Forget about spending too much money at a retail store for a new bookbag when you can make your own! Go back to school in style - your own personalized style - by making your very own purse to carry your books in. Use fabrics & accessories to customize your book bag to fit your style. Materials you will need to complete this bookbag include:
Kate Hemmings & Vicki Taylor from Sew magazine show you how to properly sew a "dart" (a.k.a. taking in fabric to make it fit the contours of your body). Just follow these easy steps in the video:
If you have scissors, measuring tape, 1-2 yards of a non-fraying fabric, and chalk, you can create a sleeveless cardigan without sewing one inch of fabric! Pick a fabric that you like and wear it proudly after only an hour's worth of work.
Still using those boring plastic coasters that you got at a sale at Ralph's? Add some personal style to the mix the next time you serve your friends some soda by making your own coasters!
In this video, Elizabeth shows you how to take left over fabric from a previous project and fashion it into a cute, up to date, high waisted skirt. This process is pretty easy and completely free! You can save money and fabric and get a great new look at the same time! So fun!
Want to digitally add a fabric background to a photo after the fact? With Photoshop, it's a breeze. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular image editing software or simply looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial from the folks at Britec Computer Systems. This video offers a step-by-step guide on how to generate fabric backgrounds within Adobe Photoshop.
Real flowers are beautiful, but they don't last very long. In this tutorial, learn how to solve the problem of wilting daisies with these fabric flowers! In this video, you will see exactly how to create three different types of fabric flowers and accessorize to your heart's desire.
This week Kim Hall, a teacher at the EtsyLabs and an Etsy Seller (nottene), came by to show her technique for dyeing natural fabric with organic ingredients. Kim has worked with many different dyeing and printing methods. If you've always wanted to dye your own fabrics or yarn, this is a great video to get you started. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to use cabbage, onion, or tumeric to make a natural fabric or yarn dye.
In this tutorial, we learn how to make Styrofoam and fabric Christmas ornaments. First, shape the Styrofoam into a ball and then grab the fabric you want to place around it. Place the ball into the fabric, then tie it at the top with a ribbon and some string. After this, you will be able to decorate the fabric with bows and glitter, whatever you want to use. You can attach a hook to the string in the middle if you would like to hang this on a string. Be as creative as you would like, just mak...
In this video, we learn how to make a tutu for Halloween. First, take your pink fabric and lay it out flat. Next, use your scissors to cut down a folded edge on the top of the fabric. Now you will have two pieces. Next you will roll the fabric down until you reach the end, then you will cut strips out of the fabric. Now, take your elastic piece and tie the strips of fabric onto it. You can use any colors you would like to make this. You can use pinks, oranges, blacks, whites, and any other co...
Bed bugs appearing in the office space is becoming more and more common. Often, someone brings a bed bug to the office on their clothes, and the bed bug roams away from the garment. These don't normally turn into reproducing infestation.
In this tutorial, we learn how to make cloth flowers. Start out by grabbing several different strips of fabric and folding it into a shape that makes a flower. After you do this, place a needle into the fabric so it doesn't come unraveled. After this, start to twist the fabric and then thread the needle through the strip. Now, pull the fabric up and it will scrunch up into a flower shape. Now, wrap this around a stick with a piece of fabric on it, that will become the middle of the flower. Wh...
In this tutorial, we learn how to edge finish with lingerie elastic. First, grab your elastic and place it onto your fabric. Line up the elastic so it matches in perfectly with the fabric. Use a sewing machine to sew the elastic onto the fabric. Go slowly while you are doing this and lift the elastic in your hand as you continue to sew it on the fabric. When you get to the end of the fabric, the elastic will be sewn on, and you will be able to wear it! This only takes a few minutes, just make...
