Hot Sewing & Embroidery Posts
How To: Cut a button hole and insert a button footer
An important part of sewing involves knowing how to make button holes. This sewing how-to video demonstrates how to cut a button hole and insert a button footer on a vintage Kenmore sewing machine. Watch and learn how easy it is use a Kenmore sewing machine to make button holes.
How To: Create a simple off the shoulder top by cutting off a t-shirt collar
Most people think that you have to be a whiz with the needle and thread as well as proficient on the sewing machine in order to make or tailor your own clothing. But the truth is that for easy modifications, like turning an old t-shirt into a modified, chic top, all you need is a pair of scissors and perhaps a stitch or two.
How To: Embroider a keychain as an easy gift
Fun, creative, and functional, these embroidered keychains are a snap to sew and make fast, easy gifts
How To: Use sewing patterns for beginners with Whitney Sews
We totally get that sewing patterns purchased at a fabric store can be intimidating. With neverending pages of sketched out designs, random numbers everywhere, and little way of orienting yourself, sewing patterns seem to complicate the sewing process rather than facilitate it.
How To: Pleat a swag curtain
Swag curtains add great decorative touches to a bear window or room. Watch this sewing how-to video to learn how to pleat your swag curtain so that it hangs on your window beautifully. Once you learn how easy it is to pleat swag curtains you will be creating window treatments for every room in your house.
How To: Transform ankle boots into sexy thigh-high footwear with Gianny L
Don't want to spend all of that money on a pair of thigh highs? The answer lies in the exact opposite… low ankle boots. Using your low ankle boots, you can maniple your way to thigh high boots. See how to sexy thigh high boots in this video from GiannyL.
How To: Cut tulle or a similar fabric easily
Tulle is often used to make tutus, but the nature of it's composition might make it hard to cut cleanly. This is a very quick video tutorial showing you a few useful tips on the most efficient way to cut tulle fabric.
How To: Tie a Kinky Lover's knot
To make a Kinky Lover's knot, first hang or keep the tag on something. Then take the first end. Tie it by keeping a loop. Then take the second end and pass it through the loop by leaving a loop. Then take the second end, which was taken earlier , through the loop made by the first end. Then pass the second end through the loop, which was made by the second end. The knot is ready! All we have to do now is to tighten the knot by pulling the two ends. Make it beautiful by arranging the tag clearly.
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: Thread a Singer sewing machine
Learn how to thread a Singer sewing machine. Most of the classic mechanical machines by Singer thread almost exactly the same way.
How To: Sew a classic high waisted skirt without a pattern
This skirt will take only about an hour to make. You don't need a pattern, just your measurements! Pick a fabric that has only a little bit of stretch, and then follow this tutorial for your own high waisted skirt.
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: Draft a free pattern for a custom sewn shirt
Drafting your own patterns isn't difficult - and it's a great way to get not only a free pattern, but to make sure that your pattern is custom fit to your own measurements. This video shows you how to draft a basic shirt pattern from scratch.
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: Make a Bed for Your Pet Out of an Old Blanket
Hello! Today I would like to write a few lines about making a simple bed for your pet, for example, your cat or a bunny, using your old fabric. All interested can stir up a bit in the closet. I am sure there's an old towel or a blanket just waiting to be reused. Or some old clothes, made out of fleece, etc...
How To: Tie a decorative Diamond knot
"How to Tie a Decorative Diamond Knot: Tying It All Together" explains how to tie a decorative diamond knot. The diamond knot is a decorative cylindrical knot, which is also known as the lanyard knot and the knife lanyard knot. Make a loop with one end of the string, and fold the other end parallel in the center of the loop. Feed the end of the right string over the left string and pull down. Fold the right string over and feed through the left side of the loop. Pull a second loop behind the ...
How To: Tie paracord knot balls
Have more paracord than you know what to do with? If so, and if you're interested in storing it in a creative, esthetically-pleasing fashion (that is completely without any sort of material utility) then the paracord knot balls outlined in this video are for you! Tie some with this free video lesson.
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: Dye fabric items with coffee or tea
We've all heard of dying paper with tea dye for an aged, vintage effect. But did you know you could use tea (and coffee) to dye other things as well, including T-shirts and yarn?
How To: Embellish your clothes and accessories with buttons
Minimalist accessories are quite in right now, with interest being added by textures, cuts, and sleek designs. But sometimes a girl just wants to have fun with her clothing and accessories! In this episode of "Whitney Sews," Whitney will teach you how she embelishes wallets and other goodies with tiny buttons.
How To: Sew a perfect jet pocket on a jacket or dress
A welted pocket (also called a jetted pocket or piped pocket) is a pocket where it appears just to be a thin slit in the fabric of the garment. Ideal for when you are making something you want to have pockets, but don't want to necessarily draw much attention to them - such as tailored suit jackets or streamlined dresses. All you need to learn this technique are some basic sewing notions (scissors, pins, etc) and either bias tape or the ability to cut your own bias tape from your fashion fabric.
