Fabric & Sewing How-To Guides

Looking for a new favorite day bag? This simple Origami Bag design makes a great slouchy purse or beach bag. It can be made with any heavy weight fabric and broadcloth and can be made in different sizes. It's currently one of my favorite bags. I get compliments on it all the time and have started making ones for my friends.

New regulations at major stadiums and concert venues call for clear vinyl bags to speed up stops at security checkpoints, but the bags they sell are usually ugly and have big logos on them. So, I am going to show you how to make a clear vinyl bag that doesn't require any kind of sewing. This bag meets most stadium requirements and is a cheap and fashionable alternative to ones you can buy online. It is super easy to make and seriously, who doesn't love a no sew project?

Maxi dresses are a popular item in the summer because they are comfortable but always stylish. You can dress it up or dress it down for a casual look. In this tutorial I will show you how to make your own maxi dress out of cotton jersey.

Making popcorn over the stove is delicious but can take a long time and is super annoying. Skip the hassle with this reusable microwave popcorn bag. This bag makes a great gift for all those popcorn lovers in your life and is a great sustainable alternative to regular microwave popcorn. Wash it as needed and enjoy for years to come. We used a lightweight cotton print fabric but many other 100% cotton fabrics will work like cotton broadcloth or muslin.

Log carriers can be heavy and awkward to carry so I decided I wanted to make one for my grandma that would help lighten her load and last her a long time. I came up with the idea of a firewood tote that has both backpack straps and handles for a new take on a traditional look. So far, its been a life saver. So much so that I am really surprised no one has ever though to put backpack straps on these bulky bags. We used PVC-coated polyester because it's a very durable fabric that can hold up to lots of wear and tear.

Have your trees, bushes, hedges, shrubs, or saplings been taking a beating from all the salt being dropped on the roads? Wrap them in burlap so they are protected from the elements and salt. The best time to wrap trees is in the late fall just before the first frost but this year we noticed the trees that line the road near our office were getting particularly beat up so we decided to make a wrap for them to keep them from becoming more damaged. Burlap wraps like this will protect your trees from sunscald, salt, wind, and will keep them from becoming deformed or splitting under the weight of the snow. The bushes I covered are large so I used burlap squares.

Looking for a fun Valentines Day Project? This decorative burlap heart pillow is great for Valentine's Day as a gift or décor. Craft burlap can be used for a bunch of different projects but its loose weave makes it the perfect material for weaving in the ribbon. This pillow can be made with any color canvas and ribbon like grosgrain ribbon or satin ribbon. You can also create other shapes for holidays or even monograms.

Tutu's always look so cute on little girls. They're easy to make and there's no sewing required. You can make a solid colored tutu or alternate colors for a fun look.

Baby blankets are great for beginner sewers and make awesome gifts. This baby blanket has two sides with a fold over border, and is super soft thanks to the Minky fabric. I chose neutral colors for either a boy or girl but you can use any cotton print or minky you like! See our Minky Fabric Product Guide for more information about working with Minky.

Burlap sunflower wreaths are very popular so why not make a burlap flower for every season? Along with the summery sunflower, I'm going to show you how to make a spring daisy, a winter poinsettia, and a flower fit for fall. These no-sew burlap flowers are perfect for hanging on the front door. They should be used in an area protected from weather. If your door's not under a porch or awning, they make great wall art too!

Reusable shopping bags are the green way to go! This tote bag can be used as a grocery bag, a farmer's market bag, or a general shopping bag. The ones you buy from the grocery store tend to be pretty ugly and not that durable. By making your own, you can choose the fabric and they're stronger than the store bought bags. If you want to be able to machine wash your bags, cotton or cotton blend fabrics are good choices.

Sewing your own decorative throw pillow is a great DIY project for all sewing levels. There are many different styles of pillows, this one is a basic throw pillow that's sewn closed. It's easy to make and a quick way to update your decor with the fabric of your choice.

I'm going to show you how to give your dining chairs a fresh look by reupholstering the seat cushion. Many dining chairs have a cushion that can be easily detached, which makes reupholstering a simple project. When choosing a fabric for you chair, keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily have to be a heavy upholstery fabric like this. You can also use a medium weight drapery fabric, especially if the chair isn't going to be heavily used. And you can always reupholster it any time you want.

