Full Project Tutorials Archives - Page 15 of 15

How to Replace a Zipper

January 8, 2009 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

We all have that favorite pair of jeans. And we’ve all experienced the devastation of having the zipper break. Instead of tossing them into the trash or rushing them over to Goodwill, try these step-by-step instructions to repair your zipper in no time.

jeanszipper

1. Use a seam ripper to remove the zipper.

2. It may be difficult to find a replacement zipper of the exact length, so be sure to get one that is a little bit longer than the old zipper. Line the broken zipper up against the new zipper and mark where the teeth of the old one end to ensure they will be the same length.

3. At the end of the zipper, make a bar tack. This can be done with the zig zag function on a sewing machine or by hand. Cut the zipper just below the bar tack.

4. Put the zipper in the jeans and baste into place.

5. Use the zipper foot to sew the zipper into place. Stitch as close to the zipper as possible.

6. Turn the pants inside out. Pin the zipper in place and sew it into position. Be careful to only stitch through one layer of fabric so that you will not be able to see the stitches on the outside.

7. Make a bar tack at the end of the zipper to hold it securely into place.

How to turn old jeans into potholders

December 25, 2008 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

Turn the seat of an old pair of jeans into potholders. The jean pockets, already ready for slipping in your hands, make this sewing project a breeze.

Find a pair of old jeans. Perhaps you have an unsightly hole that is beyond mending like me?
Cut two 10 inch squares around each pocket, with the pocket as close to the center of the square as possible.
Cut out two 10 inch squares in fabric to match the denim squares.
For the insulation layer, use two layers of thick wool batting cut to equal squares, or use several layers of denim squares cut from the jean legs.
For each potholder, assemble the three square layers of denim, insulation, fabric. Align the insulation squares with the fabric square, with the wrong side of the fabric touching the insulation. Pin in place. Align this pinned piece with the denim square, with the right side of the denim touching the fabric piece. Pin in place.
With a ½ inch seam allowance, stitch three sides of each pot holder.
Turn inside out and press. Topstitch the remaining side closed. Repeat for other potholder.

Happy baking with your homemade potholders!

Favorites Friday: The Anti-Gift Guide

December 19, 2008 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

With only a few days left until Christmas, I think we’re all getting a bit over-saturated with crafty gift guides. Sure, you might have a few gifts still to make this weekend (I know I do, one more hat!!), but is another gift guide really going to help you out? Instead, we FaveCrafts editors thought we’d put together the anti-gift guide, full of crafts we would NOT actually recommend you make for your loved ones. As a disclaimer, we’d like to say we think all of these crafts are completely awesome in their own way and if you have a recipient with a sense of humor, have at it! Otherwise, we hope you enjoy a good laugh.

1. Your soap dispenser looks so sad and cold doesn’t it? Well, whip up a crochet “Soft Soap Dress” to keep it warm. The crochet is quite cute, but I’d feel somewhat odd harassing the head of an anthropomorphic soap pump to wash my hands. Still, if you are little less startled by doll-like figures in the dark, why not hide the ugly product label?
Soft Soap Crochet Dress
This felted baby Yoda hat is the perfect gift for parents who happen to be major Star Wars fans. Others might want to restrict this kind of gift to Halloween. Personally, I want to see my nephew in this. I don’t think he’s take it off.
Adapted Felted Baby Yoda Hat from iamsalad
If you missed the controversial 9/11 Softies, they deserve a look. While some might say these cute towers will ALWAYS be too soon, others have found something touching in them. Perhaps humor is part of the grieving process.
Submitted by Mindy and found over at Life Art Yarn & Baby Poop, Jews can get into the spirit of overly-festive holiday sweaters with this knitted creation from HSN. Mindy says, “As a Jew, I always felt left out of tacky holiday sweater wearing, until now!”
Festive Knitted Hanukkah Sweater
Even without knitting skills, you can get into the spirit of holiday sweaters by “knitting” one online and emailing to a friend compliment of Sullivan, Higdon & Sink. Do some “window shopping” while you are there of past creations. Priceless!
Be festive in every room of your house with this slightly disturbing Santa Commode Set. Yep, that’s right, you can dress your toilet up just like Father Christmas himself!
Santa Commode Set
Last, but not least, you can go green and tacky with this hilarious plastic Christmas wreath. Just follow the step by step directions here. But like the directions say, you might want to hang it on the back door when you’re ready to display it.
Tacky Christmas Wreath