Sewing Tips & Help Archives - Everything's Famtastic

August 15, 2024August 15, 2024

How to Read Important Sewing Pattern Symbols: What Do They Mean?

Imagine you’ve just carved out a little creative time for yourself and you’re ready to dive into your newest sewing project. There’s just one tiny hiccup: those mysterious symbols on your sewing pattern! What do all those symbols and markings mean?!? They might as well be hieroglyphics that need a university degree to decode their hidden mysteries.

Not every sewing pattern you’ll encounter will be covered with dots, dashes and arrows. But many do, especially if you are sewing clothing or quilts. And to ensure your fabric pieces are cut and sewn together correctly, you need to understand what these intriguing symbols mean.

But, fear not! In this blog post, you’ll discover how to decode the 5 most important sewing pattern symbols. By the end, you’ll be fluent in the language of sewing patterns, turning those baffling symbols into your new BFFs.

August 1, 2024July 27, 2024

10 Things You Need to Know about Using Sewing Patterns

Learning to sew is an exciting journey, and one of the first challenges you’ll encounter is understanding and using sewing patterns. Sewing patterns are essential tools for creating everything from simple clothing to complex garments, useful accessories and fun home decor. They provide the detailed instructions and templates needed to cut and sew fabric pieces into your fabulous finished product!

As a beginner, understanding sewing patterns can seem daunting and you might feel overwhelmed by the symbols, lines, and instructions. Like, “this sewing pattern looks like the metro map of a foreign city… which way is even up?!?”

But, I assure you, with practice and a little (or a lot of! 🫢) patience, you too can learn to interpret and use these patterns effectively and easily.

If you’re juggling a hectic schedule but yearn to unleash your creative side through sewing, this guide is your perfect companion. In this blog post, you’ll discover 10 essential tips to help you understand and properly use sewing patterns, making the most of your sewing time and ensuring your sewing projects are successful and enjoyable. 😍

May 23, 2024July 4, 2024

5 Helpful Ways to Organise Your Sewing Space & Maximise Your Sewing Time

Are you ready to embark on a journey to transform your sewing space into a well-organised sanctuary of creativity? Having an organised workspace is essential for unleashing your full sewing potential and reducing overwhelm and stress levels during your precious creative time!

Diving into a new sewing project is always exciting, am I right?!? But often, our dreams and plans outrun our workspace’s capacity to keep up.

For those of us balancing the joys of sewing with busy work schedules and family life, maintaining an uncluttered and ready-to-sew space can feel daunting. (Those memes about sewing and fabric hoarding are popular for a reason, you know. 😉)

Yet, a clean and orderly sewing area is not just a pipe dream; it is actually doable. 💪

Just a few weeks ago I was sharing with my newsletter subscribers some quick Spring-cleaning tips for getting their sewing spaces organised. But keeping your creative area clear and ready doesn’t actually have to be a once-in-a-year cleaning frenzy!

This post unravels practical tips to transform your sewing area into an organized haven where your creativity can freely flow and every tool is right where you need it. Well, usually… 😅

From innovative storage solutions to simple habits that prevent clutter and chaos, these strategies are designed to help you maximize your space and sewing time, no matter how much or how little you have of either.

May 9, 2024May 23, 2024

3 Things Every Sewing Beginner Should Know About How to Stitch Straight

Are you tired of your sewing machine making you feel like you’re in a zigzag race when all you want is a smooth, straight line of stitches? Don’t worry; you’re not alone! We’ve all had our fair share of “creative” stitching mishaps. Like the time my determined stitching made the sewing machine eat my fabric… 🙈

Whether you’re still untangling your thread or you’ve already sat down and sewn a few wonky lines, fear not! Today, we’re going to tackle the elusive how to sew a straight line together.

Think of it as your sewing machine’s GPS recalculating to the straight and narrow path, so you and your sewing machine can work happily in harmony.

Grab your seam ripper (just in case 😅), and let’s sew our way to straight-stitching success!

April 25, 2024April 26, 2024

Sew Wonderful: 13 Perfect Gifts Sewing Enthusiasts will Love

If you’re here, chances are you’ve got a soft spot for the hum of a sewing machine or perhaps you’re on a mission to find that just-right gift idea for the sewing lover in your life, no matter if they’ve been sewing for years or just beginning their stitching journey.

Well, either way, you’ve come to the right place! In this corner of the internet, I’m all about celebrating the magic of sewing and as a bonus, finding gifts that spark joy and ignite creativity.

