Layer upon layer upon layer?! With the right presser feet and accessories, an understanding of seam grading, and the patience to go slowly and carefully, you can sew like a pro through thick and thin.
A twist on traditional. Check out these two unique tassel styles: the Broomstick Tassel with a sleek, floss-wrapped hanging loop, and the fantastical Yarn Chubbies, which we think look like fluffy little dancing dolls.
Choosing the right thread for a project is an important factor that determines the final look, feel, and oftentimes, longevity of the project. In this Guest Tutorial, our friends at Sulky offer some expert advice about cotton thread.
We chose the Janome embroidery-only 550E machine to help create this beautiful set of embroidered placemats and napkins, selecting two built-in florals and stitching them against a shear ribbon lattice on a 100% linen background.
We all make mistakes, but many errors can be avoided with proper planning, attention to detail, and the wisdom to slow down. Take the time to consider the best practices that will provide the best results.
That giant display of bias tapes and bindings can be overwhelming. Single fold, double fold, blanket, quilt. Geeze! What’s what and why? The S4H Sizing ID Chart gives the basic facts about the six most common types of bindings.
Don’t know about you, but we find sewing buttons by hand a bit tedious, time-consuming, and it can be hard to get them all to look uniform. Solution: using a Button Sewing foot on your machine. Securely attached and perfectly aligned.
If you’ve ever tried to work with fabric cuts are that are not straight and true, you know why it’s so important to square-up your fabric. Find our easy folding, aligning, and cutting tips plus ruler recommendations.
A skosh, a wee bit, just a hair… sometimes, the distances we want to work with when sewing aren’t quite as precise as the engraved inch and millimeter markings on our machines. This foot allows you to custom set your seam.
Life can get a little sticky. In sewing, it’s the surfaces of specialty fabrics, like laminates that love to drag across your presser foot and/or needle plate, causing stitching to bunch or break. Janome Ultra Glide to the rescue.
Going in circles doesn’t have to be a bad thing! In fact, when it comes to pretty stitching embellishments, the circle is always a winner. But… how on earth can you stitch in a truly perfect circle?! Even following a drawn line can lead to bumbles and bobbles. Our secret: the Janome Circular Sewing Attachment.
“Up against the wall.” “We’re stuck on you.” “If these walls could talk.” The introductory lines came fast and furiously for this article about the new designer wallpaper from Hawthorne Supply Co.. But what it finally came down to was: Wow. Just. Wow. We’ve always loved wallpaper – just not putting up wallpaper. In fact,
Pretty fabric gift envelopes you can customize. Use florals + brights as we did or switch colors + prints to match the season or occasion. They tie shut with a clever pull-thru bow. And, we’ve included a free gift card download.
Do you loop a tape measure around your neck while sewing? This design capitalizes on the habit, turning a measuring tape into a mini caddy. Scissors on one end and a pincushion on the other – or customize the tools to you!
Learn contortion pleating, which involves twisting the gauze into a bound bundle then drying it in a conventional dryer or a microwave prior to final air drying. Learn to crinkle, then learn to make this gorgeous tasseled scarf.
Pleats have been with us for centuries as a functional and/or decorative way to reduce the size of a piece of fabric. They are firmly ensconced in fashion sewing, but are also perfect in numerous home décor applications, like bed skirts, window treatments, and table linens. We’ve even incorporated them as unique embellishments on a
We’re here help with the steps you’ve forgotten since high school geometry: parts of a circle, how wide to cut fabric to fit a circle, how to draw a circle without a pattern, and how to convert decimals to inches to work with Pi.
Sweets for your sweet look even more delicious in these beautiful baskets. They’re extra wide and just the right depth for cookies, candy, and more; they’re not too thick, not too thin… deep dish, like a good Chicago pizza.
Cuteness alert! These baby bibs are pretty and practical. The front is made from Jelly Roll strips. The back is absorbent terry cloth. Download our free Baby’s First Christmas gift tags to create an adorable holiday bundle.
Our simple yet clever design results in a beautifully finished bag inside and out. And because you can reuse them, it’s like two gifts in one. Great for scraps or pre-cuts! We also include a free gift tag printable.
Soft and warm – the two just go together. Our double-sided infinity loop scarf is super fast and fun. And, with so many great color and design options in both fleece and faux fur, you can bundle up everyone in designer style.
