Find 7 simple sewing projects that come together quickly. Great for gifts. Free tutorials from top US sewing blog Ameroonie Designs.
Hello and happy holidays! Last week, I wrapped up (lol! ;) my video tutorial series of scrap-busting gifts to sew for the holidays and I thought it would be nice to have all the tutorials (plus a few more) rounded up in one place. I often like to give handmade things for the holidays and this year I
Need I remind you that fabrics can either make or break your project. Read on for more info on our guide to different fabrics and their properties.
DIY Fabric Block Zipper Pouch Free Sewing Pattern and Tutorial
Hello there, beautiful people! Today's collection of DIY tutorials is inspired by mother nature and her miraculous creations. Aren't butterflies simply amazing?
Video tutorial: How to make a no-sew easy chair pincushion in less than two hours. Quick, easy, cheap, unique and adorable. Great for gift giving!
Whether travelling by plane, train or automobile, for a week or a weekend, you are sure to find a few travel accessories to sew and take along with you.
Die faszinierende Schönheit und Zartheit der Schmetterlingen verwandeln sie in ein der beliebtesten Deko-Motiven. Als Muster von Textilien oder Tapeten, in Form von Gemälden oder einem Motiv auf unter
This is my new hand stitching companion...literally a THREAD CATCHER. When I am hand stitching, there are little tails of silk thread and snippets of quilting cotton EVERYWHERE...I know things are out of hand when Weasley the cat saunters by with thread and fabric snippets are stuck to his fur coat! And now, a view of the underside...(this is my favorite Kaffe Fassett fabric in my stash)... Do you want to learn to make one? Let me demonstrate the magic...first, I push DOWN with my thumbs on the pleated side... The bottom pushes out and starts to untwist... Now there is a cute, little container, open and ready to receive your thread tails... When I take a pause from stitching, I simply push all my little thread tails to the bottom of the container, hold the rim, and twist the bottom compactly into the rim...ta da!! The threads are trapped within the compact, little, twisted container. SO neat and tidy! I discovered a great video on how to do this on Pinterest, which I will link at the end of this post, but I found that some of the measurements needed to be updated to make it actually come out right...like toilet paper rolls, and so many other things, packaging/product is shrinking while prices stay the same or increase. The original directions have us make this little gem from "recycled" materials...(a cereal box, leftover batting, and a Pringles potato chip tube are recommended). I think you could make it from other things, you would just have to adjust the sizes of your materials (and you wouldn't "have to" eat Pringles). I have saved an empty plastic mayo jar that might work as well... After gobbling up all the Pringles, wipe the tube (and your clothing) free of crumbs, cut off the lip of the container, and cut a 1/2" slice of the tube. I used paper scissors, but a nice sharp craft knife might be easier. Measure the circumference...I found mine to be about 9-1/4". I added 1/2" to this to get the longer measurement for my rectangle of fabric needed for the body of the thread catcher. (In the Pinterest video, the circumference measured 9-1/2"...see...things ARE shrinking in the stores...) My fabric rectangle measures 8" x 9-3/4" (before I folded over 1/4" on each long side and pressed). (That's 8" x 9-1/4", plus the extra 1/2" on the longer side.) The size of the components for the thread catcher bottom are dependent on the size of the Pringles ring. The box board and batting circles need to be slightly smaller in diameter so that, once covered in fabric, they won't be too tight to to twist, push, and nestle inside the Pringles ring. I found this inside size/diameter to be about 2-11/16"...just shy of 2-3/4". Cut two each of the box board and the batting. Then I made my two fabric circles a little larger so that I would have room to baste and gather the edges around the box board and batting. My fabric circles measured 3-1/2" in diameter. Now I do a running stitch around the edge of each of the two fabric circles... Then I center a batting circle on the wrong side of the fabric circle... ...followed by a box board circle, covering the batting circle. Then I pull the gathering thread to surround my batting and box board circles. I secure this with a couple of stitches and a knot. Now I slip stitch these two padded circles to each other, wrong sides together, Then, I fold my fabric rectangle, right sides together, and stitch along the SHORT side with a 1/4" seam allowance. Note that the stitching is on the 8" edge of the fabric rectangle. Now I press the seam open so that it will lie nice and flat. With right sides still together, I slide my Pringles ring on my tube of fabric and encase the ring as I bring the edges that are pressed under together. I line up those pressed under edges and pin. My Pringles ring is now securely located where the fabric tube folds. I stitch right under the Pringles ring to lock it in a casing. Ta da! Then I remove my pins. I push the inside of the fabric tube out past the Pringles ring. See how my 1/4" seam is still neatly turned under? I insert my thread catcher