General Sewing & Fabric Guides

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.

An ironing mat is a great addition to a sewing or craft space, and is sometimes more convenient than an ironing board. You can make it any size you want with the cotton fabric of your choice, and the heat resistant fabric will protect your table top. When not in use simply roll up the mat and tie it for easy storage.

Learn how to make some great nylon dog toys to make for fetch and tug of war that will be strong enough to withstand years of use. Shop coated nylon oxford fabric here.