Sewing

If you love penguins, or you're looking for a gift for someone who's penguin-obsessed, you can make a simple stuffed penguin. These little stuffed birds are easy enough for a beginning sewer to...

Bias tape is made from fabric cut on the bias or a 45 degree angle from the grain. The bias has more stretch in the fabric; it can go around curved areas smoothly. Bias tape is often used around...

Quilted sweatshirt jackets are nice and warm. They are comfy for wearing around the house or out and about on a cool day when you do not want to wear a heavy coat. You can make your own quilted...

Many times, the weather isn't cold enough to wear a coat, but it's also too cold to go out without something to keep you warm. For those in between days, a fleece sweatshirt is the perfect...

A new bride, homeowner or hostess always welcomes the gift of a tea towel for its collectibility and utility. A decorative tea towel adds a personal touch to the kitchen or or can act as a...

Tablecloths are the perfect way to dress up any table setting. Unfortunately, they are often expensive. Plus, it can be hard to find the right size tablecloth for your table. However, with the...

Use a sewing machine to hem pants as a quick alternative to the tedious task of hand-stitching a hem. While making small, nearly invisible stitches by hand offers the best results in hemming dress...

Whether you are making a cover for a pillow or purchasing one, it is important to know the exact dimensions of your pillow form before you proceed with covering it. Do not assume that the...

The blanket stitch is an easy-to-learn finishing stitch used for the edges of blankets, quilts, dinner napkins, tea towels and baby clothes. It is also popular for applying appliques to other...

A life size doll doesn't have to be challenging. All dolls have the same basic parts and construction. The key to constructing a life size doll is the size of the pattern you will use. The most...

Sew quilted fabric wall hangings for the Christmas holiday with small pieces of colored, printed and textured fabrics, ribbons, trims and embellishments. Children and adults can make different...

A comforter is a bed covering filled with batting and quilted to hold the batting in place. You can quilt it by hand or machine or tie it by hand. A quicker option is to use pre-quilted fabric....

Sewing stencils offer a wonderful way to add beauty and elegance to your quilting without too much extra work. Sewing stencils come in a variety of designs ranging from curved lines to intricate...

Old pillow cases are a favorite collectible at flea markets and antique shops. They give a crafter many possibilities for creating something new from something old. Old pillowcases can be...

You can use yo-yos, long a part of American folk art, in a variety of household and apparel projects. Yo-yo creations include pillow covers, place mats, quilts, various animals and dolls. The...

Attaching binding to a blanket intimidates some beginning sewers. Too many unfinished blanket projects sit in a closet because a sewer lacked the know-how to attach the binding. Creating a...

There are trademarked brands, such as Polarfleece®, but in day-to-day use "polar fleece" refers to a wide variety of microfiber, microfleece or fleece fabrics made from polyethylene...

When it's time for a little girl to look her best, nothing can compare to a pretty dress. Because comfortable play clothes consisting of tops and pants are the norm for most days, that is what...

Sew a beautiful mantel scarf and add a touch of class to the holidays or to your everyday decorating by just changing the color and fabric choices. An assortment of tassels, buttons, charms and...

Most normal spools of thread have about 25 yards of thread on them. The large, cone-shaped spools that are used with sergers usually have 3,000 yards of thread. If you have a common color that...

Purse frames allow you to create structured handbags in a variety of styles and shapes. How you attach fabric to purse frames depends on the specifics of your frame. Frames may be glued into...

There are two types of square pillows: knife edge and box edge. The edges of the knife-edge pillow meet in a point, while the sides of the box-edge pillow resemble the shape of the box with extra...

Curtains add to and complete the look of the room they hang in. In the winter time it's nice to have thick, lined curtains. They help to hold heat in and keep cold air out. If your favorite...

A hammock chair offers an extremely comfortably seat because the cord or rope that makes up the sitting area forms to your body when you sit down. Although this chair appears to have an elaborate...

