May 7, 2019

Beth – Sew DIY

Lou Box Top, sewing, pattern, Lou Box Top Sewalong

Lou Box Top Relaunch Tester Roundup

May 7, 2019

Beth – Sew DIY

Lou Box Top, sewing, pattern, Lou Box Top Sewalong

Today I’m very pleased to share a few photos from the tester group for the new draft the Lou Box Top. (To learn more about the updates to the pattern, check out yesterday’s post.) Testers are so integral to the pattern design process. I’m eternally grateful for their help. If you are looking for more Lou Box Top inspiration, check out the #louboxtop hashtag on Instagram.

Leanne (above) had this to say about the pattern:

“I'm so excited that Beth is expanding her sizes, as I can now fit into her patterns. The Lou Box top was such a fun and easy sew, and I can't wait to make a lot more to fill out some holes in my me made wardrobe. The instructions are super easy to follow along with and I'd recommend this pattern to any beginner looking to sew up a boxy shirt!”

Read on for lots more photos and loads of inspiration.

May 6, 2019

Beth – Sew DIY

pattern, sewing, Sewing Tall, Lou Box Top, Lou Box Top Sewalong

Announcing! The Re-launch of the Lou Box Top pattern

May 6, 2019

Beth – Sew DIY

pattern, sewing, Sewing Tall, Lou Box Top, Lou Box Top Sewalong

Announcing! The re-launch of the Lou Box Top pdf sewing pattern from Sew DIY

Hi sew-friends! Today I’m very happy to announce the re-launch of the Lou Box Top pattern. I first released this pattern in 2015 and it has been steadily popular ever since. All the things that made the pattern great remain the same. This is just a bit of a makeover.

The biggest change is to the sizing. The original pattern contained only four sizes while this new pattern has 17 sizes. The armhole opening is a little bigger and the length of the top is 2 inches longer than the original as Sew DIY has decided to start drafting for a height of 5’10”. (We’re going all in on #sewingtall and couldn’t be happier with the decision. As always, the pattern has lengthen/shorten lines to make it just the right length for your personal measurements and preference.) In addition, the pattern booklet has had a redesign and small tweaks have been made to the instructions for the sake of clarity.

Below is a video recapping the changes and why we made them, plus a few of our sample garments so that you can see some versions in motion.

What if you’ve already purchased the pattern?

There’s no need to repurchase the pattern. I really appreciate the love that people have shown the LBT over the years and want everyone to enjoy this new version.

If you purchased the pattern directly from Sew DIY, expect an email in the next week or so with a link to the pattern. If you purchased from another retailer, email sewdiyblog@gmail.com with your order confirmation and we will send you a copy of the new pattern. If you don’t receive an email with the new pattern, email us and we’ll send you the link.

Lou Box Top PDF Pattern

US$14.00

The Lou Box Top is a versatile, loose fitting top with two neckline options and three hem options, for a total of six different silhouettes. Designed with beginners in mind, the steps are very easy to follow, using the most basic techniques and the loose fit of the design requires minimal fitting. It's a great project for beginners looking to get their feet wet and for more experienced sewists who want to add some quick-to-make basics to their wardrobe.

This is a digital pdf pattern that includes a print-at-home pattern, copy shop pattern and illustrated instructions for both woven and knit fabrics. THIS IS NOT A PHYSICAL PRODUCT.

After checkout, you will receive a link to the pattern that will be active for 24 hours after you click it. Prices are in USD.

What’s next?

First off, you can expect blog posts and videos about how to select your size, how to make an FBA adjustment to the top and a few tutorials about construction methods. There is already a sewalong for this pattern with lots of info but to supplement and fill in a few holes, we’ll be doing a few additional tutorials.

You can also expect more pattern updates. Next, we’re planning to update the Baseball Skirt pattern and then the Lou Box Dresses patterns. For now, I encourage you to check out the #louboxtop hashtag on Instagram and stay tuned for the tester roundup post tomorrow. And, if you do not already own this pattern, it is currently $2 off until midnight Sunday, May 12, 2019. No code required.

Thank you so much for your support. I truly appreciate it.

May 2, 2019

Beth – Sew DIY

Video, Sewing Knits, Sewing Tips, Garment Sewing, How to Sew, Ali Sweatshirt Sewalong, Lou Box Dress Sewalong, Lou Box Top Sewalong, Jodi Sewalong

Tips for How to Use a Twin Needle - VIDEO TUTORIAL

May 2, 2019

Beth – Sew DIY

Video, Sewing Knits, Sewing Tips, Garment Sewing, How to Sew, Ali Sweatshirt Sewalong, Lou Box Dress Sewalong, Lou Box Top Sewalong, Jodi Sewalong

Learn how to use a twin needle and trouble shoot common issues | Sew DIY

One of the best ways to finish off your knit projects is to use a twin needle to stitch the hem. The great thing about a twin needle is that it can be used on any conventional sewing machine (as long as the needle plate can accommodate the width of the two needles) but sometimes it can be challenging to use.

In today’s video, I’ll give you some tips that you can use to trouble shoot your twin needle stitching.

1) Use wooly nylon thread

2) Use wash away adhesive sewing tape

3) Adjust the bobbin tension (I’m a little reluctant to recommend this and have never actually done it so PROCEED WITH CAUTION. I suspect it could work because a lot of the issues around twin needles is that the bobbin thread is too tight. But, it could be challenging to change the tension back. So, research it. On my Brother CS6000i, the only way to get it to work with elastic thread in the bobbin is to adjust the bobbin tension and it was recommended to buy a second bobbin case expressly for that purpose.)

