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: 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: Sew basket liners without a pattern
Check out this DIY video tutorial from Curbly, the best place to share pictures of your home, find design ideas, and get expert home-improvement advice.
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: Cut up an old t-shirt and turn it into a corset halter top
Repurpose your old T-shirts! Create a fun summer look by creating a halter top/corset style look out of an old T-shirt. All you need is a sharp pair of scissors and a few embellishements or accessories. You won't even need a sewing machine.
How To: Sew a dirndl style Austrian or German skirt
The dirndl skirt is cut straight and gathered at the waist, and is a traditional style of German or Austrian skirts. Due to the cut and the flare, it's an ideal skirt for Lolita style costumes, and this tutorail shows you how to sew a dirndl without a pattern.
How To: Make a red and white ombre shirt with loose flapper fringe
The ombre fashion trend began a few seasons ago on all the biggest fashion runways, from Alexander Wang to Michael Kors. And the fun, colorful trend is still going strong. Ombre simply describes the fading of one color to another, from high saturation to (usually) white or another lighter color.
How To: Make furry gloves for a fursuit
If you want to go furry, don't want to spend the money on a professionally-made fursuit, and have some sewing skills, you've come to the right place. This video will help you get your costume started by showing you how to make a pair of fursuit gloves yourself. They are durable, easy to move around in, and super cute.
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: Tie a triskelion knot
In this video, we learn how to tie a triskelion knot. First, create the knots base by tying a knot at the end of the ropes. After this, weave the knot by pushing a side loop into the side loop next to the end pieces. Once you push these through the middle, push the ends through the loops and then pull the sides tight until you have a "y" shape. After this, your knot will be finished and you can use this however you would like. You can turn it around the see the best design on the rope and enjoy!
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: Tie a Padlock style decorative Knot
In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to tie a Padlock style decorative knot. Padlock knot is a clever way to achieve the look and function of a padlock without having to bother about the key. Take a piece of rope, bend it in the center and make two loops on either side of the rope. Ensure the working end is over the rope in the left side loop and under the rope in the right side loop. Now overlap both the loops so that the left side loop is over the other loop. Now pass the...
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: 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: 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: 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: Dye your clothes red or pink with dye made from strawberries
Make your own environmentally friendly dye at home, out of strawberries! You'll also need some vinegar, salt and old nylon stockings. Mash up your strawberries, strain them in the nylon and then boil your strawberry puree with salt, vinegar and your fabric.
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: 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: Sew a Victorian skirt
This video demonstrates how to sew a Victorian skirt. First take a cotton cloth and cut a rectangle piece twice the size of your waist. The length would be depending on your choice of height you require. Hem the top and the bottom of the cloth. Then use elastic thread to create 12 rows of shirring. Each row can be 1/4th inch apart. This is for sure a tedious task but it will look beautiful. Then take a chiffon cloth and cut the same size as your skirt. Hem one side of it and on the other side...
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 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: Quickly hem the edge for any garment without a sewing machine
So you don't have a sewing machine, but your favorite pair of jeans or shirt has a hem that is coming undone. You can use a liquid fabric glue, like Perky Bond, Stitch Witch or Steam A Seam, to quickly fix any hem.
How To: Turn your old jeans into a rag rug
Collect all your old and worn jeans, then cut off the hems, cuffs and seams. Sew them all together onto a piece of backing fabric, and you have your own floor mat or rag rug. A great way to recycle old clothes.
How To: Create your own leopard print dyed shirt
Leopard print is one of the newest trends, and you can easily create your own leopard print style garment at home. All you need is a basic white T-shirt (or whatever you want to dye), the dye itself and a few other accessories.
How To: Make a Basic Skirt Pattern
Written instructions on how to draft a basic skirt pattern with accompanying video. Take your correct measurements before you begin.
How To: Weave a traditional Danish heart basket for Christmas
This is an easy and fun craft you can use for just about any gift, and can be made with any fabric and to any size. Just start with two pieces of cut fabric, and follow along with this tutorial to end with a traditional Danish heart basket!
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: Thread a Singer Finishing Touch serger sewing machine with differential feed
Sewing with a serger sewing machine can be quite difficult, if you're lucky enough to own one. Even threading the beastly sewing machine can be pretty tricky. But this two-part video tutorial should help you to properly thread one. This covers the threading of a Singer Differential-Feed Finishing Touch serger sewing machine (14SH654), which has 4/3 thread capability. Singer also has a PDF available with detailed threading instructions.
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...
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: Tie a Paracord Snake Knot
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie a paracord snake knot. Start out with a double overhand knot, by making a loop with two strings and tying it through. After this, start the snake knot by taking the left piece of string and wrapping it around into a loop. Then, take the other piece of string and place it inside the loop, then pull it to the left and wrap it around the other string, then push it through the loop. Continue to do the snake knot until you reach the bottom, then finish it off ...
How To: Thread a cord lock
In this tutorial, we learn how to thread a cord lock. First, tilt the cord lock up and find the two different wheels on the inside of it. Now, push your lift cord up through the two wheels that are on the inside of the lock. After this, pull the thread up through the top and then slide the thread through the smaller hole on the lock. Now, you will repeat this again for another piece of string, but thread it through the larger hole once you reach the top. After this, thread another cord throug...
How To: Tie a decorative Door Knocker knot
This video tutorial is in the Arts & Crafts category which will show you how to tie a decorative Door Knocker knot. Take a piece of rope and make a loop at the center with the left hand end of the rope over the right hand end. Now pass the right end above and through the loop to make a half knot. Twist the loop to make a figure of eight, pass the right hand end through the lower loop of the "8" and back through the upper loop. Repeat this once again. Now repeat these steps with the left hand ...
How To: Sew a cute fleece beret for winter
Berets are as much of a staple as thick wool trenchcoats during the winter: they're soft, cozy, and look great no matter what you wear with them. And throwing one on your noggin' instantly injects you with a bit of French flavor.
How To: Make a hair bonnet or night cap
Nightcaps are something that will never get old and have been around for years and years. Originally, nightcaps were invented around the Middle Ages and were used as a way to help prevent head lice. As the years passed by they became more useful in other ways, especially when it came to keeping ones head warm. For women, they were also used to keep not only their head warm, but also to protect the hair from any kind of damage. This video tutorial will show you ladies how to make a hair bonnet...
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: Tie a single-strand Ringbolt hitch knot
In this video, JD, from Tying It All Together, demonstrates how to tie a knot known as a "Ringbolt Hitch". This is also known as "coxcombing". This type of knot was once a common tie used by sailors to dress-up items and parts of their ships. When tying a wheel, a "Turk's Head" knot was used to cover the part of the wheel where the two ends of the ring bolt met, which would firm up the hitch, and help to keep the tied ends from unraveling. It is a nautical tradition to use this type of knot t...
How To: Turn old jeans into a skirt
Summer is just around the corner and those jeans that seemed perfect for winter aren't looking so hot. Put those jeans to use, and make your very own jean skirt. Grab a pair of scissors and a sewing machine and get started.
How To: Get a loose drawstring back into clothing
If you're drawstring fell out, it may seem like the end of the world, but take a deep breath -- it's possible to put back in!