How To: Sew quickly by hand without using a sewing machine
Sewing by hand can actually go quite quickly if you don't have access to your sewing machine or if it's broken. Hand sewing can also be useful if you're working with especially delicate fabrics, attaching an applique or making a small repair.
How To: Draft a Basic Bodice Pattern
Unlock the secret to clothing design. If you can draft and sew a basic bodice you can design virtually any kind of t-shirt, blouse or other top! Attach a skirt and you now have a dress! Take your measurements by using the guide in the " How to Take Your Measurements" section and let´s get started! If you would rather just whip up an easier beginners t-shirt go to How to Design a Quick T-Shirt.
How To: Sew you own pair of easy, Victorian style bloomers
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!
How To: Draft a Sleeve Pattern
A well designed sleeve is very important to creating a top or jacket that fits comfortably. Get your correct measurements before you begin. Please view the following step-by-step instructions and accompanying video and diagram to create the basic sleeve.
How To: Tie a Japanese bow knot
If you're looking to tie something that is elegant and beautiful, then this next tutorial has something for you. This video is going to show you step-by-step on how to tie a Japanese bow knot.
How To: Sew a box pleated skirt for a flared Lolita style skirt
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!
How To: Draft a Basic Pant Pattern
Written Instructions with accompanying video for anyone who wants to make a basic pant exactly to your measurements! Please get your correct measurements before you begin from How to Take Your Measurements.
How To: Maintain your sewing machine after it's been in storage or unused for awhile
Whether you have a Singer sewing machine, a Janome or a Brother, this video is good advice. If your sewing machine has been sitting in storage or has been unused for a long time, you'll need to do a little bit of maintenance before you start it up again.
How To: Take Your Measurements
These measurments should be taken and recorded before drawing up you clothing design pattern. Wear the bra and panties you will be wearing with the final garment. Another option, especially if you are going to be selling a series of the garments, is to follow a size chart. While sizing is not very standardized in the clothing industry, I like the charts on the Burdastyle website which are in both inches and centimeters. When measuring, the tape measure should be neither too tight nor too loos...
How To: Make a Military Bugle Cord Decorative Knot
Bugle cords are used as elaborate ornamental leashes on bugles and trumpets, but they are also used as snazzy ornamentation, called aiguillettes (a type of fourragère), on uniforms worn by certain members of the military. While you could buy one pre-made, you could also make one yourself. But this should not be confused with the infantry blue cord of the U.S. Army, which is another type of fourragère only with more elaborate knotting.
News: Whaddya Know? An Old Tie Makes the Perfect Thong
There's something undeniably naughty about upcycling your boyfriend's old tie into a thong. Japanese site Panty Hanty offers a library of free sewing patterns in the art of underwear-making.
How To: Use the Omni Stitch machine
This video shows you some of the things you can do with an Omni Stitch machine.We also show you how to attach the feeder.
How To: Make Homemade Microwaveable Foot Warmers
Well, Ol' Man Winter is upon us yet again, blasting us with his icy breath. When I was a kid, I loved wintertime because it meant the prospect of sledding, snowball fights & missed school days in which to enjoy both. Now that I'm 45, however, my attitude toward the season has taken a complete 180-degree turn: I find myself dreading it because of the likelihood of being snowed-in for days on end, and the certainty of being forced to endure the frigid temperatures.
How To: Tie off when sewing by hand
In this video, we learn how to tie off when sewing by hand. First you want to sew your fabric and complete your desired project. Next, you will push the needle into the bottom of the fabric where you won't be able to see the tie off from the front. Now, loop the thread and push the needle with thread through it, before you finish, push the needle through one more loop. Now, pull tightly until there is a tight knot at the bottom of the thread. Now, take your scissors and cut tightly next to th...
How To: Hem a sleeve
In this video, we learn how to hem a sleeve. First, turn your shirt inside out, then lay it flat. After this, grab the sleeve and fold it over to where you want it hemmed to. Next, place pins in the spots where you want your shirt hemmed, then go over the area with an iron. Next, go to your sewing machine and slip the sleeve around the platform arm. You will have to take the outer base off the machine to do this. Now, lower your needle and sew in the spots where the pins are, removing them as...
How To: Create a chic tatter skirt from fabric scraps
Just because your skirt is in tatters doesn't mean you look like a homeless hobo. In fact, when the tatters that comprise your skirt come from old but beautiful fabrics (instead of, well, just old and overused fabrics), you'll look both chic and money smart.
How To: Make a skirt out of shorts
Clothing alterations, patches, inserts, and skirts! Learn how to turn shorts into a skirt in this free sewing video.
How To: Thread a vintage Kenmore sewing machine
Using a sewing machine entails knowing how to thread it properly. This sewing how-to video demonstrates how to insert thread on a vintage Kenmore sewing machine. Follow the user's instruction below to properly thread your sewing machine.
How To: Make a Doo Rag Pattern
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.
How To: Make a Macrame Belt
This is a trouser belt, but can also be applied as a bag strap, maybe used as a camera strap, etc. To make a macrame belt, measure the cords to your desired length. Tie using square knots.
How To: Turn an old dress into a fashionable romper
Some dresses we just never get around to wearing. Like that hideous one our mom gave us with a decent tropical print but hemlines that go down to our ankles. Cute...if you live in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. We're sure you probably have an ever accumulating stash of similar dresses that you know you'll never wear but don't want to toss either.
How To: Wrap embroidery thread around a bobbin
In this how-to video, you will learn how to wrap embroidery thread around a bobbin. In this example, the embroidery thread is both purple and light purple, but you can choose whatever you want. First, take the end of the embroidery thread and place it through one of the slots. Hold it back, and then wrap the embroidery thread around the bobbin until you get near the end of the thread. The end should be placed in a different slot on the bobbin. By viewing this video, you will learn how to quic...
