Archive Category: 'Sewing'

• How To Make A Denim Pocket Potholder: Today’s feature tip is another good one from My Recycled Bags with Recycled Denim Potholder… Old recycled denim makes great potholders. All you need is an old pair of jeans, some cotton for padding and I added a piece of insul-bright. Insul-bright is an inexpensive reflective material that is designed for providing padding for potholders, oven [...]
• Tote Bag Pattern – Only 1 Yard, 1 Hour!: Today’s feature is from Joan at Lazy Girl Designs with Make Our 1 Yard, 1 Hour Free Tote Bag Pattern For Last Minute Holiday Gift Bags: Make this quick and simple tote bag in about an hour from one yard of fabric. It’s perfect for a gift bag or as you carry goodies with you on [...]
• Pillowcase Tote – Sewing Tutorial: Today’s feature is from Creative Kismet with a fabulous Pillowcase Tote Tutorial: Many of you requested a tutorial for my pillowcase grocery bags. They are super easy and quick to make, involving only straight line sewing. The straps actually take a bit more time than the bag itself, but still easy enough. Hopefully these instructions are easy [...]
• Applique Pillows Project How To: Today’s feature is from Design*Sponge with a project for Appliqué Pillows. If you’re having a hard time coming up with a homemade gift idea for a teenager, I think this just might fit the bill–and it’s a cheap & easy project too! Supplies Needed: 1 1/2 yards linen Four 8″ x 10″ pieces of different colored wool felt [...]
• 52 Free Apron Patterns You Can Make: This is a large list of patterns I’ve collected from around the net, all kinds of styles and types included. If you love aprons, you’re gonna love this list! These are organized as neatly as I could manage, however some patterns fit well in more than one section. I decided to list them in a single [...]
• Unique Knitting Basket How-To: Today’s feature is from Martha Stewart with a unique (and lovely!) Knitting Basket How-To: This pliable 10-inch-tall knitting basket was made from a snowy Aran sweater. Its sides came from the body of the sweater; its base was cut from the sleeves. If you have some favorite sweaters on hand that are past their prime (or outgrown), [...]
• Button Sewing Tips: If you’re in the habit of sewing buttons on too tightly, try laying a pin across the top of the button before sewing it on. Once the button has been secured and you’ve knotted and cut the thread, remove the pin from underneath the thread. Now the button has a little give to it. Sew a [...]
• Purse Organizer – Sewing Tutorial: Today’s feature is from The Giving Flower with Purse Organizer Recipe: A while ago I made the most useful thing for all bagaholics. This is nothing new, in fact there are some great pictures and tutorials all over the place but you know me, I’m always one step behind. I decided that my purse was just [...]
• Design Your Own Fabric Luggage Tags: Today’s feature is from My Longest Year with a Quickie Luggage Tag Tutorial: I made these solely as a decorative way to identify our luggage, but you can easily make this a “true” luggage tag with a piece of clear vinyl. It’s a super easy project to make, so I thought I’d share: Materials: 2 contrasting [...]
• Make Your Own Summer House Slippers: Today’s feature is from Lady Harvatine with a tutorial for Summer Slippers. I would wear these year round and not just in the summer. My feet are cookers and don’t appreciate being wrapped and contained in warm fuzzy stuff so these house slippers are perfect for feet like mine! You will need: at least one flip [...]
• How To Make A Dog (Or Cat) Pet Bed: Today’s feature is from Pretty Little Things with Doggie (or Kitty) Bed Tutorial: I like to use the towels cuz they’re snuggly and you can find some really great coordinating prints for cheap at the discount stores. I also like them because they are machine washable. You can just stuff the whole darn thing in the [...]
• Homemade Herbal Lavender Dryer Bags: Fresh and fragrant laundry can be achieved chemical free with easy to make lavender dryer bags. Using lavender buds gives the benefit of a natural moth repellent, sleep aid and a natural antibacterial. Skip the fabric softener sheets, use 1/4 cup vinegar in your rinse cycle (for static cling help, up the amount to 1/2 cup [...]
• Homemade Oilcloth Lunch Bags: Today’s feature is from Tumbling Blocks with a tutorial for How To Make An Oilcloth Lunch Bag: Make Your Sack Lunch, a lunch bag tutorial You will need: 1/4 yard (not fat) oilcloth. I got mine at Sew Mama Sew. Modern oilcloth is pretty much like vinyl and not oiled cloth 1/4 yard thin batting 1/4 yard other plastic [...]
