Sewing & Embroidery Features
How To: Upcycle an old t-shirt into a fashionable fringe scarf
Fringes are definitely trendy this season, and you can jump on the trend bus without breaking the bank! You can turn an old T-shirt into a fashionable fringed scarf just by making a few cuts. Pick a shirt as colorful as you want!
How To: Sew an easy skirt waistband with seam binding
Finish the top of your skirt and hold it in place on your waist or hips with a seam binding techinque. Follow this tutorial to sew your own quick, easy but still attractive skirt waistband without elastic or a drawstring.
How To: Do the Raised Chain Stitch Band
This is a composite stitch. There are two embroidery stitches here put together to make the raised chain: the simple straight stitch which forms the bars on which you stitch the chain stitch. Watch this video from Needle 'n Thread to see how it's done.
How To: Create a floral $2 reversible wrap skirt
Making your own dress saves you enough money as it is, and you'll be double the frugalista if you make that dress reversible. Though creating a two-sided reversible dress sounds hard to do, by adding a few tie straps it's about as easy as sewing an apron.
How To: Create the layered lace embroidery technique
Embroider away with the layered lace technique! Add embroidered petals to your flowers and wings to your butterflies with a new technique called layered lace. After embroidering the separate pieces, layer them together for a fantastic three-dimensional effect! Layered lace is a wonderful embroidery technique for pins, barrettes, napkin rings, and more. Enjoy this instructional video.
How To: Do the flip stitch in tatting
A short tutorial on achving the infamous flip of the knot when tatting (lacemaking)
How To: Hem your own pants
Here's how to hem up a pair of pants so they keep the original look but are the right length. By cutting the pant leg above the original hem line, you can keep the original hem of the jeans you bought. Measure carefullly to remove the excess length of pant that you will not need. This process will only work if you need to shorten your pants by at least one inch. You need one half inch seam allowance to re-attach the original hem onto your newly shortened pair of pants.
How To: Use embroidery scissors
Kenneth D. King of ThreadBanger demonstrates one way to use a scissor known as an embroidery scissor, which is a very tiny scissor with a slightly curved blade. The curved blade prevents the points of the scissors from poking through the fabric, which is very important when you need to trim something close to the fabric. This comes in handy for uses other than embroidery.
How To: Use a ruffler foot on a sewing machine to sew ruffles
The ruffler foot on your sewing machine allows you to sew ruffles far more quickly and easily than having to do it by hand. This tutorial demonstrates how to set up your ruffler foot and then how to use it when sewing ruffles.
How To: Do the Heavy Chain Stitch
The heavy chain stitch used in hand embroidery is a variation of the regular chain stitch, but it creates a wider, thicker chain stitch band. It's an easy stitch to execute. When you want a bolder line, you can substitute it for the regular chain stitch. This video tutorial will show you the basic concept of creating a heavy chain stitch band. Watch this video from Needle 'n Thread to see how it's done.
How To: Make a primitive folk art doll
Check out this video to learn from Milliande how to make a primitive folk art doll. Start by cutting out your pattern two times (one right side and one wrong side).
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: Tie the Diamond Ring decorative knot
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to tie a diamond ring knot. The name refers to the similar appearance of an actual diamond ring. The Diamond Ring knot is the fusion of an Overhand Knot and a tying technique called circling. Begin by making a loop; put one end of the string through the loop and pull it to form a pretzel shape. Continue putting one end the string through the loop. Eventually it will build up and it will just need to be tightened. This video tutorial will benefit those...
How To: Do whipstitch applique
Want to attach an appliqué with a whipstitch? It's easy. So easy, in fact, that this guide can present a complete and thorough overview of the stitching process in just over two minutes' time. For more information, as well as to get started applying your own appliqués by whipstitch, watch this free video guide.
How To: Do the Double Herringbone Stitch
Here's a video tutorial from Needle 'n Thread for the double herringbone stitch, which is a variation of the herringbone stitch. Just like the regular herringbone, this stitch can be used as a decorative band or edging.
How To: Alter long straight sleeves to become gathered sleeves when drafting patterns
Gathered sleeves can add a bit of interest to a blouse or shirt which incorporates them. This tutorial shows you how to start with a basic straight sleeve and use pattern drafting software to adjust so you can end with a gathered sleeve.
How To: Sew a spiral shaped hair scrunchie
The hair scrunchie in this how-to video is so easy to make, even a cat can do it. You will need a felt fabric square of 20 by 20 cm, an elastic string of 30cm, a cutting punch, a hammer, marking pins, scissors, two big beads, and a cutting mat. Watch this video sewing tutorial and learn how to make a spiral shaped hair scrunchie.
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: Embroider chain stitches on crochet projects
Add more personal touches to your handmade crochet items. This how to video is a tutorial on how to embroider crochet projects using chain stitches. You can embroider just about anything with the chain stitch. Watch and learn.
How To: Embroider the free standing lace technique
Delicate, light and lacy! Free-standing lace designs are a joy to sew, and raise creativity and embroidery to new and exciting levels. This embroidery instructional video will bring your freestanding lace technique to whole new levels. Learn some embroidery techniques today!
