Whitney SewsWhitney Sews - Sewing Basics"

Prairie Points…and a Monster

Whitney — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 22:04:50 +0000

In the past I thought of prairie points as a sort of lame sewing technique (don’t hate me…). Then a short time ago I was looking on flickr and saw someone using prairie points in their patchwork to make some really neat looking bags. So I decided to give them another chance.

If you have no idea what prairie points are check out my basics video HERE! I talk about what they are and show how to make them.

I wanted to incorporate prairie points into a tutorial to give you all even more ideas for them. So meet my monster friend! He has prairie point teeth and is super lovable!

Click HERE to learn how to make this little guy!

Fussy Cutting – Sewing Basics

Whitney — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 04:03:28 +0000

Fussy cutting is something I love using in a lot of my projects! It is a method of cutting where you focus more on cutting to maximize the print or design of your fabric and less on making the most of your yardage. This can be for something such as lining up your stripes at a dress’s seams or cutting out pieces for a quilt block so that a character is at the center of each one.

I made a basics video covering a lot of the details about fussy cutting and showing how I fussy cut for a project. You can check out the video HERE!

Turning a Bag – Sewing Basics

Whitney — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 15:04:08 +0000

I’ve done a few different bag and purse tutorials on my channel and every time I post one I get questions about turning the bag right side out near the end of the process. So I created a sewing basics video showing that step in full, in real time. If you’ve ever had trouble with sewing bags then check the video out. I’m sure it will be a huge help!

Watch the video HERE!

P.S. I’m having a sale in my etsy store and giving away this pillow sham! To find out more watch the video HERE!

Choosing the Right Thread Color

Whitney — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:46:11 +0000

I don’t buy a lot of thread, so when I work on a project I just use what I have and ‘make it work’ (read that in your best Tim Gunn voice). To see what color works best I compare the actual thread in a single thread width, instead of the whole spool, with the fabric. This helps to see the true color of the thread.

To learn more about what my mom and I call ‘Auditioning Thread’ check out the video HERE! To see the other videos in my Sewing Basics Playlist click HERE.

Improv Piecing

Whitney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:04:12 +0000

After making my paper piecing blocks and tutorial I started playing around with my scraps. I came up with some really fun and bright freely pieced blocks.

In the past I have called this scrappy piecing or free form piecing, but I was watching a video and heard the term “improv piecing” and I loved it!

Improve piecing made total since to me because in high school I was in jazz band and there were always improv solos. Improv solos are made up as the musician is playing, but still has to fit within a few guidelines (key, length,etc).

My improv blocks have a few guidelines as well. Each block has a center featuring a character from one of my vintage character sheets and each block is trimmed to fit an 8.5 inch square.

I really love how the blocks are turning out! I hope to make enough to make a decent sized quilt with them.

See more pics and details in the video HERE.

What do you do with your fabric scraps??

Sewing Basics – Selvage Info and Wardrobe Repairs

Whitney — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:57:34 +0000

A couple of years ago I started a series of Sewing Basics videos to answer some of the frequently asked sewing questions I get. In the last few days I added two new videos to the series.

The first is a video all about selvages. They are those under-appreciated, non-fraying edges on fabric. Selvages actually contain lots of great info and can be very helpful. Check out the video HERE to learn more.

The second new video shows a few tips for wardrobe upkeep, including repairing a ripped lining seam and replacing a lost button. See that video HERE.

Leave a comment if there is a sewing basics topic you want me to cover!

Serging Tips and Basics

Whitney — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 02:08:13 +0000

There are several times in my life, and even in just the past few years, that I can point to and say I was incredibly blessed! Some of them are really large things like the amazing deal my husband and I got on our new vehicle. We received more for our trade-in than expected on top of the already discounted price, and our bank worked out a deal to get us the lowest interest rate possible.

One other occasion I was really blessed was when a viewer gave me a serger! It was right during a time when I was really wanting to get a serger, but there was no way I could buy one because I was unemployed.

I have used the serger for several projects, and have figured out the basics so I wanted to share what I’ve learned with everyone else!

Easy Jean Repair

Whitney — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 02:08:13 +0000

I’m a creature of habit…especially when it comes to jeans! I only wear one brand of jeans because I have found the kind and fit I like. I then tend to wear the same 2 or 3 pairs over and over until they are worn to bits.

This means I end up having to patch a lot of holes. Over the years I’ve come up with a method that works the best for me. Here’s how I do it.

I hope this video helps you save a few of your favorite pairs of jeans! Leave a comment if you have suggestions for basic sewing techniques or tips I should cover!