bottom and secure with pins. The fabric tube will be slightly larger, so you will have to center the bottom as you pin to ease the slight fullness. Then I slip stitch around, easing the fullness and removing pins as I stitch. Then I push the bottom through the ring, and into the other open end with the pressed under edge, center, pin, and slip stitch in the same way. Ta da! Now it is ready to accept all your thread tails... When I stop stitching, I push all the thread mess to the bottom of my thread catcher... ...and gently twist and collapse, trapping the thread tails. SO easy and satisfying. And it is so compact and small that it will fit nicely in my stitching bag. Here is a the video I found on Pinterest. She really lays out the steps very nicely. AngiesBitsandPieces Note: I found my set of Karen Kaye Buckley large circles very helpful...there is one exactly the size of the fabric circle, and I used another to make my box board/batting template and just trimmed my template a little smaller. In stitches, Teresa :o)
For a while I've been wanting to try making some patchwork buckets, and then I thought, why not make tiny ones? When a glorious stack of Retro 30's Child Smile by Lecien landed in my mailbox (courtesy of the lovely people at Fat Quarter Shop who asked if they could sponsor a few of my blog posts), I could resist no longer. These sweet little buckets -- what can I say? I love them. Scrappy patchwork, retro prints, linen lining, leather handles...it's all my favorite things rolled into one project. The two sizes are 2" and 4" tall, both wrapped around a 3 1/2" diameter circle. They're the perfect size for holding sewing tools, thread spools, binding clips, colored pencils, makeup brushes, clothespins, lollipops, [insert the name of your favorite small item here]. There's no doubt that the adorable prints are the star of the show. You know I love anything with a vintage spin to it, and these are darling. But can we talk about the supporting cast for a minute? When you're looking for a neutral to pair with colorful patchwork, linen is always a good idea. I used Soft Sand Linen Blend from the Art Gallery Fabrics Denim Studio collection, which is fabulous (as is the rest of that collection, by the way). And I'm constantly amazed at how adding the tiniest leather accents to any project immediately takes it up to the next level. I cut these 1/2" wide handles from a piece of leather I ordered on Amazon. You could easily substitute twill tape or double fold bias tape, but I love the way these look. My friends at Fat Quarter Shop want to share some fabric with you too (aren't they sweet!), so they're letting me give away a package of Retro 30's Child Smile to one reader. You even get to choose between origami squares (10" squares) or a sushi roll (2 1/2" wide strips). Leave me a comment below letting me know which you'd rather have, and I'll choose a winner on Friday morning. International entries are welcome. Be sure to leave your email address in the comment if you're a no-reply blogger so that I can get in touch with you! Happy week to you, friends! **NOTE: This giveaway is now closed! Congratulations, Karen!**
Am I the only one that has a basket full of charging cords? It seems that everything has it's own charging cord, and all of the cords ...
Upcyle inspiration - some lovely ideas for when you are wondering what to do with chipped china
Learn how to make triangle pattern weights in this super easy tutorial. All you need are fabric scraps and dried rice! Clear steps with pictures.
Fabric weights are a perfect addtion in any sewing space. Learn how to create a set of fabric weights for your sewing space or give them as gits to others.
Hello my dear friends, these past days have truly been a roller coaster ride for me with everything going on at the moment. Our outdoor project is weeks behind now and no end in sight really. My mother is still in the hospital and so far we still do not know what is wrong with her. Her breathing is very bad, she forgets everything and she doesn't want to eat. It is really hard seeing her like this not knowing what the problem is. One moment she seems to be OK and clear thinking and the next she is talking about things that makes no sense at all. She was even found wandering the hallway at night all on her own and looking for Christmas ornaments I was told ~ it is so sad. I would like to take a moment to thank all of you sweet bloggers for your well wishes and prayers ~ you are so thoughtful and you are all in my heart. I do try to stay strong and not break down so this morning I got up very early after receiving a phone call from a relative in Germany and I used creative therapy to take my mind off things for a short time and this is what I created ... I used this old shaker top ... and a piece of my pale sage green velvet and... ... created this!! Yes ~ I know another pincushion but I really enjoyed making it ... ... and after I was done I actually feel a bit more peaceful to start the new day. I used some old piece of crochet doilies and an old earring to dress it up and I hope you like it! And last but not least .... ... these are some of my beautiful flowers that are blooming in my garden right now ~ such a lovely color! I hope you are all well, healthy and looking after yourselves. Have a peaceful and creative day, Karen B.
