Sewing Tips and Tricks
FIBER TYPES
- Wool is shorn from the sheep.
- Cotton is grown as a crop, picked, cleaned, spun.
- Hemp is grown as a crop. Can be semi synthetic.
- Bamboo or Bamboo Rayon is a manufactured fiber.
- Rayon is a manufactured fiber made from wood pulp.
- Modal is a manufactured fiber made from beech trees.
- Tencel or lyocell is a cellulose fiber, made from eucalyptus trees.
GSM
- Grams per square meter
- The larger the number the heavier the fabric is
- A good sweatshirt fleece would be at least 300 gsm
- A man’s undershirt about 120gsm
Give and Stretch
- One-way: stretch on the crossgrain.
- Two way: stretch in 2 directions.
- Four-way: Stretch in all directions, across, lengthwise and on bias.
- Stretch matters-patterns designed for knits generally have fewer pieces and less shaping details.
- Woven patterns will not allow for the stretch that knits do.
- Fold your fabric perpendicular to the selvage.
- Hold the fold over the ruler, placing one edge at 0, the other at 6”.
- Stretch the fold until the fabric is taunt, note measurement.
If it stretches from 6 to 6 1/2" = 8%
If it stretches from 6" to 7" = 16%
If it stretches from 6" to 8" = 30%
If it stretches from 6" to 9" = 50%
If it stretches from 6” to 12” = 100%
Along the grain (in the length):
Fold your fabric parallel with the finished edge of the fabric (selvage), away from the edge




Here is a recent make by Florence with Nature's Fabrics Golden Mimosa Modal/Spandex Jersey. If inspired shop the affiliate link ( which cost you nothing extra but helps fund my sewing). http://sinclairpatterns.com?ref=59

This pod tote bag is made with our 1mil pul fabric that is made in the USA. This makes a waterproof bag for diapers, traveling, wet clothing etc.
Pattern used
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_5eDtG2Mec8&si=KyZtbDCP1p_lsb1g
She has a free pattern in the description of the video