You can make aprons out of many types of fabric, but oilcloth is a great choice because you can easily wipe it clean. Plus it comes in lots of fun colors and patterns. This oilcloth apron is a great handmade gift that's actually useful. Check out our selection of oilcloth and pick some out for yourself or a friend.

Tote bags are perfect for on the go, or to take to the beach. They're simple to make and you can choose from a variety of prints or solids. The cotton fabric used is durable enough to hold everyday items including heavier things such as books.

Felt is an ideal fabric for making fabric flowers because it doesn't fray and it's thick enough to create volume and shape. These felt flowers make great broaches, bouquets, or embellishments for headbands, bags, pillows, wreaths, and much more. You can experiment with different variations, like color, size, and petal shape, to make them your own. Want to get the free printable template PDF instructions?

This fleece hat with ear flaps is made with a super soft "bear skin" faux fur lining that's warm and cozy. You can also use smooth minky, sherpa minky, or another layer of fleece as a lining. This is a quick and easy project that's great for gifts for babies, children and adults, especially when paired with matching fleece mittens!

Zipper pouches of all sizes are handy to have around for carrying or organizing many different items, from cosmetics and jewelry to phones and technology accessories. This easy project is also a good introduction to zippers. So let's get started!

Learn how to make a fun and festive Santa hat using faux fur and stretch velvet fabric. This is a simple project that you can easily make for yourself, or give away as personalized handmade gifts!

These fleece mittens have a super soft bear skin faux fur lining that makes your hands feel warm and cozy. You can also use smooth minky or another layer of fleece as a lining. This is a quick and easy project that's great for gifts for children and adults, especially when paired with a matching fleece hat!

Neckties are the go-to father's day/birthday gift for men across the globe. It can be hard to find that perfect tie; the right color or print that matches with everything in his wardrobe. So, why not make it? Learn how to make a personalized necktie with this simple tutorial. We provide a pattern that you can print out, but you can also disassemble an old tie to use as a pattern.

Learn how to make a fashionable Bow Tie with this simple tutorial. Bow Ties can be worn by men, women, children, and even pets. You can easily customize your own by choosing any cotton print.

We've tried lots of dyeing techniques in the past, but this time we're keeping it natural. I'm going to use ground turmeric and a head of cabbage to dye some unbleached muslin. I'm also adding some salt and vinegar to make it more vibrant.

Since dye is one of the quickest and easiest ways to add color to a project or to an existing piece of fabric, today I'm going to be demonstrating a simple immersion technique using Rit Dye. Rit Dye is great for all skill levels because it contains a mixture of several different types of dye, making it a really great option if you want to dye something that's a blend or contains multiple kinds of fibers. For polyester and other synthetic materials, use Rit DyeMore.

Can't decide what kind of burlap wreath to make for fall? Make 2! These no sew burlap wreaths are perfect for seasonal décor and you can use almost any combination of burlap fabric or ribbon. If these aren't quite your style, check out these burlap flower wreaths for every season.

If you want to make a comfy personalized blanket of your own and don't have access to a sewing machine, you've come to the right place. Keep warm or give cozy handmade gifts with this quick and easy DIY No Sew Fleece Blanket tutorial.

Make simple place cards with linen, stabilizer, and chalkcloth so you can reuse them! To complete your table settings and decor, check out 7 Projects for Your Table Decor.

This simple centerpiece is perfect for fall gatherings, like Thanksgiving. You can also use different colors for any event really. Create an elegant look with monotone white leaves and silver branches for weddings, use pastels for a baby shower, or go with bright multicolored leaves for a birthday party. We used felt, linen, poplin, and peachskin to create different textures.

Looking for an easy, no-sew, quick project to spruce up your table decor? Try making these copper tone vinyl-coated polyester placemats that give off a fall vibe and work perfectly for decorating your table around the holidays! You can use any Phifertex fabric for this project. There are many different colors and unique weaves available that are beautiful on their own, but we used spray paint to make them match the rest of our table decor.

By making your own tablecloth you can get exactly the look and size you want. You can make tablecloths out of many different fabrics. Gingham, oilcloth, and flannel backed vinyl are great for casual eating or themed parties. For lightweight tablecloths, try broadcloth or cotton prints. Linen is classic and works for many styles and many events.