• Red Heel Sock Monkey Pattern: I happened across an original copy from Nelson Rockford (including a like-new pair of socks attached, yay!). Who says there’s nothing but junk to be found at garage sales, hehe. I made a copy to store on Tipnut, the full pattern is a single pdf file so you can download and save it for yourself if [...]
• Retro Doll Pajama Bag Pattern: PAJAMA BAG Size: 44″ long Materials: 36″ cotton: 1 yard print for body and cosmetic bag, 1/2 yard rose, scrap of purple scraps of rose, white, turquoise felt 14″ neckline zipper 2 buttons 2 snaps 12″ chain medium-weight cotton yarn starch stuffing for arms, legs and head turquoise ribbon Use 1/2″ seams except on zipper. Directions: For body pattern, which includes seam allowances, draw a right-angle triangle 8 3/4″ wide [...]
• Craft Tutorial: Charming Corkboard Wall Pocket: Today’s feature is from Craft Apple with a tutorial on How To Make a Corkboard Wall Pocket: Materials Needed: 12″x12″ piece of 1/4″ corkboard tile (available in office supplies at Target for around $4/4-pack, or art-supply stores for around $10/4-pack) 11 3/4″ x 11″ cardboard piece (I cut mine from an old box) 11 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ [...]
• How To Hem Jeans – Super Easy: Two handy features here showing how to hem jeans. The first tip is from Kansas A with Hemming Jeans, A Tutorial… I can’t even begin to tell you how many needles I’ve broken while trying to hem jeans. At one point I was going to don safety glasses to protect my eyes from flying needles! But [...]
• Pretty Up Vintage Wool Blankets: I have a thing for vintage blankets, including nice, old wool ones. Here’s a secret of mine: Don’t let those sorry looking wool blankets pass you by at garage sales and thrift shops. The edges may be uneven, frayed and sloppy, the color could be faded and uneven in spots–but otherwise the bulk of the [...]
• How To Make An Ironing Board Cover: Two different tutorials here for Ironing board covers, the first is from U-handblog with a sewing tutorial for a SUPER Easy Ironing Board Cover: You won’t need to make a casing, obtain cord for ties, or even thread a cord for the casing (which is fantastic for lazy busy ol’ me) because we are going to [...]
• Organize Sewing Rooms & Craft Supplies – Buncha Links: Many of these ideas for organizing craft & sewing supplies (and the rooms that contain them) are great ideas. Bonus: Many of the suggestions are inexpensive or easy enough to put together. But get ready to drool, the example sewing rooms (or craft studios) I’ve included for inspiration are very beautiful and well done! Tips, Ideas & [...]
• Make Your Own Designer Lunch Bag: Today’s feature is from Savvy Seams with Instructions for a Panelled Lunch Bag. The design of the bag is a little different than the norm and I think it’s a cute one. For the lining, I’d use something like a waterproof nylon for easy wiping and cleaning, but you could use sturdy cottons and just plan [...]
• How To Make A Pressing Ham & More Pressing Tools: Calling all sewers & crafters: Today’s feature is from the University of Kentucky with a fabulous pdf file filled with info on How To Make Your Own Pressing Equipment (pdf). You’ll find instructions for how to make the following pressing tools: Tailor’s Ham (also known as a Pressing Ham or Dressmaker’s Ham) Seam Board & Point Presser Seam Roll [...]
• Sewing Machine Troubleshooting Guide: Today’s feature is from Ultimate Sewing and Vac with their Sewing Machine Troubleshooting Guide: Many problems can be resolved by a simple change of needle or other easy switch. If you don’t find the answer you need here, consult your manual! (These tips are synthesized from information provided by various manufacturers.) Covers things like: Needle will not [...]
• Vintage Apron Pattern: View 1 Cut paper pattern 10″ x 18″ — Measure as shown and cut off small piece. View 2 Apron pattern in 2 pieces. — Cut three pieces of larger part in plain material — Cut three pieces of smaller part in print material. View 3 Stitch together as view 3. Hem all around. Add small tucks or gathers [...]
• How To Make Buckwheat Hull Pillows: These instructions are for sleeping pillows, not the Microwaveable Heating Bags. Supplies Needed: organic, pillow grade buckwheat hulls zippered cotton pillowcase liner regular pillowcase Directions: Fill the zippered pillowcase liner with buckwheat hulls. Fill to your preference, but you don’t want them so full that the pillow will be hard or stiff while sleeping on it. Place the zippered pillowcase liner inside [...]