You can easily "square up" your quilt by adding borders that have been measured for perfection. The trick is to leave extra space where the fabric will stretch the most. Watch this instructional quilting video to account for small changes that occur in the sewing process to se ...more
Circle skirts are easy, and look good on nearly any figure. You can sew your own without needing a pattern at all - just pick your under fabric and over fabric, then follow along with this tutorial for a retro chic addition to your wardrobe.
In this episode of the Crafty Gemini Show you'll learn some quilting basics and make a small project out of what you learn. You'll be run through some quilting terminology, including what a pieced quilt is, what quilt blocks are, and how to make half-square triangle block unit ...more
Watch an experienced quilter show a quick and easy way to miter the corner on the binding of a quilt. Quilting is a precise craft, but a mitered corner works best with a some accurate estimation. Follow this two step process to sew a neat and sturdy corner on quilt binding.
Kirsten designs a pattern and using designed templates and cloth to sew together a holiday cheer and great style for hanging over a basket on Easter. In this project stabilizing a hooping is essential. Create basket liner. Click through to watch this video on embroidery.com
Learn how to turn a t-shirt into a sexy one piece swimsuit. This swimwear project is cheap and easy. The sexy GiannyL demonstrates this DIY closet hack that's simple and cheap. All you need is a t-shirt, pins and a sewing machine. Cut along the pattern Gianny L has demonstrate ...more
Learn how to recycle a frumpy winter sweater into a sporty strapless dress! The sexy GiannyL demonstrates this DIY closet hack that's simple and cheap. All you need is one old frumpy winter sweater, pins, scissors, and a sewing machine. Cut along the pattern that Gianny L has ...more
Costume fox ears are simple to make. Just draft a pattern, cut them out of the fabric, and sew it all together. Watch this video wardrobe and costume-making tutorial and learn how to build a pair of fox ears. Come Halloween, you'll have a costume ready and waiting to go. Part ...more
Depending on the fabric you choose, this could be part of your Lolita costume or a professional skirt. Sew a skirt with one inch box pleats, without needing a pattern. Get your fabric, measurements and some basic sewing supplies together, and you're ready to go!
Channel Pulip shows you how to make a holiday coat for a doll. You will need wool felt, with no crease, trimming, lace, ribbon or button. Cut out the pattern as shown. Sew together at shoulder with 4mm seam. Pin and sew sleeve on. Sew lace on coat bottom and sleeve bottoms. Se ...more
This video shows how to make a peasant blouse, using a T-shirt pattern from a previous video. Take the front of the T-shirt pattern and cut it out of your fabric. You will need two pieces the same, one for the front and one for the back of the blouse. Save the extra fabric fro ...more
Whether you're a sinner or a saint, making a nun costume for Halloween requires no divine intervention. You Will Need * A long black dress or graduation gown * Rope * White poster board * Scissors * Black fabric * A hot glue gun * Glue * A crucifix or rosary beads * Tunic sewi ...more
Not sure what bottle of wine to get your wine-loving friend for their birthday? Don't sweat it. Get them a wine bag, and save money by making it yourself from old clothes!! Why spend money on wine gift bags when you can craft your own from stuff you already have in your closet ...more
Learn how to recycle an old jeans into a earth friendly sandals with Gianny L! In order to make sandals out of a pair of blue jeans, you will need the following: scissors, cardboard, needle, thread, a sewing machine, a pair of jeans, a pair of flip-flops, chalk, and foam. Tr ...more
In this how to video tutorial learn to sew a simple pillow out of jeans. Make your own pattern and create a pillow using just about any piece of clothing you don't use. You can also use creation as a pillow or as a dog bed if you make it big enough.
Tank tops are relatively cheap, and cutesy bags can be expensive from designer shops and street vendors, so your only solution for saving money is… using your tanks for homemade bags. See how to transform a tank top into a magazine bag in this video from GiannyL. This DIY clo ...more
In this how-to video, you will learn how to sew a cape. The pattern is made of three pieces. The main part is made of a circle with a hole in the center. There is a cut made from the center to the edge of the circle. The diameter is about 145 centimeters. The hood is two half ...more
It turns out that the popularity of soft circuit electronics has leaked out of the interwebs and into the hands of the U.S. military. Soft circuit electronics allow you to literally sew electronics circuits into fabric using flexible conductive thread instead of wire. Soft cir ...more
Learn how to make puppets with moving mouths in this free video series, including tips on making a puppet pattern, sewing and adding features like arms, legs and eyes. Part 1 of 15 - How to Sew puppets. Sew puppets - Part 2 of 15. Click through to watch this video on expertvil ...more
In this video series our expert Terry Turco will show you how to make a sewing tote bag. She will show you how to make the pattern for the tote bag, mark the location of the handles, insert the handles, sew the bottom and the sides, and do a bit of slip stitching. Part 1 of 15 ...more
The perfect undergarment for your Victorian costume re-creation. You don't need any pattern, just take your measurements and get a yard or so of thin, lightweight fabric. Then cut, pin, sew and finish. Your own pair of Victorian inspired bloomer pants!
