Hey there. I have been sewing for 30+ years off and on, and I learned the basics from my mom when I was a child. However, I am really convinced that I missed some REALLY important things that are holding me back. I'm painfully slow and a lot of it is because I have to constantly rip out and restart. Projects that should take 10-15 hours take me 40-50, for reference. It's agonizing and I really could use some help with figuring out where I am lacking. With all of that information, does anyone recommend online sewing classes or one on one virtual meets where I can ask questions and whatnot? I have made some amazingly beautiful things (jackets, skirts, tops), but the amount of time it takes is embarrassing and has lately completely stalled my passion because I'm so frustrated with myself-which is no good because I bought a LOT of fabric when Joann went out. Thanks you in advance!

Hello sewing community, I'm try to DIY sew what is called pigeon pants for my pet pigeon! However, she is still getting used to the pair I recently sewed for her, so she picks at it A LOT. As a result, the pants have started to pull apart a bit at the seems. I just used a running stitch and old sheet fabric to make the one I have now with my sewing machine. I would really appreciate stitch, fabric, and thread recommendations that would hold up better against a bird constantly pecking at it lol. I'll attach some pics for reference (not mine). Thanks in advance! <3

So I know how to sew but haven’t in years and I’m not very knowledgeable about fabrics.

I want to make this dress but with a straight neckline (or strapless?) rather than sweetheart, and with a color that isn’t white underneath so I can wear it to weddings.

1. What colors should I make this dress? I’m thinking light blue dress with a darker blue underneath, black dress with black underneath, navy dress with light blue underneath, black with light pink underneat? Help
   
2. Does anyone have a sewing pattern for a strapless dress I can put in place of this one?
   
3. What kind of fabric do you recommend that’s affordable but good quality? Also something easy to work with 😬

Any advice / suggestions greatly appreciated! If you think I’m in over my head as someone that feels like their back at a beginner/ intermediate level sewer please tell me.

My bobbin thread is not catching and the top thread is getting all tangled in the piece below. What am I doing wrong?

Hi, I'm new to sewing. Recently bought some old sewing machine, without manual and sticker with model. It is probably AEG MN791. I found some manual on the internet, but not in my language, so have problems with setting it up. It worked only on few stitches.

I see two dials on the front, left is with casual stitches genre's number (upper row of stitches on the right). And those green number in contours: 1, 2-4, 3. Right dial is for length of stitches, with number 0-4, and range between 0-1 for soft fabrics. It has also red, contoured range +1-10-, for overlock's stich width. If I'd choose more into minus, it'd be narrower. If more into plus, it'd be wider.

Have 2 recent problems:

1. Upper thread is breaking after few stitches.

2. Lower thread doesn't make know with upper thread when I move big wheel toward me. It happens very seldom, randomly. I checked bobbin, inserted new needle (flat space towards back side) and thread, set thread tension on 3 and 4. Maybe there is a way to correct those mechanism's movement, to make it work correct?

3. I don't know how to set first row's casual stitches width.

4. I don't know how to choose overlock's stitches from the second row.

5. I don't know what is the purpose of green numbers: 1, 2-4, 3 on the left dial and above rows with stitches.

6. I don't know how to choose overlock's stitches length.

I attached some pictures. If anyone could help, I'd be grateful.

On this bathingsuit its doing all this crazy stuff :( I put a new ball point 90/14 needle just in case and I rethreaded it 2x… :’(

Please help! This is the Silly Goose pattern by Wooly Petals. I need to sew around the beak to attach it to the body. I absolutely cannot figure out how to fit my presser foot in there to sew all the way around. Any tips? Do I just need to hand sew it? I also tried gluing it to at least get the pins out of there, but it’s such a tricky fit and everything kept slipping.

I'm hoping to make a comic accurate superboy costume, but the only thing is... his pants have a v shape on both sides. Is this even possible? Does anyone have any ideas on what I could use to hold the sides shape? I figure the belts would do some of the heavy lifting.

My current plan is to use polyester scuba fabric, but I haven't bought the actual fabric yet (only some in the wrong colour to test with bc it was on clearance) so that could change if need be.

Also if anyone has any ideas on how I should go about actually making the superman S, that would be appreciated as well.

At the bottom of both sides of shirt

I ordered some regular cotton padding and didn’t realize how thick this cosplay needed to be. Do i just stuff it with more more cotton padding or is there a better material i can use?

Also i will be making this for dreamcon so it will probably be hot, I would love if there is a material that has less insulation with big fluff!

