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New Edition! “Sewing Bags: Tutorial You’ll Love & 15 Free Purse Sewing Patterns” eBook

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There’s no such thing as too many purses. Whether you need a laundry bag, a gym tote, or a gorgeous evening clutch, there are bags for all occasions. Sewing a bag is always a great way to spend an afternoon, since it’s a project that you’ll use over and over again. They make for wonderful gifts, especially around the holidays! In the spirit of Christmas sewing, we at AllFreeSewing have put together a revamped, better-than-ever, new edition of our eBook, Sewing Bags: Tutorials You’ll Love & 15 Free Purse Sewing Patterns.

Sewing Bags: Tutorials You'll Love

From over-the-shoulder sling bags to linen jewelry bags, this free eBook has a little taste of everything. It’s the perfect collection of bags and purses, full of variety. You’ll find tutorials for refashioned bags, vintage patterns, organizer projects, and bags for every age.

DIY Rug Clutch

Bags for the Fashionable Sewist

This bag is so stylish and pretty! The DIY Rug Clutch is a clever way to refashion an old rug. This bag is such a great addition to any outfit. Plus, it’s an easy project to sew. This tutorial will teach you how to insert a lining, button, and zipper to make a sturdy, life-proof clutch out of a discarded piece of home decor.

Bags for Dr. Mom, MD

Emergency Zippered Pouch

Everyone knows that being a Mom means that you’re also a teacher, artist, lawyer, chef, and of course, doctor. Never be without a Band Aid and some Neosporin, thanks to the adorable Emergency Zipper Pouch! This great little on-the-go bag is perfect for skinned knees and bruises. This zippered pouch is easy to sew and includes a little keychain so that you can keep it with you no matter where the emergency is.

Not Just Another Pretty Purse

Bags for the Overnighter

This project is Not Just Another Pretty Purse. This big bag is stylish and pretty, but more than that, it’s useful. The bag’s shape and size make it perfect for overnights. Whether you’re jet-setting off for a weekend vacation, attending a work conference, or just packing the kids up for a weekend at Grandma’s, this bag will hold all of the essentials.

Download your free copy of Sewing Bags: Tutorials You’ll Love & 15 Free Purse Sewing Patterns today!

What items do you always carry in your purse, no matter what?

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National Sewing Month 2013: Sewing a New Wardrobe on a Budget

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It’s Day Twenty of National Sewing Month! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.

National Sewing Month 2013

An updated wardrobe is always on the mind, but it might not always be in the budget. New clothes and accessories can be quite pricey, and no matter how stylish they are, the cost might not be worth it. As a sewist, though, you don’t have to find yourself subject to retail sticker prices when you can simply make your own clothes. Rather than spending inordinate amounts of money on designer clothes, you can use any number of free sewing patterns to find ideas for refashioning clothes.

Check out the free tutorials below for several fashionable sewing projects. Whether you’re looking for instructions on how to refashion tops, bottoms, dresses, or clothes for kids, there’s a free sewing pattern for you. Explore all of these ideas to find the clothing refashion project that’s just right for your needs.

How to Refashion Tops15 Minute Lacy Blazer

You don’t have to set foot in the department store to find your next fabulous top. Learn how to refashion tops with these free sewing tutorials. You’ll love how much you can create, and you’ll love how low-budget all of these projects are to sew. With so many free patterns, there’s no need for you to ever sacrifice style to save money.

15 Minute Lacy Blazer

DIY Basketweave Hoodie Tutorial

Draped Color Block Tee

Easy Applique Star Tee

Easy Sequined Pocket

Sewn with Love Appliqued Tee

Trendy Sweatshirt Refashion

How to Refashion Bottoms20 Minute Shirt to Skirt

You can sew eye-catching bottoms on a budget using any of these free sewing tutorials. Low-budget, easy sewing projects are just what you need to give your wardrobe a boost on a dime. When money is no longer a factor, the only big question you really have to answer is “What will I sew first?!”

