Does sewing thread have an expiration date? The short answer is yes. I’ll show you how to tell if your sewing thread is too old to use, and provide some creative ways to use spools of thread that don’t pass the test!
How to Make a Stuffed Dinosaur (with free printable pattern!)
Every kid needs a stuffed dinosaur to vanquish their enemies. I’ll show you how to make a t-rex toy for a special tiny person in your life! The dinosaurs also make good toys for pets. I designed a free printable PDF sewing pattern and instructions to show you how to make a stuffed dinosaur to […]
Sign Up for My Free Live Zoom Class!
Hello everyone, I’ve partnered with FaveCrafts to teach a free Zoom class this month. The 1-hour class will show you how to make these beautiful 3-dimensional fabric flowers! The flowers are simple but elegant, and can be attached to pinbacks, hair clips, alligator clips, or sewn directly to a tote bag or other item. They […]
How to Make a Carbon Fiber Wallet
Want to know how to make a carbon fiber wallet? Or a wallet out of any other type of fabric, for that matter? This DIY carbon fiber wallet is visually striking, incredibly useful, and fun to make!
Wonderful Winter Sewing Projects
Looking for some winter sewing projects to chase away the cold weather? I’ve chosen 12 of my favorites to inspire you this season.
How to Make a Lower-Half Curtain (No Hardware Required!)
This tutorial shows you how to make an easy lower-half window curtain. Since only the lower half of the window is covered, the curtain works very well to block only what’s needed for privacy, without turning your room into a dark cave with no light.
50 Unusual Sewing Tools I Have in My Sewing Room
What do a fork, a drinking straw, a butane torch, an empty mascara tube, and silicone caulk all have in common? They are all unusual sewing tools that I keep in my studio! Check out the full post to see 50 unusual sewing tools and how to use them.
Make Your Own Mock Cathedral Window Quilt!
Would you like to learn an easy way to make a very impressive quilt? Check out this article and learn how to perform a little sewing magic!
12 Awesome Ways to Use Silicone Caulk in Your Sewing and Crafts
Here are a dozen offbeat ways that I use silicone caulk in my sewing and crafting. Check out some of my never-before-seen projects, and lots of helpful tips for using this awesome craft material!
How to Make Striped Tote Bag Handles, Belts, or Lanyards (it’s Super Easy!)
Does your tote bag need an extra pop of color? Try this easy technique to make striped tote bag handles! It also works very well on belts, pet leashes, lanyards, and any other kind of fabric strap.
How to Replace the Button on a Pair of Jeans (with a New or Used Jeans Button!)
Replacing the all-metal button on a pair of jeans isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Here’s a tutorial that shows you several different methods, including a hack that lets you re-use the button from an old pair of jeans!
17 Handy Painter’s Tape Hacks for Sewing and Crafting
Here’s a list of some of my very favorite painter’s tape hacks that will make your sewing and crafting (and maybe even your life!) a little easier.
How to Sew a Pot Scrubber Out of Produce Bags
This plastic mesh scrubber works very well to clean a variety of surfaces, and you can easily add a sliver of bar soap to the center to make a self-soaping scrub pad. The best part is that it takes less than 5 minutes for me to make one! Here’s how to make your own.
How to Replace Worn-Out Cuffs and Neckband on a Sweatshirt
The cuffs on a sweatshirt, hoodie, or sweater often look worn out long before the rest of the garment does. How do you replace them quickly and easily? I’ll show you!
DIY Fabric Flowers Tutorial (With Free Printable Template!)
Learn how to make these beautiful fabric flowers! They are a quick and easy project, and a great way to use fabric scraps. Use the finished flowers to decorate wreaths, tote bags, headbands, flip-flops, hats, purses, pillows, and more!
How to Evenly Space Flower Petals (or Other Items) in a Circle
If you do a lot of crafting, you might be looking for an easy way to space out flower petals (or other items) evenly in a circle. Here are a couple of ways to do that.
How to Sew Perfect Circles
This is a fun hack that lets you sew perfect circles with no marking or tracing. It’s easy, and all you need is a thumbtack and some tape!
How to Fix a Neckline That’s Too Low
Do you have a t-shirt with a neck that falls a little lower than you’d like? Or a sweater with a saggy, stretched-out neckline? Check out this quick fix.
Upcycled Swimdress Made From a Pair of Pants
Here’s how I turned a pair of thrift store pants into a classy swimdress.
DIY Ironing Pad Made With a Mylar Emergency Blanket
I wanted to make a small ironing mat to use near my sewing machine. Here’s how you can make your own DIY pressing pad with cotton fabric, batting, and a Mylar emergency blanket.
An Easy Way to Space Buttonholes Evenly
Believe it or not, this sewing tip is courtesy of Tom Silva, from This Old House. He used this method to space porch pickets, but it also works great for spacing buttonholes.
How to Patch a Hole in a Pair of Jeans (and make it look good!)
Learn how to patch a hole in a pair of jeans, and end up with a style statement instead of a tear.
How to Sew a Dart Using Only the Bobbin Thread
I think this is the best way to sew a dart: Using only the bobbin thread.
Bolt + Magnet = DIY Magnetic Pincushion
This DIY pincushion uses a bolt and a magnet to work a little magic.
How to Organize Sewing Machine Needles
This simple trick helps you keep track of what size your sewing machine needles are, and stores them safely until you’re ready to use them.
How to Make an Asymmetrical Striped Top
This tutorial shows you how to upcycle t-shirts into a flattering asymmetrical top.
On Breaking the Sewing Rules
It’s true; rules are often there for a reason. If you don’t want your seams to be obvious, then match your thread color to your garment color. Secure your stitching or else it’ll come undone. That’s just common sense. But there are lots of little “rules” floating around that are more like matters of opinion. […]
On Being Adventurous with Your Projects
For some people, the process of creating something can be a bit daunting. You don’t want to “waste” time, materials, etc. You might be afraid that it “won’t turn out very well” or something like that. But what if it does turn out very well? What if an epic outfit was never created because the […]
DIY Garden Hose Bobbin Holder
This easy-to-make DIY bobbin holder costs almost nothing, and it works great!