Hi, and welcome to my blog! My name is Linda and I have been sewing since my father taught me how to sew at age seven (42 years ago!) It’s a passion of mine. I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Textiles and Clothing in 1983. I have owned and operated a bridal business since 1984 and have sewn and altered clothes since 1988.
My purpose in writing this blog is to teach you how to sew and alter clothing for fun or profit. While there are many books on the subject, I think most fall short in giving you complete and precise details with photos of each step. Please feel free to leave a comment or question and I’ll respond or answer accordingly.
My husband and I have been married 26 years and he’s an amazing man. He’s a CFO and an incredible fisherman (used to be a guide) and hunter. We have two awesome daughters ages 22 and 24. The older one graduated from college two years ago and has a real job in the real world and the younger will graduate from college in December. We all love the Lord Jesus Christ and revel in his amazing gift of salvation.
I have seven brothers and no sisters, but alot of great sisters-in-law. The only pets we have left are 4 koi in a small pond.
Enjoy this site. I welcome your feedback.
I think the first one got deleted and errored out.
I am proud of you!
What a nice story.. Your sight is very helpful.. Thank you very much!
Hi. just found your blog. Love your family story. Love your links: lovedare, compassion. Very similar to our passions.
We purchased our first serger and will be sewing a dozen or so long ballet skirts for money and want to know how to sew in the elastic with the serger. We do not have the so-called elastic attachment and want to avoid bulky casing. We’re looking something like one found on a slip or bathing suit skirt. We’ve already read several tutorials but none seem to produce the sewn on look that we have seen. Our serger instruction book is lacking.
Thank you!
Hi Marcella,
Glad you found and like the site!
To answer your question about the elastic. Serging elastic without the elastic attachment can be a little tricky, but hopefully, this tip will help. First, do you have a cover stitch capability on your serger? I’ll explain that later in this answer. Divide your skirt into fourths. (I use the center back seam or the two side seams to get me started.) I put a pin at each quarter mark. Then, take the waist measurement minus 4″ and cut your elastic to that measurement. Shape this length into a circle and stitch the ends together forming a circle of elastic. Divide this elastic into fourths and mark each spot with a pin. Now pin the skirt marks to the corresponding elastic marks and pin these two layers together at those spots. Does that make sense? Once you have pinned them, you’ll notice that there is more skirt than elastic between the pins. That is exactly what you want because you are going to stretch the elastic as you sew. So, once you begin to serge (or sew), pull the elastic tight so that the elastic and skirt lay flat. Serge (at the edge of the elastic and skirt) to the next pin pulling the pin out before you get there, but don’t let the elastic go slack while you’re serging. Now, fold your waistband over hiding the elastic in the waistband. (You may have different instructions for your waistband. If so, let me know and I’ll adjust my instructions to you.) Do you want more rows of stitching (serging) along the waistband? If so, this is where a cover stitch would work. Otherwise, what you have done, is all you can do with a regular serger. If you don’t have a cover stitch and you want more lines on your waistband, you’ll need to use a sewing machine and stitch more lines every 1/4″ apart (or whatever distance you desire.) Just make sure you are pulling the elastic tight as you stitch.
Hope that helps! If not, ask me some more questions so I can be of more help.
Thanks,
Linda
LInda, you are amazing and your “blog” is just heaven! How I wish that I could have you over for a cup of tea! I so enjoy your blog and all the info and chat.
Thank you so very, very much!
Have a Happy Memorial Day as we remember the wonderful men and woman that sacrificed themselves for us!
Hi Linda,
I too was taught how to sew by my dad. He took a Vogue pattern for a safari jacket and showed me that if I would just follow the directions to the letter, then I too could sew anything. He did not know how to sew at the time but did a fantastic job on the jacket. He just wanted to prove to (and encourage) me that it could be done.
I stopped sewing for a while but have recently started doing alterations in my home-based business so that I can homeschool my youngest son.
Sewing certainly is rewarding and a lot of hard work. I am glad that I found your website and I look forward to reading more and hopefully contributing as well.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Linda,
Do you belong to any sewing organizations like American Sewing Guild, which I am joining today, or American Sewing & Design Professionals? I think they are great for networking and sharing sewing information.
Thank God I found your website! I am not very good with a sewing machine, but am going to follow your step by step instructions on how to shorten the shoulder straps (from the inside) on my dress. Wish me luck !!!
Shelley S.
You’ll find you won’t need to be good at sewing to do alterations. A basic knowledge of sewing and the instructions on how to do them is all you need. Oh, and sometimes it takes a little courage so you’re not afraid to try.
