Sewing and Pressing Basics

Then use the seam ripper or tweezers to guide it the rest of the way under the presser foot

It is always OK to hand-sew parts of any seam. Hand-basting is a good technique for hard-to-control places. While sewing is usually the best way to apply trims, gluing can be a very good method as well.

Pressing

Since pressing doll clothes can be difficult, be sure each cut piece is wrinkle-free before beginning to sew. A small ironing board, such as a sleeve board, will make pressing tiny garments easier. Often finger pressing is all that is needed to flatten a seam enough to proceed to the next step.

Hems

Most hems are made with a single ¼” turned-back fold that is top stitched in place. Hemming a knit fabric can be difficult if it’s too stretchy. This can be solved by cutting a ¼” wide strip of lightweight fusible interfacing and pressing it to the wrong side of the fabric before hemming. This will help give the fabric stability and keep it from stretching. Hand sewing the hem is also a good option.

Turning Tight Corners

Sometimes fabric can get pulled down into the stitching hole of the throat plate when turning a tight corner, such as a collar might have. To solve this problem, insert a length of thread with a hand needle and thread near the end of the point before sewing.