A Wrist Pincushion Tutorial I have a confession to make. I used to put pins in my mouth. And when I think nobody is looking, I still do. It’s awful. I know I shouldn’t do it, but I do anyway. This art
Everyone discovers quilting at different moments in their life, and over time it slowly becomes an important part of who we are.
It was Karen’s Apron sewalong that put me in mind of (yes that’s a real phrase!) aprons and things. I narrowed my choices down to these two patterns on Etsy but could only afford the one (internati…
Are you in the mood for some awesome furniture makeovers? I've collected over 20 of my thriftiest furniture makeovers all in one place! I love being able to take something that is beat up or dated and give it a fresh new start. I'll start with one of my all time favorite transformations. Many of
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{Instagram} With only 4 pieces of stretchy fabric, you can make this cute and comfortable nightgown for your little girl. It's easy! I give credit to my Mother-In-Law for coming up with these adorable nightgowns. *Measurements for my 6 yr. old: Front and Back Pieces Around widest area (hip/bum) = 22" + 2" = 24" Desired length from collar bone down = 20" + 1" = 21" So I need to cut 2 rectangle pieces 24" wide x 21" long Sleeves Around widest part of arm = 6", Double that number = 12" Desired length from base of neck down the arm (to the elbow) = 11" + 1" = 12" I need to cut two squares 12" wide x 12" long Elastic I used .5" wide elastic. Measure loosely around the base of the neck and then add 1" for seam allowance. For my 3 yr. old and 6 yr. old I used the same measurement of 15". Cut pieces Lay out the back piece right side up. On the upper right hand corner, lay the sleeve exactly on top of that corner (right sides together). Pin in place approximately half or three fourths of the way down, depending on how much space your child's arm needs. I recommend pinning 3/4 of the way down in most cases. Repeat on opposite side. Fold the sleeves in half, so that the pins are now covered. Lay the front piece of fabric on top. Make sure the right side of the fabric is facing down. Pin the outer edges of the front piece to the sleeve it's laying on (the same way you pinned the sleeve to the back piece). Be careful to only pin together the two layers of fabric - it can be tricky since there are four layers there. If you pinned 3/4 of the way down on the back piece, make sure to pin 3/4 of the way down on the front piece. When you open the folded sleeve, it will look like this below. Sew down the sleeves where your pins are. Start at the top and stop where you placed the bottom pin. Here's what it looks like after you sew the sleeves. Pin up the sides, around the curve of the arm pit area, and down the sleeve. Sew the sides closed. This is one straight stitch from the bottom of the dress to the end of the sleeve. You can do a zig-zag stitch too if you would like. I always sew at the edge of my presser foot. Fold over the neck 3/4" and pin into place. Sew around the neck like so and leave a small gap so you can string the elastic through. Sew the elastic together. Pull it right side out. Finish the edges however you want. I chose to add lace. You could leave it as is, hem it, serge it, or do whatever you want. Supplies we LOVE: Gingher Scissors and the Project Runway Sewing Machine! -Steph
Isn't she cute? OK, maybe not so much, she has seen better days. This is the first sewing machine that was my very own (thanks Mom!) she came into my life in High School, when my Mom enrolled me in a sewing academy, and I went to classes everyday after school, and she was by my side thru early days of crooked seams, when I went to FIDM, and up until about 3+ years ago, when she was replaced by my current machine. She has been in the garage since, I just could not bring myself to donate her, much less, throw her away. So I decided to give her a makeover. **I have been asked several times if the machine still works. It *does* work, as well as it did the last time I used it which was a few years ago, but not well enough for me to use on a daily basis anymore. I would like to make it perfectly clear, that I painted the machine, thinking it did NOT work, and I was OK with that, as it was done with the intention of being a sweet addition to the decor in my sewing room, so if you decide to do something similiar to your own machine, it is at your own risk. My only suggestion (and I am in no way, shape or form a expert) is that you do NOT spray paint a working machine, as it can easily get into the mechanism and motor. -Julie I bathed her in nice, warm, soapy water. A bit of spray paint. A little dabble of paint here.... and there.... and, well, ah yes I know what I want to do now..... hello! now we are getting somewhere.... what else? mushrooms of course! lot's of them... a little house... a couple of clouds.... Voila! Eeek! I ♥ my sewing machine, more than I already did. I wish I had another one to paint. I am going to upload more pictures of it, from all angles on my Flickr page, if you want a closer look. Have a great weekend, see ya!
Οι παλιές ραπτομηχανές είναι ένα θαύμα του βιομηχανικού σχεδιασμού κατά το δεύτερο μισό του δέκατου ένατου και στις αρχές του εικοστού αιώνα. Κάποιες από αυτές, ειδκά πριν από το 1900 είναι περιζήτητες από τους συλλέκτες. Αν έχετε κληρονομήσει μια ή είστε σε θέση να αγοράσετε μία, μπορείτε να διακοσμήσετε το…
I always like dressing comfortably. So when something on trend is also great to wear all day, I am in love. Cue fur vests!
Many knit fabrics can be difficult to sew on, but stitching with a twin needle can help your hemming and altering go easier. Get that store-bought quality everyone is looking for, but do it yourself with a twin needle and a basic hemming technique! … More
Learn how to use a gathering foot with your home sewing machine to gather fabric fast and easy. Watch our step-by-step video tutorial here.
