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Somewhere Over the Rainbow: 11 Rainbow Crafts to Sew

December 10, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

Rainbow Crafts to Sew

Dorothy had to go all the way to Oz to find out what was on the other side of the rainbow. Thanks to these awesome projects from AllFreeSewing, you don’t have to go nearly so far.

Rainbow crafts are wonderful year-round projects. They can bring a little bit of light into cold wintery days or send the clouds away during springtime rains. A rainbow is always a smart addition to any project, be it Baby’s First Book or some DIY girls clothes. These are free sewing tutorials (plus a few non-sewing crafts) that will give any project a happy, bright feel!

What’s waiting for you on the sunny side of that rain cloud?

Taste the Rainbow

Rainbow Cupcakes from runwithglitter.blogspot.comThere’s nothing tastier than a rainbow treat!  The great thing about rainbow foods is that they look impressively complicated, but are actually such a breeze to make.  These easy tutorials will show you how to bring a touch of color to your favorite desserts. For example, try this Rainbow Cake Tutorial for your next birthday party! It’s deceptively easy to make and the rainbow layers will be a lovely surprise when you cut out the first slice! Or, if you’d prefer something a little more bite-size, these Rainbow Cupcakes will be a hit at any party. They taste delicious and look so pretty!  And for the guests that aren’t cake-inclined, whip up some complementary Rainbow Jell-O to satisfy the sweet-tooth of every guest.

Dress it Up

Chromatic Scale Vintage Ribbon Skirt

Putting on an outfit with a rainbow theme is bound to improve even your darkest mood. Plus, a rainbow garment can go with anything! You can match this Chromatic Vintage Ribbon Skirt with just about anything and look great. Make your rainbow garment the focus of your outfit or just add a dash of color with this fun Rainbow Braided Headband Tutorial. Better yet, recycle old pillowcases to make a DIY dress! Just follow the steps laid out in the Rainbow Pillowcase Sundress, Part One and Two. Making your own clothes is easy when you know they’re going to bring a smile to your face every time you put them on.

 

House at the End of the Rainbow

Rainbow Scraps E-Reader Sleeve

There are tons of great rainbow projects for around the house. Adding a bit of rainbow flair to your DIY home decor is a fun, easy way to spice up any room or accessory! From this Rainbow Scraps E-Reader Sleeve to a fun Cross Stitch Cover for your iPhone, you can carry your rainbow around with you … or, leave this beautiful Rainbow Diamonds Mini Quilt over the back of a couch or chair.

Brighten up your bathroom with the Rainbow Bath Towel and your wrist with the Zippered Rainbow Wristlet. Whichever craft you decide to make, you can be sure your finished project will make your house the brightest one on the block.

Rubber Band Loom Crafts GiveawayPLUS! Can’t get enough rainbow crafts? Win a copy of Rubber Band Loom Crafts from Leisure Arts, Inc. to learn how to make the latest DIY jewelry craze: Rainbow Loom bracelets! Enter here to win once a day, every day until December 23rd!

What’s your favorite rainbow food?

Filed Under: Link Love Tagged With: cake decorating ideas, cupcake crafts, free sewing patterns, Mollyhall Seeley, rainbow crafts, sewn clothes

4 Ways to Refashion Your Wardrobe from Fleece Fun: National Sewing Month 2013

September 23, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

It’s Day Twenty-Three 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

Hello fellow sewists! I’m Angel from Fleecefun.com – a blog that features free PDF sewing patterns with video tutorials!  I have several patterns and tutorials that I know you’ll love.

Trying to stay on top of trends can be difficult (and expensive!).  Here are some simple tricks and tips on how you can keep your wardrobe up to date and keep cash in your wallet.

1. Have a Good Foundation.

Having some good key pieces that are in style no matter what are a worthy investment.  You can wear them year after year and dress them up with on trend accessories.  A simple white button up top, a couple of nicely
cut but simple blouses in neutral colors, a black skirt and/or pant, blue jeans (a couple of good pairs), a good over coat.
  These core items need to be in good condition and look good on you.  If they don’t meet those criteria – they aren’t helping your wardrobe.  It’s time to upcycle them.
 