I make bowl/baskets out of fabric scraps, old stained/holey/outgrown clothes, ribbons, and embroidery floss.
Make your own gorgeous statement necklaces with fabrics you have at home and look fabulous; These FREE patterns are easy for even novices in craft/sewing.
Storage Pod tutorial from Fabric Editions
This easy sewing tutorial makes DIY fabric cord holders from charm packs by using four different fasteners.
A big warm welcome to everyone following Sedef's blog tour for her gorgeous new book, Zakka Home! It was such a pleasure joining the tour for her first ...
The craft blog of pattern designer Jeni Baker. Creative adventures in quilting, sewing, and color. Plus free sewing and quilting tutorials.
Turn pieces of scrap fabric into snazzy, snappy coin purses.
How to Make a Fabric Bowl with Mod Podge. Follow these easy decourapge instructions to make a DIY fabric bowl as an decorative accessory.
Need a new sewing kit? We have compiled a list of different 30 different DIY sewing kits that you can create from your home.
Turn your favorite vintage teacups into adorable no-sew pincushions! Perfect for yourself or a gift (or both!).
I hope you enjoy this little fabric box tutorial as much as I do. It is simple enough to complete in about an hour, which makes it perfect for a last minute hostess gift. Fill it with candy and you are ready to go! A friend gave me the pattern* a couple of years ago, but after I made the first sample, I lost the pattern! Luckily, I remembered what to do, and wrote up my own instructions. There was no indication of who had designed it, so if you know whose pattern this is, please do let me know. I haven't seen anything else like it online. *The original was a one page, hand drawn pattern that looked like it had been photocopied a number of times. I interpreted the pattern in a completely different way from my friend. Let's get started! You will need: (2) squares of fabric, between 8" and 12". My sample was made with 10" squares. A piece of batting the same size as the fabric (or a little bigger). (4) coordinating buttons, optional. A walking foot, if you have one. Step 1: Layer the fabric, right sides together, on top of the batting. Step 2: Stitch 1/4" seam around perimeter, leaving an opening of about 4" on one side. Step 3: Trim away the batting from the seam allowances to reduce bulk. Trim as close to the stitching line as you can without clipping into it! Step 4: Turn right side out and press. Step 5: Top stitch close to the edge, closing the opening as you go. Step 6: Quilt as desired. I just kept going around and stitched concentric squares... ... until my bobbin ran out! Step 7: Fold the quilted square in half, right side in. Mark a 2" triangle in the corners. (If you started with a different size square, you may want to alter this dimension.) Stitch the 2 bottom corners, back-tacking at the beginning and end. Since I had used a Frixion pen for marking, I just needed to hit it with an iron to erase the line! Step 8: Open it up and fold it in the other direction, marking and stitching the remaining 2 corners. Step 9: Turn the box right side out. Step 10: I like mine with the points folded down... ... and the inside flaps tacked down. If you would like to eliminate the inside flaps, try Connie's modification with French Seams! Step 11: Stitch on some cute buttons, if desired. (I bought these buttons at Walmart. I think I need to go back and get more in every color!) Starting with 10" squares, the boxes finish at about 4" x 4" x 3" high. My original sample was made with Meadowsweet leftovers. I still love that collection so much! And this is the one I made last weekend for Barbara. This one started with a 12" square, so I made the sides a little higher (2.5" corners in step 7). Have fun with the tutorial and let me know if you make one! Edit 4/13/14: I am not affiliated in any way with the pattern being sold on Craftsy for $6. Edit 5/22/14 for clarification: The pattern I was given did not include any authorship information, or I would have given credit from the start. There were just a few hand drawn diagrams and cryptic text open for interpretation. It was not a copy of the pattern being sold on Craftsy. I wish there was a name on the original drawing, but there was not. I struggled with offering it online, but I felt my finished product was more detailed and my instructions were much clearer. I added the quilting and the buttons that were not included in the original. The pattern on Craftsy was not offered until after I had posted my free tutorial. I believe the designer used the ideas that I had fleshed out. If she used her own photos and text, there is no copyright infringement. I haven't purchased it, so I don't know that to be true. She claims there are design differences, but her sample in the Craftsy listing looks just like mine. It is even quilted the same way. I don't believe she is the designer of the pattern I was given many years ago. Because the basis for this fabric box was not my original idea, I struggled with offering the tutorial at all. I did not feel it was right to profit from it by selling the pattern. Again, I wish the person who drew the original diagrams by hand had signed her work. It is in the spirit of sharing that I offer this free tutorial. They look great filled with candy or a small potted plant. You may use it as a guild or sewing bee project. You may make them to sell for charity fundraisers. If you make them to sell for personal gain, please drop me an email. Visit my Pinterst board to see how other sewists are interpreting this project.