Shirring is an old technique, I know. (Shirring and smocking aren’t actually originally done with elastic…..but it sure makes things easier. And faster.) Sometimes I assume everyone knows how to do it. But then I get another email asking how to shir (or smock) fabric. So it reminds me I shouldn’t assume…………..because it is …
Learn unique techniques that will enhance your next quilt! These vintage sewing techniques will raise the surface of your quilt and truly impress. We’ll learn heirloom smocking techniques, t…
Shirring is an old technique, I know. (Shirring and smocking aren’t actually originally done with elastic…..but it sure makes things easier. And faster.) Sometimes I assume everyone knows how to do it. But then I get another email asking how to shir (or smock) fabric. So it reminds me I shouldn’t assume…………..because it is …
If you have ever tried to thread a needle and failed, you may have wished you had one of these. It is not hard to use a needle threader, but it can be near impossible to thread a needle without one sometimes. Just push the needle threader wire through the eye of the needle. Slide
DIY Origami Fabric Butterfly Free Sewing Pattern & Tutorial: hair clip, rings, home and fashion decoration
Learn to make quick and easy fabric bookmarks using fabrics scraps. This tutorial walks all level of quilters through the steps to make a fabric bookmark.
Hey friends! I have been trying to think of ways to be more environmentally friendly when I am quilting. I am really thoughtful about the beautiful fabrics I select and I want to use every scrap so that nothing goes to waste. Today I am sharing a scrap buster tutorial to make a quilted bookmark! How to make a quilted bookmark: Materials: Fusible Midweight Interfacing Quilter's Cotton Scraps Sewing Machine Iron & Pressing Mat Other Helpful materials: 6 1/2
I long for an haute couture sleeve. That is, I crave a sleeve that is custom-fitted to my arm and shoulder and that works within the garment’s armscye. After years—or…
A beginners guide for how to cut and sew clothes. This breaks down how clothing is made and how easy the step by step process is!
Sewing patterns are a gateway to sewing, but first you have to get past the envelope! Here's tips for how to read a sewing pattern and avoid frustration.
Looking for some easy sewing projects? Here’s a list of 50 fun and quick items you can make even if you are a sewing novice.
Learn more about fabric types and how to use them for garments and upholstery through this guide. This will help you know your craft better.
Are you tired of confusing pattern sewing instructions in today’s sewing world? Or do you want to design your own clothes or patterns, but aren’t sure how to actually sew them together once you’ve dra
Here's a roundup of 10 free sewing patterns for beginners, to cover all parts of your wardrobe (including tops, skirts, dresses, pants, jumpsuits and coats). These sewing patterns are great for beginners because they come with detailed instructions, have loose silhouettes (to avoid fitting issues)
Here are some of the most important lessons I picked up in my first year of sewing. This isn't an exhaustive list, but these are some of the things that I struggled with or that confused me at first. These tips and tricks should help a beginner who is just learning to sew.
The tips below will help you select your leather, cut and sew it with care, and also give some great pattern suggestions for getting started.
I have made so many Hudson pants over the years that I could sew them in my sleep. I have found that every year I need to make a few new pairs for me or my kids and I often batch sew them so I can cut and sew multiple pairs in a fraction of the time. I will say, don't batch sew them until you have made a couple pairs first and checked the fit, but once you have that dialed in, batch sewing is a great option. I often share my batch sewed Hudsons on instagram and get requests for the process so I thought it would fun to sew up three pairs of Mini Hudson pants for my kids to show you. You can definitely use the womens and mens patterns as well when batch sewing since the instructions are identical for all three, I just happened to need mini versions this time around. For fabric I used three beautiful colors of french terry and matching ribbing from I See Fabric. They offered to gift me the fabric to try out and I thought this would be the perfect pairing. I am very impressed with the fabric. Gorgeous, on trend colors that are hard to find and the fabric is super soft and feels like great quality. I've already put in another order on my own dime. OK, let's get sewing. Because I am batch sewing them I forgo coordinating thread for my serger. I put gray in and used it for all three pairs. If you are using your sewing machine you will want to do the same thing for your thread. You still need matching thread for the buttonholes and topstitching, but we will wait til the end to switch those out. Next we sew all of the pockets. Start by ironing the pocket bands and then following all steps for pockets. At the end, line your fronts up like so to make sure all is good and you have a right and left for each . Now, take each back leg and sew up the outer and inside seams and line them all up again. Take each right and left leg and sew up the crotch seams as the instructions say.. Then line them up. Let's finish everything else we can before we need to use our coordinating thread. Start by sewing up the cuffs. Turn them right side out and fold them in half. Give them a press. While at the iron, go ahead and apply the interfacing to the waistband to prepare for the buttonholes. Put the waistband aside and sew each cuff on. Now it's time to switch to your matching thread. I only put it in the top (not the bobbin) to make it easier, but that is up to you. You are going to finish each pair of pant at this point, switch out the thread, and finish the next. I am going to do my pink pair first by sewing on the buttonholes. Next I sew the waistband on, insert the elastic, and then finish by sewing the drawstring topstitching on the waistband and adding in the drawstring. Finish up your other pairs and that is it. Much faster than sewing them each up individually.
I often get a question from my readers - how to sew straight? In this guide, I will show you how to easily keep stitching lines straight. I will talk about topstitching mostly because keeping seam allowances equal is a different topic. Have you ever had problems with crooked stitching lines? I bet you had. Even intermediate sewists are struggling sometimes to do it and had to rip and redo stitching. But sewing in a straight line is much simpler than you think. And I want to help you to sew straight every time.