Some great patterns for core wardrobe elements that you can find on AllFreeSewing are:

  • The Unstoppable Pencil Skirt
  • The Cap Sleeve Blouse
  • The Cowl Capelet

2. T-shirts are a Girl’s Best Friend.

It seems like with every event there’s a t-shirt that goes with it!  They can stack up pretty quickly in the closet.  Fortunately because fabric doesn’t unravel there are a million fun and fast refashions you can make with t-shirts. T-shirts can become scarves, shrugs and number of other accessories with minimal sewing!Some fabulous  t-shirt refashion projects on AllFreeSewing are:

  • The T-shirt Infinity Scarf
  • The Ruffled Rim Hat
  • The Tee to Skirt Refashion
  • The Chevron Scarf

3. Think Outside the Gender Box.

Just because a shirt was once designed for a man doesn’t mean it can’t have a second life as a feminine addition to your closet.  Be willing to look at your fella’s rarely worn items to see if a fashion gem can be made.

An amazing tutorial on AllFreeSewing is:

  • The Men’s Shirt Apron

4. Know When to Call It.

Sometimes no matter what you do you can’t save a piece.  If it has too many holes, a huge stain, or the fabric doesn’t lend itself to an easy refashion, give it an honorable retirement to the rag drawer and call it a day.Be sure to check out my free PDF patterns with video tutorials on FleeceFun.com!

 

Tell us truthfully, do you think your wardrobe could use a refashion?

 

 

Filed Under: National Sewing Month Tagged With: Budget crafting, guest contribution, Guest Post, National Sewing Month 2013, refashion, Refashion Projects, sew clothes, sewn clothes, Thrifty Crafts

National Sewing Month 2013: Hollywood-Inspired Vintage Patterns to Sew

September 15, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

It’s Day Fifteen 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

How to Make a Scalloped Front Skirt

The golden age of cinema has inspired me to write today’s blog post. The lifestyle and fashion of that era has me itching to sew all of the free, trendy clothing patterns on AllFreeSewing. It was hard to narrow down which part of old Hollywood fashion inspired me most. There was the glitz and the glam. There was chic and there was daring. For help, I decided to look to the starlets of this day and age. Actresses that will never go out of style, much like their clothing. Women like Audrey Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, and Elizabeth Taylor remind us that clothing can outlast time.

DIY Audrey Hepburn Inspired Birdcage Veil

 

Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany’s and My Fair Lady, both starring the beautiful Audrey Hepburn, are classics from the golden age of cinema. Not only was Hepburn’s look flawless then, it is still trending to this day; including her cat eye makeup and her tailored dresses. The trends say it all: we are Audrey obsessed. To work her timeless look into your own closet, be sure to check out these links!

  • Golden Goddess Gown
  • How to Make a Scalloped Front Skirt -My favorite Audrey look-alike!
  • DIY Audrey Hepburn Inspired Birdcage Veil -From Wedding Obsession

Vivien LeighScarlett O'hara Tiered Gown

The stunning Vivien Leigh has been one of my favorite actresses ever since I watched Gone with the Wind. The love affair between Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’hara is enthralling, but not nearly as eye-catching as Leigh’s wardrobe throughout the movie. Her tiered gowns and netted veils (check out the Rhett Butler Veil) capture the era of the movie perfectly. Thankfully, the tiered look is back and better than ever with this Scarlett O’hara Tiered Gown. As Cleopatra, in Caesar and Cleopatra, Leigh once again captured the audience’s attention with her amazing wardrobe. We are bringing the Egyptian look back in the form of draped and flowing maxi dresses. I’ve picked out some of our favorites for you to try.

  • Chiffon Maxi
  • Cleopatra Draped Maxi Dress

Jackie's Pill Box HatOther Fashion Icons

So many actresses from the golden age of cinema and so little time. These women made everything from accessories like Jackie’s Pill Box Hat, to the The New Woman’s Flapper Dress stylish. Whenever you are feeling out of style or like you are missing the latest trend, turn to the women that made old Hollywood fashion what it still is today. Your closet will never be lacking with the timeless looks of our favorite women in Hollywood. Be sure to explore these links for more free vintage sewing patterns.

    • Elizabeth Taylor’s Favorite Lace Skirt
    • Lauren Bacall Sorbetto Top
    • Mulberry Style Paperbag Skirt
    • Enchanting Tulle Skirt

 

 

 

Who is your favorite fashion icon?