Add a little holiday cheer by changing out your pillowcases. It’s fast, easy, and inexpensive. Our instructions show how to make two standard cases using just 1½ yards of main fabric and ½ yard of trim fabric.
At just 16″ x 30”, it’s a great size for smaller tables, breakfast bars or as the center décor on a larger table. The pretty patchwork center features four flying geese blocks. Includes a free set of matching cards + tags to download.
Microwavable heating pads with organic fillers are a wonderful way to soothe sore muscles or warm up on a cold day. We’ve done several pads here at S4H and also tested 3 favorite fillers. Would you choose: rice, corn or flax, or…?
Remember making paper snowflakes as a kid? You fold, fold, fold, then cut, cut, cut. This fabric cutting technique is the same basic concept, but without the Swiss cheese effect. Grab your rotary cutter and mat, and let’s slice!
Though it’s hard to imagine, most fabric is still created on a loom – just as it was thousands of years ago! Technology makes the process much faster, but the basic principles are still the same. Learn about warp, weft, and more.
This luggage tag is so easy (and fun!), and takes just a little bit of fabric. We created it in a large size and used a bold color to help quickly spot bags in a crowded environment. Includes a free blank ID card download.
English paper piecing is handwork not machine stitching. Most people associate it with beautifully intricate quilt tops, but the precise, perfectly shaped pieces are just as wonderful on our pair of graphic decorator pillows.
We love this unique hand stitching tool. Our step-by-step tutorial shows how it can quickly attach one item to another as well as create an interesting line of stitching as a decorative accent. Great for bag handles!
One of the most satisfying things in the world of DIY is when you get to overcome the mystery of “how the heck do they do that?!” You know what we mean. You’re looking at a home décor item, thinking, “I really need one of those, but it is WAY too expensive for my budget.
If a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, I'm guessing this three-in-one presser foot is easily worth a bird, a hand and a bush. We love a cool accessory that does several things, and the Janome Clear View Quilting Foot and Guide Set is one of our favorite multi-tasking tools. It comes
This cute card wallet has two clear-view pockets that can hold a gift card and a handwritten note. We also designed a matching free printable: two sheets of 10, perfectly-sized gift tags to download + customize.
Window coverings are a great DIY project; and simple enough for the beginning sewer. Straight edges. Simple, straight stitches. But even the most basic curtain project starts with knowing how to take proper measurements.
Narrow tucks, called pintucks when they are super narrow, are often used in heirloom sewing, but they can add a lovely detail to many projects. Did you know you can create the look quickly and easily with your Quarter Inch foot?
Sergers. For some, the word alone can send them screaming into the darkest corners of their sewing rooms. “The threading… not the threading… make it stop!” Well, perhaps that’s a wee bit dramatic, but the fear of threading the loopers on a serger, “Sergiothreadaphobia” as it is known in medical circles, keeps many a sewer
Start with an off-the-shelf hot pad and mitt set – we found ours for just $2 – add some simple fabric and trim details and voila: style on a shoestring and a great first make. It’s also an excellent ScrapBusters project.
We go over our recommendations for what to have on hand if you’re just getting started in the world of sewing as well as a few favorites to add to your toolbox as you move up in your skill level and expand your projects.
When temperatures rise, a great quick-cooling spot is your neck. Our easy-to-make wraps use water absorbing crystals within the pockets of a long, tie-on tube for fast cooling power. For adults, kids, even pets.
Pre-cut bundles can shorten your cutting time and give you an affordable way to purchase an entire collection of fabric without breaking the bank. Learn the most common sizes and names for these handy little fabric cuts.
There is one particular type of hem we receive more questions about than any other: the rolled hem. Not to be confused with a narrow hem, a rolled hem is created using a special presser foot. Great for edges on lightweight fabrics.
When budgets get tight, repairing and re-purposing is the way to go to extend an item’s life. We explore some innovative ideas for using iron-on patches for scarves, t-shirts, pillows, and… of course, jeans.
The school year is wrapping up. Soon the books will be closed and the desks will be empty, but the impact on students’ hearts and minds is forever stamped. Great inventors and leaders are not born. They are motivated and inspired by all the amazing teachers who stand up and stand out every single day.