Today I have a beginner’s sewing project for you. There is really no sewing involved, but it pertains to sewing. The materials call for a jar with a lid and a band, so I used a small candle that I had on hand. When the candle is used up I can clean up the jar and put buttons or sewing needles inside.
Here is what you will need to get started:

A fabric scrap of your choice
A jar with a lid and a band
Cotton balls or fiberfill
Card stock
A glue gun

Using the lid of the jar, cut out a circle the same size …read more

I’ve had some reader requests to explain how to make the “baseball stitch” used in the heart softies tutorial.  It’s an easy & fast stitch for making a flat, almost invisible closure.  It’s great for 3D projects like stuffed animals.
For the sake of clarity, I’m going to be using left & right to designate which side of the fabric I’m working on.  Here’s a step-by-step how-to:

Thread your needle and knot the end.  Bring the needle up from the wrong side of the left piece of fabric.

Now take the needle and bring it over the left side and push it through …read more

I showed you how I made the softies hearts yesterday – would you like to see how they turned out?

They also look really neat with the hanging loops interlocked together, like this:

Of course, now I want to make more and embroider them!  Too many projects, not enough time…

I thought it would be fun to do a machine-sewn project for Valentine’s day, but didn’t feel like making anything too cutesy.  The solution?  Off-kilter, wobbly hearts!
To start off with you’ll need a selection of fabric (I’m using printed 100% cotton quilting fabric) scissors, thread, fiber-fill and a hand-sewing needle.

Because I don’t want the hearts to look perfect, I just cut them freehand – with no patterns.  The largest heart is approxiamately 5″ across, the smallest is 3″ across at the widest point.  Place the right sides together and pin:

Now sew around the edges, using a straight stitch and …read more

It’s so much fun having friends who send me interesting links   Karen sent me a link to a how-to on Froo*gal’s blog, of her version of fabric-covered wooden beads.
I decided to try it myself – and quickly ran into a snag.  I only had a few wooden beads, and they’re all small ones.  I didn’t really want to drive 20 minutes to the closest craft store, so I’m using small beads.  I’d definitely recommend using a larger bead (and inch across or more) – the small beads are quite fiddly to use.
Here’s what you’ll need to do this …read more

My mom sent me the link to a great online article Threads Magazine has about making your own belts.  Not only do they have easy instructions, but they also have different ways to wear a belt (and which type will flatter you the most).

Click here to read the full article.
That got me thinking about different kinds of belts… and how I could make them   I’ve wanted a Japanese-style obi belt for a while now – not neccessarily as wide as this one:

But that same general idea (the pattern is McCall’s 4953 by the way)   I don’t think it …read more

I just came across this pattern on the fabric.com blog and had to share it with you all!

It’s for “Moniqa’s Flowers”, just click here for the instructions.

Simplicity has just released their early fall collection! They have some very cute patterns – I would definitely make some of these purses:

It’s pattern #3715

It’s nice to see more men’s patterns being included – they’re hard to find sometimes. This is pattern #3708.

I’d wear some of these blouses I think I need more time for sewing! This is from pattern #3684.