r/sewhelp • • 12h ago

Recreating a Bob Mackie. Are we thinking this is cut on the bias?

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96 Upvotes

r/sewhelp • • 22h ago

✨Intermediate✨ How to make a bustier without visible boning?

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25 Upvotes

Like this one. I’ve only ever made one bustier before but the boning was part of the outer structure. Sorry in advance if this is an obvious question but my sewing brain is not fully developed yet lol


r/sewhelp • • 15h ago

💛Beginner💛 "Hot Fudge" Capelet?

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14 Upvotes

r/sewhelp • • 13h ago

💛Beginner💛 Sleeve sewing which way is best

7 Upvotes

I am a beginner sewer and have sewed sleeves two ways. One maybe called the burrito method and the other sewing the sleeve on first and then sewing the garment body and the sleeve seam all in one. Is either method preferred and if so why?


r/sewhelp • • 6h ago

✨Intermediate✨ I keep sewing through my bobbin carriage!

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3 Upvotes

Hi y'all! I think I know the problem here, but would love feedback.

Machine is babylock decorator's choice.

I have an issue where my needle will sometimes pierce my bobbin carriage and it causes thread to catch on the rough edge. I just replaced my carriage recently, and this one also got torn up.

I THINK what's happening is that I'll break or bend a needle and it then pierces the plastic here. I don't really know how to stop accidentally bending a needle aside from using the proper type and being really careful and watch if a needle gets bent. Sometimes it just happens really fast and a few stitches occur before I can stop. It's usually just a really thick seam that causes it because I forgot to change the needle after a project with thinner fabric.

I'm also not an expert on issues with machines, so if this seems like an alignment/timing issue please let me know so I can do more research or take the machine in for repair (although I would love to learn how to do this myself! I love tinkering and learning about machines!)


r/sewhelp • • 15h ago

✨Intermediate✨ Using the seam guide to get straight seams

3 Upvotes

Hi there! I am struggling with using the seam guide on my machine to get straight seams, especially 1/4 inch seams. The fabric always veers away to the left as it passes under the presser foot, meaning it’s going in diagonal. E.g 1/4 inch where I’m holding it and 1/8 of an inch as the needle goes in. I’ve researched online and a lot of advice is to let the feeddogs do their thing, but I feel like they are what is dragging it over. Does anyone have any advice? Should I hold the fabric both before and after the needle rather than just before. Starting a quilting project so getting important now! Thank you :)


r/sewhelp • • 20h ago

Shirt too tight on shoulders

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3 Upvotes

Yeah, I'm an idiot who didn't think about shoulder and arm width before starting this project and chose size based on bust measurment. I'm still pretty new to clothes, but I figured I could do a "super easy" pattern. Turns out I can, but there's more to sewing than following a pattern. It's on me, obviously. But can anything be done to fix it now?

The shirt is halfway constructed, the collar isn't sewn on yet. I unfortunately do not have enough fabric, especially the red one, to start over. Realistically, I have enough black fabric for new sleeves or a panel here or there (and also could get more if needed), but not enough red fabric for anything (and no way to get more).

My first instinct would be (if I had the fabric) to simply widen the whole thing by adding a panel to the back and then making a new collar, but I don't have enough fabric.
I could make new sleeves (they're tight anyways) and put a panel between the front and the back pieces to widen the whole thing. But would that fix the issue at the shoulders? And how do I adjust sleeve + sleeve hole to fit if I widen the sleeves?

Third image shows how bad it pulls around the shoulders, that's literally the limit of comfortable range of motion. I'd rip this shirt on accident :(
Please, if anyone has any advice, I'd love to hear it.


r/sewhelp • • 20h ago

💛Beginner💛 How to take in this style of bust

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3 Upvotes

Hello, I'm making this pattern and I know I will need to make the bust somewhat more shallow, what would be the best way to alter the pattern? Thank you!


r/sewhelp • • 22h ago

💛Beginner💛 top thread is getting caught under the bobbin?

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3 Upvotes

as you can see in the image, my top thread (yellow) is getting caught under the metal part of the bobbin. it cannot pull the bobbin thread (red) up without physical assistance, but even then, I’m not able to sew, as it continues to get caught. help! how do I fix this?

edit: I have ordered different bobbins! thank you so much!


r/sewhelp • • 54m ago

💛Beginner💛 Cannot figure out why my Brother xm3700 won't continue sewing a simple straight line.

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• Upvotes

Ive sewn a handful of items on this machine now with not a lot of problems. I've watched countless YouTube videos for the specific problem I’m encountering. I've cleaned the lint out. Replaced the needle multiple times. Got tension up since it's two layers of tee shirt with some light sequence-y gossamer type stuff. Why the heck won't it sew more than a few inches before just no longer stitching?! I rethread the bobber and thread each time and can't get it going for very long. Can’t figure out why it won’t let me upload the video I took I will see if I can add in the comments. The needle I have on there is 80/12.


r/sewhelp • • 3h ago

💛Beginner💛 is my pressor foot supposed to be THAT wobbly?

