Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good
We’ve been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you’re learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out.
Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!)
Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn’t know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy.
The 5-minute hack for making elastic waistbands smaller
The elastic in the waistband of most leggings is sewn in during construction, and can’t be pulled tighter. However, I found a quick and easy way around that. It’s easy, and literally takes five minutes to fix!
An easy fix for wandering bra straps
Call me a prude, but I really can’t stand it when my bra strap starts to wander, letting the world know just what color and condition said bra is in. (Answer: generally not great.) In fact, it drives me nuts. I don’t want to have to constantly be adjusting and digging around. It’s just not… dignified.
How do you get over your sewing anxiety?
I finally broke down last year and convinced my husband to get me a starter sewing machine for my birthday. I have made some things, pillows and an amazing Star Trek Fez for DragonCon this past August. But I find myself so intimidated by my sewing machine and the lingering ghost of my mother’s seamstress talents, that I can’t seem to get myself to try anything else. How do you get over sewing anxiety? And are there any good alternative/offbeat sewers and blogs out there that I can follow?
Going vintage: How I learned to stop worrying and love my vintage sewing machine
My husband asked me, “Why are you spending all this time and money on these old sewing machines? Wouldn’t you rather have a new one?” *Insert horrified look here* This is why I ultimately abandoned my modern electric sewing machine and went vintage full-time.
How to make your own fitted sheets
This tutorial takes you from two yards of a quirky cotton fabric to a fitted sheet for a crib-size bed. Crib sheets in quirky fabrics make awesome gifts for kids and new mamas. Also great for large dog beds, too! But at the end of the post are measurements that you can use to makes fitted sheets for larger, adult-size beds. Same process — and all DIY win.
Heal jeans with a monster mouth patch
How about turning a hole in the knee into a monster mouth? I decided to patch my partner’s jeans this way after spying this great idea on a social networking site. Here’s my version of the monster-mouth knee-patch.