How To: Iron on patches for torn clothing
Is you favorite pair of jeans suffering from a hole in the knee? No problem. Extend the life of your clothing by using patches to cover worn or torn areas, or to embellish tired items and give them a fresh new look.
How To: Use a sewing machine properly
Even if you never took home ec, you can create simple projects by learning the basics of sewing machine use.
How To: Insert a bobbin into the feed dog on a Kenmore machine
Using a sewing machine entails knowing how to insert a bobbin properly. This sewing how-to video demonstrates how to insert the bobbin into the feed dog of a vintage Kenmore sewing machine. The bobbin in the feed dog part of the sewing machine makes up the bottom of the thread needed for sewing.
How To: Make Tabi socks
In this video, we learn how to make Tabi socks. You will need: pair of socks, thread, a needle, and scissors. First, you will turn the right sock inside out and put on your foot. Then, you will spread your big toe and second toe out as much as possible. From here, you will use a pencil to mark on the foot where you want to cut. Then, take the sock off and cut it out where you marked it. Take the needle and thread and sew along the shape that you cut out, to create separation between the toes....
How To: Tie the Basket Weave decorative knot
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie the Basket Weave decorative knot. First, hook your string to a hook, then tie a loop that is wide. After this, bring the strings to the top and make a heart shape. Now, twist the two loops on the side and twist them around each other. Now, bring the right string through the right loop and up through the left. Do this for the left string except using the opposite loops. When you are finished, pull on this tightly and release the string from the hook. Make ...
How To: Make a vintage style fascinator hat with a veil
For those of you not familiar with fascinator hats, they are vintage-style caps with feathers, small veils, and other little knick knacks attached on the sides that were often worn by fashionable women in the '40s and '50s.
How To: Sew an all in one elastic into a cloth diaper
This video is a demonstration of how to sew elastic into an All In One (AIO) cloth diaper. The same method can be used to sew fitted diapers. Watch this video sewing tutorial and learn how to sew an elastic into an all in one or fitted cloth diaper. Start saving the environment, one unused diaper at a time.
How To: Make a ball gown out of trash bags and newspapers
The newest trend in couture? It's called 'trashion' - high fashion using trashy things. And we mean trashy! This tutorial shows you how to make a ball gown using trash bags, duct tape and newspapers. You'll also want a dressmaker's dummy to construct your dress around - or at least a model who's okay with standing still for a long period of time. Use the trash bags to form the dress, and then attack the newspapers over it layer by layer. You're ready for your debut!
How To: Make a Voodoo Pincushion Doll for Valentine's Day Angst
Searching for a Valentine's Day gift? Great. That means you have someone to share V-Day with this coming Monday. And you want to get the best gift to show your love. But c'mon—no matter what you get, it's probably enough to woo your lover over, even if it's as simple as a battery and magnet.
How To: Disassemble your home sewing machine for routine maintenance
Many sewing machine repairs can be made at home, and most repairs can be completely avoided through routine sewing machine maintenance. This tutorial shows you how to carefully disassemble your machine to give it a round of maintenance. You will need a screwdriver - make sure not to lose any of the screws!
How To: Maintain the feed dog area on your own sewing machine
Save money by performing your own sewing machine maintenance! While there are differences between a Singer sewing machine, a Brother model or a Janome machine, there are many similarities. This video shows you how to maintain and clean the feed dog area on your sewing machine.
How To: Undo the hem on a pre-made skirt
This tutorial focuses on skirts, but you can use this process to undo the hem on any garment. You can sometimes cut off the hem, but if you want to make a much smaller alteration, here's how you can undo the hem entirely.
How To: Embroider a stretchy or knit fabric
The problem with stretchy fabrics is that stretching it out in am embroidery hoop will distort the look of the finished project. This tip shows you how to prepare your fabric by using a non stretchy stabilizer, which you can buy at any fabric store.
How To: Craft an awesome "Tron Legacy" laptop bag with EL wire
Are you a "Tron" fanatic? Then this laptop case will blow your mind. Styled after the streamlined, glow-in-the-dark "Tron" cinematography, this laptop bag looks like a "Tron" suit and will shine even at night.
How To: Sew Madonna-inspired easy lace fingerless gloves
Have you ever been in a Madonna mood but didn't have the guts to rock full-on padded shoulders and leather glovelets? Then these lace fingerless gloves are the perfect balance between '80s cheekiness and wearability.
How To: Create a black off the shoulder batwing top in less than five minutes
Dressing up like Batman is way not cool. But dressing up in a Batman-inspired batwing sleeve top? Totally hot. Check out this fashion DIY tutorial to learn how to create an easy batwing top that's easy and breezy for fall.
How To: Glue straight and curved latex seams
In this tutorial, we learn how to glue straight and curved latex seams. First, press each piece of latex down so it's just touching in the middle. After this, use your finger to press down on the middle, then take a roller and roll over the middle until it's perfectly straight. Now, stretch out the latex to make sure that both sides are stuck together. To glue curved latex seams, place the pieces together slowly, pushing your finger down in the center as you go to make a curved effect. Once y...
How To: Make cloth flowers
In this tutorial, we learn how to make cloth flowers. Start out by grabbing several different strips of fabric and folding it into a shape that makes a flower. After you do this, place a needle into the fabric so it doesn't come unraveled. After this, start to twist the fabric and then thread the needle through the strip. Now, pull the fabric up and it will scrunch up into a flower shape. Now, wrap this around a stick with a piece of fabric on it, that will become the middle of the flower. Wh...