November’s challenge over at Ricochet and Away! is all about sewing scarves to keep your neck warm in the cooling autumn temps. For the Ring Your Neck challenge, the challenge is to make a fabric scarf and try a new … Read More...
Tutorial: Reversible crib bumpers
Amy from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop and Nap Time Crafters shows how to make a set of bumpers for a crib. Instead of making it one long piece, she breaks into 6 separate panels. They have a fun chevron pattern on … Read More...
Tutorial: Ruffled bolero sweater refashion
Trish from Two Peas in a Pod refashioned a couple of sweaters into this cute ruffled bolero for her daughter. One sweater became the body of the bolero, and the other was used to make contrast ruffles. She shares a … Read More...
Tutorial: Sew a blind hem on your sewing machine
A blind hem creates an almost invisible hem on a skirt or trouser legs. Katy from No Big Dill shows how you can create a blind hem on your sewing machine. Most sewing machines come with the blind hem foot … Read More...
Tutorial: Child’s Lolita style dress
Kataryna from Chibi Designs and Sew Chibi tells how she made the dress that is part of her daughter’s Gothic Lolita Witch costume. It’s a modification of a basic peasant dress pattern. Her how-to tells how to make the modifications … Read More...
Tutorial: Off the shoulder cropped tee with studs, no sewing required
Wobisobi shows how to make an off the shoulder, cropped tee with metal stud embellishments, no sewing required. She starts with a plain t-shirt, and then cuts and studs it up awesome. Get the tute.
[photo from Wobisobi]
Tutorial: Give a plain sweatshirt a slimmer fit and a wider neck
Autumn from It’s Always Autumn shows how she refashioned a plain crewneck sweatshirt to make it look less utilitarian. She widened the neckline and added a contrast band. She also added contrast cuffs on the sleeves and narrowed the fit. … Read More...
Read all about it: Tips for sewing on faux fur
With colder temps moving in (at least for the folks in the northern hemisphere), I’m seeing more projects made with faux fur. Projects made from faux fur tend to have simpler shapes and construction, but even so, the thick furry … Read More...
Tutorial: Little boy’s infinity scarf
Heather from Feather’s Flights made an infinity scarf for her little boy. It slides over his head easily and doesn’t have long ends to get caught on things. She shares a tutorial showing how to make one. They’re quick and … Read More...
Tutorial: Child’s costume half cape
Kataryna from Chibi Designs and Sew Chibi shows how she make a child’s half cape. It’s a versatile accessory for Halloween costumes, whether your child is dressing as a super hero, a princess, or even Little Riding Hood. The one … Read More...
Tutorial: Face Mat game
This Face Mat that Caroline from Salsa Pie made has been a huge hit with her kids. It’s like a cross between a Mr. Potato Head and a felt board. How could it NOT be fun? They can add hair, … Read More...
Balancing whimsy & wearability in your handmade garments
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...