4) If your machine has it, use the twin needle setting. (I’m using a Janome Memory Craft in this example and it makes a noticeable difference when I use the twin needle setting.)

5) Thread the machine according to your machine’s manual. (And thread each thread separately, not both at the same time.)

6) If you’re still having problems, do a google search for your specific machine. Other people might have posted about it.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this video. I have a whole series of YouTube videos planned focused on tips and tutorials for sewing with knits. In case you missed it, make sure to check out last week’s video “How to Adjust Serger Tension". And if you haven’t done so already, I’d be so grateful if you subscribe to my channel on YouTube.

14 Tips for Sewing Patch Pockets

Nice looking patch pockets are all about precision. That starts with cutting and continues to placement and stitching. Over the years, I've gathered a few tricks and tips to help you sew patch pockets with ease. If you're just getting started with sewing, I recommend using a stable woven cotton fabric for your first project because it's less likely to warp and will press nicely. With a sturdy fabric, you won't need too many tricks but the more drapey the fabric is, the more likely it is that you'll want to reach for a special tool or trick.

Five Tips for Rebooting Your Sewing Practice

This year for Me Made May my pledge was to sew for 25 minutes a day. I talked more about this in this blog post but in short, I wanted to sew more. I moved to Seattle almost two years ago and I’ve been spending a lot more time working on my house and garden. Sewing fell to the wayside, despite having a much bigger sewing space. So instead of the usual outfit challenge, I decided to intentionally devote more time to the practice of sewing.

I started off tracking daily but didn't track for more than a few days—mostly because I felt like tracking wasn't necessary and it was less fun than the actual sewing. Once I got started sewing again, my momentum, focus and energy developed quickly. Honestly, within a day or two, I was back in to the swing of things. Today, I'm sharing a few tips and insights into my sewing reboot.

How to Sew Underwear with Fold Over Elastic — Video Tutorial

Today, I'm excited to share a new video tutorial for how to sew underwear using fold over elastic. I've sewn lots of underwear and it's a little tricky the first few times. So, I'll be sharing all of my tips and tricks to make sewing your own pair easier. With these tips and a bit of practice, you'll soon be sewing fold over elastic with confidence.

7 Tips for Sewing Shirring with Elastic Thread

Hello sew-friends! Today, I'm sharing my top eight tips for sewing shirring with elastic thread. Shirring creates a stretchy gathered fabric that fits closely to the body. It's often used in the torso, bust, back, waist, neckline and wrist areas of a pattern. There are lots of possibilities! You can actually buy fabric that is already shirred along one selvage but when you learn how to sew your own, you'll have a lot more design opportunities. Shirring has a big design impact and is a great way to create a fitted garment that's also really comfy.

How to Color Block Sewing Patterns

Hello sew-friends! In today's post, we're diving deep on the subject color blocking in sewing. Color blocking is a fun and easy way to add contrast and personality to a garment or other sewn item. It's also a great way to enhance existing style lines or add new style lines to a garment. Color blocking is easy enough for beginners to tackle and a great way to use up smaller cuts of fabric. In this post, I'll explain what color blocking is, why you might want to do it and a few methods for color blocking your handmade garments and other sewing projects.

How to Transfer Pattern Markings onto Fabric

Hello sew-friends! Today's video is taking a deep dive into marking tools for fabric. After you cut out your fabric, the first thing you need to do is transfer all the pattern markings from the pattern to the fabric. Trust me, you don't want to skip it! In this post, I'll chat briefly about pattern markings and why they're important. Then, I'll share a variety of tools that can transfer marks to fabric and the pros and cons of each. Plus, I'll demonstrate how to mark a dart using a tracing wheel and transfer paper and how to mark a dart using a hole punch and chalk. Let's get started!

5 Things To Do Before Cutting a Sewing Pattern

Hello sew-friends! We're going back to basics today to talk about patterns. There's nothing more frustrating than making a garment and finding that it doesn't fit. The most common answer is to make a muslin first, but today I'm going to share the five things that you should do before you make a muslin and even before you cut or trace out your pattern. These are my tried and true tips that will help you get closer to making a first muslin that is the right size for your body as well as for your style and fit preferences.

How to use an Edge Stitch Foot — Video Tutorial

I’m always looking for ways to improve my topstitching because I feel like really accurate topstitching makes a garment look so much more professional. So, to help myself dial in my topstitching, I decided to get a special sewing machine foot called an edge stitch foot.

This is a special sewing machine foot accessory that (usually) does not come with the machine and it was not cheap. I’m not sure what I originally paid but it’s now running about $32 USD. I honestly don’t know if the machine foot is worth the cost. Time will tell on that. But, I will definitely be using it for the next button down shirt that I sew.

How to Sew an All-In-One Facing—Video Tutorial

In this video, I'll be sharing the step-by-step process of sewing an all-in-one facing to a tank top. An all-in-one facing is a facing piece that is used to finish both the neckline and the armhole with one piece of fabric, as opposed to a separate facing for the armhole and a separate facing for the neckline. This method of finishing the neckline and armholes of a top or dress, creates a very clean finish and when you take it one step at a time, it's really fairly easy as well. (This method is also known as the burrito method, because we will roll the top when sewing the facing to the armholes.)

How to Sew a Basting Stitch—Sewing Basics Tutorial

If you've sewn a garment before, you may have encountered a basting stitch. And, if you keep sewing, you'll be sure to use it with most projects. Basting is a fundamental sewing technique because it's so useful. Even better, it's a very easy stitch to sew. In this post and video, I'll talk about what a basting stitch is, when to use it and demonstrate sewing a basting stitch by hand and by machine.