In this three-part sewing tutorial, learn how to make a pair of pants that fit like a glove! In the first video, you will learn to take measurements and calculate measurements to plan out your pattern. In the second video, learn how to draw the pant pattern based on your measu ...more
We all know we should dress for our body type, and that there are different cuts and fits of clothing specifically tailored to enhance our shapes, but there exists one universally flattering piece of clothing out there that we believe flatters all: the pencil skirt. When purc ...more
By using sewing pattern Simplicity 4670, the author of this tutorial video takes you through the steps needed to produce a great shirt collar. First you should attach interfacing to one piece of the shirt collar. Here you will be using fusible interfacing and taking the facing ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to recycle an old t-shirt into a no-sew head scarf. First, lay your shirt out flat on a table and download the paper pattern from the video. From here, measure sixteen inches from side to side on the t-shirt that you are using. After this, follow ...more
I got hooked on origami sometime after Math Craft admin Cory Poole posted instructions for creating modular origami, but I had to take a break to finish a quilt I've been working on for a while now. It's my first quilt, and very simple in its construction (straight up squares, ...more
This is a great and attractive shirt - a corset tank top. You don't need a pattern to make this, just some fabric, lining and ribbon. You'll also need some basic sewing notions and access to a sewing machine to sew this very basic item.
Lolita, hime or Little Bo Beep - this skirt will serve all those costume functions! Sew an easy ruffled skirt and then use elastic to gather the waistband and create the outer ruffle. You don't need a pattern, just your measurements and a sewing machine!
Creating skirts just got easier. You can even make a skirt reminiscent of the ever-famous Marilyn Monroe. Become a chic stylista just by wearing this adjustable circle skirt. This video provides the steps required to make a circle skirt, otherwise known as the Marilyn Skirt. ...more
This how to video is a good general reference for anyone making their own pants, trousers, or jeans; basically any article of clothing with a fly front. The example uses a Suitability pants pattern, and can also be used to substitute a button fly. Watch and learn how to sew on ...more
Elegant fashion is easier to come by than many assume. This tutorial shows you how to sew your own simple V-neck women's tunic with added flutter sleeves. You don't even need a pattern, just a few torso measurements for your wearer! The alluring and stylish GiannyL is the DIY ...more
Are you bent out of shape over damage to your clothes caused by wire hangers? Don’t buy new ones – follow these easy steps to modify hangers you already have. Watch this video to learn how to turn a wire hanger into a cloth one. You Will Need * Wire hanger * Ruler * Tissue p ...more
Rosie and Anna shows us how to construct a Chelsea Doll. It is so simple children csn work on it for their friends. Once you have purchased the pattern from the website, you trace it onto two pieces of materia and then you cut it out. After this has been achieved you sew the t ...more
Handmade gifts are always appreciated. Hand painting ties can be wonderful, creative work, especially if it is for Dad on Father’s Day. You’ll make a keepsake he’ll treasure forever. You Will Need: • Fabric • Scissors • A tie pattern • Needle and thread • Wax paper • A ...more
Knowing how to knit a picot hem is a good technique to learn. Usually, at the bottom of a garment you will have a ribbed edge. A picot hem, as pictured below, is a nice alternative. It's quite easy and here's how to do it. Start by casting on the number of stitches you need f ...more
First you must take inventory of all items in order to be able to create your bag. Make sure all labels are in the correct order. Lining should be ready before attempting to begin construction. The stay should be 10in long and 4in wide. Pocket the stays and glue the stays to t ...more
Watch this instructional quilting video to sew quarter inch piecing on your quilt. Use "Martelli's Stitch in the Ditch Binding Foot" as a 1/4 inch piecing foot. This allows you to sew straight lines on several layers of quilted fabric.
Watch this instructional quilting video to sew a narrow binding on your quilt. The "Zip Bind Tool" and the "Stitch in the Ditch Binding Foot" help with sewing narrow bindings. It important to know how to use the zip bind tool properly before beginning this quilting project.
Watch this instructional quilting video to sew a wide binding on your quilt. A 3" binding is recommended when you're learning to use these tools but after that you can create wider & narrower bindings. Here's info for wider bindings.
