Fabric & Sewing How-To Guides

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.

Sleeveless blouses are one of the top apparel items for summer, and in this tutorial I chose to make one out of challis fabric. To off set the black and white pattern I am using a 7″ lipstick pink zipper to give it some color and contrast.

Ruffle skirts are fun to make for adults and children. The one I make in this tutorial is a medium adult size skirt out of a solid jersey knit fabric. You can also mix and match prints and colors for the layers to give it a fun look.

Holes in the jeans? That's pretty common for most people who love their jeans and wear them out so much that it can create holes. I know, I'm one of them! In this tutorial I took an old pair of my jeans that had a hole in the crotch area and turned them into a jean skirt! I hate throwing clothes away and I always look to see how I can upcycle something to save it from going into the trash.

These pair of leggings consist of cotton jersey. I'm using an old pair of leggings to use as my pattern for a good fit. Any stretch fabric that has at least 5% of spandex in it will work fine for these leggings. Leggings are so comfy to wear especially lounging around the house!

Kimonos are comfy and easy to wear with almost anything. This kimono is made out of chiffon fabric making it light and flowy. You can use other fabrics like voile and charmeuse for the same weight and flow. By using a sheer fabric it makes the Kimono breathable and allows the garments underneath to show through. You can also wear it as a bathing suit cover-up.

This simple tutorial shows you how to make a circle skirt with a zipper using a versatile décor fabric. By using a drapery fabric, it gives the skirt more weight and volume. You can also use cotton broadcloth or linen.

Hemming a gown with multiple layers can be tricky and time consuming. In this tutorial, Jen shows you how to hem a gown with tulle and a lining underneath without any hassle.

This no sew jersey scarf can be worn with different outfits all year round. You can wrap it around once or twice depending on the look that you want, and it's lightweight and super easy to make.

Lace maxi skirts are great for spring and summer because they're light and breathable. This maxi skirt has a stretchy spandex lining, making it easy to wear. You could also make a skirt like this for colder weather if you extend the length of the lining.

Gauze scarves like this one are perfect for spring because they're lightweight and versatile. You can also wear it as a head wrap.

Tulle skirts aren't just for kids! Today I'm going to show you how to make an adult-size tulle skirt that involves no sewing. You can make it a solid color or use alternating colors. This skirt uses a ribbon around the waist, but you can also use elastic.

Workout tanks are easy to make and comfortable to move in while exercising. I'm going to show you how to make a muscle tank top that is breathable when working out. Cotton jersey is best to use because of its stretch and flexibility. You can leave the back as is or gather together like I did for more of a design.

There are many different styles for making ponchos. I'm going to make a winter poncho with a cowl neck that can also be worn as a hood. Fleece works well because it's soft and warm making it very cozy to wear.

This infinity dress is versatile and can be worn many ways. The one I'm going to make is a size medium. Spandex or jersey knit work best because of its stretch. You can wear this dress all year round depending on how you style it. It's also super comfy!

A jewelry organizer is a great way to hold all your jewelry together in one place without it all getting tangled. This quick and easy jewelry organizer is made from an old frame. The lace is for earrings, and the ribbon is for bracelets and necklaces. You can hang this frame or lean it up against a wall.

This high waist skirt has pleats on the front and the back and has a zipper on the side. To keep it is simple there is no interfacing or lining. You can wear this type of skirt all year round and you can also use hook and eye closures instead of a zipper.

Make a simple tank top style bathing suit cover-up out of jersey knit fabric. You can also use lightweight fabrics like cotton batiste, or gauze that are breathable and comfortable. These are the fabrics you'll want on your body in the hot summer months. If you're feeling fancy or want a fun print, chiffon or challis are great options as well.

The lace is stretchy so it forms to the body well and is comfortable and easy to move in (especially in the arms). The built-in lining covers the torso from the chest down, leaving the shoulders, upper chest, and upper back sheer. Check out the step-by-step tutorial below to see how to make this blouse! You can use raschel lace if you want a more structured look. If you're using a stretch fabric, always use a stretch lining.

Glitz Sequin fabrics are stunning and stretchier than you may think. Because of their stretch, it makes it a lot easier to design and sew fitted garments like this high-waist pencil sequin skirt. With fabrics that are stretchy, you always have to line them with a stretch lining so both fabrics stretch together and don't tear. In this case, I chose a stretch charmeuse fabric because it's a little fancier than a spandex or jersey knit, but both of those would work too.

These three different style head wraps are made out of jersey knit fabric and are easy to make. You can mix and match colors and prints for a fun look. Jersey knit is the best fabric to use for a great stretch.

Racer back tank tops are usually made out of cotton jersey and are a great item to wear under blouses or on its own. In this tutorial I will show you how to create your own racer back tank top from scratch. Learn how to make your own racer back tank top that can be worn by itself, with a scarf, or under a cardigan for different looks.

You've probably noticed lately scrunchies have made a huge comeback. Unlike in the 90's though, they're not being used as a fashion statement. As our knowledge about hair care grows we realized how bad regular elastics can be for hair growth. Using fabric as a barrier between the elastic and your hair helps cut down on breakage and general damage. The method that I came up with is really easy, and doesn't require stringing the elastic through any channels, and leaves you with a really professional looking end result.

Chafing. It happens to every one of us. The day the weather gets warm enough, all I want to do is put on my pretty summer dresses and twirl around, but every year my thighs are so rude and they chafe to the point of serious discomfort. I have tried shorts, but they're bulky and they totally ruin my favorite part about wearing a dress (NO pants, YAY! ) So I took to the internet, and I found companies making lacy garments that were super cute and super practical.

Learn how to make this super cute beach cover up with our simple DIY tutorial. It's a really unique piece and can be matched with all different types of tops, like this smocked tube top.

Today, I am going to show you how to make this super cute smocked tube top. They are really trendy and I made it to go with these pants for a full bathing suit cover-up which I will link here so you can get the whole look. Check out this article to learn how to shirr fabric.

I am a big fan of summer dresses. Really dresses of any kind, but as soon as it starts getting warm out I like to whip out my favorite 'pantsless' outfits. I wanted a pretty specific dress this year though, so instead of shopping online or trying on dozens of dresses in stores, I decided to make my own. These instructions are for people of all ages and sizes because this dress does not require a pattern. Just make sure you have a measuring tape so you can take your own unique measurements.

Tunics are a great and easy item of clothing to own because they can be dressy (depending on the fabric) or casual. You can pair them with leggings, jeans, boots, sandals, and…. pretty much anything. This tunic that I've designed and created is longer in the back and shorter in the front for an edgy look. The sleeves are loose and flowy, making the tunic comfortable to wear.

A hot clothing item for the summer months is the crop top. You see them in all the trendy stores, and probably think to yourself, how easy would it be to make? Well, fortunately they are easy to make, and don't require a lot of fabric. You can make them out of the majority of apparel fabrics, but in this tutorial I chose jersey knit because it stretches and is a lightweight fabric for the warm weather.