20 Minute Shirt to Skirt

Making a Skirt from a Dress

Ready for Summer Denim Refashion

Ruffled Pant Cuffs

Very Easy Overalls Refashion

 

How to Make Refashioned DressesSkirt to Dress Refashion

Walking away from fabulous dresses because they cost too much can be a heart-wrenching experience. Say goodbye to those traumatic moments by getting out your sewing machine and your favorite clothes that need a new life. Check out these sewing tutorials to learn how to refashion clothes you already have into fashionable dresses.

Skirt to Classic Halter Dress

Skirt to Dress Refashion

Upcycling Clothes for KidsClean Cut-Off Shorts for Boys

With the rate at which kids grow, keeping them clothed can get quite costly. Save some dough on your kids’ clothes by learning how to refashion garments you already have. Check out any of these free sewing tutorials for ideas on how to make refashioned clothes for your kids. With these easy projects, keeping your little ones high fashion will be a breeze.

Clean Cut-Off-Shorts for Boys

Hoodie Into Child’s Cowl Neck Pullover

Man’s Shirt to Child’s Dress Refashion

Refashion Sweater for Boys

Sweet and Simple Bow Top

Wonderful Tee Shirt Onesie

 

 

Why do you think refashioning is so popular with younger sewers?

 

 

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Link Love: Pumped Up Kicks

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Bye, bye boots! I am officially ready to retire my winter kicks and pull my sneakers out from the back of my closet. However, nothing ruins the excitement associated with spring clothing quite like the realization that your wardrobe is, well, boring. Luckily, there are so many ways to refashion a pair of plain sneakers and create a colorful, eye-catching pair of shoes that will last all season long. Whether you’re rocking a pair of lace ups or prefer some slip-ons, there are so many simple crafts to try. This is a great way to save money – no need to hit the shoe store when you have these craft projects at your disposal!

A lightweight pair of sneakers can be a great wardrobe staple during the spring. Create your own pair of Upcycled Vans – you only need two fabric paint colors to change the look of your shoes. Not a fan of black and white? Colorful Upcycled Sneakers are loud, proud and so much fun to wear. Best of all, these sneakers will get you in the mood to work up a sweat! Toms shoes a great accessory for the season and you can easily customize them with a few inexpensive supplies. Tutorials for Over the Rainbow Shoes and Simple Shoe Makeover will help you get started and think outside the box.

Unleash your creativity and add doodles, symbols and more to a plain pair of tennis shoes. Your one-of-a-kind creation is sure to get you noticed all season long.

  1. Spring Time Sneakers from A Lion’s Nest
  2. Miu Miu Inspired Glitter Sneakers from Love Maegen
  3. Aztec Inspired Shoes from C.R.A.F.T.
  4. Mystic Shoe from The Daily Telecraft
  5. Polka Dots Sneakers from Born In Eighty Two
  6. Altered Art Shoes from Robayre
  7. Tribal Tennies from Dream a Little Bigger
  8. Floral Canvas Shoes from Henry Happened
  9. Chevron Shoes from Time for Tea Beads

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99 Ways to Transform Your T-Shirts! Enter to Win

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99-waysIt’s time to refashion those ordinary T-shirts into something totally fabulous. Let this fun book show you how to take a plain, old tee and transform it into your most creative top. The techniques and ideas are super simple to follow. Each T-shirt transformation only calls for a few accessible items like scissors, a sewing needle and thread.

Read the full book review.

We’re giving away a copy of 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim & Tie Your T-Shirt Into Something Special. If you want to win, visit the contest page every day for your chance to snag the prize.

The contest ends April 29, 2013. Enter to win today!
To find even more T-shirt transformation ideas, check out these projects:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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May FaveCrafts Radio Wrap Up!