Watch this instructional quilting video to adjust the "Zip Bind Tool" by a small amount. The zip bind tool allows you to sew straight binding on your quilt without using a lot of measurements and pinning. Adjust the Zip Bind Tool 'a hair, a smidge, a scant, a skosh, a wee bit' ...more
Here's a new way to look at making perfect mitered corners the first time, every time. This instructional quilting video demonstrates how to sew consistent mitered corners on your quilts in a few steps. Use a "Minute Miter" tool to hold the fabric in place. Learn why this seam ...more
Here is a quick video that shows how to make a y-seam. Follow this step by step process to sew a y-seams on your hard labored quilts. Quilting becomes easy when you can borrow a few tricks of the trade.
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a baby blanket. First, cut out a pattern (you can used old shirts and jackets) and line it against a liner fabric, and cut it out. Now, take the ends of the fabric and sew them 1/2 inch in. Then, sew both the liner fabric and the original ...more
Stephany is going to take you through the process of sewing a mens shirt. She is going to use a pattern and talk to you first about choosing a pattern and knowing what the package means before you start. This is a very long video series, but sewing a shirt has many components ...more
Watch this instructional quilting video to chain stitch triangles of fabric together. as long as you remember to keep putting the same color of fabric on top as you connect your triangles, you'll be able to form a spool, or wheel pattern when you piece together your quilting s ...more
Here an instructional video to go along with the free American flag quilted table runner pattern on MoonlightQuilts.com. Follow these step by step instructions to piece together this patriotic table runner. Quilting can be easy if you can borrow a few tricks of the trade.
Want to spice up your origami cranes? MIT's High-Low Tech Group made two electronic origami cranes that flap their wings when you squeeze their tails. Video: . If that's not cool enough, they connected them wirelessly so that when one flaps its wings, the other lights up. Vide ...more
Video: . Whether you are gardening, cooking, riding a motorcycle or just want to cover up on a bad hair day, doo rags are easy to make and fun to personalize to suit to your style. If you would rather just download the durag pattern click here. You will need: Big enough pape ...more
Many of us in the Steampunk community have pets that we love and cherish, myself included, and we want those pets to share our joy of Steampunk. In reality, they couldn't care less, but for some reason we still love to dress them up. Their reactions usually range from bemused ...more
Here's a children's umbrella lined with neon green EL wire. It's definitely an easy and fun project for kids to do with their parents, and more importantly, it keeps the little mischiefs safer if they're out and about on rainy days. For even more creative inspiration ideas us ...more
Video: . Here there are some DIY gift ideas perfect for the Christmas season. They are really easy to personalize depending on what your likes are. For the first idea you will have to make a little plushie first. I've chosen a one up Mario mushroom. Pattern here: http://shai ...more
Quilt as you go is becoming one of the most popular quilting methods out there and this video will show you how to do the technique using only your sewing machine. This method allows you to create a quilt in no time flat. You'll need lots of fabric strips, squares or triangles ...more
So you've bought your fist sewing pattern and unfolded it - but now there all these lines and triangles and dots! What does it all mean? Where do you cut? Here are a few hints - don't forget to iron your pattern, it really does help.
Learn from fashion designer Natalie how to pin your patterns together for sewing.
Let's face it: Who DOESN'T use a laptop these days? Whether you carry them around for work or simply like to level up faster than your friends on FrontierVille, laptops are constantly being banged up and beaten up. So cover these babies up when you're not using them! In this ...more
In this video series, our expert Terri Turco will teach you all about sewing patterns. She will teach you how to read the pattern, wheres to find them, and how to navigate them. Part 1 of 12 - How to Understand all about sewing patterns. Understand all about sewing patterns - ...more
Ever wondered how to make a tee shirt? With a little cloth, some thread, a sewing machine and some direction, it's as easy as baking a cake. If you want to start designing your own cool T-shirts with your favorite fabrics, watch and learn! In this eight-part video tutorial, y ...more
Sewing patterns are a godsend if you're a beginner at sewing who's trying to get into making clothes and accessories like scarves and bags. A pre-drawn pattern helps you learn proportions, measurements, and drafting techniques you'll need later on when you design your own clot ...more
We totally get that sewing patterns purchased at a fabric store can be intimidating. With neverending pages of sketched out designs, random numbers everywhere, and little way of orienting yourself, sewing patterns seem to complicate the sewing process rather than facilitate it ...more
This video quilting tutorial explains how to choose the feet on the sewing machine to suit the purpose of the project at hand. Different quilts are going to require different sorts of seams, but the right rotation of feet will be able to multi-task effectively. Learn how to ch ...more