 

Filed Under: National Sewing Month Tagged With: DIY clothes, fashion, free sewing patterns, hats, maxi dress, National Sewing Month 2013, sewn clothes, vintage clothing patterns, Vintage Sewing

Sewing Dresses & Apparel Tips from Suzannah: National Sewing Month 2013

September 7, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

It’s Day Seven 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

Today we welcome guest blogger, Suzannah from Adventures in Dressmaking who is sharing tips on her specialty: dressmaking/apparel sewing!

For a couple years now I’ve had a feature on my blog called”Sewing Circle.” It started when a reader sent me a question about how to choose patterns to go with a few fabrics she’d collected. It’s sometimes hard to imagine how you can make a sewing pattern on your own, so we had fun talking about styles she was interested and how she could make them out of her fabrics. I posted about it on my blog and the series was born. Since then I’ve gotten a lot of questions from readers about how to copy a dress they’ve seen in a magazine or even a store window, and a lot of general questions from sewing beginners.

I thought I’d summarize a few of my favorite sewing techniques and tips based on some top Sewing Circle questions I’ve received.

How to Cut Out the Right Pattern Size

Using patterns can be confusing, but before you even cut them out, you have to choose the right size — which can be even trickier! I can lend some insight into how to choose the right size and cut out the right fit.

  • Sewing patterns use standard body measurements developed by the US Department of Standards during WWII. These are fairly outdated now, so many of us feel may need to cut out a size 3-5 sizes bigger than our current ready-to-wear dress size!
  • But, most people don’t have the exact bust, waist, and hip measurements of any particular size. When cutting out a dress or top, the bust measurement is probably most important. Use the size that matches your bust measurement, and taper at the waist (angle in or out when cutting after measuring) to fit. On a dress with a gathered skirt, for example, the hip measurement doesn’t matter at all, and even for the A-line skirts, it’s not as important as waist and bust, so you may be able to ignore that number and cut out the right size for your bust and waist. For pants or skirts, use the pattern that matches your hip measurement and make the waist fit. Or, if the numbers are pretty close, I usually use the average size. If your bust is an 8, your waist a 12, and your hips a 10, for example, use the size 10 pattern as a base.
  • Unfortunately, modern sewing patterns are not designed to fit as snugly as some of us might like for tailored garments. You may find you cut out what is supposed to be the right size in something, only to be swimming in it once you put it together. There are a couple possible reasons for this: 1) most sewing patterns are not high fashion and are not often made for trendy juniors’ sizes and snug fits. 2) most patterns are intended for a 5/8” seam allowance, and if you use a 1/2″ or smaller, it actually makes a big difference in fit.
  • Also note: patterns will usually tell you the “finished garment” measurements as well as the bust, waist, etc. to use when picking out your size. If your bust is 36″, the dress’s bust may be 38″ or 39″ to allow for movement and wearing ease. If you see these measurements and want something snugger, check the finished garment measurements for the smaller size down — maybe you should cut out that one.
  • If you want to test out a pattern, make a “muslin” out of whatever cheap fabric you can find — an old sheet, a thrift store find, or a fabric that you got on sale would be great! This way you can test out the pattern without spending too much time or expensive fabric. You don’t have to finish the edges of the muslin or add fastenings or anything.

You can custom-make patterns for your size, by measuring the pattern pieces as you cut.

  • The first thing you should do when cutting out a new pattern (when you don’t know how tightly or loosely it will fit) is measure the pieces and how large it will be when you sew them together. To do this, you need to lay them out taking into account the seam allowances (if you use 5/8″, overlap them 1 1/4″ at each seam) and measure across the bust and waist.
  • Try on the garment before you assemble to fashion fabric to the lining–it’s way easier to take in seams before you have two layers and a join at the top edge, for example. Pin the bodice closed where the zipper will be and look in the mirror. Use pins and a fabric marker if you like to pinch in where it’s too big or mark where it’s too small.
  • If all that fails and the garment is still too big, take it in some at the sides as well as the back—you don’t want your side seams to be so far off your sides. It’ll look kind of funky if anyone sees, and it may pull weirdly at the waist since the bodice is curved for the smallest part. You don’t have to take the bodice all the way apart, just 3-4″ or so on each side at the top, then go in and take it in.