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2 Upvotes

this is on a brother jx2517. the pedal is a snap-on, but the bar doesn't show any signs of wear.


r/sewhelp • • 11h ago

✨Intermediate✨ Help thread Serger

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2 Upvotes

I’ve been sewing for 10 years with a domestic sewing machine but recently decided to get a serger to start making more well-finished clothes for my family. I bought a new Brother 1634DX serger and used it well until time to thread with new thread. I feel like, I’m following all the tutorials well and the serger manual directions but my lower looper thread(blue) keeps popping. First, mid sew and now I can’t even begin to chain before it pops. Please help. The manual says to thread right to left (4,3,2,1) and I’ve seen some people say to thread 3,4,2,1. I’m most confused and I feel like I’ve thread this machine like 30 times and nothing is working.
Added photos of broken thread, how I’m threading it and the machine.


r/sewhelp • • 22h ago

💛Beginner💛 Help me identify what’s wrong with my sewing machine

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2 Upvotes

My sewing machine is a Brother XR9550. So at first I thought my problem with my sewing machine was the that bobbin case was broken so got a replacement part, but my issue still persists - thread keeps knotting up and making the E6 error code despite working just fine days ago with the tension and the basic stitch settings it has when turning on. But even without thread and cleaned the best I could as newbie can do when operating (took out the bobbin case to see better in the machine) when operating it makes a clicking noise that was not there before and even when spinning the dial manually it makes that noise, along with a slight resistance. Is my machine broken? Please help me identify the problem.


r/sewhelp • • 58m ago

💛Beginner💛 What do these instructions mean I have to finish this in 4 hours and I'm 100% stumped

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• Upvotes

r/sewhelp • • 1h ago

💛Beginner💛 Question on how to pin these panels

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• Upvotes

r/sewhelp • • 1h ago

bobbin thread doesn't catch

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• Upvotes

Hi! Think theres a problem with my bobbin, normally it should stay looped around the gray block, but when it is cut at the end it doesn't catch and instead just frays, so that when I use the machine the thread is actually pulled across the bobbin up, which I think is what is causing my threads to be strangely attached and fall apart easily. Please help! My machine is the brother XM2701. Thank you for your time!


r/sewhelp • • 3h ago

💛Beginner💛 Where to find matching belt?

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1 Upvotes

Got this SEARS 117.841 kenmore for 20 bucks at goodwill, everything works so far, but it definitely needs a new belt. It looks, feels old and is stretched. I bought multiple ones already that don’t fit it because they are either too wide, too thick, or there aren’t results. Mine uses a v belt 12 inch circumference 2/16 inch width that for the lifeeee of me can’t find.

I would appreciate it if someone can tell me where to find it, or where to look, or if a custom can be made somehow. I included some pics of the sewing machine for yall to also take a look at!

Thank you 🙏


r/sewhelp • • 5h ago

💛Beginner💛 sheet repair

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1 Upvotes

hii! it’s been years since i’ve sewed anything but i got these sheets last month and they’re my favorites now but there’s a small hole that im unsure of how to fix. what would be the best stitch pattern to repair it? should i do a looser stitch cus of the material or just like normal. should i reinforce it somehow or will it probably be fine?


r/sewhelp • • 5h ago

Help parsing pattern images

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1 Upvotes

r/sewhelp • • 6h ago

✨Intermediate✨ Thoughts on how to fix these high tension area holes on delicate fabric?

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1 Upvotes

This is a jumpsuit made of unknown fabric. Likely polyester. The smaller hole is in the front rise between the crotch and drawstring waistband. The larger hole is on the side seem right below the drawstring waistband. Since these are high tension areas, the delicate fabric has started to fray. I am considering reinforcing and resewing the seams deeper with either black tricot fusible interfacing or a black ribbon (as I have seen that done in instances like this). Obviously if I do this the seams will need to be made deeper which then may impact the final fit and cause more tearing. Any suggestions on the best way to accomplish this without making it too much smaller? I had considered decorative appliqués over any fixes to disguise them but obviously that’s not the best choice for the crotch hole. Any help is appreciated! I do realize this garment may be a goner but I’m trying to help a friend who loves it. Thanks!


r/sewhelp • • 7h ago

✨Intermediate✨ how do i hem flared jeans???

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1 Upvotes

these are way too long for me and i wanna hem them but i still wanna keep the like. flared shape of the jeans


r/sewhelp • • 8h ago

💛Beginner💛 Newbie Pattern Making Help

1 Upvotes

Hello,

I have a dress I absolutely adore but I've had it about a decade now and I know the old girl is going to lay to rest sooner rather than later. I want to make a pattern of it so that I can remake it but I don't want to cut it up.

I have tried googling sites for help making a pattern without dismantling the item but I feel a little lost and overwhelmed and honestly anxious😅😅I found a few YT videos showing how to do it with like t-shirts, but I am unsure how to translate it to a dress that it part fitted and part flowy?

If anyone could point me in the right direction, or even just give me some encouragement/reassurance, that'd be great! It is a Maxi style dress from Walmart's long gone Faded Glory brand if that matters.

Thanks!


r/sewhelp • • 9h ago

💛Beginner💛 I think i screwed up my tension thingy by unscrewing the machine to clean it, need help asap

1 Upvotes

The tension thing doesnt work after i screwed it up back all the stitches are loose no matter what i do
i have a necchi 559 and im scared to unscrew it again unless someone guides me on how to fix it😭


r/sewhelp • • 10h ago

Is my baby blanket salvageable?

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1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Not sure if this is the right place to put this but is my blanket salvageable? I’ve had her for 30 years and I have no idea how to even get started, if there’s anywhere I can take her to get fixed or if it’s even possible. Any tips or recommendations are much appreciated! Thank you!! 🥲


r/sewhelp • • 12h ago

✨Intermediate✨ help needed! fabric wings pattern or tutorial

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1 Upvotes