The shirred sundress is a wardrobe standard for summer. But S4H is never one to settle for standard! We spun the traditional one-seam-up-the-side design, taking it from ordinary to trendy by adding a flirty eyelet underskirt and a precious sash with its own flower pin. Both of our classic fabrics have a sweet, old-fashioned goodness.
The turn or twist lock closure is one of those finishing touches that looks so professional, it fools you into thinking it must be crazy hard to install. We're here to bust that myth wide open. We used this closure on our Ribbon Flap Shoulder Bag. Centered within one of the ribbons, this little lock
We worked with Waverly to test their Sun ’n’ Shade outdoor fabrics. Our step-by-step fabric care tutorial shows how flexible these outdoor fabrics can really be. And, you’ll also get to learn a bit about this interesting company.
How about some lovely custom tulip designs to bring the fun and freshness of Spring to your next machine embroidery project? Free Downloads, plus we show steps for creating our pretty Tulip Garden pillow.
Learn how to do elastic shirring; it’s easier than you think thanks to elastic thread. Then, whip up a super cute summer sundress in your favorite fabric. Includes links to the full shirring tutorial and a matching sun top.
As we enter the final phase of making a quilt, you should be proud of all you've learned thus far. If you think back to Part 1 of this Series, you may have been skeptical about adding "how to quilt" to your sewing toolbox of skills. Now you can see it was simply a case
We're back for the second half of our piecing tutorial – part Four of our Five-part Quilting Basics series. Quilters are very resourceful and innovative. You can see this trait revealed in some of the popular quick-piecing methods that have been developed over time. The mindset behind each is to save thread and/or time. They
In quilting, there are special techniques used to sew patchwork pieces into blocks, then assemble those blocks into a quilt. The precise execution of these techniques is paramount to a beautifully finished quilt. It's similar to putting together a puzzle; each piece has to fit perfectly in order for the larger picture to come into view.
You saw the appropriate tools and other stuff needed for basic quilting in Part 1. You leaned how to properly (and safely) rotary cut your fabric for patchwork piecing in Part 2. Now, you get to discover how to use those pieces you cut (squares, rectangles and triangles) to create some of the most popular
Quilts start out as lots o' little pieces. So it makes sense the first thing you should learn about in quilting is how to cut your fabric! If you ask any quilter what she/he feels is the best cutting tool for the job, the answer will be: a rotary cutter. Many compare it to a
The word "quilt" or "quilting" has many different meanings. It's a special word because it can be both a noun and a verb. Quilting can describe the overall craft itself. What type of sewing do you like? I like to quilt, or I like quilting. It can also mean the act of quilting, which is
We've made it to the finish of our seam finishes! In this final installment of the series, we venture into the world of the Hong Kong Finish and the Bound Seam finish. If you're not a 'finishing aficionado' (don't feel bad... few people claim that title), you may have been under the impression these techniques
We are not yet finished with our series of finishes! If you've been following along, you know we are working through the ways to make the inside of your projects look as great as the outside. Today, we're moving into a couple more unique options: the mock (or false) French seam and the French wrapped
A number of years ago, we had a French intern working with us... the daughter of a friend of a friend - you know how those things go. She was a sweet girl with a lovely accent, and we had fun asking her for the translation of things we tag as "French": a French braid
In sewing, there's a difference between stitches you use for construction and ones you use for finishing. When you’re first learning to sew, your immediate focus is getting all those pieces to fit together correctly. From the moment you cut the fabric, you’re concerned with maintaining the shape of the pattern pieces. You tediously concentrate
Velvet and velveteen are definitely members of the fabric world's Specialty category. But, that doesn't mean they're too "special" to be part of your sewing stash. All you need is a little help learning how to properly handle, sew and care for them. And that's what your friends here at S4H are for, right?! Below
Zip-A-Dee-Ay! Please meet one of our favorite zipper friends: the invisible zipper. Remember, this zipper is shy, and likes to stay hidden in the seam line of your projects. In fact, with the exception of its slender zipper pull, you’d never know it was there. It likes it that way... and you will too! In
Today's popular laminated cottons start out as basic woven 100% cottons, which are then coated with a Phthalate-free laminate. They're ideal for any project where you want some waterproofing or the ability to wipe the finished item clean with a damp cloth. Think baby bibs, changing pads, raincoats, outdoor tablecloths, reusable shopping bags, and more.
Although hugely popular in ready-to-wear and more, knit fabrics tend to have a bad reputation among home sewing enthusiasts. Poor little knits! All too often, that bad rap comes from false information, or a complete lack of knowledge about the category. We promised our knit friends we’d tell their story and help clear their names.
Learn to pipe like a pro. From types of cording to determining length and yardage to making the bias strips to finishing the ends. You can certainly buy packaged piping, but making your own means you pick the perfect size and fabric.
