Sewing & Embroidery Features
How To: Sew a blindstitch
Make It Mine associate editor Tea Benduhn shows you how to sew up a seam using a blindstitch. This is great for linings, pillows, or any time you don't want the stitch to be visible. Watch this video sewing tutorial and learn how to make a blindstitch.
How To: Reuse screens to screen print t-shirts at home
Screen printed t-shirts cost you quite the chunk of change at most clothing stores. Whether it's to prove your street cred with a screen-printed Nike shirt or to wear a screen-printed tee promoting a major cause like the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation, you probably already have a few in your closet.
How To: Make a tote bag out of an old t-shirt
This video demonstrates how to make a tote bag out of an old T-shirt. For this project, you will need the following: scissors, a T-shirt, duct tape, a sewing machine, thread, and a leather sewing needle.
How To: Do dimensional needle felting
Make It Mine associate editor Tea Benduhn shows you how to do dimensional needle felting. This technique lets you shape wool into whatever you want.
How To: Make an easy tutu without needing a sewing machine
You can make a stylish and fun tutu without needing a sewing machine! All you need is several yards of tulle or a similar fabric. Perfect for ballet lessons, or wear it as a petticoat for your full, bouncy skirts.
How To: Stretch your wrist and hand while sewing to avoid cramps
These wrist stretches have been cribbed from aikido, but they can be used as sewing stretches as well. Avoid cramps while sewing by using these three wrist stretches. Whenever you feel like your wrist is starting to ache, just use one of these stretches.
How To: Tie a River knot
This video from Tying It All Together demonstrates how to tie a river knot. Holding the rope in your left hand, make a loop to the right and bring the rope down so it lies over the loop. Bring it up behind and pull it through the loop. This makes a loose knot with three overlapping loops. Make another loop on the right and pull the end through the lower part of the right loop. Then make another loop on the left and pull it through the lower part of the left loop. Take the rope from the left s...
News: Armless Woman Becomes Embroidery Guru
If you are born without any arms, you will figure it out. Somehow, I doubt Ren Jiemei needed sewing tutorials on how to thread a needle with her feet. But here it is.
How To: Make a ribbon tree
In order to make a ribbon tree, you will need the following: 50 2" pieces of ribbon, scissors, a hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, and a floral tree.
How To: Make wool mittens
Olivia shows how to make ‘Woolen Mittens’ in this video, by recycling an old sweater! She begins by washing an old sweater in cold water. After washing, she puts the sweater in a dryer at high heat mode, to shrink it. The washed, dried and shrunk sweater is then placed on a table. The required length of the mitten is decided, taking care that the bottom end of the sweater shall be placed at the point where the mitten ends on the arm. The arm is then placed on the sweater and a mark is made ab...
How To: Craft cometa flower wedding favors
These cometa flowers are made from Italian cometa ribbon. Velvety and smooth, they are easy to craft with and can be quickly turned into beautiful blooms that can adorn your wedding favors.
How To: Needlepoint a tapestry
In this series of videos, you will be able to learn more about the art of needlepoint tapestry. Get equipped with the right threads, needles, patterns and other accessories needed for making your own tapestry.
How To: Make luggage tags & cell phone accessories
In this sewing video series, learn how to make your own cell phone case and luggage tags. Dressing up the most important of tools in your arsenal, whether it’s a Blackberry or an iPhone, can help you add a sense of style and personality to your everyday life.
How To: Master basic sewing projects
Learn how to master basic sewing projects like pillows, bags and headbands in this free video series that will teach you a few easy needle projects.
How To: Recycle old jeans into an embellished mini skirt
It's so easy to toss an old pair of jeans into the trash or to donate it to the Salvation Army, but if you put your mind to it you can still reuse your musty jeans, just not in the same way you used to use them.
How To: Sew an urban hammock with cotton fabric
This weekend, take some time to escape from the business and stress of your daily grind. Make a hammock and lay around in it. Fit for a city and you can make it even without much knowledge of sewing machines.
How To: Stitch a full length wedding veil
In this two-part easy-to-follow tutorial Corinne Bradd shows Kate Hemmings how to stitch a full length, two tiered wedding veil for just a small amount. Budget busting brides will love the stylish veil for the big day. It'll be perfect for any bride and mean that much more if sewn it yourself.
How To: Make Lady Gaga's "The Fame" cover beaded crystal glasses
These Lady Gaga glasses look like they'd obstruct your vision more than help it out, but you can actually see through them well enough to walk around without stumbling.
How To: Sew a dart
Kate Hemmings & Vicki Taylor from Sew magazine show you how to properly sew a "dart" (a.k.a. taking in fabric to make it fit the contours of your body). Just follow these easy steps in the video:
How To: Practice sewing on paper on a sewing machine
Learning how to use a sewing machine is easiest when you practice on paper. This sewing how-to video demonstrates how to use a sewing machine by practicing first on a piece of paper. It is best to draw out some lines on paper as a guide to help you learn how to keep your stitches in line.
How To: Create Christmas tree napkins using a serger
You can make a lovely napkin shaped like a Christmas tree using just two fabric circles and a sewing serger. With a little folding, you can even make these napkins reversible! Great for a beginner to intermediate seamstress or sewer.