How To: Sew a frilly hair scrunchie
While scrunchies might not be that common a hair accessory anymore, you can make one of your own by following the steps in this how-to video. You will need two satin fabric pieces of 50cm, a sewing machine, sewing thread, a pair of scissors, marking pins, as well as brown and black satin fabrics. It's so easy to make, even a cat can do it. Check out this video sewing tutorial and learn how to make a frilly hair scrunchie.
How To: Craft a beautiful empire waist multi-wrap dress with Gianny L
Convertible dresses are the best, especially when you like the color and general form of a dress but you'd like to give it new life by enhancing your waist rather than your bust line, for instance.
How To: Sew an empire waist summer dress
Empire waists go all the way back to Napoleon and the Regency period, when women thought it becoming to wear classically inspired, almost Grecian goddess-like gowns. They'd pin their curly locks up into coy yet alluring buns to complete the look.
How To: Make elegant, hand-sewn fabric flowers out of lace scraps
Add an elegant touch to your next crafting project! You can turn scraps of lace fabric, cut into circles, into beautiful little flowers. Fold your circles into small wedges, sew them together at the base and then attach them to a string necklace or your favorite piece of clothing!
How To: Tie the Spinal Sinnet decorative knot
To tie the spinal sinnet, take the thread folded from left to right and hold it at the cross. Now insert the right thread in to the hole and pull the left thread to make it tight. Take the end of the thread and insert it and pull the thread which is close to the knot, you will get another hole. Now cross the hole and then insert the right side of the thread and pull down the thread close to the knot. Repeat the same till the end of the thread. Now the spinal sinnet is ready to use.
How To: Hand sew stitches
Hand sewing is an important skill for fashion designers to have when tailoring and customizing a garment. Learn to hand sew various stitches from a fashion designer in this free sewing video.
How To: Use couture techniques to attach buttons and buttonholes
This tutorial shows you a variety of couture techniques you can use when home sewing to attach buttons and create buttonholes. Use bound buttonholes, space your buttons and make sure that your buttons and buttonholes line up to each other.
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: Sew an anime inspired rabbit pillow
Want to know how to make the most adorable pillow in the world? Then you've stumbled upon the right tutorial. This video will guide you through how to sew together a blasphemously cute round rabbit pillow with eyes done in the anime style.
How To: Make a rattlesnake key fob
Looking for a stylish, slightly menacing way to store your keys? The "rattlesnake tie" is in actuality Clifford W. Ashley's Over-And-Under Heaving Line Knot or ABOK #541. That said, the rattlesnake tie is a whole lot easier to say and remember, so that name is used here.
How To: Do the Stem Stitch
The stem stitch is a versatile embroidery stitch. It can be used to outline or to fill an area. Learn how to do it yourself with this video from Needle 'n Thread.
How To: Do the Fishbone Stitch
As you'll see in this video tutorial (from Needle 'n Thread), the fishbone stitch is an easy embroidery stitch to use for filling in leaves (and other shapes, too). The stitch is a good stepping-stone to satin stitch, as it requires you to keep a neat edge on the outside of your design.
How To: Create a Halloween flapper costume from an old t-shirt
Halloween is such a fun time of year. Whether you're dressed up as a classic hook-nosed witch, slutty Playboy bunny, or Jessica Rabbit, the spooky holiday allows you to indulge in your wildest fantasies and look hot while you're at it.
How To: Make a key fob from scratch
If you need to add some decoration to your keys, a key fob is the way to go. Key fobs are decorative items that many people carry with their keys. There are many different ways to go when creating a key fob, but one of the best ways is to make your own using fabric from the store.
How To: Embroider mini wine bottle aprons for party favors
Add a dash of creativity and a pinch of color to your kitchen with embroidered bottle aprons. Dress up soaps, syrups, oil, and wine bottles with a bit of embroidery frill and fun. These mini aprons will definitely be the talk of the party! Watch this instructional video and start embroidering right now.
How To: Sew a tailored jacket with OTIS College of Art&Design
Some trends come and go, but true style is timeless - just look at Coco Chanel, whose menswear two piece suits and quilted bags are just as beautiful today as when she wore them in the 1920's. And a tailored jacket is one piece that every woman should have - contoured, slimming, and sleek, it's as wearable to an office meeting as to lunch with the gals.
How To: Sew a zippered vinyl pouch
This video shows how to make a bus pass holder, coin purse, or belt pouch. Nicole Tirona of Its Your Life demonstrates building this useful pouch. The pouch features a zippered closure, a clear window and no seam in the bottom. You will need vinyl, zipper, clear plastic that you can sew, and a sewing machine. Watch this video sewing tutorial and learn how to make a zippered vinyl pouch.
How To: Make a silly rattle snake bean bag toy
This tutorial will show you how to make an easy snake project out of fabric and rice. This is a fun project for a rainy day or any other time.
How To: Thread your sewing machine
When it comes to sewing, threading your needle is pretty easy and straightforward (well, unless you're slowly losing your vision). But threading your sewing machine is another skill alltogether. Before you start sewing that bunting or cute hat for your niece, you'll need to set up your thread first.