"The best gifts come from the heart, not the store. " ~Sarah Dessen I hope that everyone had a marvellous Christmas! I always feel very sleepy during the days between Christmas and New Years. I just want to sit by the Christmas tree and watch movies with a box of chocolates in my lap. :) I'm not the only one am I? I thought I would share a few pictures of some of the beautiful things that I was given for Christmas this year! An RS Prussia demitasse cup! LOVE! I have wanted these boxes of pink truffles from Charbonnel et Walker for awhile now! -Not because I like the champagne truffles but because I REALLY wanted the pretty pink boxes. :) Here is how I have displayed them. This is a present that I put in my Mum's Christmas stocking. A gorgeous handmade ribbon roses pin by Lambs and Ivy Designs. She loved it! Thankyou Dana! I love to get books for Christmas of every kind! These are a few that I was given this year. The gorgeous book Bright Lights Paris by Angie Niles, The Wonderful World of Fifi Lapin, a stunning pink leather journal from Ted Baker, Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic the third book by Jennifer L. Scott, and a plethora of pretty notebooks to fill with dreams, plans, and lists! This was actually a gift my sister was given. I don't spend a lot of money on makeup unless you count lipstick and then J'adore Dior. :) My sister however loves Sephora and for Christmas she was given this beautiful set from Too Faced. It is so adorable! I love the packaging! I hope you enjoyed these pictures! It will be 2016 before you know it and I will be looking back at the year 2015 and all that I shared here with you!
How to tie a bow out of ribbon step by step easy way with diagram, tying tips, ideas and how to do a bow with ribbon video.
When you browse online, what catches your eye? Beautifully crafted DIY fabric baskets stop me in my tracks. NOW 18 homemade fabric baskets here to see!
When you replace disposable products with reusable ones you save a lot of money, and do something good for the environment at the same time!
Instead of reaching for whatever is handy to keep your project in place, put your scraps to work with functional pattern weights. These pattern weights take minimal supplies to create and store away easily when not in use. The DIY pattern weights are quick to make, functional, and make a great gift for sewing friends. […]
DIY: Toadstool Wrist Pincushion
Vanmorgen viel de regen weer met bakken uit de lucht, het was zo donker en natuurlijk waagde niemand zich naar buiten dus het was (even) lekker rustig in de winkel. Het gaf mij de gelegenheid om even op mijn gemak in de winkel rond te kijken en een plaatsje te bedenken voor de wolletjes die nog gaan komen. En om wat te mijmeren... Zoals jullie weten is mijn hoofd met ideeën een stuk groter dan mijn winkeltje. Maar als ik denk hoe het er 17 jaar geleden uitzag......met 1 kastje katoentjes en een enkel sokkenwolletje. Dan is het assortiment aanzienlijk uitgebreid (dat kan natuurlijk alleen als klanten de bolletjes ook inderdaad kopen!). In de loop der jaren zijn de stoffen bijna verdwenen en zit de wol bijna tot aan het plafond. Het winkeltje wordt op een of andere manier maar niet groter, dus het blijft inschikken en schuiven. En ik heb nog best wel wat wensen.... :-) Maar soms word ik ook een beetje vermoeid van het hele scala van mogelijkheden, merken en het giga-aanbod waar er uit gekozen kan worden (ja, ook winkeliers moeten kiezen). Er ligt een merk katoen in de kast met 60 kleuren - dat moet toch keuze genoeg zijn (maar er is het laatste halfjaar wel 6 keer een nieuw merk katoen geboren à 60 kleuren!). En een kleurtje of 60 acryl lijkt me toch ook wel voldoende? Daar ga ik niet nog eens 2 of 3 merken-van-hetzelfde bijdoen. Het is als de meterslange rij chips in de supermarkt: 7 meter chips om uit te kiezen (hoe bizar is dat?). Rare afwegingen voor een ondernemer, he? Je zou denken dat ik hier iedereen ga overtuigen van de noodzaak tot het kopen van zoveel mogelijk.... maar ik doe het lekker niet! Net zoals ik ook niet meedoe met die dumpprijzen van bepaalde garens. Hoe leuk het ook lijkt om garens ver onder de advies-verkoopprijs (online) op de kop te kunnen tikken - het ondermijnt gigantisch de "gewone huis-tuin-en-keuken-winkel" zoals de mijne. Die winkeltjes waar je de bolletjes gewoon naast elkaar op tafel kan leggen om te kijken wat mooi bij elkaar past (sommige dames doen dat bij mij in de winkel, schrijven de nummers op, "denken er nog even over"en kopen online), waar je een bolletje dat je over hebt kan teruggeven, waar je een eerlijk advies krijgt, soms een patroontje bij je garen krijgt, waar je kan voelen of een garen prikt of niet, voorbeelden bekijken en waar soms eerste hulp bij brei/haakongelukken wordt gegeven. Gratis! Deze winkeltjes kúnnen geen dumpprijzen rekenen omdat dan het licht uit moet. En de verwarming.... Afijn - genoeg gemijmerd! Het wordt tijd voor een ideetje. Met restjes :-) Deze leuke bloemetjes maak je van restjes garen en oude knoopjes. Hoe meer verschillende, hoe leuker! Je vindt een beschrijving met veel foto's op Craft and Fun. En deze vind ik nog steeds geweldig leuk (blogde er al eerder over). Ook van restjes.... Je vindt de beschrijving hier. Of je doet dit, helemaal geen styliste voor nodig! Elk bolletje mag meedoen, elk merk! Fijne avond!
