Mistakes & fixes

Reinforcing or covering a hole with an added piece of fabric, sewn behind the damage for invisible support or over the top as a visible feature. Match the patch fabric's weight and stretch to the garment.

A piece cut with its markings or nap direction inverted usually happens when the pattern was flipped without checking the layout diagram. Always follow the diagram exactly and keep directional details facing one way.

A finished garment coming out drastically too big or small, even with correct sizing chosen, usually means a home-printed PDF pattern was printed without disabling page scaling. Always print and measure the test square first.

Small balls of fiber forming on a knit's surface from friction during wear come from loose, weaker fibers tangling together. Use a fabric shaver or comb to remove pills, and wash inside out on gentle cycle.

A shiny, flattened patch on fabric after ironing comes from too much heat and pressure crushing the fibers, common on wool and synthetics. Press with a pressing cloth and let steam, not pressure, do the work.

A seam that gathers or ripples along its length is caused by tension set too tight, a stitch length wrong for the fabric, or sewing fine fabric without stabilizing. Loosen tension and stabilize lightweight fabrics.