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Were you listening or did you miss May’s episode? Don’t worry either way, you can catch the recording of the radio show any time! But in case you’re curious, here’s what you missed:
FaveCrafts Radio ShowWe had some awesome guests on this month (well, like we do every month ;). May’s guests included Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking, a second time appearance from Suede, and brand new author Jenni Radosevich from I Spy DIY!

Our first guest was Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking who started her blog in 2009 after grad school to keep track of all the projects she was making. Suzannah’s mother worked making historic costumes for museums and such so from a very early age she had an amazing sewing room as a resource for getting her sewing projects started. How cool is that? Her very first blog project was a little strapless dress that she still loves making! Suzannah also told us that you live and learn, meaning that you can look back at old projects and see how much you’ve improved. Best tip? She loves dressing herself to portray a feeling and enjoys gathering inspiration from lots of places, but loves Mad Men. Then again, who doesn’t right? If you missed the show live, you can still hear Suzannah’s interview online anytime.

Next up was Jenni Radosevich from I Spy DIY! Congrats to Jenni for the brand new book release! Jenni worked at InStyle magazine for about 5 years and started DIYing her own stylish clothes and was one day asked to write an article which turned into a column! How exciting! Her awesome site spun off from there. After Random House approached her to write her book, she put it together in 4 months! Can you believe that? Out of curiosity we asked Jenni what her most popular project was on her blog and it turns out that bracelets and jewelry are crazy popular for her! For a sample of her style check out the newspaper clutch we also talked about on FaveCrafts.com. And finally Guest1166 won a copy of Jenni’s new book! You can hear Jenni’s interview anytime online.

Last, but certainly not least, was Suede! No surprise here, Suede really wanted to be an actor when he was little. Big surprise here, he went to Amish school where he first encountered sewing! Bet none of you would have ever guessed that! Some of you may remember Suede from his days as a contestant on Project Runway, he talked to us a little bit about the pressures put on you when you do a show like that.  Suede also gave his knowledge about not giving up with it come to following your passions and told us that he has so many exciting projects in the works. We could not be more excited here at FaveCrafts to see what Suede is going to come up with so that we can all “rock fashion the way we rock it”! We loved all the fashion and style advice that Suede gave us and you should definitely listen in if you missed it the first time. Plus, big news! Suede Says is launching a fabric line this year! Listen in to the show for all the other Suede news.


We had some very awesome giveaways during the radio show, but we didn’t want to leave out anyone that wasn’t able to listen live so we have set up a special giveaway for you guys! If you go back and listen to the recording from May’s show, we gave a super secret giveaway phrase! Type that phrase in the comments below for your chance to win a Simplicity SideWinder and a pattern from Suede Says!

Side WinderSuede Says
Contest Rules:

  •     Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  •     One comment/entry per person.
  •     Contest closes May 11, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
  •     Please enter the super secret password from the radio show in the comments in order to be entered.
  •     Winners will be posted on this blog Monday, May 14th and notified by email

Join in for out next show on June 12th which will be all about Vintage Crafts!

What was the super secret password from the May show?

 

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March Blog Hop: Fashionable Crafts + Giveaway!

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Editor’s Note: Voting has begun! Get your votes in by 11:59 PM CST on Thursday, March 22, 2012 for a chance to win the prize!

Welcome to the FaveCrafts Blog Hop, where you get to showcase your work! This month’s theme is Fashionable Crafts, to go along with our National Craft Month theme! Show us your coolest fashionable craft that you’ve ever made (or make something new and blog about it for the occasion!). We want to see your handmade jewelry, upcycled clothing, knit and crochet wearables, DIY accessories, and refashions.

This month we’re giving away a prize to one lucky blog hop participant. Here’s how it works: recently we started using the “like” feature on our blog hops, meaning you can click to “like” someone’s project, much like you would on Facebook. For this month’s hop, the person whose project gets the most “likes” will win a prize! So link up and spread the word so your project gets voted up! The winner will receive a fashion crafts gift basket! All links must be in by Sunday, March 18 at 11:59 PM CST. Voting starts after all submissions are in, and ends on Thursday, March 22 at 11:59 PM CST. The winner will be announced here on the FaveCrafts Blog.