To recycle an old towel into shorts, fold the towel and cut it into a short leg's length worth of fabric. Cut another piece into a short leg's length worth of fabric. Draw a curved seam on one edge. Stack the towels and pin them to hold the fabric in place. Cut out the seam on both of the towels. Separate the towels and sew up the seams on both of the fabric pieces. Do not sew the top seam and front side seam of the shorts. Instead, sew the front and back side seams together. Thread and sew a...
Even if you never took home ec, you can create simple projects by learning the basics of sewing machine use.
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a fabric gift bag for any occasion. First, you will need to grab any type of fabric with any design that you want the bag to be in. Next, you will fold in the edges of the fabric so it has a hemmed look, then sew them down. After you do this, sew the two sides of the bag together, then sew the bottom. Next, grab a piece of ribbon that you don't want and wrap it around the bag. Top it off with a felt flower and sew a button into the middle of it. Glue thi...
Tiara-esque headbands are fun to make, and more importantly, fun to wear! You will need, 1 basic wide headband, 1 yard of cotton fabric, 1 yard tulle, flowers from the Crafts section, scissors, beads and rhinestones for details, a glue gun. Lay the headband over the fabric, towards the edge. Mold the fabric around the headband, leaving some extra fabric at the ends. Cut the fabric. Glue the fabric from the underside of the headband, and glue from end to end. Cut all excess fabric away, and tr...
This video demonstrates how to make a holiday punch needle ornament. First choose an ornament design and fit cross stitch fabric to a small embroidery hoop. There are designs on the CyberSeams website that can be traced onto the fabric. Put the fabric with the traced design into the embroidery hoop, thread the needle, dial it to "2", and begin punching the needle through the fabric to make the design. You can choose embellishments that can be sewed or glued on. When the design is finished, re...
Looking to make this Christmas a DIY Christmas? Why not make your own Christmas tree skirt, customized to fit your personality and home decor! Nothing says it’s Christmas like a beautiful Christmas tree. Now you can decorate the area below with a handmade Christmas tree skirt that you can be proud of.
Start with an old pair of jeans and some scrap fabric. Then, using a few small sewing notions (scissors, thread and a decorative button) and the pattern given in this video, transform this old fabric into a super cute and useful lined handbag.
There are several different techniques you can use to transfer a pattern onto the fabric you want to embroider, depending on the color and type of the fabric you want to embellish. This video shows you three separate techniques, such as chalk pencils or tracing paper.
This tutorial uses a flower being painted on a piece of white fabric to show you how to use the dry brush technique to paint your fabric. Dress it up with beads, sequins or embroidery when you're done painting your design!
You probably haven't heard of shirring fabric before, but we can bet you've either seen it or have several pieces of clothing with shirring. Shirring means adding bumpy, ruffled waves to a fabric using scrunching and sewing.
Fabric painting is a fun hobby, but like most styles of painting there are a dizzying array of tools available to choose from. This video will teach you about different kinds of fabric paint brushes and how to choose the right one for your project.
Do you have extra scrap fabric hanging around your craft room? Why not make something fun with it instead of tossing it? In this tutorial, learn how to take that extra fabric and turn it into cute, no-sew flowers in no time! Use the flowers for appliques, hair decoration, clothing design, pins, anything! These flowers are so easy to make you can put them together in two minutes.
Join Molly de Vries and pick up some new holiday tricks with a green conscience. She shows us how to make a festive fabric garland from attractive scraps, then shows a furoshiki fabric gift wrapping technique. Molly is a sustainable textiles maven and creator of Ambatalia "The Fabric Society." Learn how to wrap gifts the furoshiki method.
Watch an experienced quilter glide through four layers of fabric to make a clean cut with a rotary cutter. This instructional quilting video shows how a right handed person would cut fabric. You will also need a straight edge and a cutting mat in addition to a rotary cutter in order to make straight cut in quilting fabric.
This instructional video demonstrates how to knit a fabric stitch, also known as the linen stitch.The linen stitch is a nice, firm knitting stitch pattern that looks similar to the woven fabric called linen. It's a great reversible pattern perfect for bags, scarves and just about anything else you can think of.
