How to Make a Simple Hem Every athlete knows it all comes down to the finish. It's the same with sewing – just not as sweaty. A smooth, beautiful hem makes everything look better and more professional. The simplest of hems is the double-turn hem, which you can use on almost any edge where you want an easy, clean finish. The first thing to do is determine how big a hem you need to get the finished length you want. Most people prefer to err on the side of narrow over wide so there's less bulk to the folded fabric and the hem will lay nice and flat. Large Let's say you have 2" to work with for the bottom of a curtain. Medium Perhaps you'd like a narrower option for the edge of a pillow back opening or the bottom of a table cloth. Small Sometimes, you need a tiny hem for something like a napkin edge. Blind hemming is exactly what you think it is: a hem with stitches you barely notice. To learn how, read our article How to Make a Blind Hem Stitch .
Anthropologie Pratia Tank Top Tutorial February 6, 2010 1:59 pm Per popular demand, here is the Pratia tank tutorial! Start off with a t-shirt or tank top. What I did was get a larger t-shirt so I could gather it at bottom like the pratia tank. I cut off the sleeves so it would be a tank. Measure your neckline and get a piece of chiffon that length and fold it in half. Pin it to the inside of your neckline with it peeking out. Since I cut the sleeves off my T, I wanted to finish the edges. Stitch it. I highly recommend interfacing where you are going to be adding the embellishments, otherwise it’s going to sag. For the flower pieces, here is the shape and dimensions I used. Fold your pieces in half and cut that petal shape out. I used the extra sleeve pieces, cream chiffon(the kind that won’t fray) and another grey jersey I had. How many do you need? Lay two petals on top of one another, as shown. I did a small ‘X’ shape to stitch them so they stay in place. Just add more, and more, and more, and more………(It’s time consuming.
Making Her Clothes Last (Part Two: the Bottoms!) Here is the other half I promised! I love this post, because everything in it was SO EASY to do!! I wish that I had more outgrown clothes of hers to play around with! Here is the first one; this little overall dress that Paige wore all of one time. And here's an obvious one: Cut-offs! Confession: I didn't actually do these. I don't have a "before" of this one, but it was a pair of lounge pants that were stained and worn at the knees. These little knit shorts were perfect to add fabric to, to make a skort! Sometimes all you need is a little lace to give you just a tad more length! Now if I could only remember to iron things before I photograph them :o) This one made my heart so happy! Here's a really easy one, for button-back dresses that are too short. This little floral one.... And this one, from a little shirred-waist sundress! I seriously almost died when I had to cut into these jeans. I have to say, I think the shorts are even. cuter. (p.s. it's a size 12m, too!) So there you go!
Knitting Tutorials from KnitPicks Fully lined zippered box pouch - pattern and tutorial - it's a Pretty Modern life I love the look of a zippered box pouch...so incredibly cute. I found many tutorials on the internet, but was disappointed after making pouches following these tutorials to find that they were not fully lined; looks so much nicer when you open your pouch and there are no seams. It took me a long time to figure it out and I thought and thought and thought...then I got it♥ I don't want to keep this knowledge to myself, so here it is. I'd like to thank Jane at Projects by Jane (the only other tutorial like this that I was able to find on the internet - wish I'd found it sooner). ♥♥♥Thanks so much! The finished pouch is 3 high x 4 wide x 7 long (inches) Here's what you need: 1 twelve inch zipper 2 10x7 inch panels for the lining (my lining fabric is the green one) 2 10x7 inch panels for the exterior (my exterior fabric is the brown floral one) 2 4x3 inch pieces of complementary fabric for the pulls at the end of the zipper STEP 1. STEP 2. STEP 3. STEP 4. STEP 5. STEP 6. STEP 7. STEP 8.
The 20-Minute Skirt! I didn't really explain in the last tutorial how to add the elastic waistband if that's the kind you prefer, so yesterday I whipped up this little skirt to demonstrate! It actually only took me 15 minutes (and that's with taking photos as I went!) so needless to say, it's an easy one! Any level of sewer can do this! 1. 2. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. And done! I live in skirts like this in the spring and summer, so I think I need one in every bright, springy fabric out there! (And they're even faster when you make them for little girls!) The best part is, you can wear them high-waisted, or regularly! (I really need a new model.....) On a totally different note, I met one of my readers the other day! My family was shopping in our local thrift store, and she came up and said "hi". It was so nice to meet you, Eve!
