Hot Sewing & Embroidery Posts

How To: Machine embroider a cherry rug

Design, prepare and embroider any image onto fabric using a sewing machine with this video on how to embroider a cheery rug.

How To: Sew stitched stationary

This ReadyMade video shows you how to make your own creative stitched stationary by sewing paper together for a variety of uses. All you need is a sewing machine (or needle and thread) and paper.

How To: Dart a t-shirt

Got a t-shirt that doesn't quite fit? Darting could be a great way to fix it. The guys at ThreadBanger teach you how to dart your clothing for a better fit.

How To: Make baby bibs

Crafter Dawn Huntington shows how to make felted baby bibs. Materials needed are 8 1/2-by-14-inch sheet of freezer paper, felt, ink-jet printer, small binder clips, snaps and a templet which can be obtained from the article part of this video. Make baby bibs.

How To: Make felted baby booties

Crafter Dawn Huntington shows how to make felted baby booties. You will need felt, fusible webbing tape, iron, needle and thread

How To: Make a teacup pincushion

Crafter Betz White shows Martha Stewart how to make felted tea pin cushions. Materials needed for this project are a wool sweater, pins, scissors, needle, thread, fabric glue,

How To: Apply appliqué templates

In Part I, Kirsten showed you how to create templates for your applique. In this video, Part II, we'll show you how to use these templates, along with a heat-fusible sheet, to pre-cut and easily apply our applique fabric. Our apron project is completed in this video!

How To: Alter your own clothes

This week, the thread heads teach us how to take-in/alter our own clothing. This is totally useful, and not nearly as complicated as it looks. Who needs tailors?

How To: Hem jeans

If you want to wear the flat shoes that are in style now, you will probably need to hem your jeans. with this tutorial you can do it yourself. The tutorial uses a sewing machine, but if you don't own one you can hand sew them.

How To: Thread a sewing machine

This video shows in great detail how to thread a sewing machine. If you learn to thread one sewing machine you can thread any machine. Learning to thread a machine is one of the most common problems.

How To: Prepare fabric for an applique

This is a demonstration showing how to prepare fabric for an applique. If your fabric is not prepared properly your applique will not attach properly.

How To: Create an embroidered reversible watchband

Watch as Kirsten uses ribbon to create a reversible design wrist watch. She cuts the ribbon and uses a sewing machine to stitch the design together, finally gluing buttons to the end of the the sewn ribbon with designs stitched to each side. Create an embroidered reversible watchband.

How To: Apply embroidery to your candle

Kirsten shows us how to add embroidery to a candle for a ornamental look. easy to use water-soluble stabilizer to add embroidery to a variety of surfaces including candles. Apply embroidery to your candle.

How To: Embroider with a cross-stitch

Watch Kirsten as she shows you how to cross-stitch a clock face using the best technique for forming a picture with a embroidery machine, or even hand stitching. This demonstration is a perfect example using two birds sitting on flowers. Embroider with a cross-stitch.

How To: Plan a layout for sewing

Want to save time by avoiding making mistakes when planning a project layout? Kirsten demonstrates planning with a beach bag. Group all of your ideas and materials for the project, where you will get a better idea of preparation. Than use a paper template to overlap your project for making measurements, finally you will make small measurements on your project before hooping. Plan a layout for sewing.

How To: Add embroidery to straps

Ever wanted to add embroidery to your straps? Kirsten demonstrates the easy steps involved. Precise detail is needed to sew the design to the straps so hooping will be necessary. Add embroidery to straps.

How To: Apply the tucked reverse appliqué technique

Similar to the reverse fringe appliqué , Kirsten goes through each step of the tucked appliqué technique for smooth edges on your project. A key detail includes keeping a balance between cutting your edges for enough tucked material for your stitching and cutting enough material for a smooth finish. Apply the tucked reverse appliqué technique.

How To: Embroider a pocket topper

Use this popular technique on aprons and more, pocket toppers have been apart of embroidery for years. The most important detail contains hooping the template for precise placement, a leaning design may be desired for some projects. Embroider a pocket topper.

How To: Apply fringe appliqué

Give a personalized look to your clothes. Watch Kirsten as she demonstrates the steps to a fringe appliqué technique. The key to a fringe appliqué is leaving a margin of the material after cutting for a fringe style project. Apply fringe appliqué.

How To: Make a sunflower pin cushion

Kirsten demonstrates adding a unique touch to a pincushion by transforming a dimensional flower decoration to an area for resting pins, needles and more. She stitches in a flower to a pin cushion as well as constructing the pin cushion itself. You are instructed to use a sewing machine. Make a sunflower pin cushion.

How To: Sew a yoga mat carrier

Watch as Sarah from Pink of Perfection demonstrates how to carry your yoga mat in style with this easy to make, budget friendly bag.

How To: Make book covers and bookmarks

In this series of diy home crafts videos, our gift expert and fellow avid reader Karen Weisman gives us a few ideas for returning the affection of our fine paper friends. Coddle them with presents that show our appreciation! Make a new fabric cover for one of your favorites and thereby enhance the time you spend together. Make a beautiful custom bookmark and you two can take up right where you left off on your last visit, avoiding those awkward moments prefaced by, “I don’t know if I’ve alrea...

How To: Make a coat for a dog

Jennifer Jones has over 20 years of experience in sewing and alterations. This is a series of videos showing you how to sew a coat for a dog.

How To: Mend and hem clothes

In this video series, watch as expert seamstress Karen Weisman teaches how to mend, patch, and hem clothes. Learn how to replace a button, how to thread a needle, how to use a sewing machine to fix buttons, how to remove old buttons from clothing, how to use a hand sewn blind stitch to mend rips in clothing, how to use a machine sewn satin stitch to fix holes in clothes, how to hem pants, how to use a cuffed hem on pants, how to hem pants with a straight stitch, how to hem skirts, and how to ...

How To: Make a stuffed animal

Everybody loves stuffed animals! In this video series you'll learn how to design and sew a stuffed animal. A great gift for kids, or even a good project for older kids.

How To: Sew a decorative pillow

In this video series, Carolyn Saylors is going to show you a quick and easy way to make a simple pillow. In the first video she's going to show you some of the things that you need: fabric, thread, ruler, scissors and also an old newspaper, marker, pen, crayon and the stuffing, and of course a sewing machine.

How To: Sew a tote bag and make-up case

In this video series you're going to get started on making a fabulous tote bag with a matching make-up case.

How To: Make custom machine embroidery designs

Anne Beckett is going to take you through this 15 part series on how to set up a custom embroidery design on a machine embroiderer. In this first part she'll cover how to tell if your design is good for the embroiderer.