Looking to join group boards on Pinterest? Check out this list of over 400 Pinterest DIY group boards, including craft and boards for makers!
Looking to join group boards on Pinterest? Check out this list of over 400 Pinterest DIY group boards, including craft and boards for makers!
Learn what is a grainline in sewing and how to align your fabric to the grain. Because it really matters which way you cut your fabric!
Improve your sewing skills with our expert tips and techniques. From basic stitches to advanced finishes, elevate your sewing game with our tutorials.
We celebrated the launch of Sew It All, Volume 4 a few weeks ago at our friend Aurora's wonderful fabric store Fabric Bliss, where I had the pleasure of
The best thing about technology these days is the ability to find and participate in quilting groups-- even when we don't have one close by!
In the world of sewing and pattern cutting, seam and hem allowances play a crucial role as they serve as the finishing touches to complete your self-drafted sewing patterns. It's important to handle them with care, following the guidelines below.Sneak peek at the hem and seam allowance guidelines. Scroll down to see a full break down of each in more detail. Always remember the golden rule: Seam and hem allowances are the last guests to arrive at the party! 🎉🧵 They come in after you've made al
Recently I decided to start a local sip and stitch group here in my hometown. We had our first meetup last month and it went really well! I wanted to write up a quick post to share with you guys how I went about organizing my sip and stitch so you could organize one in … Continue reading How to Start a Local Sip and Stitch
We have an amazing list of Sewing Room storing and shelving Ideas and Solutions. Click here to get inspired and find the best items for you.
How to make a padded ironing board cover DIY with this simple step-by-step tutorial. I will show you to make your own fabric pattern.
The best thing about technology these days is the ability to find and participate in quilting groups-- even when we don't have one close by!
First of all, let's just address the difference between overlockers and sergers. There is no difference between them, they're exactly the same thing. Overlocker is the English term and serger is the American term. Overlockers/sergers are most commonly used for hemming and finishing seems to reduce any fraying and to create a neat finish. Did you know: Overlockers were invented in 1881 for industry use. They're commonly used in industry for finishing seams and joining panels together. They're
Five basic hand sewing stitches all sewers NEED to KNOW. Even if you sew mostly by machine, you'll need to know these stitches for many projects.
Over the weekend I made a few more of my design boards for our Scrappy Happy Summer Sew Along:) YaY!!! Because we a...
Learn 5 top tips for sewing in a set-in sleeve along with a step by step video tutorial
Join sewing challenges to inspire your sewing projects. Find a list of sewing hashtags and sewing challenges to meet other sewers & have fun.
From choosing the right thread to get even stitches, our topstitching guide has everything you need to create professional-looking garments.
Do you want to know how to make a Sewing Room Plan for Decoration and Organization? You are in the right place. First steps to follow.
Here is my secret trick on how to sew knit fabric without puckering or stretching without a serger machine. Get perfect stitches every single time.
Step-by-Step Tutorial for How to Sew with Stretch Fabric Like a Pro. Master Sewing Stretchy Materials with these Tips and Tricks!
Over the weekend I made a few more of my design boards for our Scrappy Happy Summer Sew Along:) YaY!!! Because we a...
DIY How to Make a Quilted Sewing Machine Mat With Pockets and Thread Catcher - Bravo Dada! Sewing Tutorial: Hi everyone! In this sewing tutorial I’m going to show you how to make a quilted sewing machine mat with pockets and a thread catcher. This mat is very helpful to organize your sewing materials so you can find them easily and also keep your sewing t…
Patchwork bags are adorable and never go out of fashion. This tutorial shows you how to make a simple, fully lined patchwork bag.
Modern Quilting Tips, Tricks and Tutorials! - Everything you need to know to make quilting easy and fun so you can do what it is you love to do and create a beautiful joy filled life!
Here's a list of 10 essential sewing tools for beginners - because you really can start sewing with just these in your kit!
Find the best Sewing Room Wall Decor Ideas to give your room a beautiful touch of design and style. Choose between different style ideas!
Find the best sewing gadgets and accessories to make your sewing projects easier. These are the weirdest and functional tools you can own.