It may sound like a lot, but once you get started with a muslin or simple pattern to start with, you’ll get more comfortable tailoring clothes for your shape and style!

Good Fabrics for Beginning Sewers

Some fabrics are better than others if you’re just getting comfortable with making your own clothes.

First, almost all clothing patterns will tell you on the back what the recommended fabrics are, although they’re not always helpful. Always read the back of the pattern if you’re concerned, and look at those types of fabrics while you’re in the fabric store.

The biggest differences in fabric are in weight — you can’t make a heavy coat out of a sheer chiffon. So think about fabrics in terms of the garment you’d make out of them, and stick to that. Some fabrics, like “shirtings,” are great for blouses and tops, but not great for pants or shorts. A nice linen with an embroidered pattern is good for a skirt or maybe a dress, but too heavy for a shirt. And, of course, a knit fabric is best for patterns that are meant for knits (they will tell you on the pattern). And alternatively, don’t make a pattern that’s meant for a woven fabric out of a stretchy one. It won’t work.

Generally, the fabrics that are best for apparel are in the front of the fabric store. They are often seasonal colors or named for the types of things they’re best for (“suitings,” “bottomweights,”…). You can take the recommendations of the store displays!

Quilting fabrics, often near the back of the store, come in super cute prints but are not meant for clothing. They can work for clothing, with a lining or appropriate finishing, but they are best for quilts or shower curtains or little home dec projects. I know, some of the prints are sooooo cute, but it is hard to make them durable and wearable. I don’t use them for clothing myself, although some people I know do.

The other very important thing to consider are the accessory fabrics that you’ll need to use: linings and interfacings. A very lightweight but crisp cotton is lovely for a lining, but poly/nylon linings are cheap and easy to find. I use lightweight fusible interfacing on pieces of the garment that need reinforcing. Don’t skip the lining and interfacing! As for my personal preference, I like natural fibers better than nylon, polyester, acrylic, fleece, etc. any day. I do use artificial fibers for many linings, and for some silk tops. But I love a good cotton dress!

How to Combine Patterns to Make Your Own Styles

Now that you’ve got the basics of cutting out your pattern and choosing the fabric, get creative! Some of my favorite dresses feature two different fabrics, one for the bodice and one for the skirt.

The basic idea is, combine two patterns of the same 1) size and 2) fit/shape. So, if your waist is 28″, you could combine the bodice for ANY dress that hits at the natural waistline and has a finished waist measurement of 28″ with ANY skirt pattern that also has a waist of 28″! Or, as I do, you don’t have to use a pattern for the skirt if you pleat or gather it into the waist. Or add a waistband — making sure you make the bodice above it shorter to accommodate it.  The tricky part comes when you use a skirt or bodice that has a scooped front, and you may need to adjust the skirt or bodice to match the skirt or bodice you’re pairing it with.

And, of course, you want to combine patterns of the same fit/shape. What I mean by that is: you can’t combine an empire waist bodice with a skirt that’s meant to hit at the natural waist, obviously (you’d get a weird baby-doll, and unless that’s the look you’re going for, it’s not going to work!). You can’t combine the bodice for a loose, flowy, knit dress with a pencil skirt dress pattern. So look at the finished garment measurements on the pattern package to guide you (if it has anything for the waist or wherever you’re combining) and just use common sense, and you’ll be fine. Here I combined a spaghetti strap fitted bodice with a pencil skirt (and added my own ruffle!) and got…

Sometimes with sleeves or even the waist, there’s a difference of 1/2″ or so, and you can normally stretch or pleat a little to make it fit (as long as you match your center front, back, and sides) or, try on the lining or unfinished bodice and see which pattern you want to cater to — if the armhole is too tight but the sleeve fits fine, cut the armhole a little deeper in the armpit, for example. If the waist is too big on the dress but fine on the skirt, take in the side seam on the dress a little.

These are some of my fave tips on making your own clothes and dresses! Check out my blog, Adventures in Dressmaking, for more of my fave ideas and projects for clothes, home, crafts, food, and more!

 

Have you ever started to make a dress for someone else and then decided to keep it for yourself?

