Sewing & Embroidery Features
How To: Machine baste on a Singer sewing machine
Machine basting is a common technique used in many patterns for garment construction. It's easy, and can help your garment look more professional when finished. This video tutorial shows you how to machine baste a seam.
How To: Make a stuffed horse toy with fake fur
This tutorial shows you how to sew together a plushie toy horse, complete with mane and tail. You'll need to use some fake fur and fleece to create this, and this tutorial shows you precisely how you can work with fake fur to get the effect you want.
How To: Tie a Kinky Lover's knot
To make a Kinky Lover's knot, first hang or keep the tag on something. Then take the first end. Tie it by keeping a loop. Then take the second end and pass it through the loop by leaving a loop. Then take the second end, which was taken earlier , through the loop made by the first end. Then pass the second end through the loop, which was made by the second end. The knot is ready! All we have to do now is to tighten the knot by pulling the two ends. Make it beautiful by arranging the tag clearly.
How To: Fix the thread tension on your home sewing machine
Whether you use a Singer, Brother, Janome or other model of sewing machine, you'll still be able to use this tutorial. If you find that your stitches are too tight, too loose or bunching up on one side, the problem is likely with your thread tension. Here are a few ways to adjust or fix the tension on your sewing machine.
How To: Draft your own darts when making a skirt without a pattern
Darts add shape and a more fitted line to garments that use them. While many patterns come with the darts pre-printed, how do you add darts when you're sewing without a pattern? This tutorial shows you how to add your own darts by hand.
How To: Tie the two color monkey's fist knot
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie the two color monkey's fist knot. First, make a double overhand knot, and snip the edges off. Next, create the monkey's fist by taking one of the ropes and looping it around the fingers several times. After you do this, push the knot through the fingers and tie the other string around the entire loop several times. Push the string through the loop, then continue to tie on the opposite side around itself. To finish this up, Pull the two outside strings tog...
How To: Tie a single-strand Ringbolt hitch knot
In this video, JD, from Tying It All Together, demonstrates how to tie a knot known as a "Ringbolt Hitch". This is also known as "coxcombing". This type of knot was once a common tie used by sailors to dress-up items and parts of their ships. When tying a wheel, a "Turk's Head" knot was used to cover the part of the wheel where the two ends of the ring bolt met, which would firm up the hitch, and help to keep the tied ends from unraveling. It is a nautical tradition to use this type of knot t...
How To: Sew a garment bag
Learn how to make a homemade garment bag including how to choose the fabric, cut the fabric, reinforce the seams and more with expert sewing tips from a seamstress in this free crafting video series.
How To: Use a sewing machine to make a miniature rug
This series shows how to make a miniature rug on the sewing machine with thread painting which mimics Russian needlepunch. Variegated threads give a lovely blended look similar to wool hooked rugs. The threads used are YLI cotton machine quilting threads.
How To: Tie Pendant knots
In this tutorial from the TyingItAllTogether Channel, you can learn how to make double and quadruple looped pendent knots. These knots are commonly found in Celtic designs. Once you learn how to create these knots, you can use them in arts and crafts projects for necklaces or bracelets. To begin, the double looped knot is done by taking a piece of rope and folding it in half, allowing the two sides to be next to each other. With one side of the rope, loop it around the other side of the rope,...
How To: Use the Omni Stitch machine
This video shows you some of the things you can do with an Omni Stitch machine.We also show you how to attach the feeder.
How To: Pleat a swag curtain
Swag curtains add great decorative touches to a bear window or room. Watch this sewing how-to video to learn how to pleat your swag curtain so that it hangs on your window beautifully. Once you learn how easy it is to pleat swag curtains you will be creating window treatments for every room in your house.
How To: Tie a knot in thread for hand sewing or quilting
This instructional sewing video shows an easy way to tie a knot in your thread for hand sewing an quilting. This is a simple sewing trick, but it's worth taking the time to learn how to tie a failsafe knot. Don't let your sewing projects fall apart at the seams.
How To: Apply fabric paint using the dry brush method
This tutorial uses a flower being painted on a piece of white fabric to show you how to use the dry brush technique to paint your fabric. Dress it up with beads, sequins or embroidery when you're done painting your design!
How To: Embroider a Bullion Tipped lazy daisy
This video is a tutorial for Silk Ribbon Embroidery for the Bullion Tipped Lazy Daisy Stitch. This stitch is extremely cute, and all your friends will be jealous of your embroidery of the lazy daisy.
How To: Use a piping foot on a sewing machine
Watch this video sewing tutorial and learn how to use a piping foot on a sewing machine. A piping foot is used to stitch piping into the fabric of a seam. Use a piping foot on a sewing machine.
How To: Wind a bobbin
Your sewing machine needs bobbin thread to create overlock stitches, so keep your machine going by learning to fill your bobbin.
How To: Dye fabric items with coffee or tea
We've all heard of dying paper with tea dye for an aged, vintage effect. But did you know you could use tea (and coffee) to dye other things as well, including T-shirts and yarn?
How To: Make a gay pride flag
this tutorial video from Threadbanger will teach you how to do a little DIY exercise to get ready for Gay Pride in New York City. This video will teach you how to make a DIY flag and hit the Gay Pride parade in Manhattan. You can now bring your pride home with your own flag.
