Needlework Top Tips

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Sarah Watson, Author Of Pen to Thread, Shares Her Top Tips

Think small! An initial on a sleeve cuff or scarf can make a huge impact. When applying tiny designs, use one or two strands of thread to create a crisp fi
Embroider felt patches and use them to mend old jeans, jumpers and accessories.
Plan before you sew; it’s easier to work on a pattern piece, as opposed to a garment.
If you’re decorating a knit or thin fabric, use a stabiliser – a water-soluble one works well on washable fabrics.
Always start with an away-waste knot and weave in the thread tails to minimise bulk.
Iron woven fusible backing to the inside of clothes to encase the threads and leave a soft, skin-friendly finish.

More Helpful Tips...

Give extra shape to frocks and tops with this handy sleeve enhancement. You can easily add interest to the head of the sleeve, and how it travels over the top of the arm, simply by using tucks, gathers, pleats and darts. Each of these will require a sligh

Improve Your Rolled Hems

Guarantee flowing hemlines that hang like a dream. Keen dressmaker Sarah Greeff has colourful memories of her first attempts at making a rolled hem. “I was first asked to make rolled hems for a colleague at Fenwick of Bond Street"

Perfect Your Piping

Know Your Overlocking

Get to grips with the best overlocking finishes for everyday stitching. The overlocker has a different feel to a regular sewing machine. The trick is to let the feed dog guide the fabric. Use your right hand to support the edge of the material, taking car

Master French Seams

Get to grips with a clever seam favourite for a continental finish! French seams are common in clothes for children, where the skin is extra sensitive, as the inside is completely smooth.

Fix a Frayed Pocket

A quick fashion fix with Amanda Bowden's classic miracle mend. The dread of torn stitching can be traumatic. Pockets are a common site of injury for catching on things, to say nothing of natural wear and tear as hands go in and out, and even the continued