Sewing & Fabric Essentials

Spice up your bows! Here are 5 easy bow tying tricks for your next craft, gift or DIY accessory. From a classic bow to more sophisticated looks, we have you covered!

The running stitch is an easy hand sewing stitch that can be used in many projects, it can also be used to gather fabric. A smaller running stitch can also be used for embroidery and appliques. You can also do a back stitch by hand.

The back stitch can be used as a decorative top stitch or to create a strong seam similar to the straight stitch on a sewing machine. You can leave a bit of space between stitches if you prefer that look for decorative stitching. This stitch is used a lot for embroidery and appliques. You can also do a running stitch by hand.

Dritz Stitch Witchery is a fusible bonding web that's great for no-sew projects. It can also be used for hems and other applications where you don't want stitches showing. The bonding tape is a strip of adhesive that melts when ironed to adhere fabric together, creating a permanent bond. Stitch Witchery comes in various widths from 1/4″ to 2″ and several weights from ultra light weight to super weight. It's machine washable and can be dry cleaned.

Learn 6 different ways to hem fabric: Serged hem Double fold hem Invisible hem with bonding tape Hem with hem tape Handsewn blind hem Machine-sewn blind hem Choose a type of hem depending on your project and personal preferences.

Rotary cutters are made to cut fabric, paper, leather, vinyl, mat board, and foam core. They are sometimes preferred over scissors when you need a straight, clean, precise cut, making them a favorite of quilters. We offer Omnigrid rotary cutters in 2 sizes and also carry replacement blades. The smaller 28mm size is best for curves and provides the most precision. You'll also need a cutting mat to protect the surface you're working on.

Ruching is a form of gathering fabric for texture and detail in a garment. Ruching can be seen in bathing suits, wedding gowns, and fitted tops. It can also be seen in some home decor products such as pillows.

Seam rippers are useful to have when correcting sewing mistakes. A seam ripper is made up of a long point, a blade which is a curved part in the middle, and a little ball that helps protect the fabric.

Dritz Fray Check is a seam sealant that prevents fabric from fraying and secures thread ends. It's perfect for use on the raw edges of fabric, ribbon, and trim. It also prevents thread ends on sewing and embroidery projects from coming loose. It can be used to finish raw edges on the inside of garments so they don't fray when washed. It's also great for small holes and tears and can be used in combination with an invisible hand stitch to make repairs to clothing and other items.

A dart is a method used in sewing to add shape to a garment. Darts are often used on the busts of dresses and blouses, skirts and to minimize gaping at sleeve openings. There are a few parts of a dart that are important to understand before sewing them into your garment.