You’ve heard the cliche, right? If there’s one thing all sewing enthusiasts enjoy, it’s shopping for fabric. (Well, it is true… 😅) But do you know what else sewing lovers treasure?

Being gifted fun accessories and practical tools to help them enjoy their sewing passion with even more excitement, joy and enthusiasm! 😍

So, whether you’re here to uncover new treasures to add to your own sewing arsenal or to surprise a fellow stitcher with something truly special, get ready to explore a handpicked selection of gift ideas that are as practical as they are delightful!

Dive in and discover the perfect gift for every sewing enthusiast in your life!

April 11, 2024April 15, 2024

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Sewing Machine

“How do I choose the right machine for my needs?” Ah, the million-dollar question! I see this asked SO OFTEN!

Embarking on the journey of purchasing your first sewing machine is an exciting venture filled with possibilities and daydreaming. But trying to reach the decision of the “right” sewing machine to buy can also feel overwhelming!

With a seemingly endless range of options available in the market, selecting the best sewing machine for you can feel like navigating a maze. Fear not!

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll break down the most important factors to consider when buying your first sewing machine, helping you to make an informed decision that aligns perfectly with your sewing needs and aspirations.

February 29, 2024April 9, 2024

5 Surprisingly Simple Tips to Prepare Your Fabric Before Sewing!

Embarking on a new sewing project is always an exciting journey, and the desire to dive straight into creating with your fresh, untouched, fabulous fabric is undeniable.

However, experienced sewists know that the secret to a successful sewing experience lies in the careful and deliberate steps taken before your toes even hit the sewing machine foot pedal!

In this blog post, I’m unravelling the often overlooked but immensely important pre-sewing steps that can elevate your projects from *mild with occasional headaches* to marvellous!

Discover the simple steps to properly prepare your fabrics before you start cutting or sewing that will save you *frayed* (pun intended 😅) nerves later. Your fabric is waiting…

February 15, 2024February 29, 2024

7 Simple Sewing Machine Tips You Probably Didn’t Think About

Let’s dive into a truth we all share: at some point, we were all sewing beginners, right? Whether you’ve just picked up your first sewing machine or you’ve been at this craft for a while, sewing is a lifelong adventure of discovery. There’s always something new to learn, stitches to perfect, and the next cool creative project to work on.

But here’s the thing – in the whirlwind of fabrics, patterns, and ideas, we sometimes forget about the little gems that can make our sewing journey ~~less nail-biting~~ smoother. You know, those helpful things we might not even think about or occasionally overlook. (Trust me, I KNOW all about forgetting the little things sometimes! 🙈)

Well, consider this your friendly reminder!

In this blog post, let’s take a stroll through some of those sewing machine tips and tricks that often lurk in the shadows. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, these insights might just be the helpful little game-changers you didn’t know you needed! 💪

January 18, 2024February 25, 2024

Sewing Beginners: 5 Insider Tips to Know Before You Sew

Whether you’ve been eyeing off sewing for a while as your next hobby to dive into, you’ve just received a brand new sewing machine, or even if you’ve been swamped and unable to sit down with that pile of fabulous fabrics to start your sewing journey, you’ll want to read this blog post first!

You’re keen to get sew a few things, you’re feeling a but nervous, wondering whether you’ve even got the time for a new hobby or not. Never mind that it seems like all “those other” creatives can whip up anything, any time and you don’t even yet know what you don’t know! Pfew! 😅

I get it. That was me too!

Which is why I’ve put together these 5 pieces of advice you should know before you start sewing. It’ll get you excited, curious, and relieve the stress of any of the doubts and hiccups that might pop-up for you! Ready?

August 31, 2023September 1, 2023

Sewing: how to get creative & learn lessons for life

Since I embarked on my sewing journey a few years back, my life has been enriched by my newfound creative outlet and plenty of “Look at this, I made it myself! I’m so proud!” moments.

What began with much uncertainty and bundles of nerves has grown into a much-loved hobby that continues to teach me lessons away from the sewing machine and wobbling piles of fabric.

People start sewing for all number of reasons: financial necessity, social connections, self-expression and more.

For me, it was wanting a creative outlet, to meet like-minded people and to discover whether I was able to make clothes for my children that set them apart from all the store-bought clothes everyone else seemed to be wearing.

As I reflect on my sewing progress, I can see that I have learned much more than *how to thread a needle*. I’ve also gained qualities that help me personally and while managing a busy family household.

In this blog post, I’m sharing with you my top 5 lessons learned via my sewing adventures.