September is National Sewing Month, making it the perfect time to sharpen your skills, try a technique you’ve been avoiding, or simply spend more time at your sewing machine. Whether you’re new to sewing or have years of projects behind you, mastering a few fundamental techniques can make a noticeable difference in how your finished pieces look, fit, and hold up over time.
1. Master a French Seam
A French seam encloses the raw edges of fabric inside the seam itself, creating a beautifully clean finish on both sides. It's especially useful when sewing lightweight or sheer fabrics where unfinished seams could be visible.
To practice, place two pieces of fabric wrong sides together and sew a narrow seam. Trim the seam allowance, press it, then fold the fabric so the right sides face each other. Sew a second seam wide enough to completely enclose the first.
Practice with: lightweight woven cotton, cotton lawn, voile, or other lightweight woven fabrics.
2. Learn to Understitch
If you've ever sewn a neckline only to have the facing or lining peek out, understitching may be the missing step.
After attaching a facing or lining, press the seam allowance toward the facing. Stitch through the facing and seam allowance close to the seam line without sewing through the garment's exterior. This encourages the facing to roll slightly toward the inside for a cleaner, more professional finish.
Practice with: stable woven apparel fabrics that press well.
3. Make a Clean Buttonhole
Modern sewing machines can make buttonholes surprisingly approachable, but accuracy still matters. Always make a test buttonhole on a scrap of your project fabric first, using the same interfacing and number of fabric layers as your actual garment.
Check that your button passes through comfortably before sewing the real thing. Once stitched, carefully open the center without cutting through the buttonhole stitches.
Practice with: stable cotton or cotton-blend woven fabric. Avoid very slippery or stretchy materials while you're learning.
4. Install a Zipper
Zippers can seem intimidating until you've installed a few. Start with a basic centered zipper, which is useful for skirts, dresses, bags, pillows, and other sewing projects.
Baste the seam closed where the zipper will sit, press the seam allowances open, and position the closed zipper underneath with its teeth centered along the seam. Using a zipper foot, stitch along both sides before removing the basting stitches.
Once you're comfortable with a centered zipper, you can move on to lapped and invisible zipper applications.
Practice with: medium-weight woven cotton or another stable woven fabric.
5. Match Prints at the Seam
Stripes, plaids, checks, and large repeating prints can transform a project—but mismatched patterns can immediately draw the eye.
Before cutting, identify a prominent line or motif in the fabric. Use that same point as a reference when positioning adjoining pattern pieces. Remember that pattern matching can require additional fabric, particularly with large repeats, directional designs, or plaids.
Careful cutting is just as important as careful sewing here.
Practice with: striped or plaid woven fabric with a clearly visible repeat.
6. Finish Your Raw Edges
You don't necessarily need a serger to create tidy seams.
A basic zigzag stitch can help prevent woven fabric from fraying. Pinked edges can work for some stable, tightly woven fabrics, while French seams provide an enclosed finish for appropriate lightweight fabrics. Other projects may call for bound seams, overcasting, or a serged finish.
The right method depends on the fabric and project, so learning several seam-finishing techniques gives you more options.
Practice with: quilting cotton or other stable woven fabrics so you can easily see how each finish behaves.
7. Press as You Sew
This may be the least exciting skill on the list, but it can make one of the biggest differences.
Pressing is not the same as ironing. Rather than continuously sliding the iron across your fabric, pressing generally involves lifting and placing the iron as you work. Press seams after sewing them and follow your pattern's instructions about whether seam allowances should be pressed open or to one side.
Always check the appropriate heat setting for your fabric before pressing.
Proper pressing helps set stitches, flatten seams, shape pieces, and give handmade projects a cleaner, more polished appearance.
Make September Your Month to Practice
National Sewing Month doesn't have to mean starting seven new projects. Pick one technique you haven't mastered, grab some scrap fabric, and practice until it starts to feel natural.
A beautiful finished project begins long before the final stitch. Understanding your sewing fabric, choosing the right materials, and building strong sewing techniques can make the entire process more enjoyable.
Whether you're searching for quilting cotton, apparel fabric, woven fabrics, or your next unexpected find, explore the selection at All About Fabrics and make this September a month for creating and learning something new.