Shauna from Shwin & Shwin shares a tutorial on her blog showing how she made these cute skinny cuffed pants for her little boy. The styling was inspired by clothes she sees and loves at J. Crew Kids. You’ll need … Read More...
Tutorial: Use lace trim to lengthen a shirt that’s too short
Donatella from Inspiration & Realisation shows how a strip of lace trim may be just the fix you need for a shirt that is too short. It adds length the shirt with a style that is similar to many designer … Read More...
Tutorial: Pillowcase style knit nightgown
Bridget from Everyday Chaos shows how to make a little girl’s summertime nightgown. It’s essentially a pillowcase dress, though made out knit yardage instead of an actual pillowcase. The lightweight knit is comfy for bedtime, but the nightgowns are cute … Read More...
Free pattern: Little boys’ collared vest
Destri from The Mother Huddle shares a free pattern and tutorial for making a little boy’s collared vest. The double lapel and faux welt pocket give it dressed up style, though these details could be omitted if you wanted to … Read More...
Tutorial: Scrappy knotted fabric wreath
Jenni from Vintage Umbrella shows how to make scrappy knotted fabric wreath, no sewing required. For a truly scrappy look, hit your scrap stash for all the strips. For a color-coordinated scrappy look, you can buy small cuts of a … Read More...
Tutorial: Dinosaur hoodie
Diana from Whatever Dee Dee Wants shows how to make a cute dinosaur hoodie. It’s a quick and easy project, starting with a purchased hoodie and adding the felt dinosaur spikes down the back. Get the tute.
[photo from … Read More...
Tutorial: No-knit knitted handbag
I love the look of knitted projects, but I just can’t make my hands hold the needles right to actually do it myself. Stefi from Just Chic shares a tutorial on her blog showing how you can make a knit … Read More...
Tutorial: Soft fabric blocks for baby
Cheryl from The Green Hedgehog and Sew Can Do shows how to make set fabric blocks for baby. They’re stuffed with polyfil, but the sides are lined with a fusible fleece to help them keep their shape. The American Sign … Read More...
Tutorial: Stamp some labels for your handmade clothing
Katy from No Big Dill makes many of her children’s clothes. Now that she’s handing down some of her handmade clothes to children outside of her household, she realized that she needed to label the clothes so the recipients will … Read More...
Fabric buying and stash strategy
Amy from Badskirt reflects on her fabric stash: what she buys, how much she buys, and how that affects her creativity. How about you? Do you have a stash strategy? Go to her article and get into the conversation.
[photo … Read More...
Tutorial: Greek style top and skirt from a maxi dress
Whitney from Freshly Given made this gorgeous Greek style top and mini skirt out of a maxi skirt. It’s a little-to-no sewing project, and she shares a tutorial showing how to do it. Get the tute.
[photo from Freshly … Read More...
Tutorial: Refashion full length leggings into ruffled shorties
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...