FaveCrafts

1000s of free craft projects, home decor ideas and DIY tips

Help a Reader: Afghan Identification

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Every now and then, everyone could use a helping hand.  Ready to lend your assistance?   Below you’ll find a few readers in need.  If you feel you can help or have any suggestions, please post your answer in the comments. Please try to supply instructions and/or links.

Paulette asks,
How does one finish tulle hems?

Doris asks,
Here is a photo of an afghan my granddaughter sent to me. She said she found it in a magazine, but doesn’t remember which one. I have searched many crochet pattern sites, including sellers on E-bay to no avail.  Does anyone know how to make this?

Sherry asks,
I am a frog freak!! How do I make the Frog Crochet Cocoon, Hat & Booties for an adult? I have no idea how to do something like that! Would love to  have one for ME!!

Penny asks,
I have been looking forever for an old crocheted afghan pattern called Indian Paintbrush. You use Mexican yarn by Red Heart and then other jewel colors of your choice.  It can be done in either single or double crochet.  Do you have any ideas?  Thanks.

How to: Make a No-Sew Hem

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Having been short-of-leg for my entire life, I am no stranger to ill-fitting, too-long pants. Long inseams have plagued me since I started shopping for my own clothing, and I don’t foresee a reprieve any time soon. Back in the day I would merely roll the pants up and accept that the knees of my blue jeans were relegated to my ankles, because there was no way I was going to figure out how to use a sewing machine.

Now that it’s no longer “back in the day,” I am not quite so afraid of using my sewing machine anymore. However, now that I am sewing more, I find myself hemming more and more things–dresses, skirts, aprons, and of course, pants. Night after night of sewing straight line after straight line, I found myself lamenting “There’s gotta be a better way!”

Enter no-sew fusible fabric tape. Fusible tape acts as an adhesive between two pieces of fabric, and it is activated with heat. The most popular brand is called Stitch Witchery. With this no-sew method, you can hem a pair of pants or finish the edges of homemade curtains without the use of a sewing machine or serger.

The Pros:

  • You don’t have to lug around your heavy machine or spend half an hour trying to thread a needle.
  • If you know how to use an iron, you know how to use fusible fabric tape.
  • Hems are neat and clean with no messy, uneven stitches or dangling threads.
  • It’s great for emergency hem repair when you’re traveling.

The Cons:

  • If used on clothing, fusible fabric tape can come undone after multiple trips through the dryer.
  • It shouldn’t be used on light, sheer fabrics because the tape becomes stiff after heat activation.
  • Fabric that has been hemmed with it will not be able to stretch, so it is not useful for most knits.

How to Use Fusible Fabric Tape:

  1. Iron your hem as you would normally do.
  2. Place the tape between the layers of fabric that you want fused together.
  3. Place a damp cloth over the area to be hemmed, then place your hot iron over the damp cloth.
  4. Hold the iron over the damp cloth for several seconds, then remove the cloth.
  5. Iron directly onto the fabric you are hemming until you are sure the tape has melted.
  6. Be careful not to move the fabric around too much until the adhesive is dry and secure.

It really is that easy! So if you’re too scared to dust off the ol’ sewing machine, or you just don’t have time, or you’re on vacation sans needle and thread (but somehow remember to bring your Stitch Witchery), use this no-sew hemming method and you won’t have to buy stilts to make your favorite pants fit.

What other no-sew shortcuts have you learned?

Help a Reader: Hemming a Wedding Dress

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We received a very urgent craft question from a reader and are hoping our knowledgeable community can help. In fact, we are so excited to help this woman hem her daughter’s wedding dress that we are offering a Dimensions Punch Needle Craft Kit for the best answer. Just post your answer in the comments and we will pick a winner next Friday, September 11.

Here is what she asks:

My daughter is getting married on Oct 3… just weeks away and her dressed needs to be hemmed. I have a lot of sewing experience. How far off the floor should the hem be? Would it be best to hand sew, machine sew or use fusible hem tape?  please, I need help very soon. Thank you so much.

Update on the fabric: She says “Several people asked what kind of material the gown is… it’s satin…plain with no lace or trim whatsoever, but it does have a long sash that is wine color, which goes down to the floor and a little beyond… kind of like a narrow train..”

Can you help?? If so, you could win this:

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty