Simple Applique to Decorate Fabric Items
What is applique? You may be wondering this? Well, strictly it is defined as ornamental needlework in which pieces of fabric are attached to a larger piece to form a picture or pattern. So, lots of decorative sewing is applique. If you attach fabric onto other pieces of fabric then you are probably appliqueing. People often think that it is hard and that there are lots of ‘rules’. Well, there aren’t. Applique can be as complicated or simple as you like. This tutorial is going to show you very simple applique that I did to a bedding set but you can repeat it with any shapes that you like and…
Easy Drawstring Bag to Sew- great for gifts
This adorable little easy drawstring bag is such fun to make. YOU can make one any size you like even if you are a complete beginner. They are superquick and you can make them for lots of different uses. From cute gift bags that are a gift in their own right to sports storage bags, they really can be scaled up or down for your own needs. Throughout this tutorial I will show you the instructions while making a little bag for a car key. Why not attach it to your house key I hear you shout? Well I share the key with my son so it is easier to…
Lavender Bag Hearts to sew for Valentines Day Gifts
This Valentine’s Day why not show someone how much you care for them by making them a beautiful gift? These gorgeous lavender bag hearts are really quick to make but look gorgeous. You could make one really special one or a collection to wow your loved one! They can use them to freshen their clothes and think about you every time they open that drawer or perhaps sleep with it under their pillow. Lavender helps you sleep! If you want to know more about the possible benefits of lavender read this informative article. This tutorial has everything you need to make your own special lavender bag hearts including a free…
Fabric Napkins – Make your own in minutes!
There is something very sophisticated about fabric napkins. They are so much more stylish than paper ones. Perhaps you use them every meal or save them for a special occasion. Either way it is really easy to make your own double sided fabric napkins to match your decor or table setting. You can also make as many as you like so if you are entertaining a lot of guests you can make enough for everyone to have a matching napkin. You can use any fabric you like. Just remember that you need to launder them and they need to feel nice when you use them. Cotton is the easiest and…
Autumn / Fall Leaves made from Felt
It can be tricky to know how to bring that fall / autumn feel into your home. This week I am making some autumn / fall leaves from felt. They are super easy to make and very effective. There are lots of ways to make your leaves from felt but these are the easiest in my opinion. They look great in so many different craft projects. Perhaps hang them in the window, make a wreath, design a brooch, decorate a card, make a table runner and mats or produce a pretty picture for your wall. You could even simply place them around your home during fall / autumn. This page…
Fabric Covered Notebook
Turn any inexpensive notebook or diary into a luxurious, top of the range product. Make a fabric cover that slips on and off. You can even transfer it from book to book as you fill each one. A fabric covered notebook is a great gift idea. How about personalising them for those special people in your life? I have made one for a trusty notebook to carry around and one for my next diary for 2020. This tutorial will show you step by step how to achieve a great finish. This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small commission if you use those links at no cost to you.…
Super Simple Dressmaking Pattern Weights.
On this site there are various tutorials showing you how to make your own sewing supplies. You can make your own needlebook, make a pincushion that sharpens your pins and make some pattern weights. This tutorial shows you how to complement those items with some small, simple dressmaking pattern weights. I use both kinds of weights when I am sewing but you may have a favourite! They are super quick and really inexpensive to make. This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust. You will need: Small pieces of fabric…
Make your own Pattern Weights
This is the third part in the series showing you how to make your own sewing supplies. The first part was a pincushion that sharpens your pins that you can find here. The second part was a needlebook to store all your needles safely and that is available here. This tutorial will show you how to make your own pattern weights so that you no longer need to pin your pattern pieces to your fabric. You may well have seen them used on television programmes like The Great British Sewing Bee. Pattern weights save you time and prevent pin marks on fine fabrics. I am loving them so I have…
Make your own Simple Needlebook
This is the second tutorial in a series that will show you how to make your own dressmaking supplies. This tutorial will show you how to make a really simple needlebook to store all your needles. It will also give you great tips on adapting it to suit your needs. So simple yet so effective. I have made mine out of the same fabric as my pincushion and pattern weights so that I am making a sewing set. You can see the full tutorial for the pincushion at ‘How to make a pincushion’ and the pattern weights at ‘How to make pattern weights’. This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn…
How to Make a Pincushion (that sharpens your pins!)
This tutorial will show you how to make a gorgeous pincushion that you can use for all your sewing tasks. If you include wire wool in your pincushion it will also sharpen your pins whenever they are inserted. You can use any item you like to make these. As you can see, I used various containers but I must confess that my favourite are the little bucket and the teacup and saucer. This is the first in a series of tutorials showing you how to make various items to help you with all your sewing so keep coming back to the blog for some more ideas. The set includes how…