Elise's Sewing Studio

Category: Sewing Tutorials

  • Get started sewing clothes that fit

    Get started sewing clothes that fit

    Getting your measurements right is the foundation to sewing clothes that fit. Most patterns you buy will put you in a size based on three measurements: Getting a well-fitting garment starts with good measurements. Measure the bust/chest: Measure around the fullest part of the bust/chest. Make sure the tape measure is parallel to the ground…

  • Sew a maxi dress into a skirt

    Sew a maxi dress into a skirt

    I’ve been doing a lot of “shopping in my closet” lately, and I thought I’d share my latest project where I sew a maxi dress into a skirt. Sure, shopping in the store or buying patterns is great. But in this quick beginner sewing tutorial, I’ll show you how I got a “new” skirt in…

  • Selecting fabric for garment sewing

    So you have an idea of something you want to sew, but how do you choose the right fabric for the project? Selecting fabric for your project can be tricky for a new sewer to get right, so I thought I’d offer some tips to help you get your project started on thre right foot.…

  • How to Draft and Sew a Neck Facing

    Learn to change a neckline in a sewing pattern Learning how to make a neck facing pattern from an existing bodice pattern means that you aren’t limited by the shape of the neck in that particular pattern. Once you know how to make a facing pattern, you can alter the shape of the neckline in…

  • 9 Time-saving sewing tricks

    So much to sew, sew little time. Here are a list of time-saving sewing hacks I use to make sewing projects go faster. I’d love to know if you do any of these, or if you have any time-saving tricks to share! Use weights on your pattern I used to pin patterns to fabric before…

  • How to make and sew piping

    Sewing level: Beginner to intermediate Piping is way to add an extra design element to any sewing project – I’ve used it for details on clothing (like around a neck opening, the lapel of a blazer, waist seam between a bodice and skirt for example) and also for upholstery. While I usually sew clothes, right…

  • Heart Basket Ornament

    I always loved these heart basket Christmas ornaments. As a child, I would see lots of these at Christmas functions. Making a heart basket ornament is a common Christmas craft in Scandinavian countries (I have a Norwegian background), usually made out of shiny paper. Wrapping paper or construction paper works well – this tutorial could…

  • Fabric Words: What is a grain line?

    Grainlines. Bias. Cross grain. The world of sewing and patternmaking has a lot of words that a beginner or intermediate sewist might not be clear on what they mean – and this can affect the outcome of thier sewing projects. I thought I would devote a blog post to dive into some of these words…

  • Quick Gifts Sewing Summit

    This post contains affiliate links. Last winter I designed this cozy flannel scarf. It’s quite warm, and I like that it offers good neck and shoulder coverage without being dangly/having to be re-wrapped. It buttons over the shoulder, and is almost like a cross between a scarf and a shawl. I will be presenting a…

  • Sew leggings from an existing pair

    Sew leggings from an existing pair

    How to sew leggings without a pattern Want to sew leggings, but don’t have a pattern? No problem. I’ll show you how to make a pair of leggings using the ones you already have as a guide. These have a yoga waistband. To make your own leggings, you will need: I chose a fairly soft…