Practical guides for sewing, quilting, knitting, and crochet. Each article includes worked examples and links to the calculators that go with it.
How to Make Bias Binding
How to make bias binding from cut strip to finished edge: pressing the fold, attaching it, mitring corners, easing curves, and joining the ends.
How to Add Quilt Borders
How to measure for quilt borders through the centre so they lie flat — averaging, pinning, easing and mitring corners, the part a calculator can't do.
Curtain Fullness Ratio Explained
Curtain fullness ratio explained: how full curtains should be, chosen by fabric weight first. Sheers want 2.5-3×, heavy velvet near 2×, wave 2.1-2.3×.
Quilting Precut Sizes
Charm pack, jelly roll, and layer cake sizes compared: piece counts, cut dimensions, and which quilting precut suits which project.
Standard Fabric Widths
Standard fabric widths: quilting cotton, dress, drapery, upholstery, and knit widths. How to measure usable width and handle narrower-than-expected bolts.
Yarn Weight Chart Explained
Yarn weight guide: Lace to Jumbo (weights 0-7), US and UK names (DK = 8-ply, Worsted = Aran), WPI ranges, needle and hook sizes, and yardage per 100g.
Quilt Sizes Chart
Standard quilt sizes by bed — crib 36×52, twin 70×90, queen 90×108, king 108×108, Cal king 104×112. Drop options, mattress dimensions, batting sizes.
Understanding Pattern Repeat on Fabric
Pattern repeat explained: standard vs half-drop, how to measure it, how it affects yardage, and why matched seams cost more fabric. With visual examples.
How Much Backing Fabric for a Quilt
Backing fabric for a quilt: 4-inch overhang, vertical vs horizontal seams, 108-inch wide backs, longarm prep, and worked examples for every standard size.
How to Calculate Fabric for Curtains
How to calculate curtain fabric: track width, fullness ratios (pencil 2-2.5×, pinch 2.5×, eyelet 2×), pattern repeat, lining, and a full worked example.