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Hot Sewing & Embroidery How-Tos

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How To: Thread a sewing machine and wind a bobbin

In order to thread your sewing machine and wind a bobbin, you will need the following, a sewing machine an empty bobbin, thread, and a pedal control for your sewing machine. Choose a good quality thread. Place the thread in the holder on top of the machine. Place the cap on the end of the thread, in order to hold it in place. Loop the thread around the first guide. String the thread through the hole in the bobbin. Place the bobbin in the slot on the top of the machine. Hold the thread in you ...

How To: Make quick, no sew fabric flowers

Do you have extra scrap fabric hanging around your craft room? Why not make something fun with it instead of tossing it? In this tutorial, learn how to take that extra fabric and turn it into cute, no-sew flowers in no time! Use the flowers for appliques, hair decoration, clothing design, pins, anything! These flowers are so easy to make you can put them together in two minutes.

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: Tie the decorative Pipa Knot

In this Tying It All Together video tutorial, you will learn how to tie a decorative pipa knot. To begin, take a piece of rope and fold so that you have two strands. Create a loop and take the left strand and loop it around the original loop. Continue doing this until you have layers of loop-like structures, gradually getting smaller and folding into one another. The effect is a woven-like structure. To actually secure the knot, fold the end strand into the last loop and then pull this end st...

How To: Make bows for your hair

Learn how to tie a perfect bow. To do a basic pony bow, place the gathered hair in the center of the ribbon and tie a single knot to secure it. Making two loops, cross one loop over the other and pull the loop on top through the hole you've created. Straighten out the ends and tighten so the two loops are on top and the two tails on bottom. Make a headband bow. Run the ribbon along the hairline, drawing the ends up on top of your head. Secure a knot and tie a bow. By tweaking the loops out a ...

How To: Make a shoe lace key ring

Always losing your keys? A big bulky key chain might feel annoying in your pocket, but it's not likely to get lost in your purse or in all that trash you carry around. This video tutorial shows a real simple key chain ring you can make and keep those keys easy to find. All you need is the key ring, two shoelaces, a pair of scissors, and a lighter.

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: Do Lattice Work

Lattice work is used as filling or for backgrounds. Worked on a plain ground (with only the fabric behind the lattice stitches) it can be easily managed by beginners. Adding a colored background (for example, a background worked in satin stitch) kicks the stitch up a notch to intermediate level. Here's a video tutorial from Needle 'n Thread on working lattice stitch over a satin stitch ground.

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.

How To: Make a Tailored Coat for Your Pet

As the cooler weather starts rolling in your pet will need more than just his natural coat to keep the shivers away. Take him out in style by designing a simple yet elegant tailored coat that will fit him perfectly. Here is an easy lined tailored coat with a nice thick comfort strap to keep him snug. Watch this video and follow the accompanying written instructions.

How To: Make an awesome birds nest Easter hat for a boy

Why should women get all the pretty hats at Easter time? You can make a fun and seasonal Easter hat for a boy quite easily! This video shows you how to take a plain hat and turn it into a birds nest hat. You will need: a hat (a plastic party fedora will work just fine), a wide strip of ribbon for the brim, a pair of scissors, some raffia, artificial leaves, a stuffed or toy bird and some craft glue.

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 mermaid wedding dress out of newspapers

Looking for something unique to do for your wedding? Hate the idea of going from store to store, looking for the perfect bridal dress? What if you could make your own wedding dress... out of newspapers? This tutorial shows you how to make a bridal gown with a mermaid silhouette (fitted bodice and upper skirt, flaring out at the bottom) using nothing more than a few stacks of newspapers and some clear tape. You'll need a few bridesmaids to help you out, but it's guaranteed to fit!

How To: Make a rhinesone stencil template

Like a rhinestone cowboy! Yahoo! Alright, time to get your arts and crafts on and create your very own rhinestone stencil template so you can dazzle and bedazzle your friends and family or whatever craft project you're currently working on. Follow the steps of this nice how-to and learn to make your very own rhinestone stencil template! You're going to need a program like MS Paint, Photoshop or some other image creation or design software to make your stencil.

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 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.