Category: Techniques & Tips

Learn my tips and tricks from everything from hand sewing to how to start a swatch book! Click the links below to learn more about my sewing tips:

How it Works: Anatomy of a Full Bust Adjustment

Published November 18, 2018

Do you know how to do a full bust adjustment? The full bust adjustment (FBA) is not for the faint of heart. If you’re brand new to sewing, it can…

1 Comment

Picking Fabric for Sewing: Essential Tips!

Learn about how to pick fabric for clothes in this video tutorial, walking you through the steps. | Vintage on Tap, Pinup Sewing Blog

Picking Fabric for Sewing: Essential Tips!

Published August 25, 2018

There are many memes on the internet regarding sewing and fabric buying. To be honest, if you’re brand new to sewing, they can be really misleading. The fabric world can…

3 Comments

Intro to Drafting a Facing and Lining Combo!

How to Draft a Facing to a Lining - and vice versa! | Vintage on Tap

Intro to Drafting a Facing and Lining Combo!

Published December 20, 2017

Drafting a facing and lining combination is not as difficult as it may seem- and the results are gorgeous. The reason I love having both a facing and lining in…

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Bound Buttonholes Through a Lining or Facing, Video Tutorial

How to Sew a Bound Buttonhole through a facing or lining, step by step tutorial | Vintage on Tap

Bound Buttonholes Through a Lining or Facing, Video Tutorial

Published November 12, 2017

Bound buttonholes can seem intimidating, but they don’t have to be. The fear of bound buttonholes seems to lay in the perceived amount of steps that go into the process.…

5 Comments

How (and why!) to use Tailor’s Tacks, Video!

How and Why to Use Tailor's Tacks | Vintage on Tap

How (and why!) to use Tailor’s Tacks, Video!

Published September 23, 2017

Tailor’s Tacks might seem difficult, but I promise you, they’re amazing. Generally considered couture, they’re a great way to mark your fabric pieces during the sewing process. Tailor’s tacks carry…

2 Comments

Intro to Dart Rotation, a Quick Sewing Overview

Intro to Dart Rotation, a Quick Sewing Overview

Published September 8, 2017

When I first learned about dart rotation, my mind was blown. I distinctly remember my thoughts were something along the lines of… “…wait- I can change the pattern like that?!…

4 Comments

How to Sew a Corner Seam, Video Tutorial

How to Sew a Corner Seam | Vintage on Tap

How to Sew a Corner Seam, Video Tutorial

Published July 17, 2017

If you’re someone who only sews garments, you may not be exposed to a corner seam. I was originally taught this technique when I enrolled in my first sewing class,…

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How Sew a Bias Facing, Video Tutorial

How to Sew a Bias Facing, video tutorial | Vintage on Tap

How Sew a Bias Facing, Video Tutorial

Published June 29, 2017

Sewing a bias facing is simple and satisfying. I actually love how clean and professional the technique is and have used it on almost every type of project. Whether its…

2 Comments

How to Use a French Curve, Video Tutorial!

How to use a French Curve, tutorial | Vintage on Tap

How to Use a French Curve, Video Tutorial!

Published June 23, 2017

Learning how to use a French curve in your pattern drafting is important. So important, that I would wager to say that besides my straight edge grided ruler and mechanical…

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How (and Why!) to Set Up a Fabric Swatch Book!

How and Why to Start a Fabric Swatch Book

How (and Why!) to Set Up a Fabric Swatch Book!

Published June 15, 2017

A fabric swatch book? What the heck is that? I’ll just say it up front: my fabric swatch book is one of the most important tools in my sewing arsenal.…

6 Comments

How to Redraft a Facing, Video Tutorial

Published April 1, 2017

The process of how to redraft a facing is pretty straight forward- don’t let it intimidate you! If you’re anything like me, you may have to do a bunch of…

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How to Walk a Sewing Pattern, Video Tutorial

Published March 24, 2017

Does the image above look familiar? You’ve sewn plenty before- you’ve made tons of things and you love sewing. But for some reason, the above image keeps happening. One thing…

4 Comments

Sewing Vintage Linings, Butterick B5824 [Collab + Video]

Butterick B5821, Lining a Coat Using Vintage Techniques | Vintage on Tap

Sewing Vintage Linings, Butterick B5824 [Collab + Video]

Published February 10, 2017

A coat is only as good as its lining. Crazy, I know, but lining a winter coat (especially a twirly one!) can make all the difference when its cold outside…

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How to Trace Vintage Sewing Patterns

How to Trace Vintage and Modern Sewing Patterns | Vintage on Tap

How to Trace Vintage Sewing Patterns

Published January 9, 2017

If you’re looking for how to trace vintage sewing patterns, my video has you covered! Yes yes, the video is a little bit on the longer side, but I go…

6 Comments

Organizing your Sewing Patterns, How to Video

Organizing your Sewing Patterns, How to Video

Published October 25, 2016

Have you spent time organizing your sewing patterns? For someone who sews as much as I do, it was high time that I got myself in order. After spending countless…

10 Comments

Refurbishing a Vintage Sewing Machine, For Beginners

Published June 23, 2016

Refurbishing a Vintage Sewing Machine was definitely a learning experience! Can I say WOW? I’m actually super surprised that I was able to pull this restoration off. I’d been commenting…

4 Comments

How to Sew a Kickpleat

Published March 31, 2016

If you’re working on a new technique- such as how to sew a kickpleat, its imperative to sew a sample. Making a sample is absolutely imperative to avoiding a migraine…

9 Comments

5 Tips for Shopping in the LA Garment District

Shopping in the LA Garment District, A Guide | @vintageontap

5 Tips for Shopping in the LA Garment District

Published April 4, 2015

Part of a recent vacation included a quick fabric shopping stop in the LA Garment District. Its overwhelming, its insane, its amazing. For seamstresses out there who have never taken…

3 Comments

Tutorial: How to Draft a Kickpleat

How to Draft a Kickpleat Pattern, tracing the pattern | @vintageontap

Tutorial: How to Draft a Kickpleat

Published March 24, 2015

The process of how to draft a kickpleat is easier than you think. A while back I stumbled on an issue of Threads Magazine where I found a kick pleat…

2 Comments

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All content on this blog was created by Bianca Santori and Jose Vivanco, unless otherwise stated. We focus on producing high quality videos, tips, and tutorials to encourage our readers to be confident and happy wearing vintage-inspired garments.

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Category: Techniques & Tips

How it Works: Anatomy of a Full Bust Adjustment

Picking Fabric for Sewing: Essential Tips!

Intro to Drafting a Facing and Lining Combo!

Bound Buttonholes Through a Lining or Facing, Video Tutorial

How (and why!) to use Tailor’s Tacks, Video!

Intro to Dart Rotation, a Quick Sewing Overview

How to Sew a Corner Seam, Video Tutorial

How Sew a Bias Facing, Video Tutorial

How to Use a French Curve, Video Tutorial!

How (and Why!) to Set Up a Fabric Swatch Book!

How to Redraft a Facing, Video Tutorial

How to Walk a Sewing Pattern, Video Tutorial

Sewing Vintage Linings, Butterick B5824 [Collab + Video]

How to Trace Vintage Sewing Patterns

Organizing your Sewing Patterns, How to Video

Refurbishing a Vintage Sewing Machine, For Beginners

How to Sew a Kickpleat

5 Tips for Shopping in the LA Garment District

Tutorial: How to Draft a Kickpleat

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Vintage on Tap started in 2013