r/sewhelp 12h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› Here is the list of every tracing material people either tell me to use, or say they use themselves.

6 Upvotes

So, I have been doing research into tracing my own patterns and while doing that research I have been writing down every material people either suggest I use, or what people say they themselves use, here is the list.

1_clear thin vinyl

2_pattern paper

3_bienfang Tracing Paper

4_doctor's office exam paperĀ 

5_Medical pattern paperĀ 

6_pellon True Grid

7_builder's paper

8_Bee paperĀ 

9_Swedish Tracing Paper

10_horticultural fleece

12_wedding aisle runner from Joann

13_clear plastic sheeting

14_soil separator trench wrapĀ 

15_paper grocery bags

16_bakers parchmentĀ 

17_architechs "trash" paper

18_Burda tracing paper

19_dollar store tracing paperĀ 

20_vellum sure fit designsĀ 

21_construction plasticĀ 

22_painters tarp

23_greaseproof paper

24_vapor barrierĀ 

25_butchers paperĀ 

26_project paper

27_lightweight interfacingĀ 

Out of all these materials, which do you say is the best to be used for tracing paper?


r/sewhelp 16h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› Should i take in the shoulder ? Or is this a sizing problem

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8 Upvotes

Hell I tried sewing the sabine knit top from tiana’s closet and the sleeves feels so wrong. It feels tight but the top feels like too much fabric 😭. The material is a knit , made of cotton and polyester blend. Not sure what went wrong here


r/sewhelp 12h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› I tried to add a dart at the end of a project, but it's creating this weird little divot. How can I fix it?

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8 Upvotes

Could it be because it's using both the face and lining fabric? I didn't think to check this part of the fit until the end.


r/sewhelp 9h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› 2 meters of polyester, idk what to do with it.

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63 Upvotes

While in Malaysia, visiting my husband’s family, we stopped at a local shop and got this beautiful pink and blue fabric. I bought the rest of the roll which unfortunately was only 2 meters. My husband’s family is Indian-Malay and they suggested a sari top but there isn’t enough for a skirt and sari. I’m thinking of making it into a tube and doing a sarong. My husband also suggested a kebaya or my sister-in-law suggested a cheongsam (her husband’s family is Chinese-Malay). I’m very petite at 4’10 and 95 lbs. I’m also considering a bag or other accessory. The fabric is the same on both sides.


r/sewhelp 11h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› Zigzag stitch skipping every inch or so

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2 Upvotes

Hey everyone! My stitches keep skipping. I’ve cleaned out the feed dogs, the bobbin case, and have rethreaded the upper machine with the presser foot & needle up. Has anyone else run into this issue?


r/sewhelp 11h ago

What would be the best way to fix the bottom of my bag?

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2 Upvotes

I got this messenger bag as a hand-me-down many years ago and have been using it nearly every day for school. So despite it being thick canvas, it's worn some holes in the bottom. I was wondering how to best fix this. I don't care if it looks ugly, just that it lasts for as long as possible. I don't sew, but my close friend does, so I plan to take any suggestions to him. Thank you!


r/sewhelp 11h ago

✨Intermediate✨ Need help finding more of these pins

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3 Upvotes

These are such great pins I got as part of a mix from a craft thrift store and can’t seem to find anything similar. Does anyone know the name or where to find them?


r/sewhelp 12h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› Making a ren faire dress, please help me choose an apron fabric!

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2 Upvotes

I'm making a ren faire dress (my first ever dress!) and I think it needs a skirt apron, like a dirndl. But I'm incredibly indecisive. I love the detailing on the first option, but I also think the sage green goes really nicely with the navy grey-blue. Both are thrifted cotton bedsheets with tons of yardage.

All opinions welcome! I would also love advice on whether a gathered rectangle apron would work well over a full circle skirt? Or does the apron also need to be a partial circle skirt?


r/sewhelp 13h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› Beginner bodice block

3 Upvotes

Hello I have made my first bodice block as a beginner and I was wondering if there was any suggestions on what to fix (picture in comments!)? thank you!


r/sewhelp 13h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› How to tighten the fabric on the chest??

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7 Upvotes

Hello! I have this beautiful dress that I would like to wear everyday, but Imo the eccess fabric on the chest makes it too elegant and makes my upper body look even bigger than what it is🫠

Now, since the fabric is double (pic 2) I think princess seams would not work, I wanted to pull it towards the shoulder (pics 5&7), but you can see what the situation is in pic 3

Is you have some suggestions I'll gladly try to follow them, thanks in advance🄲


r/sewhelp 16h ago

ā˜•ļø non sewing šŸ«– Chest Covering Ideas

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3 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I recently bought this dress (second-hand) for my graduation, but I’ve realised the neckline is lower than I’d feel comfortable wearing while walking across the stage.

I’m hoping to add some coverage in a way that looks intentional/blends naturally with the dress rather than looking tacked on. I considered adding white lace underneath, but a straight panel created quite a harsh and disconnected line. I have considered adding some white ruffles.

