Sewing

Baby cribs and cradles have been in use for centuries, but time has seen an evolution in the construction of such baby beds. According to FineWoodworking.com, the earliest cradles were hollowed...

Baskets offer wonderful ways to display and store decorative objects as well as just about anything imaginable. A lined basket makes the basket much more usable since the lining closes the holes...

Appliques are a fun way to embellish clothing and household items. Different colors and textures in the applique fabric can give the finished product a completely new look. Applique is also a...

Satin is made by weaving silk, or in some cases polyester or rayon. Satin's sheen is attributed to the quality of silk used and the quality of its weaving. The sheen is also a result of the...

Fabric flowers make wonderful embellishments for pillows, scarves, tea cloths, clothing--the possibilities are endless. Their are several types of fabric flowers to make, in fact, and with enough...

Most people are familiar with what we today call a "kilt." The garment, worn by men, looks like a skirt but is specialized to suit a male form. On a woman, a kilt is just another skirt, and fits...

As an expectant mother in the hospital for delivery, no woman wants to wear the unflattering gowns provided by the facility. Your husband might have the video camera rolling, and there will...

Transform a plain bath towel into a beautiful one by adding contrasting fabric and pretty lace. This is an excellent project both children and adults can make in a variety of themes. Make several...

Carrying logs in from outside to add to a winter's fire is an inevitable chore as the weather gets colder. A handy, easy to make canvas log carrier helps you get the job done faster by allowing...

Bath towel wraps provide a cuddly cover-up between the bathroom and the dressing area. Ordinary bath towels or bath sheets can easily be converted into shower wraps for men, women or kids. For a...

Create beautiful gifts for friends and family by sprucing up store-bought tea towels. With just a few supplies and minimal sewing skills, you can craft wonderful yo-yo trimmed tea towels that look...

You may have some old oven mitts stained from last year's Thanksgiving turkey grease. Replace them by making new ones. Sewing new oven gloves isn't complicated and has its advantages. Choose a...

While the standard shower curtain measures 72 inches square, sizes for shower curtains can vary. Making a shower curtain that is customized to fit your bathroom is actually very simple. In...

Mattress sets come in four sizes: twin, full, queen and king. Online Furniture Depot lists the standard queen size as 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. The queen possesses an average drop of...

Make a beautiful table runners that are 54 inches long to enhance any table setting. Sew runners with decorative themes for weddings, holidays, birthdays and special events. Runners are about 12...

Placing a kneeling cushion in front of your bench is a great way to protect you knees when you are kneeling for long periods of time. While you can purchase cushions from a store, you can also get...

Today's toy market has come a long way from the stuffed animals of yesteryear. According to TMA Toy Reviews & News, "Stuffed animals ... had early roots commercially in 1880 with sales of an...

You can use table skirts to hide flaws in tables or to add to the beauty of a room's decor. Some table skirts are fitted with an elastic band, while others are attached to a table covering. Some...

Fabric-covered storage bins are functional and stylish. They are perfect for holding sewing and knitting materials, reading materials or toys. They make excellent additions to a child's room when...

Window treatments provide a creative finishing touch to a room. They highlight a room's personality. You can increase a room's formal appeal with Roman shades or draperies or keep the theme casual...

Roman shades are window coverings that add a touch of sophistication to a room. They help control light and privacy and also help reduce your heating and cooling bills. Unlike curtains and...

It's easy to dress up plain draperies with decorative trims. You can purchase trims made specifically for decorating edges or you can get creative and make trims out of other materials. Adding...

With cold and flu season approaching, tissues will become essential. The beauty of thin, disposable paper tissues is that they're small, portable, and easily stored. To keep them in your purse or...

Children love Halloween because they can dress up as their favorite character or personality. Transformers have appeared in cartoons and movies, making them one of the most popular Halloween...

Old bedspreads make an excellent raw material for many craft and home decor projects. Vintage bedspreads are in high demand and are often used to create pillows, slipcovers and stuffed animals. If...

