Cindy from Cation Designs guest blogs over at 3 Hours Past, writing about using embellishments to strike the right balance between whimsy and wearability. She shows examples from a vintage sewing book, as well as from her own sewing … Read More...
Tutorial: Armchair sewing caddy made from a placemat
Karen from Sew Many Ways shows how to use a quilted placemat to make a sewing caddy. It fits over the arm of your chair so your sewing notions are right where you need them when you’re sittin’ and stitchin’. … Read More...
Tutorial: Peplum shirt refashioned from a button up shirt
Liz from Cotton & Curls shows how she refashioned a men’s button up shirt into a peplum shirt for herself. She gives it a slimmer fit through the top and sleeves, but uses the full width of the shirt at … Read More...
Tutorial: Simple doll dress a child can sew
Jill Hamor from Bybido, and author of Storybook Toys, shows how to make a simple dress that a child can make for his or her doll. There are just two seams which can be sewn by hand if … Read More...
Tutorial: Buttonhole Napkins
These Buttonhole Napkins are made to be worn – at least on a button-down shirt. There’s a little buttonhole in the corner that attaches it to the top button of a dress shirt. Clever, no? Get the tutorial at The … Read More...
Tutorial: Spider web Halloween t-shirt
Kate from See Kate Sew shows how to make this cute spiderweb shirt for Halloween. The web is stitched on the machine, and the spider is cut from flocked heat transfer material. If you can’t get your hands on some … Read More...
Free pattern: Fleece dinosaur backpack (with spikes!)
Lark Crafts shares a free project on their blog for a dinosaur drawstring backpack. It’s an excerpt from the book Fleece Hat Friends
by Mary Rasch. The fleece backpack has dinosaur spikes runing down the middle. Worn with the coordinating … Read More...
Video tutorial: Gather fabric without pulling the threads
Debbie from Squiggly Twigs Designs shares a video tutorial showing her trick for gathering fabric on your sewing machine without having to pull the threads yourself. It doesn’t require a special foot or a special gathering attachment. Her daughter demonstrates … Read More...
Free pattern: Portrait Blouse
You can snag a free pattern for the Portrait Blouse from Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing by Gretchen Hirsch over at Craft. The versatile short-sleeved blouse can go as dressy or as casual as you like. Make it from … Read More...
Tutorial: Practical and attractive diaper bag
Sew4Home shows how to make a diaper bag that’s as practical as it is attractive. Pockets all around the inside of the bag give places to hold all the diapers, wipes, bibs, and other necesseties. A pocket on the outside … Read More...
Tutorial: Add a poofy pettiskirt layer to a skirt
Little girls loooove their poofy skirts, don’t they? (At least mine does!) Kataryna from Chibi Designs shares a tutorial on her blog, Sew Chibi, showing how to add a pettiskirt underlayer to a skirt or dress. The gathered tulle … Read More...
Free Sewing Pattern: : Rosy Ladyshorts panties
Amy from Cloth Habit shares a free pattern for making a pair of lace trimmed panties. She calls them her Rosy Ladyshorts. The pattern is available in sizes 0-14 (hips 32″ – 46″). Go to her blog for the free … Read More...
Tutorial: Add a neck bow tie to a t-shirt
Emily from Replicate Then Deviate guest blogs in the Top-toberfest series at Made By Me & Shared With You with a tutorial showing how to add a bow tie to the neckline of a t-shirt. It’s cute on tops for … Read More...
Tutorial: Leather loyalty card pocket
Staci from Crafty Staci shows how to make a small pocket to hold all of your store loyalty cards. A button and elastic closure keeps them from sliding out. She used scrap leather to make hers, but if you don’t … Read More...
Tutorial: Finish off serger thread chains at the end of a seam
When you’ve got thread chains at the end of serged seams, you can’t just cut them off or the seams will start pulling apart. You’ll need to finish off the ends of the seam without cutting the threads short. Carmel … Read More...
Tutorial: Little girl’s dress with pieced stripe skirt
Teresa from Crafting In My Closet shows how she made this fun Halloween dress for her young daughter. The skirt is pieced from strips cut from 5 fat quarters. You could also hit your scrap bin for the strips, … Read More...
Tutorial: Welt pocket on a seam line
Heather Lou from Closet Case Files shows how she added a welt pocket at the seam line on a cape she made. Go to her tutorial.
[photo from Closet Case Files]
Tutorial: Stitched spiderweb votive wrap
Nicole Blum from Improv Diary, and co-author of Improv Sewing, shows how to use your sewing machine to draw a spiderweb design on a scrap of fabric, and then how to turn your spiderweb fabric into a votive wrap. … Read More...
Tutorial: Quilted eyeglass or rotary cutter case
Lindsay fromThe Cottage Mama turns her blog over to her mama for a guest post. She shows how to make a quilted case to hold either a pair of eyeglasses or a rotary cutter. Get the how-to.
[photo … Read More...
Free pattern: Lapped front hoodie for an infant
Tricia from Made By Me & Shared With You made this awesome little hoodie for a newborn baby. The lapped front is cool, modern detail but it also makes for easy on / easy off over a baby’s head. She … Read More...