Sew News

1 TIPS FROM THE ‘GRAM We are obsessed with Alejandra Meza and her amazing sewing hacks, tips, and tricks videos, which she shares on her social media channels. She ingeniously uses household items to make her sewing tasks, easier. She shows you how to use straws, paper clips, bobby pins, and…pasta? Yes, pasta! Alejandra fully embraces the “Necessity is the mother of invention” way of life, and we Ye here for it! You can find Alejandra on Instagram @atejandramezadiy and on TikTokat alejandramezadiy. 2 TAKE THE CHALLENGE! Did you know that we have two ongoing challenges at Sew Daily? Take Our Thrift Store Challenge (www.sewdaily.com/sewing/thrift-store-challenge) or our Dollar Store Challenge (www.sewdaily.com/sewing/sew-cheap-take-the-dollar-store-challenge) and then tag your projects with either hashtag (#ThriftStoreSewChallenge or #SewingDollarStoreChallenge) on social media so we can find them. Good luck! 3 THE…

sewdaily network SEW DAILY NETWORK ON YOUTUBE! Join us on YouTube for sewing how-tos, inspiration, trends, and more. There's a new sewing video every week. COMING UP JUMP INTO THE SUMMERTIME VIBE WITH SEW NEWS SUMMER 2023, ON NEWSSTANDS MAY 2023. YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO BAGS FOR ANY WARM-WEATHER OCCASION, FUN PATTERN HACKS (INCLUDING MATERNITY!), AND MORE TIPS AND STORIES ON HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR SEWING MACHINE. DEAR READERS AND SEWING ENTHUSIASTS, After a long, cold winter it feels so good to open the windows in your sewing studio and break out the spring fabrics! Breathe in the fresh air and flip through a brand-new issue of Sew News, filled with springtime projects in neutral black and white fabrics. A new year and season is also the perfect time to try something new—dig…

for spring sewing! MIRROR, MIRROR When changing needles on a sewing machine or serger, place a compact mirror under the needle bar. The mirror will show where the needles should be inserted, making it easier to complete the task. Sylvia, email CARRIER KUDOS Instead of slipstitching wide belt loops to a garment, I use the blind-hem stitch to invisibly anchor the carrier ends from the right side. It's a real time-saver. M. Jensen, email INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH Use an industrial tape measure for hemming large projects. It's easy to lock and bend when altering draperies, which is simpler than marking every 60 inches. Emily P., Facebook TWO FOR YOU Keep two pincushions close when sewing, one containing flat-head pins and the other glass-head pins. Place one by the iron and one by the sewing machine, and then swap as needed. Karen P., Facebook SCRAP…

1. Gardens are starting to bloom, and so are the new Bernina 770 QE Plus and 745 QE Kaffe Editions! A tribute to Kaffe Fassett's colorful art, these machines will bring top-notch sewing precision and a welcome pop of color to your sewing studio. www.bernina.com 2. Look no farther than your wrist When you need a pin. The Magnetic Wrist Pin Cushion is a bracelet that features a strong magnet, powerful enough to hold all the pins you'll need for each stage Of your project. You can also use it to find dropped pins—just hold it close to the floor and sweep it back and forth You'll find those misplaced pins before your feet do. www.handicraft.com 3. Cross-stitch is having a moment, and we couldn't be happier If you're looking for a…

USES Swing tacks are often used as belt loops on lightweight dresses. When a dress, has a dedicated sash or belt, most people prefer to keep the pieces together, with the sash or belt held in place at the waistline. However, a bulky bias-style belt loop, or even a smaller tube loop, can ruin the style lines of this type of garment. What's needed is something all but invisible, and a swing tack perfectly fits the bill. Swing tacks are used in another familiar way—as a small snap loop designed to hold bra straps in place on a high-end garment. While this is important on a sleeveless garment to ensure the strap doesn't pop out and become visible, it's also useful on a garment with sleeves, simply for comfort's sake. If you've…

A key part of swing tacks are the knots that secure them at the beginning and end. While it seems like the most basic of skills, knowing how to make a good knot is imperative. To make a simple knot, moisten the index finger, and then wrap the thread end around the finger so the threads overlap. Roll the threads off the finger with the thumb and pull the thread tight (A). Another simple knot option is to wrap the thread end around the needle several times and hold the wrapped thread in place with one hand as you pull the needle and remaining thread through the wrapped thread with the other hand (B). This produces a nice clean knot that you can “pop” through the fabric so it lies between the…