:) How to: Sew a Patternless Dress

Author: Karisa Tell

If you're a seasoned seamstress, you probably use patterns all the time. You probably have a collection of vintage Simplicity patterns that have been cut, pinned, and stashed for decades. The majority of beginner sewers, however, can't tell which end is up when looking at a pattern (literally–I once looked at a pattern and could not tell whether it was upside down or not). Once I discovered the world of sewing tutorials (as opposed to tangible patterns), I was hooked!

When I was asked to be a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding and told that I could wear any dress I wanted, as long as it was black, I knew I had to make a sewing project out of it. I combined two sewing tutorials I found online.
Here's what I did:

1. First I took a huge piece of chiffon (left over from my Hair Pom project!) and cut it into long strips, 2 inches wide. (Note: I didn't read the directions in full until I was, well, all done. So learn from my mistakes: BUY NON-FRAY CHIFFON!!!)
2. Turn your sewing machine to it's largest stitch and increase the upper thread tension. You don't need to put it at its highest tension setting because chiffon is a very thin fabric, so it will ruffle easily. Sew a line down the center of each strip (refer to my ruffling tutorial for more info on making ruffles). When you get to the end of a strip, feel free to attach a second strip by feeding it right into the machine.
3. Once you've got a bunch of ruffles done, it's time to attach them to your skirt piece. I bought two yards of black fabric and cut it in half lengthwise (so that the "waist" measurement was 2 yards and the length was appropriate–I wanted it to start at my natural waist and end around my knees, plus seam allowances). Sew the first ruffle around the bottom of your fabric piece, making sure you have changed your machine settings to a lower tension and smaller stitch length. Continue sewing ruffles until you're satisfied. The Can-Can skirt has ruffles all the way up, but I chose to only do a few rows along the bottom of the skirt.
4. Thus far, your skirt has just been a gigantic rectangle. To turn it into a skirt, we're going to refer to Megan Nielsen's gathering instructions. Take a piece of elastic waistband and measure how big you want it to be (wrap it against your waist, wherever you want the skirt to start). Pin your cut piece of elastic to the skirt piece, making sure to stretch the waistband as you go. Zig-Zag stitch the waistband to the skirt piece, again stretching as you go.
5. I way over estimated how much my waistband was going to stretch, so I ended up with extra fabric after I sewed the elastic on. Just cut this piece off and throw it in the scrap pile. I would recommend using only 1 yard or a yard and a half instead of 2 yards of skirt fabric, like I used. Next, hold the raw edges of your skirt length together, wrong sides facing in, and stitch them together.
6. Hem the bottom of the skirt. At this point, you have a skirt that you could potentially wear by itself. So if you'd rather make a patternless skirt, you're done!
7. Instead of using a tank top, I purchased a black blouse from a thrift store to use as the top. I thought this would be a little more wedding appropriate.
   
8. I realized I didn't really like the blouse all that much when I tried it on with the skirt, but I'd already purchased it, so I had to make do. I ripped out the ruffles, buttons, and collar, cut the bottom of the shirt at my natural waist, and removed the shirring from the back.
9. After I had basically destroyed the blouse, I was pretty sure I'd have to scrap it and start over. But I just kept going anyway! I sewed the front of the shirt together and added another strip of ruffled chiffon around the neckline.
10. Finally, it's time to attach your top to your bottom! I tucked the blouse inside the skirt, so that the waistband lay flat on top of the blouse. Then I pinned all the way around and zig-zag stitched it down.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/crafts-articles/how-to-sew-a-patternless-dress-4039701.html
About the Author

Karisa Tell is an Editor for FaveCrafts.com and AllFreeSewing.com

:) Sewing Project - How To Make Homemade Baby Bibs

Author: Shelly Hill

I just recently became a first time grandmother and have been enjoying the new little addition to our family. I am also an avid crafter and seamstress so I can often be found in my craft and sewing room creating some wonderful things for my friends and family.

With the new addition of the baby girl to our family, I decided I wanted to make some homemade baby bibs. I thought the process would be difficult, but once I got started...I realized how easy it was to create my own bibs for our grand-daughter.