Get 75 new ideas for using up those leftover yarn scraps you have after you finish your latest crochet or knitting project!
Are you a shabby chic pinner on Pinterest? I love shabby chic. Here's my best 101 picks. Pin them to your boards; give credit to originator. 2 great how to videos, click poll for your favorites
Sara from Alice and Lois shared this basket on her blog and I love it! It’s a handmade rope basket that doesn’t involve any sewing! I’ve seen some before, but they always used a s…
Keep cables, chargers, and must-have electronics accessories organized and easy to find with this fantastic travel cable cozy tutorial!
Here's a tutorial showing how to make a little house bag. Simple to make with step by step instructions, pictures and the chance to win a craft kit.
My oldest daughter specifically requested a bandana headscarf that stretched around her head so I decided to give it a try and she loved it!
Never lose your thimble again! Make a pretty home for it with these step-by-step instructions. They're also an awesome way to give small gifts!
DIY Fold-up Needle Holder Free Sewing Tutorial
This post is so photo heavy! I apologize in advance but hopefully all the pictures will answer all of your questions! If not, fire away! You will need: 3 coordinating fabrics (fat quarter or smaller will work) 1 piece of batting 1 button 6 inches of thin elastic Felt Printed template (you can download it here) Use the template to cut your cover fabric and your inside fabric Then fold template on line And cut your third piece of fabric for the pocket You'll have one cover, one inside and one pocket Fold your pocket fabric in half lengthwise and sew down the creased side. That way your pocket looks good from the outside and the inside. See? Cut your piece of batting to the size of the full template Pin cover fabric to the batting, and quilt as desired. I ended up doing a diamond pattern and then played around with some embroidery. Try stitching your initials, add ribbon or ricrac. Make it yours! Sew your button on the right hand side about an inch in from the side. Tie a knot in your elastic. Place loop facing in on the left side. Lay your pocket on top. MAKE SURE THE RAW EDGE IS ON BOTTOM. You'll cry if you don't. Stitched edge up? Check! Lay your inside fabric on top of the stack. If it has a print, make sure the print is facing the inside of the sandwich, NOT you. Pin Pin Pin. And then sew a 1/4 inch seam all the way around, making sure to leave an opening. Once sewn, snip your corners. This step is optional but to make it sturdy you can serge the edge. The easiest way to do this is set your machine on a zigzag stitch and let the needle only catch the side of the fabric and fall off on the other half of the zag. Goodness that is confusing. Pull your needle book right-side out. Use a pencil, crochet hook, bobby pin, whatever you like to poke the corners out. Iron the book nice and flat, tucking in the opening flap to match the seam. Do a 1/4inch top stitch all around the edge of the needle book. This will sew up your opening and give the book a nice, clean look. See? Cut your felt to 3 1/2 inch by 7 inch strips. I had 3 strips total. Embellish them any way you like. I cut 2 1/2 inch circles and sewed them on. Pin your pages in your book, and sew down the center. Yay! It's finished! I made the one below the exact same way. Only for the cover fabric I pieced scraps together for a quilted look. I just kept sewing until I had a full piece of fabric the size of the template. And of course if you have any questions I am happy to answer them! Happy crafting!