Easy quilts to make in a day. A lot of beautiful patterns, designs, and quilt ideas for you to make in one day only and the tips to finish it
Do you go through periods where you just stop sewing? You love sewing and have a million projects you want to make, but just can't bring yourself to sew anything. You look at your fabric stash
When I first started sewing, I had trouble remembering which way my pattern pieces were supposed to go on the fabric, where the grainline was, and which side had the selvedge. For the first pattern I sewed, I didn’t even realize that the pattern pieces needed to be oriented a certain way on the fabr
If you haven’t read the book, The Lifechanging Magic of Tidying Up, you’ve no doubt heard of the corresponding reality TV series, in which the decluttering guru Marie Kondo helps people dig out of their mess and organize their belongings. I read the book a few years ago and while there were a few
I think of January 1st as my business’ birthday. New Years Day 2018 is the day I announced publicly that I was going to start this business. I didn’t make my website public, or release my first post until January 12th, and I had been working on those first few posts since November 2017, but January 1st is significant in the life of the business, and seems like a fitting birthday. I started by listing my 2018 goals, and I finished the year with a look back at what I had accomplished, including lots of photos of my progress. It seems like a good idea to start each new year with a list of goals, so here we go for 2019. In 2019 I want to… 1. Clean out the scrap bin! It’s overflowing (again!) and I think this needs to be the first goal I tackle this year. I have lots of ideas for tutorials to write, so you too can empty out your scrap box and use up all those little bits of fabric that are too big to throw away. 2. Write 2 patterns. Sell the patterns. Increase pattern sales. I wrote the On Point Quilt Pattern and released it November 1st, 2018. The quilt looks like this and you can find the pattern HERE. This goal is a little bit of a freebie. I’ve already written Hexie in a Hexie and sent it off to friends for pattern testing. I’ve gotten back their thoughts and feedback, and am currently making final edits. Hexie in a Hexie should be out in the next week or two. Sweet Pea will be my third pattern, and it is also already in the works. I made this quilt in two sizes, the baby quilt went to a friend in November, and the throw size is staying home with me. I was inspired by a bouquet of farmer’s market flowers, and I wanted to keep a little of the spring and summer with me all year. While the quilt was the easiest (most beginner friendly) of my three patterns to make, it’s the one I’ve had the most trouble with formatting in the pattern, but it’s in the works and should be off to testers soon. So, as you can see, two patterns released is a goal that is almost already completed. Right now, my patterns are for sale on Etsy, and you can get to my shop here, but I also want to set up a shop directly on my website. Hopefully this year, although it’s not exactly one of my 2019 goals. I have three more patterns rolling around in my imagination. They may or may not be published in 2019, but they are definitely coming. Now, I don’t want to be only a pattern writer. I want to continue the blog with tutorials (which are basically free patterns) as well. 3. Monetizing the blog. No, I’m not going to get pushy or try to sell you things. But placing ads correctly, affiliate marketing, etc. will help me to earn money, which is the whole point of a small business. I’ve been approved for Google Adsense, but I know I have some optimizing to do. I want to be very careful to not only focus on how to make money. I started this blog with quilting and sewing tutorials that are free for everyone. Others’ tutorials are how I have taught myself new skills, and I want to continue that tradition. 4. Take a quilting class. I think this goal will double up with an unfinished 2018 goal, and I will take a free motion quilting class from one of my local quilt shops. I’m lucky that I live in an area where I have so many shops to choose from. 5. Visit a quilt shop I’ve never been to before. This might need to be an annual goal. Shop hopping was more fun when my mom lived nearby, but I’m sure I can come up with something fun to go check out. 6. Sew something that isn’t a quilt. My friend Erica makes all sorts of amazing garments. I want to give that a try! I have no plan at this time for what I will make, although I do have a pajama pants pattern gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. 7. Make a Temperature Quilt. I discovered a popular quilt trend last year called a Temperature Quilt, and I really want to make one. Each block shows the high and low temperatures for the day, and the finished quilt is a rainbow of colors. Rather than start January 1, 2019, and continue on day at a time until December 31st, I think I’ve decided to do 1981 instead. The year I was born seems more significant than 2019, although who really knows what this year has in store for me. I have a January birthday, so really, I can follow along month by month as if I was doing the current year. Anyone else want to join along? It would be a lot of fun to see how temperatures play out throughout the year across the globe. These are the fabrics I’m planning to use. 8. Make a mystery quilt. I got to do one of these several years ago, that my mom put together for me. She picked out a pattern in a magazine, and took me shopping for fabric without allowing me to see the pattern. It was equal parts fun and frustrating, and I really enjoyed it. The photo is below, and all I knew as I was picking out fabrics was that I needed blocks (blues and greens), sashing (white) and background (blue and green print). There are all sorts of mystery patterns that happen online as a quiltalong, where each clue is released one at a time. I’m sure I’ll find one to do. 9. Make a New York Beauty Quilt. This was actually a 2018 goal that just didn’t happen. Too many other quilts to make, and it kept getting pushed down the to-do list. This year is the year! 10. Grow the business. Build fans on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Increase subscribers. I don’t know how to do these things. If I did, I would have already. But I’m on it! As my loyal readers, if you haven’t done so already, come follow me in all the places. www.instagram.com/darcyquilts www.facebook.com/darcyquilts www.pinterest.com/darcyquilts www.etsy.com/shop/darcyquilts I {currently} have the same profile photo across all the social media, so I should be pretty easy to find. That looks like a good list to me! Lots of different types of quilting, and some non-sewing, business building type goals. I think I’m ready to take on the New Year! What are your goals for 2019? What steps will you take to tackle your first goal?
It is Scrap Happy Time and I have just the project for you! Moving cut scraps from the cutting board to the sewing table can be a bit tricky. The pieces can shift and move or even fall to the floor…
Picture this: You're wandering around the fabric store, looking for fabric for your next sewing project. And then you spot it. It's the perfect color. The print is just what you wanted, perfectly summing up the personality of the person who you are sewing for. But it's quilting cotton. That's just
Our sewing space can easily get cluttered sometimes. I get it. Creative people are sometimes (or always) messy. For a fact, I know that some people feel more productive and creative working in a me…