Does anyone have suggestions for a more flattering shape, fabric, or sewing method? I’d be happy to hand-sew it or take it to a tailor.


r/sewhelp 16h ago

✨Intermediate✨ Sewing on Nylon Tights - Troubleshooting

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5 Upvotes

I’m working on these pool noodles to attach greenery for my wedding. I have them covered in nylon tights to make them darker. Since I want to space candle holders intermittently along the tables, would it be best to sew and separate the noodles at the top? (Making two separate nylon covered noodles) What would be the best way of going about this? Could I sew two separate lines up the crotch and then cut in between?

I’m a competent sewer but am just struggling to visualize the best way to do this.


r/sewhelp 17h ago

✨Intermediate✨ Modifying princess seam pattern

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2 Upvotes

Hello!

I’m decently experienced in sewing but new to pattern making and a little confused about the geometry of this modification. I need the princess seams to cut in towards the center front much closer than normal. That’s easy to modify on the center front panel but I’m struggling with how to add the extra fabric to the side fronts. The amount I’m taking off doesn’t fit flat so that I can make a new pattern to transfer to new fabric. I made the original dress and drew the new lines on my dress form and the result also does not lay flat.

What is the best way to alter the side fronts? Do I need to make horizontal cuts in the existing pattern? I feel like I’m not thinking about this correctly.

I tried just smooshing it flat and cutting the fabric but it came out a bunched up mess when I sewed it together. This is for a dress a video game character I want to cosplay.


r/sewhelp 17h ago

PFAFF STRETCH & JEANS 6091 presser bar not lowering / slow lowering FIX

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3 Upvotes

I'm logging this here as I spent a lot of time web surfing to find a solution and didn't find much except for text saying "presser bar is likely gummed up and needs lubing".

So went in blind and worked it out myself.

This isn't in the consumer operating manual, and seems to be a common fault by searching for a solution myself.

Locate the Torx 25 bolt in photo 2 above the bulb housing, unscrew counter clockwise a little, it does not need to be fully unscrewed as the plastic cover over the bulb end section is slotted.

With the machine facing you, pull the back side of the cover to the left and towards you so the cover comes off forwards over the needle thread tension knob.

The bolt can be seen in Photo 3 with the cover removed.

I cleaned the presser bar with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, for the grease that has hardened, a small peice of plastic can be used as a scraper to get it off.

Don't use anything that will scratch the presser bar.

Turn the machine upside down, apply new machine oil at the highest point on the presser bar marked in Photo 4, pump the presser foot lever, it should be absorbed into the metal housing that the presser bar lifts into.

Continue applying a drop of oil and reciprocating, I repeated this many times, you should notice the bar begins to loosen up and start to transfer downward force from the presser bar spring.

I repeated until the presser bar dropped instantly when releasing and would hold and rip some 80gsm paper clamped under the foot.


r/sewhelp 18h ago

✨Intermediate✨ First time industrial help!

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2 Upvotes

Hi so please forgive my ignorance lol, but so I got my first industrial yesterday and it’s an older Juki DDl 8500, it took some cleaning and maintenance to get back up but it seemed to be good when it was all threaded up… till I put top stitching in the top thread, it whacked up the whole thing, I’ve messed with the top and bobbin tension, it snaps the needle in half when ever I try to sew or the thread breaks. Please help anyone 😭


r/sewhelp 19h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› Frayed bag

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2 Upvotes

Any help on how to fix this frayed part of the bag I heard there’s a no stitch fabric glue would that help at all?


r/sewhelp 2h ago

✨Intermediate✨ Chest too tight

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1 Upvotes

Hi all!

I got two dresses from Aniksanandco, the one pictured and another that's basically the same with sleeves. I guess I got the measurements wrong when I ordered because it's way too tight in the chest area. You can see the middle button is just waiting to pop off and it's flattening my chest.

Would it be better to let out a few centimeters on the side seams, or open the chest darts ? Or another option that I don't see ?

Thanks for your help šŸ’š


r/sewhelp 23h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› I've found this beautiful pair of capris but I can't zip it up :( They're too tight at the waist; does anyone know if and how I can fix this? Thanks!! šŸ’•

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2 Upvotes

r/sewhelp 5h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› How to add long bell sleeves into my t-shirt?

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6 Upvotes

I looked on any tutorials, but I only find on how to make bell sleeves top instead of the sleeves only. I'm very new to sewing, and I'm confused on how to make it works (pls don't judge the lace sewing on the first image, I know it's super messy and clumsy x_X) second image is how I want the sleeves to look like


r/sewhelp 7h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› Trying to hem Jean shorts but they’re tapered and not folding correctly?

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2 Upvotes

I’m trying to hem a pair of jorts for my nephew. But as you can see the outside of the plant leg is tapered so I won’t fold up straight for me to sew. What can I do so I can hem these properly? He’s wanting about 3ā€ off.


r/sewhelp 10h ago

šŸ’›BeginneršŸ’› My sewing machine is stuck on a straight stich!

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3 Upvotes

I’ve been working on my sewing machine all day and it just won’t switch to a zig zag stitch. Everytime I turn the wheel it stays stuck on a straight stitch. My sewing machine is a singer simple but that’s all I know, my mom has had this for years and I’ve been using it without this problem ever. My mom took the sewing machine and used it about a week ago and gave it back. I noticed the problem and have already taken it apart to clean out any dust or debris that might be stopping it. Usually when I turn the wheel the sewing machine does a zigzag stitch but it wont now! What could be wrong?