How to Participate:

  1. Write a blog post on your own blog showcasing your projects. You can talk about the crafting process, write up a tutorial, or merely show off the finished project.
  2. Add your link to this post by clicking on “Click Here to Enter” at the bottom of the screen and following the instructions. Make sure you link to your specific blog post, not your homepage, and give it a caption.
  3. Remember to copy the FaveCrafts Blog Hop button from below and paste it into your blog post, linked to this FaveCrafts Blog Hop post, so that everyone who reads your blog can see that you’ve been featured on FaveCrafts!
  4. The Link List will close at 11:59 PM CST on March 18, at which point no new links can be entered.
  5. Voting closes at 11:59 PM CST on March 22, at which point all “like” votes must be in. We will announce the winner here on the blog.

We’ll be hosting a blog hop right here on the 15th of every month, so be sure to return and link up each month. Check out last month’s hop too!

**Don’t have a craft project for this Blog Hop but want to be notified via email about future events? Sign up for our blogger list and we will let you know when the next Blog Hop is up so you can join the fun!

*Note: Only folks in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win this prize.




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National Sewing Month: Refashioning and Upcycling

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Dear Readers,

It’s National Sewing Month! To celebrate, AllFreeSewing.com is hosting a special blog series throughout the entire month. Check back daily for posts featuring our favorite projects, new sewing videos and tutorials, guest blogs from talented designers and more. We’re also giving away a HUGE sewing prize at the end of the month. You won’t believe how EASY it is to WIN!

Leave a comment on any of the blog posts with the headline “National Sewing Month”. Your comment will count as an entry into the giveaway. You are free to comment as often as once per blog post (for a total of 30 chances to win!). At the end of the month, we’ll pool all of the comments together and pick one lucky winner to win the mystery grand prize. And trust us; you want to win this one!

Whether you’re already a sewing enthusiast or new to the craft, our hope is that this September will encourage you to create wonderful sewn projects.

Happy National Sewing Month!

Here’s today’s post:

I have a confession to make: I love thrifting.  More specifically, I love buying vintage dresses, tearing them apart, removing obnoxious shoulder pads and the like, and creating a unique piece that’s truly one-of-a-kind.  My current project is this ultra-80s dress that I found while thrifting in Antioch, Il.  Right now its shoulders rival Mount Everest in height, the waist is big enough to swim in and the skirt is too long (and not in a cute, maxi dress kind of way).  Here’s what it looks like as it is now:

As much altering as it needs, I still LOVE the fabric and since it only cost $5, it will be well worth the time I put into refashioning it.   I don’t have pictures of the finished product just yet (the dress is currently sitting on my sewing table full of pins and pieces of thread) but I can’t wait until it’s finished.

So if you’re like me and you can’t get enough of refashioning clothes, you’ll love what I’m about to show you.  In honor of National Sewing Month and the awesome power of upcycling, here are some stylish projects from AllFreeSewing to add to your sewing to-do list. Enjoy!

Shirty Pillows Tutorial

 Shirty Pillows Tutorial: Isn’t this pillow adorable?  What a great way to use up old t-shirts!

30 Minute Tank Dress Tutorial

30 Minute Tank Dress Tutorial: Who said you need to have mad skills to sew your own dress?  This easy tutorial combines an old tank top with a funky pattern to create the ultimate party or picnic dress in under an hour!

 

Kate Spade Tank Knockoff

Kate Spade Tank Knockoff: The best part about sewing is how much money you can save!  Why spend $200 on a designer tank top that you could easily make yourself?  If you were one of the many who fell in love with the Kate Spade tank top above, you’ll love this free tutorial that will guide you through making your own for a fraction of the price.

Do you enjoy refashioning clothes?  What is your favorite refashioned project that you’ve ever made? 

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Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty