Andrea Beaulieu

How to Sew Basic Stitches by Hand for Beginners

Sewing is not only a useful skill but a great and fun way to pass the time. There are tons of things you can do with a needle and thread, and all you need are a few basic skills and some imagination! In this article, we�...

How to Hand Stitch or Patch Holes in Clothes

Simple tips for mending rips, tears, and holes in your clothingGot a tear in the sleeve of your sweater? Or maybe a big ol’ hole in your favorite denim jacket? Sewing up unfortunate holes in your favorite clothing is ...

How to Take in the Waist on a Pair of Jeans: 3 Easy Ways

Tailor your jeans in no time with this quick & easy tutorialIf your jeans gap slightly or are a little too big at the waist, you may be able to fix the issue by taking in the waist yourself. If you are an experienced sea...

How to

Measure Hips

Accurate hip measurements are important for having clothing made or assessing weight loss. To measure your hips, remove your outer garments, put your feet together, and wrap a soft measuring tape straight and snug around...

How to

End a Stitch

Whether you've embroidered a pillow, mended a shirt, or sewn a blanket, you'll need to know how to end your stitching. If you're sewing by hand, simply make a loop into the last stitch you made and draw the needle throug...

How to

Thread a Sewing Machine

For new sewing machine users, threading the machine can seem daunting, and even put you off the task of sewing altogether. But after you learn how to thread your machine once, you’ll find it becoming a habit and gettin...

How to

Measure Your Inseam

A great-fitting pair of pants can upgrade your style, so it’s important to know your inseam. Your inseam runs from the crotch of your pants down to the hem of the pants leg. By measuring your inseam, you can ensure you...

How to

Measure for Jeans

Finding the right pair of jeans can take a lot of trial and error even if you do know your size. Once you've measured your inseam and waist, however, you'll be able to choose and purchase the right pair much more quickly...

How to Use a Sewing Machine: Setup, Threading, Stitching & More

Expert tailors weigh in on how to get started with a sewing machineSewing machines might look complex if you’ve never used one before, but once you’ve got the basics down, you can tackle any sewing project! We inter...

How to

Make a Denim Skirt From Recycled Jeans

Instead of throwing out your worn or torn jeans, why not turn them into a cute skirt? As long as the jeans still fit you in the waist and hips, you can transform them into a skirt of just about any length, from mini to m...

How to

Sew a Shirt

As long as you know how to operate a sewing machine, you can sew your own shirt. If you've never sewn a shirt before, though, it might be easiest to start with a basic t-shirt. Work from a pattern or draft your own to be...

How to

Take Clothing Measurements

Many clothing catalogs or fitness programs ask you to take body measurements. All you really need is a soft measuring tape (or a piece of string and a regular tape measure) and (preferably) someone to help you, though yo...

How to

Alter Pants

Finding pants that fit your body can sometimes be a challenge. It's unlikely that store-bought pants will fit you perfectly, even if they are your size. Fortunately, it's easy to adjust the waist, take in the pant legs, ...

How to

Fix a Hole in a Shirt

Discovering a hole in your shirt can be frustrating. Fortunately, you don’t have to get rid of your shirt because of a minor hole. You can fix the hole in your shirt at home using a needle and thread or a patch. By usi...

How to

Measure Your Crotch for Pants

Before you cut fabric or buy your next pair of pants, take a few measurements to ensure a good fit. If you have a friend that can help you take measurements, that's great but not necessary. All you need is a measuring ta...

How to

Operate a Mini Sewing Machine

The affordable price and straightforward features of mini sewing machines make them a great choice for sewers and crafters of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re learning how to sew on a mini sewing machine, or y...

How to

Oil a Sewing Machine

Your sewing machine will work better if you oil and clean it regularly. It will also run more quietly. Most sewing machines require you to remove the fabric lint and threads that accumulate with each project and then app...

How to

Hem Jeans

Finding jeans with just the right leg length straight off the rack is nearly impossible. If you've found jeans that fit but are too long, then you can take them to a tailor or sew a new hem yourself. You can either keep ...

How to

Thread a Kenmore Sewing Machine

Before you can use your Kenmore sewing machine, you need to make sure that the machine is threaded correctly from both the top and bottom. The threading process is usually pretty straightforward but needs to be done with...

How to

Measure Dress Length

Easy ways to measure the length of a dress plus measurements for mini, cocktail, and maxi dressesMeasuring the length of a dress can come in handy if you are trying to sell a dress online. You may also need these measure...