Thursday Tips

Sarah J. Doyle | September 2, 2010

We’re going to be starting a new category here at SewingBusiness entitled “Thursday Tips”.  We’re collecting sewing and craft tips from everywhere to pass along to our readers, and we’d love to have you send in your favorite tips as well to pass along. Today’s tip is no surprise — September is National Sewing Month, [...]

Viva La Moda Project Reconstruction Issue

S. Denise Hoyle | August 31, 2010

The haut indie online magazine Viva La Moda now has their new issue #10 available for free online.  This edition of the handmade fashion magazine highlights summer fashion and knits in addition to the Project Reconstruction contest where some amazing designers were challenged to reconstruction a mens shirt for the magazine.  Check out all the [...]

What is “Niche” Marketing?

Sarah J. Doyle | August 23, 2010

For those of us who do sewing, crafting or alterations as a home based and/or internet based business, we keep hearing about finding our own “niche”.  How do you find your own niche, and to follow that — what is niche marketing? What type of business do you have?  Sewing? Crafting? Alterations?  That’s the easy [...]

Make Scrappy Gifts For The Holiday Season

Sarah J. Doyle | September 21, 2009

As you probably already know, I’ve been “hit” by something pretty rough – am still taking the daily IV antibiotic therapy treatments at the local hospital and  having to take 2 additional antiobiotic types of pills (been going on since the 10th of Sept).  The doctor says it’s a “severe allergic reaction”, which he believes [...]

Tips For Using Clothing Patterns

Sarah J. Doyle | August 26, 2009

Commercial (store bought) patterns can sometimes be tricky to use, and if we’re not thinking all the while we’re cutting and sewing, we could be setting ourselves up for errors and mistakes and ending up with a garment that won’t fit.  Here are a few tips to help keep those errors at a minimum. *  [...]

Sewing Multiple Items

Sarah J. Doyle | July 22, 2009

Those of us who do crafting for craft fairs, bazaars, etc are always on the lookout for “short cut” ways to get our products cut and assembled.  Even those doing sewing and alterations can take advantage of the hints and tips I want to offer for cutting down on the sewing time, and completing those [...]

Ten Random Sewing Tips

S. Denise Hoyle | June 25, 2009

***I often buy old garments at garage sales or consignment stores just for the fabric so I do a lot of ripping and altering.  Single sided razor blades are great for this task since you don’t have to be delicate, but whether using a razor or a seam ripper, they get dull pretty quickly.  Try [...]

How-To Tips For The Sewer / Crafter

Sarah J. Doyle | December 10, 2008

Many times during the sewing / crafting process we seem to have our heads in the clouds as we fast forward through the current project.  Of course, most of us have been sewing or crafting for so long, we can just about do anything with our eyes shut.  Right?  Actually that’s where most of the [...]

Easy Tips For Efficient Sewing

Sarah J. Doyle | August 13, 2008

All of us in the sewing, alteration and crafting business know how valuable our time is, and that we really can’t afford to waste time on little things.  Once settled in to do some major sewing or crafting, we need to be able  to keep on the project with as few interruptions as possible.Efficient sewing [...]

Changing The Neckline On Commercial Patterns

Sarah J. Doyle | August 9, 2008

I am convinced that the more “valuable” we seamstresses can be to our customers, the more work they will have us do, as well as being a “walking / talking” advertisement for us as they tell their friends, relatives and co-workers about the work we do and the services we offer.In an earlier post, we [...]