Here are the supplies you will need:

1 pre-purchased terry cloth bib to use as a pattern
1 package of double fold bias tape (2 yard package), per bib
sewing machine
sewing thread
1/4 yard of cotton terry cloth fabric
Scissors
Miscellaneous sewing supplies

Note: If you really want to be frugal, you can recycle some old terry cloth bath towels for this project.

Lay your pre-purchased baby bib down on a piece of white paper and trace around the shape using a pencil, then cut out your paper pattern. Next, unroll your bias tape and cut off a piece of bias tape measuring 34" in length. Pin your paper pattern down onto your terry cloth fabric and pin into place. Cut around the paper pattern and then remove the pins. Cover and pin the bias tape around the raw edges of the sides and bottom of your bib, don't cover the neck area just yet.

Using your sewing machine, stitch the bias tape into place and fasten off. Cut another piece of bias tape measuring approximately 26" long. Attach the center of the bias tape to the center neck area of the bib, pin into place. (note: a piece of bias tape about 10" long is left at both ends of the neck edge for the ties.) Using your sewing machine, stitch around the neck opening so that you are attaching and covering the raw edges.

You can use your pre-purchased one as a guide on how it should be sewn.

Decorations: If desired, you can use 3/4" wide eyelet lace instead of bias tape in step one of the sewing, but you will still need to use a coordinating color of bias tape for the neck area and ties. You can embroider a name or nice design onto the front of the bib or purchase some cute iron-on applique's.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/crafts-articles/sewing-project-how-to-make-homemade-baby-bibs-1266489.html


About the Author

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly enjoys crafting, scrapbooking and sewing along with various other crafting mediums. You can visit Shelly online at http://www.workathomebusinessoptions.com for free family and parenting articles or her recipe blog at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com for free family recipes.

:) Try A Fun Sewing Project- A Felt Stocking Kit

Author: Brenda Sewell

There are many fun sewing projects to pick from such as a felt stocking kit. If you have never attempted a sewing project or you are looking for a new craft based pastime then felt appliqué sewing kits may well be just the thing. Appliqué is a French term which broadly means 'to apply'.

In appliqué sewing craft pastime kits you stitch together marked felt pieces and shapes to build them up into your completed item. As a pastime there are lots of advantages to felt appliqué sewing craft kits. All sets are ready supplied with all the pieces you would require to complete the project. All the constituent felt parts are already pre-marked to help you to cut them out at the start. It is easy to follow the instructions as you just need to clip out the parts and commence stitching them together. Some sections require you pack them with padding to form a three dimensional shape. All the requisite components such as beads, sequins and miscellaneous colored yarn is fully included so you are able to begin making your project right away. Working through the kit building all the parts together the user will own a beautiful ornamental item when completed.

Of course if you are a novice at sewing felt craft kits it is wise to begin with a basic project kit. Basic kits are much less complex and will allow the beginner to naturally learn and advance with their sewing craft skills. As the user's skills expand they will want to tackle a more intricate fun sewing project. Some of the more advanced projects like the Christmas felt stocking kits can be quite involved with many parts to build together. In spite of being more difficult it is surely worth the extra effort as the final result is a striking iconic festive decoration that can be put to use for years. When given to a child or grandchild they may personalised with a name to make them an extra special gift item.

Although many people see their hobby as an personal activity, sewing craft kits together can be a pursuit for yourself or as part of a group. It can be great fun sewing project after project as a family activity. Because projects such as the felt stocking kits have numerous parts each child or group member can help in putting it together. Alternatively, each person can make and accomplish their own sewing model and take pride in the finished piece.

Kids will not only enjoy it but can learn the practical ability of sewing too. There are always lots of projects to choose from with a great variety of different patterns and styles. blossom. For a traditional festive decoration nothing can beat a Christmas stocking. You can even assemble them as a pleasurable gift for your beloved pet filled with all their favorite treats.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/crafts-articles/try-a-fun-sewing-project-a-felt-stocking-kit-2598790.html
About the Author

I love crafts and have been creating amazing fun sewing projects for a longtime. Christmas Stocking Kits are my firm favorites so if you want learn more about these gorgeous festive decoration kits join me here at http://www.squidoo.com/bucilla-christmas-stocking-kits