This instructional sewing video demonstrates how to sew a ruffle. Choose any type of fabric and some stretchy material. Sew the stretchy material onto the fabric while the elastic is stretched out. When you let it relax the fabric will retain a natural ruffle. Try it out at home with your own designs.
Watch this fashion tutorial video from ThreadBanger to learn how to braid fabric without it fraying. You'll need three strips of fabric, pins, and a sewing machine. You can embellish just about anything with your new braids, and this instructional video will help you braid like a pro.
Remove oil stains from fabric. Oil and grease stains in fabric can cause ugly marks. Fortunately, they don't need to be very difficult to get out of your clothes. Oils respond well to most soaps and can often be easily lifted if you catch them in time. First, try dabbing at the stain with some liquid laundry or dish detergent.
Fabric valances add a great decorative and finishing touch to any window. You really can do fabric valances yourself. Learn how to measure for beautiful custom fabric valances in just two minutes with this how to video.
Fabric roll up valances add a decorative flare to your windows. Measuring and installation of fabric valances is easy. In this short video you will see just how simple it is to install a fabric roll-up valance.
The first step to wrap your hands for boxing and kick boxing is to place the hoop at the end of the wrap around your thumb. After the hoop is around the thumb the fabric is wrapped around the hand four times slowly moving towards the wrist. The fabric is then tied in an X formation around the thumb and returning back down to the base of the wrist. The fabric is then wrapped around each knuckle until all of the fingers have been wrapped correctly. The last step involved is wrapping the fabric ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a basic princess pillow case. First, you will need to have a large piece of pink silk fabric. Lay this out flat, then cut out a 45x75 cm rectangle. Once finished, separate the two pieces of the fabric, then cut a new piece 45x20 cm. Then, lay the fabric facing up and lay some lace on top with the frills facing inward. Sew together the fabric and lace all the way around the entire pillow case. Fold the top down on the other large rectangle piece, then rep...
In this video, we learn how to make a colorful tutu. First, you will need to grab all the colors of fabric that you want to use on your tutu. Then, roll up the fabric of each color carefully, then cut it out to the length you have measured for your subject. After this, cut out one more smaller section of fabric from each piece until you have done this with all of the colors. Now, using a piece of ribbon as the waistband, tie each piece of colored fabric onto it, alternating colors each time. ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to sew and measure elastic. First, place the elastic over your waist and think about what you are making. Decide if you want it to be comfortable or if you want it to be tighter if you are wearing it out during the day. Also take into account what type of fabric you are going to be using so you know how much elastic is needed. Fold the elastic and mark the inside and outside of the fold, now do the same thing with your fabric. Now you will know if you need to ea...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a stylish bat sleeve. First, take a large piece of fabric and measure it from your shoulder to the armpit on the other arm. Now, fold the fabric up and mark pins where you want the cuts to be. Now, sew the seams where you placed the pins. Do this for both sides and when you are done you will have bat sleeves on a blouse in just a few short minutes. You can do this on any color of fabric and use different types of fabrics as well. Just make sure to measur...
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to reupholster the seat of a chair. Begin by taking the seat off the chair and remove the staples on the back of the fabric. Remove the fabric and cushion, leaving you with the wood base. With polstry foam, cut the foam out 1/8" larger than the board. With wool batting, cut the batting 4" larger than the board and then staple it to the board. Finish it by covering it with some decorative fabric. Cut the fabric 4" larger than the board and staple it on...
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a toy parachute. The materials required are: lightweight fabric, ruler, scissors, string, 4 hole button and a toy army man. Begin by measuring a 10x10 inch square on the fabric and cut it out. Fold over each of the 4 corners and cue a small hole. Measure and cut 2 lengths of 36 inch string. Take the string and tie it to one end of the hole on the fabric. Run the other end through the button hole and tie it to the diagonally opposite hole on th...