 

 

Filed Under: National Sewing Month Tagged With: craft tips, guest contribution, Guest Post, helpful tips and tricks, How Tos, National Sewing Month 2013, sewn clothes, techniques, tips and tricks

The Top Five Sweetest Summer Dresses to Sew

June 20, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

If you’re like me, you check the weather multiple times everyday. I check it when I wake up, and I check it less than an hour later before I get dressed and leave for class or work. And I most certainly do not go to sleep without checking tomorrow’s weather at least once. This probably seems obsessive (okay, it is obsessive), but I do my best to be dressed weather-appropriate before I head out for several hours. If there’s one thing I can tell you from the numerous weather reports I’ve recently read, it’s that it’s time to break out your summer dresses because the warm weather is on its way.

What’s in style is ever-changing, and perhaps you’re ready to add some new summer dresses to your wardrobe. Let’s be honest, who has ever said they couldn’t use another great dress for the summer? If you’re ready to update your closet, check out these five sweet summer dresses that you can sew to get ready for some fun in the sun.

Easy Breezy Summer Dress for Girls

Easy Breezy Summer DressNothing says “summer is here” like a great floral print dress. You can sew this little number for your little girl in just a few easy steps. Check out the summer dress tutorial to see how you can make this adorable outfit full of ruffly fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Stitch in Color Summer Dress

Stitch in Color Summer DressThis sweet summer dress is full of bright, eye-catching colors and features the ever-popular overalls design. Your daughter will love playing and twirling in this soft and comfy outfit you sewed just for her.

 

 

 

 

 

Super Easy Summer Dress

Super Easy Summer DressA great summer dress is just a few stitches away with simple patterns like this one. This strapless dress is so easy to make, you might even want to try it in a few different colors. Grab your favorite fabric (or two, or ten) and give this pattern a whirl.

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Dress

Summer DressYour next summer dress can be a low-budget, upcycling project. Grab an old plaid shirt and sew away using this dress pattern. There’s no need to spend big bucks when you can sew a sweet dress with recycled materials.

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Summer Halter Dress

Easy Summer Halter DressThis sweet summer dress is perfect for any beach getaway. All eyes will be on you when you wear this ensemble, and you’ll love knowing that your great dress was made from your very own handiwork.

 

 

 

 

 

Which of these dress patterns do you want to try?

Filed Under: Sewing Tagged With: DIY Dresses, free dress patterns, girls dress, maxi dress, Sari Lesk, sew clothes, Sewing, sewing crafts, sewing ideas, sewing patterns, sewing tutorial, sewing tutorials, sewn clothes, summer attire, summer crafting, summer crafts, summer sewing, summertime

Sewing for Men: Tough Projects You Have to Try

May 20, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

Man, it sometimes seems like sewing projects are tailored only to women. What about the boys? After all, according to the U.S. census roughly 50% of the population is made up of men, so there’s really no need to exclude them from sewing adventures.

I’ve rounded up some sewing projects with men in mind. Make these as a gift to yourself, for dad, or for a boyfriend. Whatever excuse you need in order to sew one of these patterns is fine. What with Father’s Day, graduation parties, and birthdays coming up, chances are you don’t need to dig too deep for a reason to try out these awesome patterns.

I’ll start us out with a staple for many men: boxers. A fundamental part of a man’s daily life, the boxer has also made its way into women’s pajama collections because of their extreme comfiness. (Ergo, if you’re a lady reading this who has no one to gift these to, just make them for yourself.) Getting down to brass tacks though, these Boxer Shorts a serious money saver. If you’re looking to penny pinch then making your own boxers is one way you can. Have you seen prices for men’s boxers lately? They’re out of control. These shorts will keep you and your wallet happy.

 Boxer Shorts

I decided to go straight to the source to find another boxer pattern and found these instructions on How to Sew a Pair of Boxer Shorts from Man Made. Now you have two options for this totally necessary piece of clothing.

 How to Sew a Pair of Boxer Shorts

Moving on to more masculine accessories is, you guessed it, this Men’s Wallet. It doesn’t get more manly than this, does it? Learn how to sew a wallet from these simple instructions. This is a great project because, again, it’s a money saver. Even basic wallets can rank around 100 clams at the department store. Dropping that much dough on something that sits in a pocket all day is malarkey. Sew a wallet that appeals to your tastes with this easy project.

