Hot Sewing & Embroidery How-Tos
How To: Design and make your own designer style circular rug
You can make a classy, desginer style rug out of some scrap pieces of carpet. If you plan to create a dyed rug, make sure the carpet will take the dye before you start this project. Use any design you want!
How To: Sew an easy organizer bag for your crafting supplies
Crafting and sewing is lots of fun, but it calls for many accessories and notions that can clutter your craft area. This tutorial shows you how to create your own craft supply organizer out of some upcycled or recycled materials.
How To: Make an easy fabric rosettes out of a recycled T-shirt
These rosettes can be used as embellishments however you like - turn them into hair accessories, attach them to a sweater or use them to upcycle another T-shirt. Dress them up with beads or ribbon. All you need are some scissors and a hot glue gun.
How To: Sew a bound buttonhole using a sewing machine
You don't have to sew a bound buttonhole by hand, you can replicate this fashion technique using a sewing machine. Make sure you sew slowly and carefully to get the clean finished lines of a perfectly done bound button hole.
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 an easy and quick bound buttonhole
A bound buttonhole doesn't have to be difficult. This video shows you several different techniques taught in various sewing books, and then shows you a synthesis of both methods. Don't worry about having to hand sew your buttons, you can do it all by machine.
How To: Hand sew a bound buttonhole for couture garments
While you can usually make a buttonhole with a machine, doing a bound buttonhole by hand is a couture technique that gives a professional, elegant finish to your buttonholes. This video shows you how to hand sew a bound butthole for your garment.
How To: Sew your own corset style top at home
This is not a tutorial on how to sew a real corset, rather, how to sew a corset style top. You will need some fashion fabric, eyelets, an eyelet attachment tool, ribbon, scissors, pins, measuring tape, tailor's chalk and of course, a sewing machine.
How To: Make a pattern to sew your own custom made corset
You can buy a pre made corset pattern from a manufacturer, or, if you really want to start from scratch, you can draft your own pattern. This tutorial shows you how to take your measurements and translate that into a custom fit corset pattern.
How To: Properly attach grommets and eyelets to your handmade corset
Grommets and eyelets are the metal rings that reinforce the holes in your corset, through which you thread the cording. This tutorial gives you some good advice on choosing, placing and attaching grommets and eyelets to your own hand sewn corsets.
How To: Make sure your hand sewn corset is as professional and sturdy as possible
A corset is not necessarily a difficult thing to sew, but it does require a lot of precision. Here are a few good tips you'll want to learn and follow when you're trying to teach yourself sewing and corset making at home.
How To: Pin your panels together accurately when making a corset by hand
Precision is important when you're making a garment as closely form fitting as a corset, and pinning your garment together is no different. Make sure that the panels for your corset are snugly, securely and accurately pinned together before you start sewing.
How To: Make your own bias tape with a bias tape maker
The bias cut is when you cut a piece of fabric at a forty five degree angle from the direction it was woven on a loom. Bias tape, a strip of fabric cut on the bias, can be used to give any garment a professional looking finish, and here is how you can make your own.
How To: Break in or season your corset without damaging it
When you first buy a corset from a retailer, you will need to give the thread and fabric the chance to shape itself according to your own personal shape. Here is the best way to break in or season a new corset to make it last longer.
How To: Sew a corset boning channel with a pressing bar
This tutorial shows you two different techniques for creating a boning channel when you're making a corset. You will need the corset boning and a pressing bar, along with some bias tape (or the ability to make your own) and a few other sewing notions.
How To: Sew your own corset tank top at home
This is a great and attractive shirt - a corset tank top. You don't need a pattern to make this, just some fabric, lining and ribbon. You'll also need some basic sewing notions and access to a sewing machine to sew this very basic item.
How To: Make a reversible waist cincher for your Renaissance Faire outfit
This is an easy tutorial that will go well with any Renaissance Faire outfit or similar costume. By using two different types of fabric, you can even make it reversible and increase the number of costumes you can wear it with.
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: Make a ruffled and gathered Lolita skirt
Lolita, hime or Little Bo Beep - this skirt will serve all those costume functions! Sew an easy ruffled skirt and then use elastic to gather the waistband and create the outer ruffle. You don't need a pattern, just your measurements and a sewing machine!
How To: Sew a box pleated skirt for a flared Lolita style skirt
Depending on the fabric you choose, this could be part of your Lolita costume or a professional skirt. Sew a skirt with one inch box pleats, without needing a pattern. Get your fabric, measurements and some basic sewing supplies together, and you're ready to go!