The one thing on a sewing machine that needs the most repair work is the belt. The sewing machine belt is a piece of rubber that makes the wheel turn and the needle go up and down in a sewing...

Moleskin and suede cloth are synthetic fabrics that mimic the soft, velvety texture of leather suede, but are much easier to care for. You can wash and dry moleskin and suede cloth and they don't...

A dress form, or mannequin shaped like your body, can allow you to expand your sewing options, improve the fit of garments, and even offer opportunities to experiment with pattern drafting and...

Oil cloth was fabric folks used for protecting things from getting wet, back before plastic became plentiful and cheap. It was originally made into slickers and headgear for sailors, and developed...

Sergers make the sturdy binding stitch known as the overlock stitch that is found on the seams of store-bought garments. Many home sewers use sergers in conjunction with their sewing machines.

Fusible bias tape makes it easy to create intricate designs on your sewing crafts without cutting, planning and pinning the fabric down. You simply iron the bias tape to your fabric and finish it...

The basic, simple lines of a sheath dress never go out of style. This classic style can be casual or dressy, depending on the fabric used. A nice sheath dress is lined. If yours isn't lined, it...

Buying an old singer sewing machine at a garage sale can be a great find. Your great-grandmother's singer that has been sitting in your attic can be put to use. Antique sewing machines can be...

Recovering a piece of furniture is a great way to update the look of a room for very little money and effort. With different upholstery or slipcover, furniture can look brand new, even if it is...

Warm and cozy snuggle blankets are typically made of microfleece, polar fleece or a similar soft and fuzzy fabric. The snuggle blanket is a blanket with sleeves, or a simple oversized bathrobe...

Chair covers are a great way to freshen up a living space, especially for those on a budget. Why buy new chairs or pay to have them reupholstered when, using nothing more than fabric, you can...

Screen embroidery sewing appears in haute couture runway collections, ready-to-wear clothes and active wear. The introduction of decorative embroidery stitches such as the jute stitch, whip stitch...

A blind-stitch hem worked on the sewing machine is an excellent alternative to the classic hand-sewn hem. Use a blind-stitch hemmer to quickly create a neat, nearly invisible hem in skirts,...

Fabric-covered corded trim can add interest and a professional finish to a slipcover, throw pillow, upholstery project or even a large tote bag. Making your own fabric-covered cording can allow...

Winter is the perfect time of year for snuggling under a warm blanket by the fire, and fleece blankets are fast and easy to make. Thanks to the wide range of fabric patterns available, you can...

Playful and whimsical stuffies, or small handmade stuffed toys, are becoming a trendy item to decorate the home and add personality to the office. Birds of all sorts are an excellent choice for a...

Kids old enough to sit attentively in a school classroom can enjoy a sewing lesson that helps them learn a craft to treasure throughout life. Instead of putting kids in front of a book to read...

Making a cloth banner for a sporting event, craft booth or school assignment is an easy project. Use iron-on letters to ensure uniform lettering and permanent placement. Sew the cloth banner on a...

Onesie dresses are easy to make and allow you to recycle a Onesie that has grown too short but otherwise fits well. Onesies are relatively inexpensive baby items that can be purchased three or...

Doll making is a hobby that has survived the centuries. Making dolls for fun and profit is simple when you include elements you enjoy as well as components desired by doll seekers. In many cases,...

Many bridal fabrics are heavily and beautifully beaded. Sewing articles created from beaded fabric can result in magnificent creations, but the actual sewing can be difficult, if not downright...

Give your windows a tailored look with pinch pleat curtains. They can be lined or unlined. If you have windows that face the street or are too close to a neighbor's house, consider making lined...

Bias tape is not tape. It is fabric cut into strips along the bias grain of the material. That is a straight line drawn at 45 degree angle from the edges of the fabric. Bias tape can be ribbon,...

Using hair scrunchies makes it easy and fast to pull hair back and get it out of the way of your face. Use these while you are cleaning the house or working out in the gym, shopping or even...