How To: Embroider on leather
Fashionable and luxurious, leather embroidery will expand your project ideas to an exciting new level. This leather embroidery instructional video discusses design choice, needle choice, stabilizing, and hooping tips. Plan your next project, whether it be an embroidered leather purse or pair of shoes.
How To: Thread a sewing machine step by step
This video shows us how to thread a sewing machine step by step. To thread a sewing machine: Place the presser foot in the upward position. Place a spool of thread on the spool holder. Traveling from the spool holder, across the top of the machine, look for a minimum of one thread guide. Insert the thread in the thread guide(s). Now look for a tension mechanism. Bring the thread downward to the tension mechanism, slip the thread between the metal disks of the tension mechanism, and travel bac...
How To: Add a silk ribbon binding to your sewing project
Don't be intimidated by this couture technique - it's actually quite easy! Sew a silk ribbon binding to your project as a way to stabilize it. All you need is the ribbon, your fabric and a few extra sewing notions.
How To: Sew a messenger bag
How to sew a messenger bag; get expert tips from a master seamstress on home sewing methods and techniques in this free instructional video series.
How To: Make a paper bag waste skirt
Morgan Hungerford from Panda Head and Muss Clothing teaches us how to make a cool paper bag waist skirt out of an oversized skirt.
How To: Recycle & reconstruct your denim jeans
Learn how to recycle and reconstruct your denim jeans: Craft side Look, Learn and Create with Stefanie Girard and Jean Therapy with Scathe G. Allison demonstrate how to recycle and reconstruct your denim jeans. You can make a bag out of your jeans by using the leg as the strap. Customize jeans by adding patches to the legs and ruffles to the bottom. All the projects use simple sewing machines and stitches and don't require extra tools. A skirt can also be made by sewing together 14 pairs of d...
How To: Sew a blind hem
In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to sew a blind hem. Use a blind hem stitch when sewing the bottom hem of your Roman shade. It is very easy to do. For this you will need a sewing machine that has blind hem stitch already programmed in to it and a blind hem foot. Hem your fabric and pin it. Make sure the pointed ends of the pins are pointing outwards. Lay your fabric with the hemmed side facing up and the hemmed side towards the pressure foot. Then flip the hem upside so...
How To: Make a tattered heart t-shirt from an old t-shirt
You've probably heard of people who say they have "two left feet" when it comes to trying to groove on the dance floor, but you can also have two left hands (if, you know, you're a right hander) when it comes to sewing and crafting.
How To: Tie single Genoese knot bars
This video describes the technique used to tie a single Genoese bar knot. The presenter shows what the completed knot looks like, and then shows the technique used to tie the knot. The process for tying this knot is similar to braiding as the ends of the string are looped around and through the previous section. Each segment must be pulled very tight or the knot will fail to reach the correct shape. The hitches continue until the desired length of the knot is reached at which point the excess...
How To: Make a felt scarf
Felted wool scarves are made by a process called wet felting. Learn how to make a felt scarf by wet felting wool fibers in this free video.
How To: Apply applique's and iron-on transfers
It's time to take control of your wardrobe. This week the Threadheads show you some quick and easy ways to apply applique's and iron on transfers.
How To: Make a cushion cover
With a little practice a cushion cover can be made at home easily. The materials/equipments required are as follows: fabric of your choice (having appropriate dimensions) to make the cover, scissors, measuring tape and ruler, needles, threads, sewing machine and an iron.
How To: Thread paint with embroidery
This bright little project mixes the techniques of thread painting with a scrappy piecing technique. Use Terry's digitized embroidery design of the bug if you don't want to thread paint. This bag makes a great gift for the gardener in your life.
How To: Embroider the stem stitch
Make It Mine Magazine editor Linda Augsburg demonstrates how to do a stem stitch. The stem stitch almost looks like a twisted cord. It's great for working around a curve. Watch this video embroidery tutorial and learn how to sew a stem stitch.
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: Make a guitar strap
This video series from our expert Candi Cane-Canncel. Candi will guide you through the steps to create your own unique guitar strap.
How To: Make a blind hem stitch using a sewing machine
In this sewing tutorial, you'll need a sewing machine to make a blind hem stitch. The sewing machine used is a Brother LX-1325 compact and lightweight model, but you can use a similar brand and model. To make a blind stitch, you'll need to fold the fabric the way you normally would when sewing a hem stitch, then you'll pin it in place on the inside. Watch and see how it's done! Then you start sewing. This stitch will be hardly noticeable.
How To: Master the basics of hand sewing
Sometimes, hand sewing is a better idea than machine sewing - or maybe you just don't have a sewing machine, but still want to sew a few things. This tutorial shows you the materials and techniques you'll need to get started hand sewing.
How To: Create embroidered customized patches
Embroidered patches are fun and colorful way to mend holes and tears in garments, and a a great way to add personality to backpacks, bags, and jackets! Watch this instructional embroidery video to learn the step by step process of creating your own customized embroidered patches. Embroider your own patches to add a bit of style to your favorite outfit!
How To: Sew fold over elastic onto a cloth diaper cover
Cloth diapers are ecological and can be reused, without the endless waste of the disposable kind. Learn how to sew FOE (fold over elastic) onto a diaper cover. Watch this video sewing tutorial and learn how to make cloth diapers at home.