How To: Make and attach binding for sewing and quilting
Are you completely done with your first quilt except for the raw hems on the sides? You could just sew the hems shut with a whipstitch, but if you want to add a little more ornateness and decadence to your quilt then you should watch this video to see how to add binding.
How To: Do the Double Chain Stitch
Here's a video tutorial from Needle 'n Thread for the double chain stitch used in hand embroidery. This is a quick, easy stitch which creates a wide decorative band. It looks somewhat similar to the closed herringbone stitch, but it's created with the same (few) easy steps used in the chain stitch.
How To: Stitch a 32-panel footbag using a Hacky Sack pattern
If you're tired of buying your footbags, aka Hacky Sacks, and you want to create your own awesomely designed footbag, this video will walk you through the steps of doing it. First, you're going to want to get a footbag pattern to follow, which can be found at the Online Footbag Pattern Generator. In this video, you learn how to stitch a 32-panel footbag together. See the whole process and follow along!
How To: Use the French Knot in Silk Ribbon Embroidery
This video shows you how to do the French Knot in Silk Ribbon Embroidery. The French knot is a pretty knot for Embroidery and will make your patterns look nice.
How To: Iron Silk Ribbon
Is your embroidery ribbon kinked and nasty? This tutorial video will show you how to Iron Silk Ribbon to embroider with.
How To: Tie the Slatt's Rescue Belt knot design
In this video TIAT shows you how to make a rescue belt. Begin by making a basic knot in the center, holding that knot on the top of your ring finger and between your thumb begin making loops. To create these loops extend the strand to the right side of the knot straight out parallel to your thumb, with your right hand curl the yarn first up, than forward, than back down forming a circle that you slid over your thumb. Take the tail of the cord and pull it snug. Repeat these circular loops unti...
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 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: Use a sewing machine properly
Even if you never took home ec, you can create simple projects by learning the basics of sewing machine use.
How To: Tie a honey rope basket knot
In this video, we learn how to tie a honey rope basket knot. To do this, you will need a 10ft of nylon rope. Start off by tying a counter-clockwise slipknot at one end of the rope. After this, pull the loop of the slipknot out four inches. Then, tie a second slip knot clockwise next to the first slipknot. Draw the loop length of the second so it's equal to the first. Next, continue to create slipknots next to each other until you've done five. No, hook your working end into the first loop and...
How To: Sew an urban chic pattern lined hoodie
Plain hoodies are among the most versatile pieces of clothing you can own. But while they're comfortable and chic, plain hoodies can also look a little dull, especially if all you're wearing is sweats or blue jeans with them.
How To: Make a baby bib from a an old t-shirt
Babies go through bibs almost as quickly as they do diapers, but here's a way to save some money by creating a bib from a t-shirt. Watch this how to video and learn how to create a useful baby bib from old pieces of clothing.
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 a pocket wallet out of recycled blue jeans
Digsart demonstrates how to make a wallet from a pair of blue jeans. First, with a pair of scissors he cuts out the back pocket of the jeans. You can paint the pocket with acrylic paint to give it a more sturdy feel. Once they are painted, he dries them out by placing them on plastic bottles. Once the paint is dry, he cuts a slit in the middle of the pocket, creating two sides for change and bills. Then, using a hot glue gun and Velcro, he glues the Velcro patches onto the pocket. Once the Ve...
How To: Turn old jeans into a skirt
Summer is just around the corner and those jeans that seemed perfect for winter aren't looking so hot. Put those jeans to use, and make your very own jean skirt. Grab a pair of scissors and a sewing machine and get started.
How To: Make an adorable Pucca costume for Halloween
Pucca is an adorable Japanese girl whose always chasing after her true - but reluctant - love, Garu, in her Pucca comics and on zillions of branded accessories. Her distinctive two side buns and upturned eyes make her an easy character to love, and lots of young girls enjoy reading about her adventures in love.
How To: Thread a school sewing machine
In this video, we learn how to thread a school sewing machine. First, apply the top thread to the bevin on the top of the sewing machine. You will thread this from the spool onto the side hook, then around the top and through the needle at the bottom. Next, thread the thread into the bobbin next to the sewing machine door, then push it through the bottom and thread it around the needle. After this adjust the settings on your sewing machine until they fit what you like. Then you will be ready ...
How To: Add piping to pockets
This video demonstrates the process utilized by seamstress Maria Perez to make piped pockets for the fashions in Manuel's Nashville, Tennessee, shop. It goes over how he makes the piping and then how it's added to the pockets. Make sure to click the RealPlayer or Quicktime link to start the video. Add piping to pockets.
How To: Sew a Victorian style pillow out of felt
This is a fun project that doesn't take much in terms of time or resources. You can even make it out of your scrap fabric! Use whatever notions or embellishments you want to create a lovely, Victorian inspired pillow at home.
How To: Make a Perfect Fitting Pants Pattern for Yourself
Pants are here to stay. Women of all ages love wearing pants. Jeans, trousers, slacks, corduroys… whatever. Everyone wants them to look and fit great, while being comfortable.
How To: Make your own handmade corset out of some old T-shirts
Upcycle your old T-shirts into a classy and fashionable corset top! All you need are some basic sewing notions, in addition to eyelets and eyelet pliers. Embellish your corset top with ribbon, appliques, rhinestones or any other accessory you fancy.