Free Sewing Patterns, find techniques and craft ideas by CraftGossip

Tutorial: Drawstring pouch from a napkin

January 28, 2009 by Anne Weaver 1 Comment

Martha MacGyver shows how to make a drawstring pouch from a cloth napkin. The tutorial is divided into three parts: Introduction, Part 1, Part 2. Thank you to Denise Felton, Craft Gossip Needlework editor, for this link.… Read more ...

Add seam allowances the easy way

January 28, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

If you draft your own patterns or trace them out of a magazine, you’ll probably need to add your own seam allowances. Off the Cuff shows an easy way to do just this using your sewing machine. Get the details.… Read more ...

Tutorial: Sew a purse from a fat quarter

January 28, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

Much of my fabric stash is in fat quarters, so I immediately perked up when I saw that We Wilsons had designed a sling purse that could be made from a fat quarter. Get the tutorial.… Read more ...

Bag making basics

January 28, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

U-Handblog has started a series of blog posts on Bag Making for Newbies. In her first installment, she focuses on basic sewing terms like right/wrong side out, press seams, and more.… Read more ...

Fabric from plastic soda bottles?

January 27, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

You betcha! And it’s pretty, too! Read more from Crafting a Green World about this fabric that’s 45% fiber from recycled plastic soda bottles. [Creative Commons photo by Kevin Wong]… Read more ...

Free fabric! Japanese fabric giveaway

January 27, 2009 by Anne Weaver 3 Comments

Do you love all the Japanese fabric out on the market now? This and That from Japan is giving away three $25 gift certificates for fabric from their store. Go read the contest rules at The Crafty Crow. You… Read more ...

Tutorial: Patching holes in jeans

January 27, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

Don’t toss your jeans just becuase there’s a hole in them. Patch them! Prairie Bluestem offers a tutorial to show you how. Get the tute, save your jeans!… Read more ...

Sneak peek: Messy Hands fabric line

January 26, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

Here comes another fun juvenile fabric line from Michael Miller. This times it’s Messy Hands, a collection of with bright geometric patterns in primary colors. See the blog post with example projects made from this fabric, or view … Read more ...

Alternative choices for pattern weights

January 26, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

My sister cuts out her patterns using her set of pattern weights. They’re nice, but they’re also expensive. I sometimes use canned goods as pattern weights, but have found that the tall cans often gets in they way of my… Read more ...

Unusual fabric prints to be had at Sew Bettie

January 26, 2009 by Anne Weaver 7 Comments

If you’re looking for hip, unusual fabrics to use in your sewing projects, go see what Sew Bettie has to offer. The print pictured here is from the new Seagull fabric.… Read more ...

Use a skirt pattern to make a belt?

January 25, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

That’s what La Sewista did, and the results are stunning. Read about the details of this project. She gives enough information about her process that you could make one for yourself. I love how her mind works!… Read more ...

Sew a simple drawstring pouch

January 25, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

Check out this tutorial for a simple drawstring pouch posted by Stop Staring and Start Sewing. (The tutorial appears about halfway down the post.) There are so many possibilities for these little bags! In the dimensions posted, the little… Read more ...

Cool idea: Fast and fun toy storage with drawstring bags

January 25, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

Look at these handy drawstring bags blogged by WalterandVeronica! They were made to store her children’s blocks. I love how she mixes the vintage/practical feel of the repro flour sack fabric with the bright whimsical letters. She says it’s lazy… Read more ...

Tutorial: Sew a pretty pincushion

January 24, 2009 by Anne Weaver Leave a Comment

Granted, your straight pins aren’t exactly the sexiest, coolest of your sewing gadgets, but even they deserve a little special treatment now and then. Give them a pretty place to rest with this pieced pincushion from Kootoyoo. Get the tutorial… Read more ...

Tutorial: Print your own fabric labels

January 24, 2009 by Anne Weaver 1 Comment

Look around you, and you’ll see labels on just about every you see. Labels tell the casual observer what something is, who made it, or why it is important. So why not add a label to your sewing projects? You… Read more ...