Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Abby Glassenberg from While She Naps, and author of Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction
, has written an excellent blog post about safety requirements for selling handmade toys intended for small children. It’s a confusing topic, and can… Read more ... 
Dawn from Designed by Dawn Nicole shows how to make a ribbon headband that won’t slip off your head. They have elastic at the bottom for a snug fit, and they’re backed with a velvet ribbon to keep it from… Read more ... 
Darts add shaping and dimension to a flat piece of fabric. They’re used in garments to make a piece of clothing fit the curves of a human body. In softie construction, darts can create the rounded shapes of heads, bellies,… Read more ... 
The Long Ladies from Marie-Madeline Studio share a tutorial over at The Fabric Shopper showing how to make this flower applique t-shirt. The petals are edged with a blanket stitch, and the center of the flower is a gathered fabric… Read more ... 
Autie from iCandy Handmade shows how she created a last-minute stingray costume for her friend’s son. This is such a cool costume! It doesn’t look last minute at all! It’s basically a big felt tunic, though cut in the shape… Read more ... 
How awesome is this gumball machine Halloween costume! Juli from The Garter Girl shares a tutorial over at Studio DIY showing how to make it. It looks like it would be complicated, but it’s actually fairly easy to make. It’s… Read more ... 
Homemade Halloween costumes don’t need to be complicated or made from expensive materials. Diana from Oy Vey A Day shows how she pulled together this skeleton costume for her son, in just 30 minutes and costing less than$10 in materials. … Read more ... 
Merriment Design shows how to make a trick or treat bag with a Velcro spider web embellishment. It’s a sturdy tote bag, fully lined, with boxed corners. The bottom has a plastic (or cardboard) insert to help it hold its… Read more ... 
Jen from iCandy Handmade shares a free pattern for making a child’s fleece kitty cat hat. It’s sooo cute!! She made it as part of her daughter’s cheetah costume for Halloween. It covers the ears and ties under the chin,… Read more ... 
Palak from Make It Handmade shows how to turn an old t-shirt into a braided headband. You’ll be cutting the shirt into strips, so it’s a good project for t-shirts that are too small, stained, or perhaps stretched out shape. … Read more ... 
An eye mask is a Halloween costume staple. Cheryl from Sew Can Do shows two ways that an eye mask can be used to make Halloween costumes, one rather larcenous and one a cute spooky. For her son, she made… Read more ... 
Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings shows how she altered a basic t-shirt pattern to make a ruched maternity shirt. It’s a quick and easy alteration, with just a couple of extra steps. She also made it a two-tone shirt, with… Read more ... 
Heather from The Sewing Loft shows how she made a Wonder Woman costume for her daughter. She could have purchased one, but it was expensive and, like many costumes available in stores, not appropriate for a 13-year-old to wear. In… Read more ... 
Caroline from Sew Caroline shows how to make a flowy kimono top. It’s an easy top to sew, made from a rectangle of fabric. You’ll need a lightweight, drapey fabric for this project. She suggests a jersey knit, which doesn’t… Read more ... 
Max California shows how she made this Lego Indiana Jones costume shirt for her son. He reenacts the video game regularly as part of his play. Now he has the outfit to wear during his adventuring. It looks like a… Read more ... 