Hannah Pierce

Sewing & quilting editor

Hannah writes TrendiTex's sewing machine, quilting and fabric guides. Fixes follow the order machine makers give in their own manuals - new needle and fresh threading first - and every spec comes from the maker or the product listing, never a guess.

Recent work

• What is batting in sewing and how to use it in your projects
• Does a serger replace a sewing machine? What each can and can't sew
• How to use a seam ripper properly without damaging fabric
• Fabric paint washing out? how long and hot to heat-set it
• Cotton takes dye, polyester stays pale: what your fabric needs
• How long a sewing machine lasts and when parts usually need replacing
• Which sewing tools you need for your first project and what can wait
• Crochet hook sizes in mm and US letters: which your pattern means
• Why machine quilting nests and which thread weight fixes it
• Which stitch to use when your fabric stretches, frays or puckers
• Thread bunching underneath: why top thread nests and how to fix it
• Your first seams pucker or skip: what tension and needle to set
• Sewing machine safety: what to check before you press the pedal
• Sewing machine timing off: hook misses loop and how to reset it
• Upper thread keeps breaking: needle, tension and path to check