two pocket, ultra slim fabric card case — insatiable need A few weeks ago, I went to Dallas for the wedding of a friend of mine from college, and unsurprisingly, the reception ended up doubling as a mini college reunion. Some of those people I literally hadn’t seen since graduation day. Naturally, the experience got me thinking about the thing I am always thinking about: sewing. (really). I already make a cute little single pocket card case/wallet thing that people love to impulse-buy at craft shows, but occasionally I get asked about one with two pockets, that would fold in half. why 19th street? Remembering our 19th street adventures made me think of that critical accessory (nobody carried purses when we went out), and how a handmade version would be pretty cute, and super useful. I also used lightweight fusible interfacing, but that’s also optional, especially if you use something a bit heavier for the outside. the pattern…is really just two rectangles. time to start sewing! 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. And viola!
Free Clothes Patterns Posted on | October 9, 2008 | 7 Comments I originally became interested in patternless sewing, many years ago, because I had a hard time finding patterns in my size. Nowadays, patterns in large sizes abound. Nonetheless, I still love my pattern free sewing. These patterns generally of three types. Skirts are very easy to make without a pattern. I came across a few patterns that didn’t fit into any other category, so I gave them their own. We normally assume underwear is too complicated or to time consuming to sew ourselves. Aprons can usually be whipped up in less than an hour. Shirts and dresses are much more complicated to make than skirts. Coats can easily be the most expensive piece of clothing in your wardrobe. Click on the first link to get inspiration. Read More : Sewing or Home Comments
Double Apron Tutorial Day! It's Double Apron Day today at Ruffles and Stuff! The first apron tutorial is from my creative-style soulmate, Mellissa, of Frakers Acres! You may remember her as the "Ruffle Your Stuff" grand prize winner last month. She's all about cute, fun, and bright, and I can't get enough of that! She was gracious enough to consent to be a guest on my blog during "Celebrating MOM", so please give her a warm welcome for me! Hello Everyone! Skill Level: begginer-intermediate Needed: *1/2 yard front fabric *1/2 yard back fabric *1/4 yard band fabric *2 extra wide double fold bias tape in complimentary colors *1/4 yard pocket fabric OR scraps from front and back fabrics Seam Allowance: 1/4 inch unless otherwise stated Fabric Choices: Cotton Calicos Preparation: Wash, dry, and iron all your fabric before using. CUT. SEW. Snip around rounded edges to allow fabric to lay flat after being turned and ironed. Estimate the length of bias tape needed to sew a boarded and cut to size. Turn and iron flat. Tie bow.
Dragon dress: Garden Part 3 PLUS TUTE! Finally. My Dragon dress!!!! I can't say how much I love this dress. I saw the fabric at the fabric store and knew I had to make a dress. I love the shape of the skirt I wore it to a friends memorial because it reminded me of him and it was a huge hit. Tute:Fabric: I used three yards and had some left over...I'm 6'0 so most people will need a bit less.Zipper: Whatever length you feel comfortable with. *To start measure from your waist (bellybutton or smallest part of your torso) to about how long you want the skirt of your dress to be and add an inch. Fold in half and snip the parts that are a little uneven so you have a nice looking slope. This is the basic shape you want to cut out for the dress top. Measure the widest part of your bust and cut your piece that long. Here are the first set of darts. Close up. The second set of darts. This is around what the new shape should look like after both sets of darts on either side. Find the center of the skirt and the top and the back. Sew across.
Perfect Box Pouch Tutorial ? Make it Modern How insanely fabulous is this pouch? I can’t decide if I love it so much because a) it is made from glittery elephant fabric, b) of it’s small but perfectly proportioned size, c) it holds my on the go quilting supplies or d) all of the above. If you’d like to make your own see how below. You will need: 2 pieces of exterior fabric measuring 8 inches by 6 inches. Things that will come in handy: rotary cuttercutting matshearscraft scissorsclear ruler Step 1: Choose and cut your fabric- is it just me or is this oftentime the hardest part? I like to use a right angle ruler (“borrowed” from my husband) to make sure my fabric pieces are nice and square. Step 2: Layer your pieces. Step 3: Stitch the layers together 1/4 in from the edge. Step 4: Places both sets of fabric with the pressed under edges on top of the zipper and sew together. Step 5: Fold the two sides right sides of the exterior fabric together. Step 7: Move your zipper pull to the center and stitch a quarter inch seam on both sides.