Oliver + S

tutorial

how to make a muslin

When we released the Fairy Tale Dress sewing pattern a few weeks ago we recommended that you make a muslin to test the fit before sewing up the pattern. This dress is a more fitted pattern than our other styles, …

flat-felled seams

Have you ever wondered how to make the perfect flat-felled seam? Here’s how you can do it.

bound seams

Note: today we continue the series of seam finishing tutorials by April Henry that we started last summer. Bias Binding is a strip of material cut on the bias for extra stretch and often doubled.  It is used for binding …

making a thread chain

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to making a thread chain closure for your dress or top.

pinking finished seams

Here’s how to finish your seams using pinking. It’s a quick and easy way to achieve a nice finish.

straight-stitch seam finishing

A finished seam is a technique used to secure the raw edge of the fabric exposed within the seam allowance. Finishing seams provides stability to the seam and overall garment, prevents unraveling, while also making a hand-made garment look professional. …

upcoming seam finishing tutorials

I’m pleased to announce that April Henry will be joining us as an occasional guest blogger focusing on interesting sewing techniques you can use to make your Oliver + S garments even more special. April’s business, April 1930’s, centers on …

french seams

French seams give the wrong side of a garment a clean, finished appearance. This is an especially useful finish for very lightweight or sheer fabrics where a zigzagged or serged seam allowance might be visible. But it can also help …