 2025

Sewing Beginners Read This First! Most Googled Questions (with Easy Answers)

No more falling down the “how do I…?” sewing search rabbit hole! I’ve rounded up the most common “People Also Ask” sewing questions for beginners, so you can spend less time scrolling and more time actually sewing.

When you’re just starting out, sewing can feel like a whole new “insiders only” world wrapped in fabric and tangled thread. Maybe you’ve tried to search for help, but ended up more confused than when you started.

That’s why I’ve put together this handy, one-stop guide—full of answers to the most common beginner sewing questions, straight from Google’s “People Also Ask” suggestions.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated with your sewing machine, or just unsure where to begin… you’re not alone. These are the exact questions beginner sewists (just like you!) are searching every day—and now I’ve got them answered here in one friendly place.

Ready?

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Hilarious Sewing Terms & Lingo You’ll Want to Know Now

When you’re just starting to sew, it can feel like there’s a whole secret language everyone else already knows. What the heck is a feed dog? Why are we basting something that’s not a chicken? And who’s playing chicken with their bobbin thread?

Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes weird) world of sewing lingo—those funny little phrases and slang sewing terms that seasoned sewists toss around like it’s no big deal but make sewing beginners frantically run to Google for help.

The good news? You don’t have to know everything. But getting familiar with a few of these in-the-know sewing terms will make you feel more confident, connected, and a little more “official” every time you sit down to sew.

So here are 10 (plus a bonus!) sewing terms that sound confusing, funny, or just plain odd—but are actually super helpful to know.

May 1, 2025May 14, 2025

No More Confusion! Learn These 9 Useful Beginner Sewing Skills

Learning to sew can feel totally overwhelming when you’re just starting out. If you’ve ever thought, “What sewing skills do I actually even need to know?” — I know how you feel. So many sewing beginners feel stuck before they’ve even begun, especially when tutorials jump ahead to advanced techniques that involve fancy fabrics, complicated patterns, or equipment you don’t even own (yet??? 🤔😅).

But here’s the good news: You don’t need to learn every sewing skill all at once. When you focus on the basic sewing skills that come up again and again, you’ll build confidence, avoid frustration, save time, and start creating projects you’ll love that actually make you feel proud.

This list of practical beginner sewing techniques is designed with your real life (ie. busy mom!) in mind and are many of the simple skills I wish I’d paid attention to first (like #9 😅).

These are the useful techniques you’ll return to with every project, whether you’re making your first tote bag or your third pair of pyjama pants. No fluff. No pressure. Just the good stuff.

Let’s break it down👇.

April 17, 2025April 17, 2025

New to Sewing? How to Set Up Your Sewing Machine in 10 Easy Steps!

If you’ve been wondering how to use a sewing machine without getting overwhelmed or tangled up in threads, this post is for you. These simple sewing tips will walk you through the exact steps to get your machine set up properly—so you can stop second-guessing and finally start sewing. 🥳

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about feeling confident that your machine is ready to go, so you can focus on actually stitching something.

Whether your sewing machine has been sitting in the closet for months or you just unboxed it yesterday, these beginner-friendly steps will help you avoid common mistakes and get that machine ready to stitch—without all the guesswork or giving up before you even start.

Let me tell you this: learning to sew doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are 10 super simple, must-do things to check before you start sewing—so you can stop stalling and start stitching with confidence. 💪

March 6, 2025March 6, 2025

No More Frustration! A Simple Guide to Printing PDF Sewing Patterns

You’ve bought a sewing machine and bought a few fancy paper sewing patterns with big dreams of creating cute, handmade projects but… never actually got started. 🙈

You’re certainly not the only one to have done that! Many mums struggle to find time for themselves outside of work and family demands. Add on top of that trying to decode complex sewing patterns… learning to sew can feel just too overwhelming.

That’s why printable sewing patterns (also known as PDF sewing patterns) are a game-changer. ✨ They’re instant, affordable, and beginner-friendly—perfect for busy moms like you.

In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about printing and using PDFs for sewing, from getting the best results when printing sewing patterns at home to troubleshooting common mistakes.