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 a peasant blouse for a Renaissance costume
A great and simple way to add a little to your Renaissance Faire costume or costume closet - sew a peasant style top. All you need are a few yards of loose white fabric, your measurements and some basic sewing tools.
How To: Sew a blouse to match an Indian sari
The sari is a beautiful dress, traditionally worn by East Indian women, involving a length of fabric draped over an under blouse. This tutorial shows you how to draft your own pattern for a sari blouse and then sew it together yourself. Always iron your fabric before you start working with it!
How To: Sew a flirty, fluttery tank top without a pattern
This is a great project to make a fun and feminine shirt. All you need is one piece of fabric cut in a circle, a few basic notions and a sewing machine. No pattern required, just make sure you have your measurements at hand!
How To: Sew a lined and zippered change purse or pouch
Start with two rectangles of fabric, both the same size. You will also need a short zipper and a few basic sewing supplies (pins and a sewing machine). Then just follow along with this video to make your own zippered change purse!
How To: Sew your own retro chic circle skirt
Circle skirts are easy, and look good on nearly any figure. You can sew your own without needing a pattern at all - just pick your under fabric and over fabric, then follow along with this tutorial for a retro chic addition to your wardrobe.
How To: Sew your own Lolita or cosplay ruffles
Ruffles are incredibly easy to make, though they are time consuming. Get a length of your chosen fabric, and then follow along with this tutorial to make an elegant and fun ruffled ribbon that you can use as an embellishment, a headband or an accessory.
How To: Sew a simple adorable ruffled black strapless dress with Gianny L
A strapless dress is a smoldering, make-'em-weak-in-the-knees choice for any glamorous occasion. But getting both a beautiful dress and one that fits you to a tee is rather difficult.
How To: Craft a DIY cord basket adorned with ribbons
When it comes to quirky homemade DIY, cords - made from rope, twine, or other materials - aren't usually used in many projects. Other than tying nautical knots, it seems they're quite defunct.
How To: Take proper care and perform basic maintenance on a sewing machine
Get a sewing machine for the holidays? Buying one for yourself? Like any machine, a sewing machine needs some basic maintenance to keep running properly. Make sure lint doesn't build up around the feed dogs, and oil the parts once a year to keep things running smoothly.
How To: Make a no sew apron out of your fabric scraps
Trying to figure out what to do with the scrap fabric in your stash? This tutorial shows you how you can make a no sew apron by raiding your stash. Dress it up by adding your own appliques, patches or embellishments.
How To: Sew a pair of frilly pyjama knickers
Make your own pyjama knickers! This is a great tutorial that a beginning sewer can use to hone their skills. You don't need very much fabric - just some elastic and a few basic sewing notions as well as your sewing machine.
How To: Embroider a simple shape using a chain stitch
Embroidery is a useful skill to develop so you can add your own embelllishemnts to favorite clothes, and it's not as difficult as it seems. This tutorial, perfect for beginners, shows you how to create a simple embroidery pattern using the basic chain stitch.
How To: Sew your own vintage inspired skirt
Love the look of vintage? You don't have continuously prowl vintage stores - make your own inspired skirt! All you need is your favorite fabric and a few sewing notions (matching thread, scissors, pins, and of course, a sewing machine).
How To: Use a sewing machine to sew on paper or cardstock
This video represents a union between two spheres of crafting - sewing and cardmaking. You can create some decorative stitching on your handmade greeting cards by using your sewing machine. Here's how you can sew on paper without ruining the paper or cardstock.
How To: Sew a button onto your pants
Often times, when you buy ready to wear clothes, you'll get a garment where the buttons are sewn on very loosely. To keep the buttons from popping off, here is how you can reinforce the buttons on your pants or other garments.
How To: Give your jeans and other pants some stylish hems
If you are consistently finding that the cuffs of your jeans and pants are too long, you can use this tutorial series, which will show you how to professionally alter your pants. Cut off the excess, and then resew a stylish new hem.
How To: Tailor your own too large pants so they fit perfectly
Tailors can be expensive, but you can be your own tailor! This tutorial shows you how to take a pair of pants that might be a bit too big around the waist and take them in using professional tailoring techniques.
How To: Craft cute silicone cupcake charms for a bracelet
The trouble with jewelry that's been made by a mass retailer or even a hipster/indie artist is that it's made without any care to your wrist, neck, or finger size. Often this means that bracelets may sling too big, or necklaces wrap around your neck too tight.
How To: Make your own decorative pillowcase
This is a great home decor tip that will definitely save on your budget. You can use discontinued designer fabrics for this. Cut your swatches into strips and then sew to match your pillow. Then just add a sturdy zipper and you're done!