 Men's Wallet

It’s time to add some dignity to the coffee cozy. If you’re going to make one, make it look manly. After all, your coffee cozy is your fierce protector braving the scalding hot temperatures of your morning Joe. Give it the look it deserves by crafting this Manly Coffee Cozy. You won’t find butterflies or flowers in this pattern. Consider gifting this to dad this Father’s Day. It’s a simple sewing project and will make dad feel tough as nails when he steps outside with his new-found sidekick, the coffee cozy.

 Manly Coffee Cozy

I saved the toughest for last. The Club Jacket is oh, so beautiful, yet requires careful attention while sewing. This is an advanced sewing project, friends. Don’t be deterred from making it, though! The instructions for this pattern are very accessible. I’d certainly say that stepping up your sewing game is worth a fitted jacket that looks as good as this one. You or your loved one shouldn’t be contained to small, medium, and large sizes only. Create a fit that is customized for you or a lucky man by sewing it up with this project.

 Club Jacket

Remember, Father’s Day is coming up. If you’re looking for more manly designs, find them here.

What are the best sewing projects for men?

Filed Under: Sewing Tagged With: Father's Day, Father's Day gift ideas, Gifts for Men, Man Crafts, sewn clothes

National Sewing Month: It’s Back to School Season

September 3, 2011 by AllFreeSewing

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.

Here’s Today’s Post:

Now that I’m no longer in school, I really love this time of year. That dread of returning to homework, tests and papers has been replaced with a deep sense of nostalgia. This year, instead of fantasizing about new supplies and freshly-pressed outfits, I think I’ll craft away my back to school blues. Thankfully, AllFreeSewing‘s latest eBook, 6 Free Sewing Projects to Make for Going Back to School, is filled with back to school projects that you can wear or use immediately.

I like that this eBook is filled with ideas for everyone. Whether you’re crafting for a kid or an adult, you’ll find crafty ideas in this eBook. Also, the projects cater to a variety of skill sets, so you can try something more difficult or go back to basics.

Lunch Sack

My personal favorite project in this eBook is the Lunch Sack. Last year I decided to “go green” and carry a reusable tote to work each day instead of using (and then throwing away) a plastic bag. This project is a great option if you want to keep your food the correct temperature and save the environment from unnecessary waste. It’s honestly so easy to make this project – beginners can show off their work with pride!

 

Here are some more back to school projects to get you in the fall spirit:

  1. Bow Backpack
  2. School Supply Caddy
  3. Pencil and Notebook Folders
  4. Back to School Desk Bag

 

Are you excited for back to school season? Why or why not?

Filed Under: National Sewing Month Tagged With: autumn, back to school, bags and purses, eBook, fall, free eBook, homemade accessories, National Sewing Month, Sewing, sewn clothes, sewn crafts

National Craft Month: How to Sew a Petal Skirt

March 9, 2011 by FaveCrafts

As experts and enthusiasts of all things crafty, FaveCrafts decided to host a special National Craft Month blog series for all of our lovely readers. Check back for a new blog post every day featuring our favorite projects, new craft videos, how-to’s from the FaveCrafts editors, and a GIGANTIC, ENORMOUS, AMAZING craft giveaway at the end of the month. That’s right–we’re giving away the biggest prize ever, a gift basket chock full of crafting goodies from our craft closet. There’s something for everyone in this gift basket.

Leave a comment below, and on any blog post labeled “National Craft Month” in the headline, and 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 31 chances to win!). At the end of the month, we’ll pool all of the comments together and pick one lucky winner.

My sewing project this month was to sew a petal skirt, an idea I adapted from the Rose Petal Dress tutorial. I made a feathered skirt for New Year’s Eve that everyone called my “Black Swan skirt,” so this petal skirt can be my White Swan skirt!

If you want to make the Black Swan skirt, check out …Love Maegan’s tutorial!

And if you want to make the White Swan skirt, read on!