Like lumpy gravy, lumpy stuffed pillows happen when you try to go too quickly. Take a step back S4H Stuffing Students – our tools and tricks as well as a little extra patience pays off with deliciously smooth and professional results.
Corners get a bad rap. You get backed into them, things go wrong when you cut them, and when you're bad, you have to stand in them. In sewing, when two exterior raw edges come together at 90°, you're faced with hemming around a corner. If you've always been fearful about what lurks around a
Before you start to panic, this technique does not require a bathing suit or a surfboard; all you need is your sewing machine... and a desire for unique texture and style! We’ve shown you numerous ways to take fabric from flat to fancy: pleating, gathering, shirring, and pintucks to name just a few (see the
A knife pleat sounds dangerous, but it is actually one of the easiest and, we think, prettiest members of the pleat family. In a knife pleat, the folds are pressed to one side in the same direction, which is why they are also sometimes called side pleats. More than likely, you've seen knife pleats on
We cautioned you about "shirr madness" and then we fell for it ourselves! In our original shirring tutorial, we warned that once you learned how to do it, there would be all kinds of projects crying out for this pretty, rumply, stretchy touch of texture. While rifling through out S4H stash of favorites, we spotted
Laminated cottons, oilcloth, and other “sticky stuff” … sure – they can be a little tricky, but don’t avoid them! They’re pretty and pliable and great for all kinds of projects. Simply follow our favorite tips for success.
We use binding on lots of projects and we get lots of compliments about how nice it looks. We also get lots of questions about how we managed to pull that off! This tutorial summarizes the binding basics you need to know.
Ottomans tend to get a lot of use, which means a lot of feet, which means they can start to look shabby. Why buy new when you can make a simple cover? S4H to the rescue! Give your favorite ottoman a new lease on life.
Today's faux fur gives you the luxurious look and feel of real fur at a fraction of the price and without harming any animals. And, because of recent improvements in fabric manufacturing, it comes in an amazing array of rich colors and lush textures. It truly starts out beautiful on the bolt. But if you
Ah, sheer fabrics. There's nothing quite like them for a light, airy look – simplicity with elegance. But many folks avoid using them because you can't sew with them quite as easily as you can regular fabric. True, it takes some care and patience, but there's really no reason to fear the sheer. You just
Tassels are the “jewelry” of home décor, adding an elegant finish to your project. And, like jewelry, they can be expensive to buy and the selection of colors can be limited. No problem for you with our no-hassle DIY tassel tutorial!
We now have a lovely new chair thanks to our previous Faux Antique Refinishing project. As a part of that process, we took off the old seat. For phase two, it's out with the old and in with the new as we build a new cushion and cover for the salvaged wooden seat platform. If
One of the fastest, easiest and most rewarding 'furniture renewal' projects is the simple side chair. You get a stunning makeover with very little effort. We've split the steps into two articles: one about refinishing and a second about the new cushion. Depending on drying time in between your coats of paint, this is a
Do you remember the first cup of tea you had as a child? I do, and I recall how charmed I was by the little cups and saucers, how delighted I was with the tiny sandwiches and pretty cookies. What a wonderful world of grace and gentility. That's the world of our S4H Tea Time
What is soft, pliable, and waterproof; can withstand fairly high temperatures; and holds up to a lot of use? Like me, your first guess might have been those dang swimming pool noodles you always buy too many of and then never know what to do with once summer is over. But... the real answer is:
One of the most common questions we get here at Sew4Home is how to measure for different projects. In particular, we had a number of folks who wanted to know an easy way to measure and make a simple ROUND tablecloth. Rather than go round-and-round with it ourselves, we turned to our friend and home
These fabric flowers are all the rage and super easy to make. The tattered, or raw, edges mute the original fabric's design and give the flowers a vintage feel. Stitch a pin to the back, and you can add them to just about anything: pillows, aprons, jacket lapels, belts, headbands... or stitch them directly onto
This is a technique we've used in several tutorials. It's so popular, and so fast and easy, we made a separate tutorial so you can refer to it whenever you need it. It's a great way to finish the edge of a blanket, a table runner, a wall hanging – just about any flat square
Bias tape is a great and much-used accent for all types of home dec projects. But how many of us have braved the hours of tedious folding to create a good amount of it, or burned our fingers trying to iron the perfect crease? Well, snuff out those burnt fingers, because there is a great
Buttons are one of the greatest, and cheapest ways to add a bit o' bling to a project. However, with the button comes something many sewers find intimidating: the buttonhole. Luckily, the majority of today's sewing machines do most of the work for you. Our tutorial will allow you to confront your fears, and will
Every athlete knows it all comes down to the finish. It's the same with sewing – just not as sweaty. A smooth, beautiful hem makes everything look better and more professional. The simplest of hems is the double-turn hem, which you can use on almost any edge where you want an easy, clean finish. Double-Turn Hemming