Penny Halgren demonstrates how to use a handy little gadget known as a bias tape maker. First make the bias binding by cutting strips of fabric on the bias and stitching them together. Then press all the seams in the same direction. The fabric will go through easier if the strips are fed through the bias tape maker with the seams facing away from the front of the tape maker. Put the bias tape maker on the ironing board and start feeding in the fabric. The handle allows you to pull the tape ma...
Learn how to turn rough agate into a beautiful drop shape cabochon by hand from a qualified lapidary at Holts, London. A cabochon is a gemstone which has been shaped and polished as opposed to facetted. The resulting form is usually a convex top with a flat bottom. Use this technique of forming softer stones into smooth oval shapes for fine jewelry.
Do you have a preference for using an umbrella or a softbox with studio strobes? This instructional photography video demonstrates the strengths of each. The umbrella can spread light over a wider area and creates a softer light. The soft box creates a soft light with a defined edge to it.
Grill a portobello burger with tips from this how-to video. The chef says people in America prefer softer buns and people in Europe prefer a crispy bun--no wonder I want to be an expatriate!
Make a simple eye appear dead and chipped at ease. After following this tutorial you will be able to produce these kind of eyes within minutes.
For backhand defense the thumb is placed on the back of the racket handle at a slight downward angle. When the shuttle is smashed the defending player brings the racket head slightly upwards and forwards to meet it. Although the forearm plays a major role in backhand defensive shots for softer shots this forearm movement is limited.
Materials: Scrap fabric, elastic thread, cardboard, scissors, cellophane tape, and other bits and bobs ie feathers, buttons
Learn how to use bent handled trimmers: Kenneth D. King of ThreadBanger Quickies and NextNewNetworks explain how to use bent handled trimmers for working with fabric projects. Bent handled trimmers are great for cutting out fabric patterns and designs. The scissor itself slides along the smooth plane of the cutting table and it lifts the fabric just enough to successfully cut the pattern out. Bent handled trimmers make a very accurate cut. Never ever use your fabric scissors for cutting paper.
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:
Ditch the needle and thread, enjoy a fun family project, and give your little crusader the ultimate crime-fighting tool. Learn how to make a no-sew superhero cape.
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, we learn how to make an easy art journal. You will need: card stock or thick paper (10 pcs), fabric, scissors, ruler, clips, string, and a button. First, fold your paper in half and push down the crease so the paper stays folded. Now, lay your fabric down onto a flat surface and measure it out so it fits over the paper while laid flat. Now, place marks an inch into the side of the crease of the paper. Now, line the edge of the fabric up with your paper and mark on the fabric wh...
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...
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...
In order to make Fabric Paper Rosettes, you will need the following: decorative fabric paper, scissors, glue, and jewel embellishments.
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...
Everyone knows that dressing for success can give you an edge. Invest in a pocket square and put you and your suit over the top. Watch this video to learn how to fold a pocket square.
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.
If you are going to a toga party or just want to be prepared in case you need to improvise some clothing you will want to know how to tie a toga around yourself. This video will instruct on two ways you can tie a toga for men or for women.
Even if you never took home ec, you can create simple projects by learning the basics of sewing machine use.
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.
