How To Make a Thread Eye

If you ever need to make a thread eye to pair with a hook, especially at the top of a lapped zipper, here's how it's done.

Thread your needle with a double thread--you will end up with four strands.  Tie a knot.

Take a small stitch in your fabric

Repeat

Slide your needle under the stitch you've just made 

Bring your needle up through the circle you've created

Pull the thread tight toward the top of the stitch.  Now repeat until the stitch is covered in little knots.  Tie a knot on the wrong side of the fabric

All done!!

Horsehair Braid #3

I've done a couple of posts on hemming a lined dress with horsehair braid  here and here.  This is how I shorten a dress with braid and no attached lining.


 1)  remove the braid from the existing hem.


2  pin the braid so that the bottom edge is 5/8" from the new hemline.  I have a pin marking the new hem in the picture.

3)  Stitch along the bottom of the braid a scant 1/4"

4)  Trim excess fabric

5)  Turn braid to wrong side of fabric

6)  Stitch through all layers close to top fold

7)  Here's how it will look from the wrong side

and right side

Horsehair Braid #2

Last year I posted instructions on altering a dress with horsehair braid in the hem.   Go here to take a look.   Someone left a comment about an easier way to do it so I thought I would give you some alternatives.  I choose how I will do each hem based on the way it was done originally, the fullness of the skirt, and whether or not there is a lining.  Here is another method that works well if the skirt is not too full.  


1)  Open up the hem and remove the braid.


2)  On the wrong side, pin the bottom of the braid at the new hem mark (if it's easier, you can press the new hemline in first).

3)  Make on opening in the side seam lining.

4)  With right sides together, make sure dress and lining are even and then pin through all layers .

5)  Stitch about 1/4 inch from bottom of braid through all layers.

6)  Trim excess dress and lining being careful not to cut the braid.

7)  Turn right side out and stitch on the lining close to the seam.  You can access this through the opening in the lining.  If the braid is wide, you can stitch along the top edge also.

8)  This is what is will look like from the lining side.

9)  Now stitch up the lining side seam and you are all finished!!  


Next week I will show how to add braid to a dress without a lining.
It's done go here to see it.