Materials:

  • XL white T-shirt from Salvation Army
  • Rose petals from the dollar store

Total cost of this project: $2.60

Instructions:

  1. First lay your T-shirt flat and cut off the bottom for your skirt piece. Cut a piece that’s long enough to make a skirt. It’s always a good idea to measure it against a skirt you already own that’s a length you like. Your skirt piece will be a tube that already has a hem, so you hardly have any work to do!
  2. Sew the petals onto the skirt piece. I just placed one petal at a time and sewed them in a straight line, one next to the other.
  3. Keep sewing and sewing and sewing (and sewing) until the whole tube is covered with petals. I sewed the top row upside down and ironed them down, so that the stitching wouldn’t show.

    Here they are all ironed down

  4. Next, make a waist band. So far almost everything I’ve made has used an elastic waistband, so I wanted to branch out (a little!) and try to make a waistband out of just T-shirt material. I made this “yoga-style waistband,” as shown on Make It and Love It. First, I measured a pair of my pants that have a similar waistband.

    Remember gauchos?!

  5. Next, cut more fabric from your thrifted T-shirt to use as your waistband. I made mine 6 inches wide (to ultimately make a 3 inch waistband). The length of your material is the length around your waist, or the length I measured from my gauchos!
  6. Sew this fabric into a tube, then fold the tube in half over itself so that the wrong sides are facing each other.
  7. Since my T-shirt was so large, my skirt piece was too big to fit around my waist, so I had to gather the top of it a bit. Sew a basting stitch all the way around the top of your skirt piece and pull the threads to gather it until the circumference of your skirt’s waist is the same as your waistband piece.
  8. Position your skirt piece inside of the waistband so that the raw sides of the waistband and the gathered edge of the skirt are together, and the top of the waistband is facing down. Pin the waistband to the skirt.

  9. Sew around the top of your skirt to attach the waistband to the skirt piece. Then flip the waistband right side up, remove the basting stitch (if it’s showing), and you’re done!

I can’t decide if it looks ridiculous or fabulous, so I’ll let you decide. The White Swan Skirt: Do or Don’t?

Filed Under: National Craft Month Tagged With: Full Project Tutorials, how to, how to sew a skirt, National Craft Month, Sewing, sewn clothes

How to: Makeover a Onesie

November 10, 2010 by FaveCrafts

I was invited to a baby shower last weekend, and I had no idea what to get the mom-to-be. Since I write for a crafting blog (and I even have business cards to prove it!) I felt obligated to make something. Don’t get me wrong–no one expected me to whip up something fabulous and gravity defying, but as you crafty people can attest to, it just feels wrong to buy something that you could make. The baby  is going to be a boy (if doctors are to be believed), so that ruled out just about every sewing project I could think of. After consulting a few mothers, aunts, and other baby enthusiasts, I concluded that a new mom can never have enough onesies. Cue the light bulb over my head–I’d embellish a onesie for the little bundle of joy!

Here are some different ways of embellishing a onesie, and read on below to find out what I did!

  • Ruffle Butt Onesie
  • Baby Bear Onesie
  • Flower Girl Onesie Dress
  • A Very Merry Onesie
  • Baby Couture Pearl Onesie
  • Let it Snow Onesie
  • Baby Chick Onesie
  • Tutu Onesie for Valentine’s Day

So which one of these projects did I choose? Actually, none of them! When I saw this Tie Applique tutorial on Crap I’ve Made (which, by the way, is the best blog title ever, after FaveCrafts Blog), I knew I just had to make one. What’s more manly than a tie?

I started by downloading, printing, and cutting out the pattern she has on her site.

Then I traced the pattern onto a bit of stash fabric, cut that out, and pinned it to the front of the onesie. The tutorial suggests using fusible web like Wonder Under, but I literally made this the night before the shower, so I took some liberties.

I stitched around the perimeter of the tie pieces using a simple running stitch and some bright orange thread.

It was quick and easy, and I was done in about a half an hour!

Filed Under: Sewing Tagged With: baby clothes, baby shower, embellish, onesie, sewn clothes

How to: Make a No-Sew Hem

August 4, 2010 by FaveCrafts

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?

Filed Under: Full Project Tutorials Tagged With: hemming, how to, No-Sew, sewn clothes

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Full Project Tutorials

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The holidays are all about love and celebrating the Christmas spirit, so why not celebrate by making your very own Christmas Easel Card? With some cardstock, glue and a few other simple materials, you will be set to make this really cool-looking Christmas card this year. This is such a great idea for anyone who wants […]

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