News — Sewing

s This tutorial was originally published on Crafting a Green World in 2017.  If you sew, and especially if you love to upcycle, the upcycled denim skirt is a rite of passage. Here's how to make one!   You will need:    well-fitting pair of blue jeans. Maybe they have holes in the knees that you don't want to patch. Maybe they're too short, and you don't want to sew on a cuff or a ruffle. Whatever the reason for converting them into a skirt, they should fit well in the waist.    thread and sewing needle for denim. I like using the...

That happened with this skirt! I had an idea of how it would look, but seeing it finished and on, I absolutely LOVE the finished skirt! The fabric was purchased from Hancock Fabrics, and I found it on the clearance table. Never under estimate clearance!  I purchased 1 1/2 yards. Here it is unfolded and laid out. You can see that the stripes are only one side of the fabric. As soon as I saw the fabric, I knew that I wanted to make a circle skirt with it. I used the same method for this women’s circle skirt, that...

Learn how to make things that cost hundreds of dollars in stores, ones that actually look better when you DIY them. Lately, Target, Walmart and other big chain stores have started selling replicas of some of our Pinterest favorites. Why on earth would you want to buy these? I guess someone does, but I am not about to spend my money on DIY replicas. No way! Complete with easy to follow step by step tutorials, these DIY bedroom ideas can be yours for a fraction of the cost. Make one or more this weekend and get your room looking the...

I was ready to cut into the pink silk lustring which started this whole Edwardian evening gown project. I'd made myself a S-bend corset. The hip padding was ready to go. My skirt pattern was drafted. The actual making of the gown could begin. Well, almost. A few minor pattern alterations still needed to happen before the scissors touched the pink silk. Evening dress ca. 1901 from the Munchner Stadtmuseum The longer I stared at the single photo I have of my inspiration gown, the more I became convinced that the skirt was just slightly gathered at the waistline. Thus, I...

Gathered styles were what I cut my teeth on when I was first learning to sew, that is, ones where you pretty much just add elastic to rectangles of fabric to create skirts, dresses and tops. Although crazy easy, there are soooo many different variations of this style. I’m actually working on another design as we speak, in between Frankie’s naps that is! But for now, I wanted to share with you a style that saw me through my pregnancy – the gathered off the shoulder dress… Made fancy thanks to a tiered skirt. So floaty, so roomy and so...