You’ll do just great!
Hello!
Thank you so much for your blog. I found it very helpful. I am very grateful for it.
I have a question, for Christmas I asked my husband to buy me a dress-form, would you recommend one?
Thank you
Agnieszka
I am glad you like my blog and find it helpful.
I do not use a dress form, but that is because I don’t make garments, I only alter them. A friend of mine who sews alot of garments really likes her dress form. She has an adjustable one. (I’m guessing that all dress forms are adjustable, but if the one you are looking at is not adjustable, I wouldn’t buy it.)
I hope that helps!
Linda
Glad I found your blog; I’ve been sewing for lots of years and it is amazing how I seem to always find a new technique form other experienced sewers.
I have a friend that asked for information as how to make piping and apply it, so all I had to do was download your instructions and pass them off to her. Since I do the appliction in pretty much the same manner it saved me lots of time rather than having to document it. I loved that you’d made a few short cuts (that I hadn’t thought of) such as using the wonder tape.
Thanks so much!
I’m glad it helped! Thanks for stopping by and letting me know.
Hello again Linda,
I am a new fan of your website, and kind of a new sewer. I’ve been sewing off and on since my little girl was small and is now 30. But only recently have I taken a serious note to it. I am now, as of 4 years ago, sewing for small profit, but it helps pay for my pony habit. I felt led by the Lord to sew pretty dresses. So I started with little girl dresses and gave most away. Three years later I am knee deep into alterations of wedding gowns and formal wear. And your website is an answer to my prayer. Each and every one is different and with new challenges. So I just can’t thank you enough for making everything so understandable and precise. I am 63, so for you younger girls, its never to late to start. And I love being a part of their special event. Thank you again,Linda, for all your help. I’m sure Ill be in touch .
So glad you’ve found this helpful. I almost started sewing pretty dresses for young girls many years ago. What a wonderful blessing for you and now you are altering big dresses too. I hope you are enjoying every minute of it.
You can always email me under the “Contact” tab above if you ever have any questions.
Thanks for your sweet comments!
Linda
Hello
I live in the uk and would like to know if you can help, I recently purchased a second hand wedding dress which is i love but unfortunately where it was adjusted for its previous owner i cant get my bust in the zip is short of about an inch however like the idea of removing this and making it a corset back.
Am quite good at making basic alterations however creating the loops looks quite complicated and am not sure my skills stretch to this wondered if you new where i could possibly get some pre made that i can just attach.
Have debated taking it to a seamstress however the dress was brought for a formal dinner and am concerned that this will start getting very expensive, and am wondering if i would be better selling the dress and trying to get a new one
Many thanks
Annemarie
Love the idea of corset back, but couldn’t you also do guss!ets underarm to just below waist? I do like the corset back, and I am sure Linda has a trick for the back with the loops
Good point. Yes you certainly could! Thanks for your comment!
Linda
Linda, I just came across your blog and I am floored!!!! It’s just what I was looking for.
I’ve been sewing clothing for myself and kids for years, but I’ve never really gotten into alterations.
In the past year or so I began refashioning clothes for fun and posting a few of the projects on Facebook. Two weeks I posted on FB a remark that I needed ideas on how to make money with my sewing skills. The ideas were mainly about items to sew and sell, or people saying they would be interested in lessons. I began mulling over the idea of lesson and looking at my studio with a new eye trying to picture how to turn it into a lesson room. I prayed for some guidance. And guess what happened, I began getting requests to hem this, or alter that! That is what I love about my relationship with God. I get what I think is a great idea, and start to run with it, then He simply provides something else that is a better fit for me!
In the last week I’ve had requests to make 5 pair of pants into shorts, make a baseball jersey larger, make a dress smaller, reupholster a porch swing and hem a wedding dress! I love how the Lord provides.
Now, I just need to really get into your site and make sure I do it right! I think the Lord led me to your website too. Than you for all the hard work you’ve put into this project and for sharing your knowledge.
Dear Linda,
Thank you so much for taking the time and energy to create such a wonderful blog! I’m 26 and have been married for 3 years. My husband and I were blessed with a beautiful daughter this January and I chose to leave my teaching career behind in order to stay at home. I had a grand idea to start doing alterations and repairs from home in my spare time. I have been sewing since I was a child, but I definitely still need to gain more professional skills. Your site has been an answer to prayer since I really don’t have the time or money for classes at this time. Again, thank you so much for sharing your expertise!
God Bless,
Melissa
You are remarkable!