Kymy from Everything Your Mama Made & More shows how to turn a pair of full-length leggings into ruffled shorties. The extra length that you lop off to turn them into shorts is used to make the rows of ruffles … Read More...
Tutorial: Make a shirred waistband to turn a too-big shirt into a blouson shirt
Ashley from Make It and Love It shares a tutorial on her blog showing how a bit of shirring at the bottom hem may be just the fix for a shirt that’s too big. The shirring cinches it in and … Read More...
Tutorial: Doily collar for a top or dress
Jill from Homemade by Jill guest blogs at Project Run and Play showing how you can use a purchased doily to make a collar for a top or dress. It’s a quick way to add a beautiful detail to a … Read More...
Tutorial: Quick and easy baby dress from an adult knit shirt
Dana from MADE shares a tutorial on her blog showing how easy it is to turn an adult t-shirt into a cute little baby dress. I am loving the mix of the green polka dot and yellow stripes in her … Read More...
Tutorial: Tools to help you sew a straight line
Sewing a straight seam is easy enough, but it can take practice to get super straight stitching lines that you’re not ashamed to have show up in a contrasting thread. Tricia from Made By Me & Shared With You shares … Read More...
Tutorial: Vintage-inspired lace headband with twisted fabric flowers
Debbie from Squiggly Twigs Designs shows how to make a beautiful vintage-inspired lace headband with rolled fabric flowers. The flowers are made from strips of scrap fabric that she twists and rolls into a rosette. No sewing is required, but … Read More...
Read all about it: Tips for sewing with vintage patterns
Elizabeth & Liz fromSimple Simon & Co. create the most gorgeous kids’ clothes using vintage patterns. So it’s totally appropriate that their guest blog in the Vintage May Series at Craftiness Is Not Optional is a post all about … Read More...
Tutorial: Oilcloth zippered pouch
Sachiko from Tea Rose Home guest blogs at Diary of a Quilter with a tutorial showing how to make a zippered pouch from oilcloth. The coated fabric is durable and waterproof, but it does require some special handling when sewing … Read More...
Tutorial: Winter jeans become summer cut-offs and a half apron
With summer just around the corner, many of us mamas are looking at our kids’ winter jeans with an eye to cut them into shorts. Kymy from Everything Your Mama Made & More shows how she marks and cuts the … Read More...
Tutorial: Covered cording flower charm
Ros Made Me shares a tutorial on her blog showing how to used covered cording to make a pretty flower charm you can hang from a purse or keychain. She used covered cording that was left over from a previous … Read More...
Sewing Tutorial: Make a bag from an old umbrella
Jill from Creating My Way To Success shares a tutorial on her blog showing how she turned a couple of old umbrellas into some cute new bags for her kids to tote their swimming gear. The waterproof umbrella fabric is … Read More...
Tutorial: Easy potholder that kids can sew
When you’re teaching a child to sew, easy projects that are quickly completed are the key to helping build excitement and confidence. Justine from Sew Country Chick shares a tutorial for a project that fits the bill – a simple … Read More...
Tutorial: Vintage-inspired scalloped yoke
When I saw this vintage-inspired A-line dress that Stacy from Hart & Sew shared in the Vintage May series at Skirt as Top, I squealed out loud. The scalloped yoke is absolutely yummy! And then I saw that the … Read More...
Tutorial: Add 1-2 inches to your jeans waist by giving them a sash
PC from MeiJo’s Joy shows what to do when the waist of your favorite pair of jeans no longer fits comfortably. Rather than squeezing yourself in, she shows how to remove the waistband and replace with it a tie sash. … Read More...
Sewing Tutorial: Bow front halter maxi dress
Terra from Mama Says Sew shares a tutorial showing how to make her Bow Front Maxi Dress. The floor-length knit halter dress has a large bow stitched across the bodice. I’ve never been brave enough to wear a halter (my … Read More...
Tutorial: How to make box pleats and inverted box pleats
Sew4Home shares a tutorial all about box pleats. They explain the difference between a box pleat and an inverted box pleat, and how to make each type. You can use box pleats in home dec projects (pillows, curtains) or when … Read More...
Winner of the Singer 160 Limited Edition sewing machine giveaway
Time to announce who will be getting a new Singer 160 Limited Edition sewing machine! But first, I gotta say… Wow. 972 entries! That is the most entries I’ve ever gotten into a giveaway before. But no wonder, because this … Read More...
Tutorial: Use your serger to make fitted crib sheets
Prudent Baby shows how you can make a fitted crib sheet. They’ve published similar tutorials for crib sheets in the past, but this one shows how you can make quick work of it by using your serger. Go to the … Read More...
Tutorial: Sewing striped fabrics
Sewing clothes from striped fabrics can be tricky. If the pieces aren’t placed straight on the fabric, you’ll end up with crooked stripes. If the stripes on the front and back pieces don’t match, it can look messy at the … Read More...
Free pattern: Little girl’s racerback dress
Adrianna from Crafterhours shares a free pattern on their blog for making a little girl’s racerback dress. It’s a simple A-line in the front. In the back, the dress is gathered on to the racerback. It’s a cute detail that … Read More...