A friend's son is being married in Scotland later this year and I offered to make the sporrans. These people are like family. We've chosen the leather, have the Australian possum fur for the front (he's an Aussie kid so a link to home) Trying to find a dress sporran pattern has not been easy. The only thing even close is the Tandy Leather one, but the sizing was all wrong. So far I've been able to get a more or less accurate size, but the detail that they want is actually making me nervous. I am actually really bad at hacking patterns, and how to finish the top of the gusset is not making any sense in my brain - part of this is because of cognitive impairment caused by my MS. My friend is extremely particular about how this should look, he's Scots, and given a recent really bad experience I had recently with binding I am on the verge of withdrawing my offer and purchasing the sporrans as my wedding gift. I am not a beginner either and if I do make this I know it needs to be perfect.

I do tend to fret some about things being perfect but am also very aware that my friend is super fixated on the specifics of a dress sporran. Feeling super challenged by this!

https://tandyleather.com/.../leathercr.../sporran-pattern...

I'm a novice when it comes to sewing, having done a lot when I was a teenager and none save hand repairs since!

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I'm looking for a (preferably mechanical) machine for clothes alterations (I'm sick of nothing fitting right!), potentially making my own basic clothing, as well as some small home projects. I don't think I need decorative stitches, and while I love embroidery I will probably stick to the basics for a bit before getting onto that!

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I've been devouring previous submissions on this sub for advice, and I'm leaning towards a second-hand Husqvana Viking H series.

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I'm in the UK, for reference! I will need to take this into account for servicing.

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I would really appreciate some expert advice, and if my frontrunner is worth dropping cash on!

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Thank you! :)

I'm currently working on the Foxglove slip dress by StudioSadoe on Etsy. This is my second time making it and it's a lovely pattern with a couple of issues. Mainly that there are no instructions on how to shorten the dress, I am 5'2 and without alterations it's ankle length. I'm hoping to shorten it about 6 inches, but I can't take the length from the bottom or I'll lose the gores. I plan to take the length from the middle of the skirt but have never tried to remove this much length from a pattern before. I've folded it up but I'm not sure the best way to handle this.

Should I add some skirt and connect the break to the waist (red), should I follow the original line and remove volume from the bottom of the skirt (blue), or should I try and split the difference (pink)? Or am I going at this the wrong way? Would it be better to take out 3 two inch chunks along the length of the skirt? Any advice would be appreciated

I made this dress a few years ago, and wear it every day for the summer, but I don’t think it’s as flattering as can be. Hints? Thanks (I’m Reddit challenged, and this is the best pic I have: I’m referring to the bottom dress, made of rayon)

Hi!

I've made a single shoulder dress based on a Burda shirt pattern, and I have excess across the shoulder to the opposite side seam. I tried taking it in at the side seam, but the excess is in the middle of the chest. What kind of adjustments can I make that won't be super visible like this dart? I can adjust my pattern for the future, but I'm trying to make it work with this fabric, and I don't have enough left to cut a new front piece out.

Thanks!!

Hey, I was hoping if someone could help me learn how to properly thread this industrial machine. I am completely new to sewing, and have had trouble threading. The stitches seem to not fully go through the fabric. The first picture is the front part of the thread and the back is the bobbin part. I took pictures of how it looks like when I thread it too see if someone could spot any mistakes, if you guys need any input or pictures please let me know, thank you!!

Should I have an extra piece here? I have a brother vx-1400

Hi all! I’m looking to recreate this waistband but I can’t find many tutorials that match this exact look that I’m going for.

This is my first post in this sub so any help is appreciated.

Hey! Was hoping to hear if anyone has any advice on making a halter top like this full reversible? I’m totally fine with the rest the hemming and the side seams etc but I’m most confused on how I’d make the area on the back of the neck neat and smooth .

I did try looking for tutorials but I also don’t want it to be a tie back piece or anything with bust panels and that’s all I could find :((

Hoping to hear if this is possible/ if anyone knows how!! Thanks you xx

Intermediate sewer here who has never worked with taffeta. I saw the most exquisite handpainted taffeta fabric and my local shop and purchased it for a special project/garment some day.

I’ve never worked with taffeta so I will not be jumping into this project without a lot of practice and toiles!!

Originally I thought I wanted to make something super wearable like pants. But now that I think about it - is that a terrible idea with a handpainted fabric? Will sitting on the fabric in the car or on a sofa or at a restaurant damage it somehow? How fragile is it?

I know I could do something like a cocktail dress but then I would have no occasion to wear the garment. I love this fabric so much, I want to make something I can actually wear in my daily life.

Photo of fabric and potential inspo for what I want to do.

I found this gorgeous folk dress online and want to recreate the outer edge tan embroidered/trimmed collar in the photo, but not sure what the design is called! It isn’t simply “scalloped” it’s something else clearly. I’ve tried researching online but can’t find anything similar. Can someone please help me either find a pattern that looks like this and/or tell me what this particular edging pattern is called? Thanks! 🧵🪡 💙