Fantasizing about riding my bike to the grocery store is a lovely image. A bit of a fresh air, get my legs moving, a handle bar basket full of …. too much? What. Wait, that wasn’t the idea I had in mind. I made this tote bag to fit right […]
fabric - Home Redress - howto - journal - patterns & tutorials
Repair a Vintage Project Basket
Special thanks to a Facebook message that let me know the pattern link was broken for the Vintage Project Basket. Now that it’s fixed, let me share with you this project that still has a home in my studio.
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Sew A: Felt Skillet Cozy
Jason’s been goading me for, uh, too long to make a handle cover for our skillet. We’ve seen them at the store and while they aren’t expensive, I can’t stand to spend money on something that I have the supplies lying around for and I know would take about two […]
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Decent Exposure: Mending my favorite jeans
The irony that I’ve literally written the book on mending is not lost on me. My mending pile is a mile high. Most of the time I try and stay on top of it, but times like this summer happen and it really gets away from me!
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Quilted Pot Holder
Way back in 2006 I wrote one of my very first sewing patterns, a little quilted pot holder. The idea was good, but even back then it didn’t turn out quite right. So, as I’ve been poking around in the archive, I came across it and decided to remake it […]
fabric - patterns & tutorials
How to: Patchwork Lanyard by C.L. Tice
C.L. Tice is a writer, poet, crafter, and mom. Her writing and creating adventures are inspired by the world around her. She can be found at her blog, Mused.
Recently, my workplace changed to having swipe card access rather than the punch codes we had been using. We’ve never required ID badges for employees and I’ve never worked anywhere where we had badges or cards. So this is a new experience for me.
fabric - howto - journal - patterns & tutorials
How to: Make a Replacement Pet Bed Filler
When we got Jak last month, I thought I was being oh so smart by getting a dog bed with a removable cover. The theory was that I could just take off the cover, give it a wash, and be good to go again. Well, that’s true except in the case of accidents where the whole thing gets soaked through. Next time I’ll make sure to get a cover that’s water proof as well as removable. Ah well. Hopefully we have dealt with the last of the pee issues.
Time to pull out the sewing machine and make my own. It was surprisingly easy, so I thought I would share this with you, just in case you have a pet with a bed that needs a new inside.
fabric - feature
How To: Fabric Stitchy Bookmark
One of the things I wanted to work on this year was reading. And I have. In fact, I’ve worked on it a lot. It seemed only right to make a new bookmark to mark my place. I’ve already read more books this year than I did in all of […]
fabric - journal - patterns & tutorials
How to: Make an Ironing Mat
While the ironing board is a great craft room tool, it’s often a bit big and cumbersome. Sometimes I just need to press a little something while sewing–all nice and quick. I keep my cutting mat on my sewing table, so I wanted to make an ironing mat that would fit right over it and protect its rubbery surface.
fabric - journal - patterns & tutorials
Sewing My Winter Cycling Cap – Take Five
Sewing a cycling cap together, five times finally got it just right! Here’s how I did it.
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Sewn Leftovers: Fleece Mittens
Last weekend I spent Saturday sewing with my friend Judy, we made all sorts of fleecy things and my favorite were these super quick to make fleece mittens. She gave me permission to share this classic mitten pattern with all of you.
fabric - howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
Bamboo Shade Leftovers: How to twine them into projects.
Two weeks ago, I trimmed down my bamboo shades and realized that I had in my hands the most wonderful leftover–bamboo sticks! Twining. Oh twining, I love you. This, my friends, is a wonderful way to “weave” multiple things together.
To demonstrate it’s power I give you:
Sticky Twined Coasters
fabric - howto - journal - patterns & tutorials
How To: Trim your Bamboo Shades & Make them Private
Jason knew as soon as we moved into our new house that we needed some blinds fast for the master bedroom and main bath. We just needed a little more privacy so we would stop having to get dressed in the closet, haha.
Here’s how I shortened, trimmed the width and length, and made these neatly natural blinds more private.
fabric - patterns & tutorials
How to: Make a Clothspin Bag out of Curtain
Inspired by my newly restrung clothesline holder, I made my own clothes pin bag. Start to finish this project took about 20 minutes – and that’s with the figuring out part too!
Crafty Business - fabric - patterns & tutorials
Scrap Sewing Projects
I wanted to share with you a few of the great projects in the July issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly. I know you will just love them and it’s quite the deal: just $9 for 8 patterns + 1 recipe for a frozen delight + an interview with Lee Meredith + an article on dealing with scraps in my studio + a few of my favorite online tutorials and patterns + a crafty wordfind.
fabric - howto - patterns & tutorials
Tutorial: Attach a bias tape edging
I forgot to sew the bodice right sides together and turn it out before top stitching, so I was left with all these crazy raw edges, woops. I could have redone it, but once it happened it was like “well, this would look better with a little trim anyway.”
Here is a quick easy way to add a bias tape trim to a raw edge to finish it off and make it look great.
fabric - journal - nosew
April Stash Bust: Fabric Scraps Meet Button Kits!
Those last little scraps of fabric are always the hardest to use up. I’m always looking for more ways to use them up. Well I think I just found my favorite way! Buttons! Fabric covered buttons in fact.
fabric - nosew - patterns & tutorials
Guest Post: Fabric Wrap Bracelet Tutorial
Today’s project is brought to you by the creative force behind Poppy Chic Designs, Taryn Sisco. Make sure to check out her super fun items in her etsy shop and on her blog. These cute little bracelets are super sweet and fun to make too. Whenever I wear one people always ask where I got it… well now you know!
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Mr Stub’s Pencil Pouch: Free Sewing Pattern
I have a very bad habit of loving new pencils. When my pencils start to get short and stubby, they tend to get forgotten in the bottom of my art box. Well no more. I made this cute little pouch just for my short pencils. Now I’ll slip them all in there and make sure to use them up before digging into my new pencil stash! With a bag this cute, how could I not grab it first?
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Sewing Pattern: Laundry Bags
I got these plastic bags for christmas and opted to repurpose them as laundry bags. After load 6, they started to rip. It turns out that being made for soft plush light weight pillows = not being able to hold a bazillion pounds of laundry.
All the same, I loved the simple structure of the bags. It would be a snap to whip up more bags made out of more sturdy fair. And, taking a little inspiration from a Target bag, I added a flap with a snap so I can fold them up for storage and keep them in The Laundry Loader I made last year. Once it gets warm again, I think I’ll even stencil the washing symbols on each bag. :)