Fabric & Sewing How-To Guides

Shawls are a great addition to any outfit as a statement piece or simply to add some outer wear to your look. The nice fringe on this shawl makes it easy to dress up or down for any occasion. Just pick your fabric and get to sewing your new favorite piece in your wardrobe.

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.

Got some cold little piggy's? Keep them warm with these Sherpa lined fleece slippers. These slippers are super easy to make and one yard of fabric is enough to make around 4 pairs of medium sized slippers so you can give them away as gifts or just have a few extra pairs for yourself.

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.

This DIY tutorial will teach you how to make your own cosmetic bag and brush holder out of oilcloth fabric and ribbon. It's an average size and has an easy design making it simple to sew and construct. The size of this makeup bag is great because it will hold all the essentials and is small enough to travel with.

Whether you're team Nikon or team Canon, I think we can all agree that the camera straps are pretty ugly. I'm going to cover an existing camera strap with new fabric and make a detachable lens cover pouch to go with it. This strap makes my camera feel unique and gives it some personality. This project is so easy, you can change out the fabric whenever you feel like it.

Tote bags are super useful and can be made in all sorts of sizes, so you can never have too many! You can make them many different ways, but this tote bag features a recessed zipper to keep the contents of the bag secure. The size I made is perfect to use as a Mahjong bag but you can make it any size you want. (I made these as gifts for my Mahjong-loving aunts! ) You can also add interior and exterior zippers or more pockets to fit your needs.

Yoga mats are awkward to carry on their own so I'm going to make a yoga mat bag. It has a zipper compartment, a pocket, and is fully lined. The zipper opening makes it easy to put the yoga mat in and take it out.

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.

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.

I say pah-jah-mus, you might say pah-jam-us, jah-mies, jam-ies, jim-jams… however you say it, learn how to make it! I'm making pajama pants out of a fun cotton print using an existing pair as a pattern, and I'll be adding an optional drawstring. These pajama pants make great gifts, especially for that holiday family photo with the matching pairs.

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.

Infinity scarves are a trendy accessory that can be worn year round, depending on the weight of the fabric. They are super simple to make, so it's a great project for beginner sewers. They also make a great handmade gift! I'm using a cotton print, but a jersey knit is a popular choice because it's stretchy and has a nice drape. Lightweight fabrics, like gauze, chiffon, or stretch lace are perfect for warm weather.

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.

There's all different kinds of lunch bags that you could make. The difference with this one is that it's not only easy to make but also easy to put food in fold, snap, and go. It's hassle free, durable, and will keep your food warm or cold with it's thick interlining. Watch below to learn how to make your own and let us know how it turned out!

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.

Protect your glasses from the elements with this easy eyeglass case, made from vinyl with a velvet lining. You can use this simple DIY project to make cases for your prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses. You can use any fabric you'd like on the outside, but make sure your lining fabric is soft.

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.