How To: Turn Regular Socks Into Non-Skid Slipper Socks
Tired of slipping on hard wood floors, but too cold to go barefoot? Make some of your favorite socks slip-proof. This how-to video project is an easy way to revamp your socks into a safer non-skid style. Your injury-free joints will thank you.
How To: Make a pot holder
If you are looking for an easy sewing project, let Candi Cane Canncel teach you how to sew a pot holder.
How To: Make a felt flower pin
Looking for your next craft project? Look no further. This crafty person's guide will walk you through the process of making a custom felt flower pin with supplies from your local craft store and about 45 minutes of labor. For more information, including a list of necessary materials and step-by-step instructions for making your own floral pin, watch this free video tutorial.
How To: Sew a decorative pillow
In this video series, Carolyn Saylors is going to show you a quick and easy way to make a simple pillow. In the first video she's going to show you some of the things that you need: fabric, thread, ruler, scissors and also an old newspaper, marker, pen, crayon and the stuffing, and of course a sewing machine.
How To: Make fabric-covered buttons
Watch this instructional sewing video to make fabric covered buttons. You will need a little kit to put the buttons together. Each kit usually comes with about five buttons. You will also need a fabric marker, some scissors and some special fabric.
How To: Embroider the blanket stitch on crocheted projects
Add an even more personal touch to your crocheted projects. This how to video is a tutorial on how to embroider crochet projects with the blanket stitch. This stitch is typically used to embroider cloth, but you can embroider just about anything.
How To: Design quilts
Sure, buying a quilt is fun, but making your own is much cooler! Learn how to design and sew your own quilt by watching this informative video.
How To: Shirr fabric easily step by step
You probably haven't heard of shirring fabric before, but we can bet you've either seen it or have several pieces of clothing with shirring. Shirring means adding bumpy, ruffled waves to a fabric using scrunching and sewing.
How To: Do the embroidery running stitch
For right-handers, work from right to left or top to bottom. For left-handers, work from left to right, or top to bottom. Bring the needle to the front of the fabric at A, and pull the thread through. Now, for the rest of your stitches, you can work them more quickly if you "run" them on the top of the fabric, without taking your hand to the back. Go down at B, and, using your fingers on your non-dominant hand (the one that's not holding the needle!) behind the fabric, encourage the needle to...
How To: Create embroidered door hangers
Fast and fun, these embroidered door hanger designs will dress up door knobs. Stretch embroidery to all areas of your home - inside and out - with this in-the-embroidery hoop project! Follow the instructional video to learn how.
How To: Make book covers and bookmarks
In this series of diy home crafts videos, our gift expert and fellow avid reader Karen Weisman gives us a few ideas for returning the affection of our fine paper friends. Coddle them with presents that show our appreciation! Make a new fabric cover for one of your favorites and thereby enhance the time you spend together. Make a beautiful custom bookmark and you two can take up right where you left off on your last visit, avoiding those awkward moments prefaced by, “I don’t know if I’ve alrea...
How To: Make a flower loop bow to decorate gifts
Leah for May Arts Ribbon shows how to make a flower loop bow. The following items are needed for it: Needle and thread, scissors, May Art Ribbons and a ruler. Buttons or flowers may also be needed to put on top of your bow as per your selection.
How To: Embroider customized coffee sleeves
In-the-embroidery hoop coffee sleeves will add a little flavor to your morning cup o' Joe. Low-loft batting protects hands from hot cups. The embroidery designs are available in a variety of fun and fashionable themes and styles. The embroidered coffee sleeves also make perfect gifts for the coffee drinkers in your family! Learn how to make one today.
How To: Zig Zag finish seams with a zig zag presser foot
Even if you don't own a serger or a sew and serge presser foot, you can finish your seams neatly to protect your garment from unraveling. Use a simple method of zig zag sewing over the edge of your seams. This video sewing tutorial shows you how to do that with the seam pressed open or closed.
How To: Sew a hem
Sure, you can always use iron-on hem tape to shorten those pants, but maybe it’s time to join the 35 million Americans who can sew—yes, with a needle and thread—a hem.
How To: Tie the Hunter's Bend decorative knot
In this video you will learn how to tie a knot known as the "Hunter's Bend". A "bend" is a type of knot used to join two ends of a rope together. Generally, it should be possible to untie this type of knot, once it's usefulness has passed. This knot was originally created by a man named Phil D. Smith during WWII, at which time he dubbed it the "Rigger's Bend". An English physicist, by the name of Edward Hunter, rediscovered the knot in 1978, and popularized it's use, leading to it's current n...
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: Sew together a creative felted cuff bracelet with a needle felting machine
Make a creative and fun felted cuff bracelet! This could be a difficult task for beginners, but overall it's an easy craft. You'll need a needle felting machine for this though, which means you might have to hunt one down or improvise. Watch and learn how to use the needle felting machine to create a cool felted cuff.
How To: Create a set of quilted holiday placemats
Whether you want to make your own placemats for holiday entertaining or give them away as gifts, this is a tutorial for any intermediate quilter looking for some holiday ideas. Create a matching set of beautiful, holiday themed quilted placematas.