Hot Sewing & Embroidery How-Tos

How To: Tie the Eternity knot to decorate a rope or string

In this video the host of "Tying It All Together" demonstrates how to create a "Eternity Knot". This type of knot is an attractive way to decorate a rope or string. Strung along one after another on a rope or string, it creates elongated bead-like knots at intervals of your choosing. The Eternity Knot is named for it's resemblance to the symbol of Buddha's all-knowing wisdom and the uncommon quality of his realizations. In this video the host will lead you through the entire process of creati...

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.

How To: Do the Wheat Stitch

If you are a beginner at hand embroidery, one of the first stitches you will probably learn is the chain stitch. The chain stitch has many variations, and one of them is the wheat stitch, also known as the wheatear stitch. This stitch is simple to work and produces a line that resembles a shaft of wheat. The stitch can be used in all kinds of applications - it would make great background greenery in flowers and gardens, it can also serve as a seam embellishment in crazy quilting, and it can s...

How To: Sew elastic (polybraid & Lastin)

This video is a tutorial on sewing both polybraid elastic and lastin elastic. Polybraid is a very sturdy fabric elastic, while lastin is a thin, clear, very stretchy elastic, good for use in diapers. It is important to buy name brand lastin elastic to ensure good quality.

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: 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: 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 quick Rope Shackle

To tie a quick rope shackle, take a flat thread to make this knot. Take the thread and hold it in your hand fold it from right to left and hold it at the cross hold it once again catch both the crosses and fold it once again. Insert the send fold into the first hole and the third hole. Now pull the middle of the thread to make a tight. Pull the loose ends of the thread to make it tight. Now hold the two circular holes and insert a round stick or a bamboo stick and pull the loose ends of the t...

How To: Sew bias tape binding on a curved edge

Bias tape can add a professional, classy edge or finish to any project. Working with bias tape on a straight edge certainly isn't hard, but the curves can sometimes be a bit tricky. However, they're not impossible, and you can pick up the technique in just a few minutes! This video shows you how to work with single fold bias tape and sew it evenly and professionally around curved edges.

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 Solomon Bar decorative knot

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a Solomon bar decorative knot. You will start by grabbing the ring at the end of the string, then tie it to an opposite ring. Fold the left side of the string to the right and bring the right over to the left. Pull the left into the loop to create a knot. Now, you will have two string that are more up and two that are more down. Next, tie the top strings into a knot, then bring the right knot behind the bottom two, and thread the left knot into the right...

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: Make half square triangle quilted coasters

In this episode of the Crafty Gemini Show you'll learn some quilting basics and make a small project out of what you learn. You'll be run through some quilting terminology, including what a pieced quilt is, what quilt blocks are, and how to make half-square triangle block units using a super easy method where you can make two blocks at once.

How To: Measure a woman's hip circumference for a suit

If you're interested in making a woman's tailored suit, chances are you will be taking some measurements beforehand.... and important ones. With the slightest centimeter or milimeter, a tailored suit can fit incredibly different than it's supposed to. In this video, learn how to properly measure a woman's hip circumference for a tailored suit.

How To: Crush velvet

This crushing process brings out color variations by flattening the pile or nap of the velvet, and adds surface texture by pleating the fabric. One benefit to this method is that a simple wash and tumble dry will restore the fabric to its original condition, so watch this video and see just how to create crushed velvet.

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