Transform a plain mailbox with a decorative fabric or vinyl cover. Whether it's themed or seasonal such as Christmas, Easter, spring or fall, create a festive cover for your own mailbox or make...

Brother International makes some of the most popular electronic sewing machines. Not only do they have standard machines, they also make machines tailored to embroidery and quilting. There are...

Using an embroidery machine is a great way to personalize your clothing and your home. Embroidered items also make great custom-made gifts. Consider embroidering monograms on a pillowcase or...

When you make a tablecloth for a 60-inch round table, you can choose the length, or "drop," and decide whether to combine two prints or use a one-piece design. It might be challenging to find...

Celebrate a holiday, season or event by sewing a festive and colorful flag to display in your garden. Design your own large or small fabric flag to hang from a pole, tree or fence. Children and...

Lingerie elastic, also called fold over elastic, is the narrow, stretchy trim that encases the edges of many styles of panties, and sometimes forms the edging and shoulder straps on tank tops. It...

A towel wrap is a cozy way to keep your kids warm and dry after a bath or shower, especially if they don't like to wear a bathrobe. These wraps make thoughtful presents if your budget is tight and...

When your child is playing and splashing in a bubble bath, it can sometimes be hard to get him out of the tub because he is having so much fun. You can now add to his fun experience by providing...

Matching a crib and changing table can be difficult if you are planning to use family heirlooms or when they are gifts from different people. Using fabric to match the crib and changing table is...

Rod-pocket curtains can be used to casually decorate windows with colorful fabric. They consist of two single lengths of fabric with a sleeve of fabric sewn into the top edge. You hang the curtain...

Sewing for your home is a great do-it-yourself project even if your sewing skills are not the best. For the price of fabric, you can create a whole new living space for every season. This is...

Slipcovers are useful for a variety of reasons, including incorporating mismatched pieces into one room. Blend hand-me down couches with store-bought chairs using slipcovers and only you will know...

Stethoscope covers are a fun way to liven up your doctor's stethoscope. He wears the stethoscope all day every day and will likely appreciate a cover to make it more fashionable. A child friendly...

Reusing plastic grocery bags is good for the environment and it's simply convenient. Some stores even offer a discount if you bring your own bags. With a few minutes and a sewing machine, a novice...

All sewing machines follow the same general outline when threading the upper tension thread. Generally, all machines have four main aspects of the upper tension. Different machine manufacturers...

Curtains with shades can be used for privacy in urban areas or they may be used to keep the sunlight out of a room. Curtains with shades also prevent people on the road from knowing whether or not...

Hot water bottles are handy household items to have around for the relief of muscle aches and pain, arthritis and headaches. Though they are known as "hot" water bottles, they can also be used as...

Whether it's a day at the beach, an afternoon at the pool, or just bath time, children love to play in the water! A hooded towel poncho is a great way for little ones to dry off and chase away the...

Hooded towel wraps are functional novelties for children. From summer fun in the sun at the pool, to bedtime baths, hooded towel wraps are a cozy way to dry off and get dressed. Many hooded towel...

A dust ruffle is a bedroom accessory that can do double duty. It not only enhances your bedroom decor, it also lets you hide storage items under the bed. Many bedroom sets now include a dust...

The bedroom is a haven of solace and peace, and decorative tablecloths provide a sense of style. Sew your own bedroom tablecloths to embellish the room without a lot of investment.

Bedspreads can help to keep you warm and complete your decor. Many times what really sets off the look of a bedroom's decor is the bed. It is a main focal point of the room. You could have a...

The Victorian era saw a period of heightened textile usage: doilies, runners, scarves and antimacassars. "Antimacassar" isn't a term that frequents our vocabulary--according to Webster's Revised...

When the temperature drops, the cost of heating your home rises. Thermal curtains are a great way to block drafts and to keep heat from escaping through the windows of your home. They can help you...

Rosettes are small, ornamental designs worn as badges or used as decorations on items such as clothing, bands and napkins. These ornaments also are used as prizes at the top of ribbons given for...